Dear Elks & Spouses,

It is now time to say "Congratulations" and a "BIG THANK YOU" to Letha Conner, ER and her core of officers for making it thru the year. I know a lot of hard decisions where made but they where all for the best of our Lodge.

I would like to thank the PER's for performing the installation of the new officers.

I would also like to thank, everyone for entrusting my officers and myself with the Lodge Charter. I am confident that with everyone's help it will be there for many years to come. To all those who have stepped up and volunteered to be an officer or committee chairman, I must say thanks and let you know that myself and the other officers and fellow members will be there to help, just ask.

It is everyone's responsibility, not only the officers, to keep our Lodge Charter on the wall. This year our finances are not starting out very well. Realizing that everyone has family ties and other commitments but without everyone's support there will have to be some very hard decisions made in the near future.

Some of the things that may have to be looked at are; cutting hours of operation; asking for volunteer bartenders, or possibly some janitorial volunteers. Fellow members I only tell you this because I think everyone needs to know that your Lodge IS headed towards some financial difficulty. Currently there is a tax bill of $9500 and insurance bill of $14,600. We are in great need of your suggestions and help to financially solidify our Lodge. Currently we are working very hard to try and get the tax bill reduced.

I know that with everyone's help by volunteering for functions; encouraging new members, or just by stopping in and supporting our many projects and functions, we can turn things around.

Not everything is gloom and doom. "YOU" are still a member of the greatest fraternal organization around with the friendliest bunch of people that a person could ask for or be a part of.

Our Monthly Drawings are going very well, bingo is going strong (that's why we need more volunteers!), and there is a large core of members playing cards several nights a week; a warm area has been created for smoking, but that isn't enough. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED.

I look forward to you sharing your ideas and suggestions with myself and my officers. All of us together, can make great things happen here at Nelsonville Elks #543!

Fraternally,
John Johnson, PER
Exalted Ruler