Updated: November 19, 2009

 

 

NATIONAL FOUNDATION COMMITTEE

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Chairperson: Diane B Usoff

Harrisburg Lodge No. 12 (SC)

511 Cattel St, Middletown, PA 17057

717-944-3369

Vice Chairman East: Elwood J Oxenreiter, Reading Lodge No. 12 (SE)

Vice Chairman West: William Schran, Etna Lodge No. 932 (M)
Patricia Rupert, McKees Rocks Lodge No. 1263 (M)
Lisa A Schroeder, State College Lodge No. 1600 (NC)

Scott D King, Bellefonte Lodge No. 1094 (NC)

Curtis Shipman, Sayre Lodge No. 1148 (NE)

Craig N Roberts, Bangor Lodge No. 1106 (NE)

Donna J Phillips, Bloomsburg Lodge No. 436 (NEC)
E Lance Nelson, Frackville Lodge No. 1533 (NEC)
Robert L Dahlquist, Ridgway Lodge No. 872 (NW)
Les Owens, Erie Lodge No. 67 (NW)

Richard Tayloe, Chambersburg Lodge No. 600 (SC)

Elwood J Oxenreiter, Reading Lodge No. 12 (SE)

A Keith Hilling, Uniontown Lodge No. 370 (SW)
Walter J Wieczorek Jr, Coraopolis Lodge No. 1090 (W)
Robert Cino, Beaver Falls Lodge No. 348 (W)
Paul W Stasko, Tarentum Lodge No. 644 (WC)

Suellen Shick, Indiana Lodge No. 931 (WC)

 


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Elks November, 2009 ENF Speech Radisson, Harrisburg, PA

You may be wondering why I am dressed this way.  I want to emphasize that for ENF we need to do more follow through.  You may notice that I call it “follow-though,” not “follow-up.” The reason is simple. I believe the thought of following up indicates a separate action from a previous action. This sometimes causes one to believe that following up is too time-consuming or not essential. A good follow-through, as athletes do in sports, is essential for any success.

For ENF, the importance of follow-through can’t be overstated.  Launching an activity without the proper follow-through can mean poor results.

We seem to be monitoring ENF at a high level.  We are concerned that we are in the 40’s in regards to where PA stands; we are concerned that the districts and lodges meet the per capita goal, but perhaps what we should be focusing on is our members.  We seem to be great at having new members sign up for ENF, but fail to realize we need to keep informing members what great projects ENF support or that their pledge needs to continue or be renewed to give PA the 1.77 ratio we receive from ENF.  Some lodges and districts are great at this follow-through, while in other lodges and districts, we need to greatly improve.

Let me explain follow through in another manner – this will help to explain the reason I am dressed like this.  I am not an avid golfer- but I went to a driving range a few months ago. I had little clue what I was doing, but I happened to be standing next to someone who was in the middle of a lesson. I watched closely and tried to apply what the trainer was telling his student to make my swing better. After a few tries, I was consistently driving that sucker over 100 yards - with some sense of control to boot. I realize this is no great feat, but I was thrilled! This was much better than my initial attempts - some of which went backwards (don't ask...).

Anyway - one of the main points the instructor kept mentioning was the importance of following through with the swing.  "You're not following through," "make sure you follow through,' "what happened to the follow through?"

I began thinking about how follow through is critical for success in many sports. In basketball you have to follow through with your shot - in baseball you need to follow through with your swing.

Of course, the principal of follow through is not limited to sports, but I had not previously seen what a structured concept of following through would look like for ENF.  We pride ourselves at conventions lodge and district meetings on doing a great job, but the general consensus is that we can do a better job following through for ENF.

One of the most important tasks to perform is to look past best guesses, best practices, and intuition. Often times, the keen eye can get things right most of the time, but proper use of your ENF data will steer you in the right direction all the time. Reviewing your data to discover what your members are doing and want, and then doing something specifically for them is one of the most effective, and often overlooked, follow through activities you can engage in. Since your data is constantly changing, review your data regularly.  This is not only related to the ENF reports, but also to the interests of your members.  Find out what they want and do something for them!

Update highly visible areas such as prominent photos or display cases in your Lodges and your content in your bulletins on a regular basis. 

Show me what you can do – let’s hit a grand slam for ENF.

Thank you!

Diane B. Usoff, ENF PA State Chair

 

 

 

 


Note, below is an overview of the Elks National Foundation as taken from the Order's National Website, please refer to: www.elks.org/enf for more information or contact the Grand Lodge.

Fast Facts

1. What is the Elks National Foundation?

With a grant of $100,000, the Elks National Foundation was established in 1928 as the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America. Today we boast more than 183,000 active donors and an endowment fund valuing $390 million. The ENF has contributed $235.7million toward Elks' charitable projects nationwide. The Foundation is a public, non-profit, tax-exempt corporation as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Tax Reform Act of 1959. Donations to the Elks National Foundation are deductible for federal income and estate tax purposes.

2. What is the mission of the Elks National Foundation?

The mission of the Elks National Foundation is to help Elks build stronger communities. We fulfill this pledge by investing in communities where Elks live and work. We provide tomorrow’s leaders, our youth, with a healthy beginning; honor the Elks’ pledge to never forget our veterans; help the state Elks associations accomplish their charitable objectives and fund projects that improve the quality of life in local Elks communities.

3. How is the Foundation administered?

The Elks National Foundation is administered by a board of trustees composed of seven past national presidents of the BPO Elks of the USA, each serving a seven-year term. A director, who reports to the board, oversees day-to-day operations of the administrative offices in Chicago.

4. Who contributes to the Elks National Foundation?

Since inception, the Foundation has received almost $154 million in contributions and bequests from Elks, Lodges, state associations and other supporters of our philanthropic efforts. With a team of volunteers at the local, district and state levels, the Foundation raises more than $5 million each year.

5. How does the Endowment Fund work?

All unrestricted donations go into a permanent endowment fund, where each gift earns interest for lifetimes. Your gift will never be touched. Only the income earned by this fund can be used to support charitable programs. As the fund grows, the influence of your gift will grow with it, forever. Each year, the ENF Board of Trustees approves distributions from the fund for charitable projects. The current value of the fund is $390 million.

6. Who pays the Foundation's operating expenses?

The Foundation has an operating budget of $1,594,081. These expenses are borne by the Foundation.

7. How much will the Foundation disburse this year?

The Elks National Foundation will disburse more than $14.8 million during the 2005-2006 year

8. How will this money be used?

9. What are the Foundation's primary giving methods?

10. How can I get more information?

Contact the Elks National Foundation, 2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614-2256; phone: 773/755-4728, fax: 773/755-4729, e-mail: enf@elks.org.

 

 

 


July 21, 2009

Wow - what can I say but the South Central District is doing a fantastic job in supporting ENF. Harrisburg Lodge is currently ranked #7 in the Nation for the Chairperson challenge. As a state, we are ranked 39 out of 48.  Let's hope we can improve this status.

 

I am proud to say that EVERY lodge in the GREAT SOUTH CENTRAL District has contributed to ENF. We have a high per capita of $8.41 and a low of $0.25 - but every Lodge is participating this early in the Elks year. Wouldn't it be GREAT if the Great South Central had EVERY Lodge meet the per capita this year? We are well on our way, and need to continue to support ENF. I am available to assist the Lodges in any way I can, as well as the District Chair for ENF, Richard Taylor from Chambersburg Lodge #600 can also provide assistance.

 

Remember, we have 2 new traveling trophies for ENF for the State. These trophies are for the District and the Lodge that have the highest percentage increase from the previous year - whether they met the per capita or not. Wouldn't it be great if the Great South Central District won the District award and a Lodge within our District won the Lodge award? We also have a traveling trophy for the District with the highest per capita, and perhaps, we will see a new traveling trophy this year. One can never be sure what the State Chair person will do or what she is up to. But you can rest assure, she is not being quiet in regards to ENF. I was wondering if we could have a dunk a Past State President event at one of our District events. Of course, this is only an idea that has been passing through my head and has not been cleared with anyone. Gee, I wonder who would possibly be considered to fill this important role to support ENF in our District? It is ideas like this, that could help to make the Great South Central District become a force to reckon with in regards to ENF. Let's do all we can!

 

In case you are wondering what ENF has done for PA - below are some statistics.

State Charities Grant                                      $107,880.00

Special Projects Grant                                    $89,360.00

Bonus Grant                                                    $28,500.00

Most Valuable Student                                   $64,000.00

Legacy Award                                                 $24,000.00

National Veterans Service Commission         $25,620.00

 

That is a total of $399,360.00 for a ratio of 1.907 for every dollar the Foundation received from our state this past year. There is no place on this planet with today's economy, where you can get such a high return on your investment.

 

Please continue to live it loud and let EVERYONE know what a wonderful organization the BPOE Elks are and how much we support our communities.

 

Thank you

Diane Usoff, PA State Chair, ENF

 

 


ENF State Convention May, 15, 2009

 

It is that time again – to provide you with a break if you support ENF.  If you can answer yes to any of the following questions – please stand and remaining standing.

 

Have you worked at the soccer shoots we hold each year?

Have you helped at the hoop shoots we hold each year?

Have you helped spread the word about drug awareness by word of mouth or through

            The literature we give out to children?

Do you have a daughter, son or grandchild that has benefited from Elk’s scholarships?

Have you participated in veterans programs, donated our time by playing cards at a VA

            Hospital, or served a meal to veterans at your Lodge?

 

(If anyone is seated, why haven’t you participated?)

 

For all of you standing, thank you for participating in programs funded by ENF.

 

Give yourself a round of applause and you may be seated.

 

Surely these programs are worth $10 a year.  So many times we hear “Why should I support ENF?”  Perhaps the people who feel this way do not understand what the Foundation is all about.  You can help change that opinion.  Now for the bad news.  Last year we raised a little more than $172,000 for a state per capita of $3.197.  That is a little more than $70,000 short of the Grand Exalted Ruler’s goal.  We finished 45 out of 49 places.

 

The Foundation is the great heart of Elkdom and we need to keep it flourishing to help our children, our veterans, and our communities who are in need.

 

I would like to thank the Lodges and Districts who met or exceeded the per capita goal.

 

The following Lodges have received certificates from ENF Headquarters for meeting or exceeding the per capita goal.  As your Lodge is called, will all members please rise and remaining standing.  Please hold your applause until all 36 Lodges have been announced.  Lodges, please pick up your plaques in the rear of the room.

 

Allegheny, #339

Bangor, # 1106

Beaver Falls, #348

Berwick, #1138

Bethlehem, #191

Bristol, #970

Clearfield, #540

Connellsville, #503

Coraopolis, #1090

Cranberry, #2249

East Stroudsburg, #310

Elwood City, #1356

Ephrata, #1933

Etna, #932

Fairless Hills, $2023

Frackville, #1533

Franklin, #110

Greenville, #145

Indiana, #931

Lebanon, #631

Mahonoy City, #695

Milton, #913

Norristown, #714

North Penn, #1979

Oakmont, #1668

Pittsburgh (South Hills) #2213

Reading #115

Ridgway, #872

Rochester, #283

Sharon, #103

Tarentum, #644

Titusville, #264

Tyrone, #212

Uniontown, #370

Wilkes-Barre, #109

York, #213

 

Please give them a round of applause.

You may be seated.

 

The following Districts met or exceeded the per capita goal and the District Chair for ENF donated to ENF in 2008- 2009.

 

Will Jim DeStefano from the South East District and Curtis Shipman from the North East District please come forward and receive your letter and pin from ENF.

 

Give them a round of applause.

 

Individual plaques for the highest 3 lodges in each member category who met or exceeded the per capita goal will now be awarded.  Will the Exalted Ruler from each lodge or a representative please come forward to accept your award.   Please hold your applause until the first place winner for each category has been announced.

 

300 members or less

            3rd place – Ellwood City, #1356

            2nd place – Norristown, #714

            1st place – Reading #115

 

301 members to 500 members

            3rd place – Frackville, #1533

            2nd place – Fairless Hills, #2023

            1st place -  East Stroudsburg, #319

 

501 members to 700 members

            3rd place – Tarentum, #644

            2nd place – Ridgway, #872

            1st place – Bangor, #1106

 

701 members or higher

            3rd place – Franklin, #110

            2nd place – Indiana, #931

            1st place – Connellsville, $503

 

We now have 3 traveling trophies and I am hoping to add a 4th one for next year. 

 

The first trophy is for the District with the highest per capita.

            Jim DeStefano, will you please come forward.  The South East District always

                        Wins the award, but next year, let’s give them a run for their money.

 

We have 2 new traveling trophies this year.  These trophies are for the District and the Lodge that have the highest % increase from the previous year -–whether they met the per capita goal or not.  They showed they are working diligently for ENF and improving their support for ENF.

 

Will the Chairman for ENF or a representative from the North Central District please come forward.

 

With the Exalted Ruler or a representative from Norwin Lodge #2313 please come forward.

 

I would like to thank you for allowing me this opportunity to publicly recognize the Lodges and Districts on behalf of ENF.

 

 


How is the Elks national Foundation Helping Pennsylvania?

 

When you give to the Elks national Foundation, you're doing more than funding the Elks national Drug Awareness and Hoop Shoot programs.  You're doing more than supporting hte Community Investments Program and providing Emergency Educational Grants to the children of deceased or totally disabled Elks.  You're doing more than maintaining the Elks Veterans Memorial.

 

You're doing all that, and you're supporting Elkdom in your state.

 

During the 2008-2009 Lodge year, the Elks of Pennsylvania donated $177,991.31 tot he Elks national Foundation.  This year, the Foundation will give back the following:

 

State Charities Grant    $107,880.00

Special Projects Grant    $89,360.00

Bonus Grant                $28,500.00

This is for our state's major charitable project - Home Services - as well as other philanthropic projects.  Portions of these grants will also support our state's Drug Awareness Program, Hoop Shoot, Soccer Shoot and educational programs.

 

Most Valuable Student     $64,000.00

Legacy Award                $24,000.00

ENF will aware a total of 16 most valuable student scholarships to high school seniors from PA.

 

National Veterans Service Commission    $25,620.00

These funds will help provide aid and comfort to hospitalized veterans.

 

Grand Total        $339,360.00

 

That's a ration of 1.907 for every dollar the Foundation received from PA last year.

Since inception in 1928 through March 31, 2009, the Foundation has granted a total of $8,007,277.76 to PA, compared with our total donation of $5,911,508,28.  That's a ratio of 1.355 foe every dollar the Foundation has received from PA.

 

The Foundation's past support includes:

$3,143,172.00 in State Charities Grants

$1,083,761,00 in Special Project Grants

$1,911,356,68 in Emergency Educational Grants tot eh children of deceased or totally disabled ELks

 



CHAIRMAN CHALLENGE

 

Please participate in the Elks national Foundation Chairman Challenge.  There may be a trophy presented this year at the state convention for the Lodge with the highest rewards in PA.

 

The chairman challenge rewards Lodges for having a broad based fundraising program and for improving their fundraising over the previous year.  Lodges will be scored on the following categories:

    Increasing per capita over the previous year

    Meeting the GERs per capita goal

    Obtaining new dones

    Obtaining new pledges

    Holding an ENF month fundraiser.

 

Please see the Elks National Foundation web site for how the points are awarded.

http://www.elks.org/enf/ChallengeRules.cfm

 

 


GRATITUDE GRANTS

 

Helping Elks build stronger communities is what the ENF is all about.  The Gratitude grants program allows Lodges to directly address local needs.  The ENF wants to put the opportunity to address local problems in your hands.

 

A Gratitude Grant is:

    A reimbursement grant of up to $500

    Available to all lodges that meet the GER's per-capita goal

    The ENf's way of saying thank you for your Lodge's generosity

    Intended to support a local charitable cause

 

What you should know about the Gratitude Grants:

 

1.  The ENF will notify Lodges in writing once they reach the GER's 2009-2010 per-capita goal.  At that time, eligible Lodges are able to complete and submit an application.

2.  Grants are available for use between July 1, 2009 and July 31, 2010

3.  All applications must be submitted by May 31, 2010

4.  Upon receipt and approval of a Lodge's application, the ENF will send the Lodge a Final Report and Expense Form

5.  To receive reimbursement, the Final Report Form must be completed, signed by the Lodge Secretary and Exalted Ruler, and submitted along with copies of grant-related receipts to the ENF by August 31, 2010.

6.  Upon receipt of the Final Report Form, ENF will issue a reimbursement check to your lodge.

 

 

BE CREATIVE - Submit your event ideas to the ENF today and make the GER's per-capita goal!

 

 

 

 

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