Uncategorized

Happy May Day Fellow Elks:

I hope everyone had a Great Easter and Passover. We have Big News in May “DERBY DAY IS BACK”. May 7th at 4 PM – There will be Armchair Races, Drink Specials, Hat Contest, Bottle Raffles plus, betting on the Kentucky Derby. Hope to see you all then.

Save the date – May 8th is our Mother’s Day Service & Elks Mother of the Year. Tickets are behind the bar – Brunch will follow the Service. Come celebrate the Mother of the Year and Great Fellowship.

A huge Thanks to John Little and Kelly Flowers for the Great Lenten Fish Fry on Friday Night. It was wonderful and much appreciated by all.

Finally, I am glad to Welcome Brian McDougal as my Leading Knight for 2022 thru 2023. Please wish him well & Thanks Again Brian!!

Fraternally Yours, Mike Walker ER

Hello Elks Members,

I am honored to introduce myself, Michael Walker as your Exalted Ruler for Elyria Elks #465 Lodge. I will be your Exalted Ruler for the year of 2022 thru 2023.I hope to see many of you at the Lodge during my upcoming year. Please be sure to read the Echo, check Facebook, and visit the website page for any upcoming events. I would like to personally thank all of the outgoing Officers & Trustees for a Great Year & Wonderful Memories !!I would like to say a special thank you to my brother Timothy Walker P.E.R. He traveled from Myrtle Beach to install me as the E.R. Check this one off of my Bucket List. Lastly, I would like to thank my wife, Gina for her support. A Special Thanks to Brian & Brooke Powers for all of the hard work they did downstairs for my ceremony. It was much appreciated & beautiful. We ALL Loved the Cookies. Let’s have a GREAT YEAR !!

Fraternally Yours, Mike Walker ER

As the lodge year comes to an end, it is with a heavy heart and mixed emotions, that I write this last newsletter. I have had a very memorable time being Exalted Ruler of your lodge. We have an exciting group of officers and trustees coming up next year, led by Mike Walker, all of whom I know will do great. Please continue to support the lodge by coming up to check out some of the fun events that are planned for the upcoming year. I hope everyone will enjoy bowling in the big annual tournament, The Calcutta, this year. Bidding on teams at the auction is super fun and a great way to win a little money. We are excited to announce that each Friday of Lent this year, we will be having a Fish Fry. In addition, make sure to come up to the St. Patrick’s Day party for some corned beef and other festive Irish grub. Another great event ahead is our Grand Reverse Raffle. It should be a very fun time with lots of money, and other prizes to be won. I have to say that being Exalted Ruler takes a great support system and team. The first person I would like to thank is my wife, Rachel. I absolutely could not have done this without you. Thank you for all your love and support. I would also like to thank power couple, Chairman of the Trustees, Jeff Powell and his wife, Lodge Secretary, Sue Powell. Their dedication, commitment, and love for the Elyria Elks is unrivaled. Thank you to Mike Walker, future PER, for all your great ideas and for being an integral part of the team this year. And Alek, thanks for getting me involved. But on a serious note, thank you all for coming on this journey with me and supporting me along the way. All of your hard work and dedication this past year did not go unnoticed. I am thankful to be backed by such a great group of individuals, many who I call friends. I couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you. Although I may not be Exalted Ruler any longer, as always, I will see you in the lodge.

Fraternally Yours, Bill Medlen II ER

Hello fellow Elks,
As we enter the middle of winter, I hope everyone
is staying warm, healthy and safe. We are just getting
back from our January District meeting in Mansfield.
It’s always so great to reconnect with fellow Ohio Elks
and refuel the heart of Elkdom.

We have some fun events planned in the near
future to make up for the cancellation of Bingo night.
On February 12th, we will be hosting a Casino night
and a Pull Tab ticket tournament. The jackpot for the
monthly drawing, held the first Friday night of the
month, is still growing, so be sure to sign up and be
present to win a substantial prize. Spread the love and celebrate your
loved ones this upcoming Valentines Day. On February 16th, the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has its birthday! Founded in
1868, the Elks turn 154 years old! We should all be proud of the Charity,
Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity that has spread across our great
country for more than a century and a half. February 26th is our Mardi
Gras party. Come enjoy some delicious Cajun cuisine by Chef Phil
Romano. Don’t forget to check the calendar for upcoming Thursdays
when you can enjoy fresh, fried chicken wings with all your favorite,
exclusive sauces. There’s lots of fun ahead this February at the lodge,
so please make a point to come up and fellowship with friends, family
and Elks.

In closing, I hope everyone is accomplishing their New Years
resolutions, because I’m surely not. Don’t forget to catch the Super Bowl
this month, too. Most importantly at this present time, please remember
an Elk in need is a friend in need.
I will see you in the lodge.

Fraternally Yours, Bill Medlen II ER

Hello fellow Elks,

I hope all of you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, so far. I hope your holiday gatherings were safe and filled with cheer and loved ones. As the year 2021 is behind us, I feel as though we have all been here before. Another year has passed and we are still dealing with the same crazy world around us. We had quite the crowd of loved ones and family in house for our Annual Memorial Service in December. The ceremony was very nice and the brunch afterwards was phenomenal. Thank you to Phil Romano for yet another amazing meal. Many thanks again to the AOL for another fun, well attended Christmas Gala. There were many great gifts given, and all had a very merry time. Additional thanks goes out to Alicia Romano for all of her hard work in putting together another fabulous Children’s Christmas party. All the hard work each and every one of you does, does not go unnoticed and the lodge is lucky and thankful to have you. Keep up the good work! As the New Year begins, this is the time of nominations for the upcoming class of Officers and Trustees. If you, or someone you know, would be a good fit for the job, please contact either the office, a PER, a trustee or officer. I know none of us are looking forward to the electronic raffle machines are being shut down for the time being. It’s unfortunate that all those charities will not be receiving any of our ‘donations’ for a while. As a reminder, there are still games on the Ohio Lottery machines, and of course, there are always pull tabs! We also have in store, some events coming up to help satisfy your gambling fix this Winter. I hope everybody has a great start to 2022 and all your dreams, aspirations and resolutions for the upcoming year come true. Let’s all hope that better things are ahead in 2022 for us all. I will see you in the lodge.

Fraternally Yours, Bill Medlen II ER

Hello fellow Elks,
I hope all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and you
all are enjoying the beginning of the holiday season.
It is officially the season of giving, and as Elks, we
always find the time to think about the less fortunate.
I appreciate all that the membership of this lodge
is capable of doing, and together, even small efforts
can make a large impact.
Thank you to all current and new members as
lodge attendance is up! It is great to see new and old
friends.
The Barnyard party was a huge success. It felt
like old times, seeing the lodge so full and merry. Thank you to all who
helped make it a fun event for everyone. Even the bowlers upstairs got
to participate – and I got enough steps in for a month! Speaking of
bowling, there is a missing blue bowling bag, containing a silver ball &
a white and gray pair of shoes, from the lodge lanes. For those of you
frequenting the alley, please be sure you did not accidentally mistake
your bag for this missing one. If you have any information of this bag’s
whereabouts, please see a bartender, trustee or officer. There are
posted pictures of the bag around the lodge, as well.
Thank you to all who joined us for the OSU game this past weekend.
Although the score was not in our favor, the Brad Smith Scholarship
Fund still benefited from all in attendance.
One of the lodge’s most heartfelt events is coming up very soon. On
Sunday, December 5th, we will be holding our annual Memorial Service
to honor the lives of our lost members. Following the service, those in
attendance will be invited to enjoy breakfast. The great heart of Elkdom
swells and throbs for our absent members and their loved ones.
As 2021 comes to a close, I can only hope better things are on the
horizon for us all and this crazy world we live in. I hope all of you have
a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year, may all of your
stockings be hung with care, come on up to the Lodge and I’ll see you
there.

Fraternally Yours, Bill Medlen II ER 

Hello fellow Elks, As we get into November and it’s getting colder, you can really tell Winter is almost upon us.

I hope you all stay healthy, warm and safe. The heat is on in the lodge so stop on up, have a drink and try your luck on some games. Check for our nights where the kitchen is open and come up for a great, hot meal. Remember, there is only one Roast Beef Dinner left this season, held on the third Wednesday of November. After this upcoming dinner, we will be looking for volunteers to take over the CP dinner so we can continue this great tradition. Please let an officer or Trustee know if you are willing to help.

As for the events coming up this month, don’t miss out on what is likely my favorite – The PER Barnyard party. This crowd favorite is coming back on November 20th where you will have your chance to win all sorts of meats; including turkeys, hams, and everyone’s favorite – slabs, and slabs of bacon. Not to mention the raffles, bottles being auctioned off, and there’s always a classic 50/50. I hope everyone appreciates all the work the Past Exalted Rulers do for our lodge including all the fun events they put together. The Turkey Trot party is November 24th, which is the day before Thanksgiving. If Ohio State is your team, or you just like rooting for our local team, come on up on November 27th as the Buckeyes battle that unnamed team up north. I think we call them, Xichigan. All you Buckeyes will get the joke.

With that being said, I hope all of you had a spooky, yet safe Halloween. Enjoy quality time with your families and have a fruitful Thanksgiving this year – a cornucopia of a good time, if you will. The only thing that would make Thanksgiving better would be to win a turkey at the Barnyard party so I hope to see you all there. Speaking of great parties, the clambake was a success. Thank you to everyone who helped organize and run the event. You all did a great job and the food was delicious. Looking forward to many more clambakes to come in the following Fall seasons. All events at the lodge are great, especially when you’re surrounded by friends and the Best People On Earth. I will see you in the lodge.

Fraternally Yours, Bill Medlen II ER

Hello fellow Elks. The weather is changing and it’s that time of year again when we have to put away our golf clubs and grab our bowling balls. The leagues at the club have started and we are still looking for all who want to bowl and have a great time upstairs on the lanes. I hope all of you enjoyed the CP Roast Beef dinner. Thank you to all who made it a successful night. There will be two more dinners occurring the third Wednesday of both October and November. The final PLP, Parking Lot Party, of the season was paired with the Apple Festival. I know a great time was had by all, and I would like to thank everyone who had a hand in making that party all that it was. The AOL Reverse Raffle was among our successful events of September as well. Thank you to the AOL for their continued efforts at the club. Congratulations are in order for Dave Noren as the recent CP golf outing has been newly named in his honor. Fun was had by all at this year’s tournament and the club is looking forward to many more for years to come.

As an update, everything is going well in the club. Membership is increasing and attendance is up. The money that has been donated thus far, by all of us, for the roof fund has been going to good use. A brand new roof access hatch has been installed and the roof above the back steps has been replaced. October is always a busy month, but be sure to save some time to come up to the Children’s Reverse Raffle on Friday, October 22nd. All proceeds will go to the Children’s fund.

In closing, I hope everybody is doing well and is staying safe. Good blessings to you and yours. Please come and support your club. Each and every one of you makes this club what it is. I will see you in the lodge.

Fraternally Yours,

Bill Medlen II ER

Hello fellow Elks. I am pleased to say I personally met the Grand Exalted Ruler. We shook hands, chatted a bit and he even signed my Membership card… it was very cool! Attending a District or State meeting is not only fun, but a great place to fellowship with other Elks, as well as voice your opinion and vote on presented issues. This lodge is your lodge. Take advantage of its benefits and you can be part of the change for the Advancement of the Lodge. Don’t forget the first Friday of each month is our monthly drawing. September 11th is always a somber day, but let’s get together for the Buckeyes first home game versus Oregon at Noon to kickoff Ohio State’s football season. This month our PLP, Parking Lot Party, is the same day as the Apple Festival, Saturday the 18th. Please be sure to enjoy both downtown Elyria festivities and stop on by the lodge to visit with new and old friends. We will have a live band, drinks and raffles in our main parking lot. We would love for many of you to join us – bring a friend, too! Our Advancement of the Lodge committee is putting on a Reverse Raffle on Friday, September 24th. The AOL works very hard to keep our lodge running smoothly so please come show your support. Our CP Golf Outing will take place this year on Sunday, September 26th. Let’s make it a good one and all get together to lose some balls in the woods. I will see you in the lodge.

Fraternally Yours, Bill Medlen II ER

Hello fellow Elks,
By now, the grass is usually brown and dry, but
this unusually rainy July I’m sure is keeping everyone
busy.
Between all the fun, games, parties and social
interaction at the lodge, I hope you’re all able to keep
up with all of that yard work. Having attended the
156th Elks Grand Lodge National Convention in
Tampa, Florida, I have a lot of information, goals and
excitement to share with our leadership team and
members. The convention is where the real heart of
Elkdom swells and throbs. New GER T. Keith Mills
has great plans for this year, and the motto for his reign is “Meeting the
Challenge.”
This mantra is useful and relevant in our communities, lodges and
our lives. I hope you are all up for the challenge.
Please remember that our kitchen is open one day a week and run
by volunteers – so please come get some food and show your support.
There are some more great events coming up this month and there
should be a little something for everybody. Our 2nd ever PLP, that’s
Parking Lot Party for those of you who aren’t hip to my lingo, will be
rockin’ on August 14th with the Erie Knight Band. Don’t forget to visit our
website at www.ElyriaElks.com or the National website at www.Elks.org
for some good information, as well as please check out our Facebook
page.
In closing, I hope everybody is doing well. I’m sure there are some
mixed feelings about our new Cleveland baseball name, the
“Guardians.” It doesn’t matter what you call them, or call the stadium
they play in, as long as you support our local team.

I will see you in the lodge.

Fraternally Yours, Bill Medlen II ER