Another characteristic of our times is that social clubs such as the Lions, Masons, Elks, Rotary, Moose, etc. have been losing members since the 1960s. They are broad-based groups without a political agenda, where "brothers" are likely to hold a variety of views. Now, people tend to socialize in groups with sharply defined political goals -the ACLU, the Federalist Society, the Club for Growth, EMILY's List- and to spend hours in Internet discussions with like-minded associates.

After six years of fulltime travel, we have a heck of a time remembering details of the campgrounds and RV parks we have called "home". Did our Verizon phones work there? Which site were we in? What did we pay, and was it worth it?

They gathered Saturday at the Braintree Elks Lodge, the sound of music and smell of grilled meat filling the steamy air. Nearly 150 veterans went to the cookout from VA medical centers and shelters in Boston and Brockton

Here's a list of businesses who have lost lots of business or closed due to smoking bans. Includes some FL Elks

a Wassom has gotten used to Michelle Kelemen's daily visits to her tidy yellow kitchen in North Boise. On a recent afternoon, Kelemen, a driver for the Senior Nutrition program, or Meals on Wheels, dropped off a hot tin of cheese ravioli and fruit crisp, with a salad on the side. Kelemen brought in the newspaper. She loosened the lid on a bottle of Ensure nutrition drink for later, and chatted a bit with Wassom before leaning over to give her a hug.

Kids go to camp, thanks to the Elks DERRY - The Derry Salem Elks this year sent 28 children from the local area to Copper Cannon. Copper Cannon is a nonprofit camp located on 128 acres in Franconia Notch. The summer camp program teaches the children fundamentals of good citizenship, moral behavior, respect for themselves and others, and strives to instill a sense of self-esteem and pride.

Two local organizations have combined their resources in order to more adequately provide assistance to members of the surrounding community. On Friday, Modern Woodmen Representative JoLynne Stainbrook and Modern Woodmen Youth Service Club representative Adina Findley presented members of the Fort Scott Elks Lodge with a check for $500 that will be used for various Elks projects, according to Stainbrook.

New Egypt Elks Lodge #2457 recently constructed 10 handicapped accessible picnic tables for the Vineland Veteran's Home. Advertisement Lumber was generously donated by Pro-Build of Lakewood and Ace Hardware of New Egypt. Lodge members delivered the tables as well as sundae toppings and supplies for the veterans to enjoy an ice cream social.

MATILLA, Florida - Saw it with my own eyes. The Elks, that would be the Benevolent Order of Elks, are recruiting members and advertising themselves with Yahoo banner ads. Good job. In our Bowling Alone era, most hereditary and benevolent societies are struggling, and none more struggling than what were traditionally male benevolent groups. All of these groups still play a strong part in our culture, millions of members, though they are mostly forgotten by the media. If you read The New York Times, you wouldn't even know they exist. But the Jaycees, Rotary, Kiwanis, Sertoma and Knights of Columbus all still soldier on, though members are getting older and these groups must attract new members to stay viable.

Their organization, Hobart Elks Lodge 1152, formerly was called the Gary Elks Lodge. It was renamed Gary-Hobart Elks Lodge 1152 before the current name was adopted. On Saturday, the lodge celebrated its 100th anniversary.

GoGirls in the Military! GoGirl Partners with Hopkins Elks to Send 250 GoGirl Devices to Troops in Southwest Asia MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Long days in the field with little alone time is something that female troops stationed overseas know well. They also know that it's nearly impossible to find a private, sanitary restroom while on the job. To empower female military members with on-the-go bathroom convenience, GoGirl by FemMed Inc. has teamed up with the Hopkins Elks Lodge in Hopkins, Minn., to donate 250 GoGirl devices to troops stationed in Southwest Asia. "The female military members protecting our country overseas often are in situations where there isn't a real restroom for miles. Though not openly recognized as an issue, it truly is an inconvenience," said Sarah Dillon, president of GoGirl. "Working with the Hopkins Elks, we saw an opportunity to empower these women with restroom freedom and flexibility through GoGirl, and realized that donating 250 devices was the least that we could do to make their lives easier."

The Tracy Elks Club's latest effort to help youngsters get into sports included a little coaching this summer from the golf pro at Old River Golf Course. This was the third of four week-long youth golf clinics hosted by the Elks and Old River. Curtis Matsuno, who teaches at Old River and coaches players as they prepare for top amateur tournaments, said he's learned that a lot of families want to get their kids into the sport. It started modestly enough when "Spanky" Rathjen, former Grand Exalted Ruler of Lodge 2031,

The Simi Valley Elks Lodge is getting in gear for for its sixth annual car show from noon to 3 p.m. Sun., Aug. 9 at the Elks Lodge, 1561 Kuehner Drive, Simi Valley. Model A and T cars, muscle cars, Mustangs, Corvettes, Chevys, Fords, motorcycles, side cars and race cars are welcome. All entries will receive a gift bag with wares and information from automotive-related companies. The car show will have no entry fee and no admission charge. Music MX will present '50s music during the show.

Smoke to clear at Elks Lodge By Paul Leighton Staff writer BEVERLY - As Arthur Denault lined up a shot at the pool table yesterday afternoon, he took a puff on his ubiquitous pipe. It's a scene that has played out for decades inside the Beverly-Salem Elks Lodge, where the 89-year-old Denault has been a member for 29 years. It's also a scene that's about to end - at least the part including Denault's pipe.

The Aripeka Elks Lodge has booked six shows at its entertainment venue in Hudson from October through March for its popular dinner show series, including a family of professional musicians, several celebrity impressionist/impersonators, a couple of solo acts, and a group of 10 singers, dancers and musicians.

DAY 2: Called out for breaking Elk rule Frank Mickadeit Columnist The Orange County Register fmickadeit@ocregister.com Comments 3 | Recommend 5 Day II: "Eleven Lodges, Eleven Nights" To get the full schedule, see other videos and read about other Elks tour stops, click here. From Newport Beach - When the day began, this venerable waterfront Elks Lodge had 990 members. By the end of the night Thursday, it had at least three new members (some of my buds) and one guy who, after evoking a public meltdown by an Elk in front of a packed house, will now never get in. (Me.) L

DAY 2: Called out for breaking Elk rule Frank Mickadeit Columnist The Orange County Register Day II: "Eleven Lodges, Eleven Nights" To get the full schedule, see other videos and read about other Elks tour stops, click here. From Newport Beach - When the day began, this venerable waterfront Elks Lodge had 990 members. By the end of the night Thursday, it had at least three new members (some of my buds) and one guy who, after evoking a public meltdown by an Elk in front of a packed house, will now never get in. (Me.) L

BRAINTREE - It took eight and a half minutes at noontime Saturday for more than 450 motor cycle riders to pull out of the old Fore River shipyard to start the second annual Joanna Mullin Motorcycle Run. The 67-mile ride was sponsored by Braintree Moose #413 and Weymouth Elks #2232. The ride across the South Shore ended at the Weymouth Elks on Washington Street.

Moose and Elks joint effort!!! It took eight and a half minutes at noontime Saturday for more than 450 motor cycle riders to pull out of the old Fore River shipyard to start the second annual Joanna Mullin Motorcycle Run. The 67-mile ride was sponsored by Braintree Moose #413 and Weymouth Elks #2232. The ride across the South Shore ended at the Weymouth Elks on Washington Street.

Kevin Blaine, Red Bank Elks Lodge #233 Youth Activities Chairman, presents a check for $1000 to Jill Mc Donald, Employment Readiness Program Manager, of Fort Monmouth. Advertisement The donation will benefit over 50 children of Fort Monmouth's 2009 Summer Youth Volunteer Program. This program is an employment readiness program held for teenagers who are immediate family members of the military and of Ft Monmouth. The students will be gaining "World of Work" experience during the summer program through volunteer services in and around the base community.

Burlesque comes to Long Beach, raising $1,500 plus for Tall Elks charity By John Nechvatal For the Observer LONG BEACH - On Saturday, July 11, the Long Beach Elks lodge provided an entertainment first on the Peninsula. Reminiscent of the days before television and the Internet when live shows were the rage, a good old-fashioned burlesque show was staged in the Elks ballroom. The 12 "performers," all members of Long Beach Elks Lodge No. 1937, had the chance to show off their feminine side to the delight of a packed house. The event was the brainchild of past Lecturing Knight Natalie Hanson, who has owned an ad agency and a production company. Costuming proved to be Natalie's largest hurdle as most of the performers are not exactly sized for the runway. The evening began at 6 p.m. with a delicious ham dinner served to all. Ham was chosen

PITTSBURG - If there is a weakness in Andrew Ortolani's golf game, it's chipping. "I probably also need to work on my grip on my driver," he said. As a young man just a month away from being 11 years old, Ortolani takes the game of golf pretty seriously - at least during the six-week golf lessons at Four Oaks Golf Course, sponsored by the Pittsburg Elks Lodge. "I like competing for those slushies," he said, adding that blue raspberry is his favorite flavor.