Congrats Arizona on our 5 star rating from the Grand Lodge for a seventh year.
Welcome to the great state of Arizona, the home of one of the many wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon. AEA President Al Kayal thanks all visitors for stopping by to see what our Association is doing.
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To Register you must be a member in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. With this registration you will gain access to certain documents such as our AEA Directory, Monthly Newsletters, other things that are only privileged to our members.
*** The 109th Annual Convention Form is now online and can be accessed here Convention Registration Form or on the Meetings Committee page here —> Meetings ***
Our State Major Projects are the Steele Children’s Research Center at the University of Arizona and the Youth Camp in Globe, AZ.
Want information on how to join our Order or information about a Lodge near you! Click the here to inquire.
Click to see photos of your 2023-24 Arizona Elks Association Officers, Appointees, Grand Lodge Representatives, along with their spouses.
The State President’s Motto:
“Thanks, for Lending a Hand.”
The State President’s Monthly Message:
March 2024
Brother and Sister Elks,
I hope you all had a Happy Valentine’s Day and had the opportunity to spend a little special time with your Valentine.
This is such an “electric” time of year as the current Exalted Rulers put the icing on the cake of their current Lodge year and the incoming Exalted Rulers plan for the Installation of new Lodge Officers and the start of their own year of leading their Lodges. I trust that the information and guidance provided at the recently completed Leading Knights Clinics has been well-taken and will soon be implemented by our new Lodge leaders. I encourage the outgoing Exalted Rulers to document the successes of their administration:
- Grand Lodge Contest A, All-American Lodge Application due to District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler by 4/1/24
- Grand Lodge Contest B, Community Service and Image Brochure due to District Chair by 3/15/24
- Grand Lodge Contest C, Memorial Service Brochure due to District Chair by 3/15/24
- Grand Lodge Contest D, Lodge Bulletin Contest due to District Chair by 3/15/24
- AEA Lodge of the Year Contest, Application due to District Chair by 4/1/24
We witnessed the successful completion of the Arizona Hoop Shoot Contest activities as the AEA Hoop Shoot Finals were conducted in Apache Junction on February 10. At the time of this writing, Brenda and I are readying to journey on the Junk Food Express with the six contest winners, their families and a troupe of Elks supporters as we travel to Boulder City, Nevada for the Area 7 Hoop Shoot Finals. The respective winners from the states of Nevada, Utah and California-Hawaii will square off against our capable winners for the opportunity to represent Area 7 at the Grand Lodge Hoop Shoot Contest in Chicago in April. Keep your fingers crossed! We owe a debt of gratitude to Jeannie and Gregg Boyce for handling this monstrous effort so capably year after year.
We are in the homestretch of the Lodge year. In terms of net membership, we are well on the way to another plus membership per the Grand Lodge Membership Report of 2/8/24, as follows:
Gains 3,704
Losses (1,561)
Delinquents (1,838)
Awaiting Initiation 571
Net 876
We are having another extraordinary year, membership-wise, as the latest report shows we are number 5 in the nation. And, you know the routine: a) Let’s contact our delinquent members and find out why they are not paying dues or what we can do to help, if needed, and encourage them to renew, b) Let’s actively inspire our existing members to invite friends, family and acquaintances to join our great Order, c) Let’s invite our membership, by specific and detailed invitation, to attend our fundraising events and to help with Hoop Shoot, Visiting the Sick, supporting our Veterans, etc., d) Let’s review our Stray Elks lists, contact those potential members that have moved into the jurisdiction of our Lodges and invite them to come to a Lodge Meeting or an event, e) Let’s welcome our winter visitors back and encourage them to renew their dues; and f) Initiate, Initiate, Initiate – Consider conducting a special Initiation in March to bring all possible applicants into the fold.
Brenda and I have been coordinating the many details of the May Convention with our life-savers, Janet and Ed Leuer of the Meetings Committee. We hope you will find this to be a fun and enjoyable convention. You will note that the Committee has arranged for a very special room rate, especially considering current market rates, and has held the line on Convention registration fees and meals. Brenda is planning another spectacular luncheon for the spouses/partners/guests. Grand Exalted Ruler Randy Shook and First Lady Wanda will be our guests of honor. State Sponsors and dear friends Jim Grillo (and Lucia) and Bob Duitsman (and Beth) will also be in attendance. You might get your registration forms in early (“just sayin”). Please let us know if you have any special requests with respect to the meeting or the facilities.
Special Deputy Jerry Grimes has requested that each Arizona Lodge take a picture of its “donations” banner at your Lodge or at a Special Event sponsored by your Lodge. Consider having a group of your officers in the photo as well. Send the photo to Jerry as soon as possible and he will have a poster made up displaying your Lodges’ achievements. This will be prominently displayed during the convention for everyone to admire, especially our out-of-town guests.
Please remember that the Arizona Elks Association and its officers are here to lend a hand in most any facet of Lodge operation, without repercussion, if you desire. Please feel free to consult with any of us, regardless of the request.
Don’t forget to supply evidence of our substantial and many accomplishments for publication to this AEA Newsletter, to the Grand Lodge Magazine and to local news.
Brenda and I are proud to be of service to all of you and to this great Association.
May God bless our troops, our first responders, our families and all of you.
Thanks for Lending a Hand!
Fraternally,
Al Kayal, President
Arizona Elks Association
Online Forms
Check out our Online Forms page we’ve got set up. Maybe you’ll find an easier way of sending data to the appropriate person in the Arizona Elks Association.
Elks Training
Take the Training Quiz # 11 Today! You will not be graded, however you will be able to grade yourself after submitting your answers. Please take the quiz today!
Arizona Elks Red Vest Order Form
If you’re planning on heading to Austin for the 2024 Grand Lodge Convention order your RED VEST TODAY and show your Arizona Spirit and comradery.
We offer the Arizona Elks Red Vests in sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL. You can have your vest with or without a front pocket.
You have the option of Jerry Grimes from Kingman, picking up your vest for you, or you may have the vest delivered to your home.
Click on the Red Vest Order Form link above and email it. Contact information is on the form
* * * Ladies * * * * Jewelry Project * * * * Update * * * *
Thank you AEA Ladies and friends for all the jewelry donated to the AEA Jewelry Project. At the May convention in Tempe I reported the following:
- The Jewelry Project is under the guidance of the Past State President’s Spouses
- In one year we served over 1,100 children, patients of the six AEA Elks Clinics [our original clinic at the hospital, North Hills, Orange Grove, La Cholla, Glendale, Mesa] and the Steele Children’s Hospital plus, three Clothe a Child events held in Yuma, Kearny and Chandler chose over 2,500 pieces of jewelry for their Mothers, Grandmothers, Nanas or favorite nurse.
- This was accomplished without using any funding from AEA or Major Projects
For further information please contact me with questions at any time via [email protected] or phone 520-235-5598.
Thank You! It will make your heart swell with pride and accomplishment!
Diane Skorupski
Have a question about our Arizona Elks State Association or about the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks?