March 18th marked the momentous occasion of West Shore and Harrisburg Lodges merging to create West Shore – Harrisburg Lodge 2257.
To me it feels like a homecoming of sorts. West Shore originated with members of Harrisburg, branching onto the other side of the river in 1962. My own father-in-law, Harry Welch, is a life member of Harrisburg.
Our brothers and sisters from Harrisburg bring with them a rich Elks history , being founded over 130 years ago in 1892. Meade Detweiler, founding member of Harrisburg Lodge, was the third and last man to ever hold the office of Grand Exalted Ruler two years in a row. He is the only GER to hail from Central PA. The monument to his service to Elkdom stands proudly at the entrance to our Lodge.
My sincere hope is that our Harrisburg family will feel welcome in their new home for we are truly excited to welcome them.
Thank you to all the members who helped make the 2024-2025 Officers Installation dinner such an amazing success. The club manager, chef , staff and food were all outstanding. After the morning installation ceremony, the decorating team worked quickly to transform the ballroom into a spectacle of color and light. I am very grateful for all the support.
In the 2024-2025 year, I invite you to share your gifts, your skills, in service of your Lodge. There are so many opportunities for your threads to be woven into the fabric of West Shore – Harrisburg. Always remember, this Lodge belongs to you, the members. Elevate your voice and be heard.
With humility,
Tina B. Welch
Exalted Ruler
Greetings Elks Family,
Happy 4th of July! A day of freedom to express our pride in being a nation of hope and prosperity.
The Elks National Convention is slated for July 2nd thru July 5th in Minneapolis Minnesota. I am looking forward to being one of your Lodge representatives at this annual event. While there, I plan to attend various training seminars, network with representatives of other Lodges and tour the “Twin Cities”.
The Home Service Picnic is scheduled for July 22nd at noon in the pavilion. If you have time to volunteer, please reach out to our Home Service committee chair, Deb Coombs. Deb and her team do an amazing job hosting this event.
Please check out our Week at a Glance (WaaG) email, website calendar, Facebook page and Lodge posters for upcoming events. We have some good bands scheduled on upcoming Friday nights. Come out and enjoy the fun, food and fellowship.
In closing, I will share this quote.
“Sometimes it only takes one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life”
Until next month, stay positive and keep smiling.
Richard A Clotfelter
Exalted Ruler