Youth Activities of Prescott , AZ Elks Lodge # 330

Youth Awards Day May 8th, 2004

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Youth Awards Day May 10th. 2003
Proud student winners display their certificates and trophies for

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ELK YOUTH AWARDS

On May 11, 2003 the Lodge held it’s annual Youth Awards in conjunction with Elks National Youth Week. First, Second and third Place Certificates were presented to Americanism Essay and Drug Awareness Poster Winners. These winners were also presented with $100.00, $75.00 and $50.00 Saving Bonds. Hoop Shoot and Soccer first and second place winners were presented Gold and Silver Trophies. ENF Scholarship winners were presented their Certificates as were the Brent Brees Memorial Scholarship winners. This is a new scholarship being handled through the Lodge on behalf of a member. Certificates of Appreciation were presented to BSA Troop 330 who presented the colors, also Teachers of First place winners of Americanism and Drug Posters. Certificates were then presented to Glassford Hill Middle School and Humboldt Unified School District for use of Gym in Hoop Shoot Contests both local and North District. Assisting with presentations were Hon. Rowle Simmons, Mayor of Prescott and Councilman Mike Flannery of Prescott Valley. Cookies and Ice Cream were served afterwards by the Elks Ladies.

The Story of Elkdom

In the mid 1860s an immigrant from England organized a group known as the “Jolly Corks”. He had belonged to “The Jolly Corks” - a group of professional actors in England, before coming to this country. He gathered a group of actors in New York City and that was the beginning. Soon they decided that they should have an American name, thus they searched for a suitable name. Many names were considered and put aside; finally the Elk was selected for its stature, grace and speed to name a few attributes. Thus in February 1868 the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America (B.P.O.E.) was Chartered by Congress as a Fraternal Order. Elks Lodge #1 was instituted with 15 Professional men in New York City.

After a time they decided that they would have to do more than just put on plays and they began to look toward charitable works in their community. Today there are 2300 Elk Lodges in the United States and its Possessions. In the state of Arizona there are 43 Lodges; Divided into 4 districts - the East District having 10 Lodges. The other Districts have 11 Lodges they are West, South and we are in the North District. Our District stretches from Bullhead City to Page along a line bordering 1-40 and highway 89A; and from Prescott to Show Low.

PRESCOTT LODGE

Prescott Lodge #330 was instituted in Prescott, January 1896 and chartered July 7, 1896. Prescott #330 is known as the Mother Lodge of Arizona being chartered first in Arizona even before statehood. Through the years, various committees have been added - some are responsible for the awards given here today. The prime work of the Elks is CHARITY, our VETERANS and our YOUTH. “Our youth of today, are Our Leaders of Tomorrow”. And we want to help them to develop good citizenship characteristics. Secondly, we support the Veterans - The Elks have a motto “As Long as there are Veterans, the B.P.O. Elks will not forget them.” - and last, help in the community when we can. This is done at Christmas with food baskets to those who are less fortunate than others.

    We are a Patriotic Service Organization, and all our Ritual themes are related to Patriotism for our country. The cardinal principals are Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity. The prime requisits are, you must be a U. S. citizen, you must believe in God and be at least 21 and of good character. We are an organization of membership by invitation.

    Primarily we are a Lodge, that is the part that does the work in the community, the reason we are here today, to honor our Youth. Then we have a Club and that is the social part of Elkdom, although many refer to us as just the Elks Club.

    For the most part all work in the Lodge is on a volunteer basis. Some areas of work require paid help of course. We also have an Elks Ladies Organization who also do charitable work in the area. These are Ladies who are wives, widows and sisters or mothers who are single. In our community the Elks Ladies bake cookies and deliver them to the Prescott VA Med. Ctr. At Christmas they help in the “Angel Tree booth in Ponderosa Mall to mention a few items.

MAJOR PROJECT

The Ladies along with the Lodge also contribute to the AEMP this is the children’s wing in the Steele Memorial Research Center. It is located on the U of A Campus in Tucson. Arizona Elks Association (AEA) is committed to $250,000 plus per year to support this research. Already life saving strides have been made in the research center due to this support.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The B.P.O. Elks is second only to the U. S. Government in the amount of scholarships awarded to our young people each year. Each year the Elks National Foundation (ENE) now awards $2.2 plus million in scholarships to 500 senior boys and girls. We in Presoctt Lodge feel fortunate to have been instrumental in presenting: - 4th Place national awards of $1,000 for 4 years and $800 or more one time state awards consecutively for the last few years. The AEA also has an annual one time award to those handicapped or seeking education in the Technical or Vocational fields.

WHO ARE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WE HONOR TODAY

AMERICAMSM

One group are boys and girls grades 5 through 8; they write an Americanism Essay on a Patriotic Theme of 150 words or less; giving their ideas of what the theme means to them. This work is done is the classroom so the ideas are their own. These are graded on a score from 1 to 10 by several members and Elks Ladies and spouses. We have three winners in the 5 & 6th and 7 & 8th grade boys and girls. Three categories in each division receive Saving Bonds 1st place $100.00; 2nd place $75.00 and 3rd place $50.00. We hope these bonds will be used to further their education.

DRUG AWARENESS

Another group you might say is in art. These young people draw and color or paste pictures depicting the ill effects of drugs, alcohol and/or smoking. This is our Drug Awareness Poster Contest. These pieces of art are guided only in the size of the paper upon which they are drawn. The rest is their ideas and how they, in their minds, envision the effects of the drugs. The age categones are: K-2; 3-4; 5-6; 7-8 grades. The winners of each will receive a Saving Bond; 1st place $100.00, 2nd place $75.00 and third place $50.00.

HOOP SHOOT

The next two groups are in sports. The first is Hoop Shoot - the age divisions are 8-9; 10-11; and 12-13. Each must shoot 10 baskets from the foul line and after each contestant has a turn the first shoots again for 15 shots and so on in the same order. Ties are broken with five (5) shot tie breaker senes. The 8-9 year old contestants shoot from a line four (4) feet in front of the regulation foul line. Lodge contestants are first place winner at their respective schools The first place winners at the Lodge meet, compete in district competition.

In 1994 a 9 yr. old Prescott girl Tori Stooks won with a consistent score 22 of 25 and a final three way tie, then a two way tie breaker series to win National Champion.

There is a reason for giving trophies in the sports competition. It is traditional in the field of sports; and in the event one of the winners should go to the Olympics there can be no claim to receiving prize money or any other form of compensation.

SOCCER

Soccer contests began in Arizona about 1993, going only to state level, today soccer contest winners go to a higher level of competition.

The age divisions are- Under 8 (7 & under), under 10 (8 & 9), under 12 (10 & 11) and under 14 (12 & 13). Ages are based on August 1, of the contest year. The under 8 division kick at 5 goals 21” high and ranging from 48’ wide to 17” wide. All ties are broken in five kick series at

the 17” goal. All other ages divisions kick from a designated distance to a goal of various size openings set against a regulation size goal. With the openings valued 1 through 5 the maximum The under 8 division kick at 5 goals 21” high and ranging from 48” wide to 17” wide. All ties are broken in five kick series at the 17” goal. All other ages divisions kick from a designated distance to a goal of various size openings set against a regulation size goal. With the openings valued 1 through 5 the maximum points is 75. Lodge first place winners compete in District competition and then State Competition.

YOUTH GOVERNMENT DAY

Youth in Government is a program where students announce their candidacy for a municipal office. The winning candidates on a certain date then sit with their elected counterparts at a council meeting. Earlier in the day they are given a tour of Town Hall and see how real municipal offices operate.

At present we have the cooperation of Chino Valley.

We sponsor a Boy Scout Troop #330 and Cub Pack #330. We are very proud of these young men and their accomplishments. The troop has produced several Eagle Scouts in the past few years. Some of their work is seen in Fain Park where trails were made as a work of Eagle Scouts earning their badge.

BINGO FUNDING

    The Lodge programs discribed above are possible through funds from our Bingo Committee.

    The Most Valued Student Scholarship Program is sponsored byThe Elks National Foundation (ENF). The applications are sent to the high schools in our area about November 1 and are due to the Lodge by the January date on the application.

    Applications are judged and graded on Scholastic (ACT/SAT)Leadership (hw many years an Officer in organizations, Awards, how many years in an organization not an Officer, and if they held a job, paid or voluntary, and financial need.

    Arizona sends 15 highewt scored applications to Grand Lodge for judging. These compete for 2 First Place Awards $60,000; 2 Second Place Awards $40,000; 2 Third Place Awards $20,000 and 494 Fourth Place Awards $4,000.

    In addition the Arizona Elks Association (AEA) is able to award one time scholarship payments to about 50 entries that didnot go forward for Grand Lodge judging.

    And AEA also has a Technical/Vocational and Special Needs one time award scholarship grant program. Special needs is a Handicap Scholarship program.

AEA MAJOR PROJECTS

MOTTO
“CHILDREN’S LAUGHTER IS WHAT WE ARE AFTER”

Juvenile diabetes is the most common chronic disease of childhood. The Steele Memorial research Center at he University of Arizona (UA) is working to find a better way to care of our children.

Children are apecial! That’s why the Elks built the Arizona Elks Clinic for Children and Adults in the Arizona Health Science Center. This out-patient clinic is devoted exclusively to children - from newborns to toddlers to teens. The medical professionals there are specially trained and decicated to taking care of children. The c linic is designed for children by people who love children.

Youth Activities
Allen Spratley,PER / Dick Burgard
Chairmen 2001/2002