Oregon State Elks Association

On behalf of our 56 lodges of the Oregon Elks Association, I welcome you to our website and I encourage you to learn about the great Elk lodges in our state and the great work we do in our communities. From the pristine coastline of Oregon to the vast farmlands and high desert of central and eastern Oregon, Elkdom is thriving in our state. Oregon is home to not one, but two major state projects. You'll find information on the Elks Children's Eye clinic, a major project of the Oregon State Elks Association that has helped thousands of children see. You'll find information on our Meadowood Speech and Hearing camp, a summer camp for children with speech and language delays that works miracles.

You'll find great information here at this site on the lodges in our state, each of which will show you a unique and very special hospitality on your visit. In Oregon, you'll also find all major Elks programs are alive and thriving. From the Elks Hoop Shoot (which was started in Oregon by PGER Frank Hise), to astounding veterans programs, to extensive work in the community, you'll learn about it here.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting.

Joe Marovich, President, Oregon State Elks Association

Gateway Elks Lodge celebrated its fifth year of donating dictionaries to 3rd grades with their biggest donation year yet. This year Gateway Elks lodge was able to cover eight local schools with over 820 dictionaries. The goal is to get dictionaries for all 3rd graders and while we know our small lodge cannot do that it does not keep us from trying. The dictionaries are given to the students so they can take on to their new classes year to year. Gateway Elks Lodge started our dictionaries for third graders program in the fall of 2007 and over the five years the program has been in place we have be able to deliver over 2600 dictionaries in all.

Portland Lodge entered two outstanding students in the Metro District's Most Valuable Student contest held on Saturday, January 14th at Hillsboro Lodge. Phu Nyugen of Madison High School and Leah Haykin of Grant High School qualified at the Lodge level and went on to compete at the District level.
(photo: left: Phu Nyugen, right: Leah Haykin)

Both of these scholars are very impressive young adults. After all the judging was complete and lunch served, the announcement of the winners began. Although Phu did not place, Portland Lodge was pleased to learn that Leah Haykin came in first in the district contest!

On top of the $1,000 she receives from Portland Lodge, she will receive $1,800 for being the top winner at the District level. Leah will be competing in the State competition in Roseburg on February 4th. By winning at the district level, her brochure is guaranteed to advance on to the national level where she will receive a minimum of $1,000 a year for 4 years.

Leah is an AP Scholar with Distinction, a National Merit Scholar (commended) and has received the 2010 Governors Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award, the 2011 Community Cycling Center Volunteer of the Year Award and helped the Grant Dragon Boat place 2nd in the 2011 Rose Festival Dragon Boat races. She plans to study Biology and Archeology in college. Phu plans on becoming a doctor in family practice.