Welcome to fall.

A quick update on the upstairs lodge. The Trustees have reviewed a proposal, visited a location where previous work was done by this contractor and are moving the project along. The philosophy of all involved is doing it correctly. This is the first time in decades that an upgrade of this magnitude has been completed, so all involved are doing their due diligence. I would like to thank all of those helping in this major project and we look forward to our grand reopening in the upcoming months.



Our DistrictDeputy GER will be at the Lodge to do her annual audit on the 20^thfollowed by her visitation on October 28^th. We will be initiating several new members that night. Please take the opportunity to welcome DDGER Reiff to our lodge.



Grand Exalted Ruler T. Keith Mills visited Connecticut and Lodge 35 was well represented at the reception. We provided Lodge shirts to the GER and the First Lady. While most of the gifts are given back to the lodges for shipping to his home, GER Mills took both shirts and said that these are going to go to use right away. GER Mills discussed remembering what the Elks is about. In his remarks, he went over the confusion of a new member going through the initiation. It was a lighthearted talk that really hit home with many in attendance. We need to get new members, and current members, to remember the real reason the Elks are here. Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity. The pandemic put a damper on what we were doing but we need to get back to our roots and each member needs to review their ”why”. “Why did I join the Elks?”



Along these lines, lapsation is not the responsibility of a committee. All of us need to check on our fellow Elks that we have not seen and try to engage them to return as an active member. Please take this time to connect with your friends and those you sponsored to come on back.



Thanks to Keith and Michelle’s for their Prime rib and band social that was a phenomenal success. Thank you to all of those that helped that night and hopefully this is a good kick off to larger events at the lodge. I would also like to acknowledge Jennifer Maheu for her work as our Public Relations Chair and Grant Coordinator. Jen has put an exorbitant amount work into these two areas, as well as others. Due to changes in her life, she has stepped aside from these positions. Thank you, Jen, for your dedication to the lodge.

Two members have agreed to step in to these two positions. Thank you to Rich Doolittle for taking the Public Relations Chair. He has been doing agreat job with the Antlers in recent months and this is a natural extension of that project. Also, I would like to express my gratitude to Justin Fedler PER for resuming the Grants Coordinator position. We are actively in the grant season so please forward ideas to Justin so we can move along with these community projects.



We continue to bean active lodge. We can do more when more members become active. Please come on down to the meetings and the lodge to participate inthe great works of the Elks at a local level.



As always, staysafe.



Fraternally,

Bill McGovern PER

Exalted Ruler.





From left to right:

Front Row: Grand Exalted Ruler T. Keith Mills and his wife Amy

Middle Row: Shannon Dwyer (Loyal Knight), Bill McGovern PER (ER),

Theresa Doolittle (Tiler), Sarah Stack (Lecturing Knight)

Back Row: Wesley Huxley (Leading Knight), Rich Doolittle

Birthdays

Stop In To Buy Someone A BIRTHDAY BEVERAGE!

You should count your age by friends, not years.