Be active in your community Elks organization.

Making a contribution in your community is one of the best ways to demonstrate our motto that Elks Care – Elks Share. As we come together to serve, the saying that “many hands make light work” is no more evident than within these programs.

The following is a list of Committee Activities currently being performed at the Mojave Elks Lodge.

We rely on member participation to serve the community and for those of you interested in any of the following committees (either as a committee member, chair or to simply find out more information), please call the Lodge office at (661) 824-2240.

Committees are listed in alphabetical order and include the purpose of each committee:

Activities Committee……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Kira Wagner

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: This committee, created in 2011 under Section 4.345 of the Grand Lodge Statutes, is charged with promoting, supporting, and overseeing: Community Projects, Youth Activities, Hoop Shoot, and Drug Awareness. Following are suggestions of how each program can assist us in demonstrating that “Elks Care – Elks Share”:

Accident Prevention………………………………………..  CHAIRMAN William Fitzsimmons

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Accident Prevention Committee is to anticipate any issue within the lodge that might cause a claim and eliminate the cause as well as investigate such incidents and determine what action is necessary to make sure that such an incident never happens again. Additionally, the accident prevention manager should establish procedures and policies to avoid damage or loss involving the Lodge building and contents.

Americanism……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Michelle Egberts

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Americanism Committee is charged with promoting patriotism within the lodge and community through projects, procedures, promotions, and awards.

Auditing and Accounting……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Vacant

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: To ensure that members recognize that Lodge is a business and that good business practices are adopted. To serve as a guide for sufficient profit for the Lodge to grow and meet its fraternal and charitable objectives. To attain maximum uniformity in the application of the Laws of the Order and standardization of accounting and financial management practices. To encourage Lodges to become knowledgeable of, and comply with, all Federal, State and local tax laws.

Bequests and Living Trusts (BLT)………………………………. CHAIRMAN Paul Wagner

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: To ensure that members recognize that Lodge is a business and that good business practices are adopted. To serve as a guide for sufficient profit for the Lodge to grow and meet its fraternal and charitable objectives. To attain maximum uniformity in the application of the Laws of the Order and standardization of accounting and financial management practices. To encourage Lodges to become knowledgeable of, and comply with, all Federal, State and local tax laws.

Business Practices……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Ted Hodgkinson, PER

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Business Practices Committee shall formulate ways and means to assist the Lodges of the Association to maintain sound financial operations. It will disseminate information and provide supervisory coordination to ensure fiscal responsibility and financial stability.

Community Project and Activities…………………… CHAIRMAN Cindy Hodgkinson

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Community Project and Activities Committee carries out programs related to gaining membership while having an acceptable Lodge facility that will attract use and well-conceived community-service programs sponsored by the Lodge as well as others community-related activities.

Drug Awareness………………..…….………………..CHAIRMAN Hutch Hutchinson

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Drug Awareness Program of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is dedicated to preventing the use of illicit drugs by the youth as well as informing them of the dangers caused by the use of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco.

Elks Memorial……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Jennifer Sunderland-Fitzsimmons

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Elks Memorial Committee is charged with overseeing “Elks Memorial Day” held the first Sunday in December of each year commemorating the memories of departed Members.

Elks National Foundation………………………………… CHAIRMAN Travis Behrens

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The National Foundation Committee’s mission is to engage in fundraising activities and promote ENF programs to help Elks build stronger communities and encourage and support the Lodge to invest in the communities they serve through CIP grants – which include Beacon, Gratitude, Promise and Impact grants.

Flag Day……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Hutch Hutchinson

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Flag Day Committee is charged with holding the service known as “Flag Day Services” at the time and in the manner prescribed by the Ritual of the Order which may include Rituals relating to the parade of the flags and the narrated History of the Flag.

Government Relations……………………………….. CHAIRMAN Ted Hodgkinson, PER

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Government Relations Committee is to establish contact with their area legislators, providing them with pertinent information and charitable data concerning various Elks activities. They are to invite them to Lodge events such as Flag Day, Scholarship Dinners, Youth and Drug Awareness activities, Veterans events and other appropriate functions as well as encourage Elks Members to contact their legislators on key issues and areas of jurisdiction in regards to government relations activities, including legislation that could affect our organization.

Hoop Shoot® ……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Hutch Hutchinson

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: Through hard work and healthy competition, the Elks Hoop Shoot Committee is dedicated to providing contestants an opportunity to build character and develop skills that aid them in achieving school and life success.

House Committee.………………………………………. Board of Directors

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: To oversee the operations of the Club Room and Kitchen and to ensure sound business operations of the same.
Kitchen Manager Vacant
Club Room Manager Vacant

Lodge Activities ……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Ted Hodgkinson, PER

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Lodge Activities Committees mission is to investigate and recommend ways and means of maintaining interest in meetings, projects, and activities in the lodge as well as assisting the Lodge Secretary in completing the Lodge’s “Survey of Volunteer, Youth Charitable, and Community Service Programs Report Sheet.

Major Project………………………………………..  CHAIRMAN Travis Behrens

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The California-Hawaii Elks Major Project (CHEMPI) is a committee of the California-Hawaii Elks Association, committed to addressing the unmet needs of children with disabilities throughout the states of California and Hawaii by through programs supporting services to aid these children at no cost to the families and without discrimination.

Membership (Membership & Lapsation)………………….. CHAIRMAN Kira Wagner, PER

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Membership Committee supports the retention and acquisition of members which are the lifeblood of the Order. The committees’ challenge is maintaining steady, healthy membership growth and motivating others to participate in this effort.
Orientation CHAIRMAN Kira Wagner
Investigation CHAIRMAN Kira Wagner

National Veteran’s Services……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Michelle Egberts

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Elks National Veterans Service Commission, established in 1946, is charged with serving our veterans in VA clinics, veterans’ homes, USOs, homeless shelters and more. The Elks are committed to their mission, “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.” The Veterans Service Commission takes that pledge one step further, and promises service to our nation’s veterans and military members, with a special focus on service to those in need.

PER Committee……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Kira Wagner, PER

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The purpose of the Past Exalted Rulers Association is to foster the spirit of good fellowship between the members of the Lodge, and to render experienced counsel and assistance to the Lodge, thereby keeping the administration of the Lodge in safe and capable hands, and to make the Lodge a credit to the community and the Order.

Phone Tree Committee…………………………….. CHAIRMAN Vacant

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The purpose of the Phone Tree Committee is to foster the spirit of better communications between Lodge members and to ensure they are informed of activites within the lodge.

Public Relations………………………………………. CHAIRMAN Paul Wagner (also Bulletin Editor)

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Public Relations Committee shall develop and maintain a strong publicity and public relations program to enhance the image of Elkdom including the training and development of members to attain a degree of professionalism for liaison and delivery of information to the news media.

Ritualistic Committee……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Warren Guest

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Ritualistic Committee is to encourage Lodge Officers to exemplify the ritual and to urge them to enter district and, given the opportunity, state ritualistic contest. They are to highlight the benefits derived from their participation in the ritualistic program including impressive initiations, opening, and closing of the lodge, special lodge, and public services, important to the image and success of all officers and their lodge.

Scholarship……………………………………….. CHAIRMAN Ted Hodgkinson, PER

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: The Scholarship Committee shall coordinate the program within the lodge to conduct scholarship contests, and to award scholarships to worthy students within the community.

Youth Activities………………………………………. CHAIRMAN Rebecca Watts

PURPOSE OF COMMITTEE: This committee is dedicated to the serving the youth overseeing such programs that do not already have a standing committee or subcommittee such as scholarships, drug awareness and “Hoop Shoot®” Includes the Dictionary Project CHAIRMEN Paul Wagner/Ted Hodgkinson, PER, Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas Gift Program, Halloween and Kids Game Day Activities.