MARTINS FERRY - Perhaps it's the fact that James L. Nichelson is the oldest of 10 children. Or maybe it is his education, military or law experience that make him what he is today.
Whatever the cause, this Martins Ferry resident's unique abilities will soon be realized by a national audience. On July 9 in Portland, Ore., Nichelson, 61, will be installed as the Grand Exalted Ruler - national president - for the Protective Order of the Elks. He is the first Ohio resident to be named to the post in 38 years.
Hemet becomes home to RV'ers next month for the 41st annual California Elks Camper Rally, which will raise money for to pay for therapy for children in California and Hawaii whose disabilities require therapy but who don't qualify for state and other government-agency funding.
This year marks the 51st anniversary of the Elks Lodge in Morden.
Morden Elks Lodge is a fraternal organization that raises funds to support local community and children's needs along with supporting the Elks of Canada Purple Cross Fund.
This fund is accessible locally to help out children in need of medical care where additional funding is required.
While most fraternal organizations are struggling to find new members, the Morden Elks are fortunate to have had a large number of young men - 28 in total - join the organization in the past few years.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Malden Lodge #965 is teaming up with Healthy Malden on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 6 p.m., and will offer the notMYkid substance abuse workshop, a national initiative of the notMYkid organization that educates parents, schools and children on substance abuse prevention.
The MV Elks Lodge recently organized a drug outreach at the Laguna Hills Mall. Drug Awareness Chairman Gloria R. LeCouvre set up a Community Booth to distribute Drug Awareness Brochures, Pamphlets, Coloring books, and American flags to the parents and children shopping for back-to-school items. Volunteers Nettie Bennington and Gerry Schiphorst were on hand to help during the 11 am to 6 pm project.
"For the eighth year local police officers and the Cops for Kids organization are making Christmas a little brighter for underprivileged youths in Iroquois County."
"Thirty-five students in grades K-6 are having a little brighter Christmas, with the help of volunteers from Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge #2815 and the Marana Unified School District."
Most kids in SOME AREAS have access to computers or tablets, yes -- but not all. I've had members of several Lodges tell me that the Dictionary program is a vitally important one for many students. What we are giving them is a small, inexpensive paperback dictionary. But when we tell them that it's THEIR book -- and suggest that they write their name inside the front cover -- we often have children burst into tears because they've never owned a book of their own before. This isn't a program to look down our noses at. It's a program that help students with their studies, boosts their self-esteem, and wins life-long friends for the Elks.