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.
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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:
April 2024
Brother and Sister Elks,
As the Lodges begin the 2024-2025 Fraternal Year, I would like to congratulate the newly installed elected and appointed Lodge officers. Thank you for stepping up to the plate to lead your Lodges forward to a new, successful Lodge Year. Please remember that the Lodge officers sacrifice of themselves to make the Lodges a better place for you, the members. If you joined the Elks to “give back to the community”, now is your chance to volunteer for a Lodge committee.
I am proud to report that Arizona had a winner at the Area 7 Regional Hoop Shoot contest recently held in Boulder City, Nevada. Gabriella Gonzalez, representing Green Valley Lodge #2592, won the Girls 12-13 Year Old Division, and will be hosted by Gregg and Jeannie Boyce as she travels with her family to Chicago, Illinois this month to compete in the National Hoop Shoot Finals representing our great State. Brenda and I will be traveling to Chicago, as we root Gabriella on to victory.
Last month, Brenda and I had the opportunity to travel to beautiful St. George, Utah, for the Spring Meeting of the Utah Elks Association. We visited with friends, old and new, witnessed reports of the incredible works of Charity performed by our Elks family in Utah and had the opportunity to meet our Grand Exalted Ruler Randy Shook and First Lady, Wanda. They will be visiting with us next month as we conduct our Annual AEA Meeting in Tempe. Randy is an accomplished auctioneer and might help auction an item or two for AEMP fundraising.
The District Deputy Grand Exalted Rulers will be conducting their final clinics of the year this month. This is a great opportunity for the newly-installed Exalted Rulers to pick up some pointers on how to run a great Lodge operation. Esteemed Leading Knights, Lodge Secretaries and Lodge Treasurers are also required to attend. Consult the AEA Calendar for a schedule of Clinic dates and locations.
We are wrapping up membership activities for the recently-completed Lodge year. In terms of net membership, we are well on the way to another plus membership per the Grand Lodge Membership Report of 3/14/24, as follows:
Gains 4,271
Losses (1,860)
Delinquents (1,582)
Awaiting Initiation 678
Net 1,507
We are having another extraordinary year, membership-wise, as the latest report shows we are number 3 in the nation, the second consecutive year we have achieved that lofty standard. Congratulations to Membership Chair, Jerry Ingram, his direct committee chairs, the Lodge Secretaries and the AEA members that have made this lofty accomplishment possible.
Dennis Appel and the AEMP Camp Committee will be opening camp on the weekends of April 20-21 and April 27-28. They can use your help. Dennis is in the Directory.
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”). Bring your cowboy/cowgirl finest, as we plan on “raising the roof” on Fun Night. Please let us know if you have any special requests with respect to the meeting or the facilities. Lori Castro, from Steele, is gladly receiving diapers and gift cards. Lori also states…The Elks North Hills Clinic would love a 40’’ TV with a DVD player built in it to have in the Lobby for the Kiddos to watch during their Doctor visits. Anyone having a special connection to this type equipment and can arrange for a donation or special pricing, please let me know. Help me find a deal or donation.
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 5×7 photo to Jerry as soon as possible, but not later than April 15, 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?