Welcome to the Oregon State Elks Association!
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On behalf of our 54 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 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.
Carl Lino, President, Oregon State Elks Association
Portland Lodge Announces CItizen of the Year
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Portland Lodge's Citizen of the Year is intended to honor a local citizen, not a member of our Order, who has shown to have made a significant contribution to the community in which we are located. This year our Citizen of the Year is a much loved and highly respected local, Grammy nominated musician who gives back to his community His name is Charles Suniga (shown at right with ER Mary Francis Dietz). Charles Suniga is known for his unique approach to music. His approach, unlike that of anyone else, is elegant piano and string melodies called "Moments of Peace". Charles started composing music at 8 years old, long before digital keyboards had been invented. As he was composing for the piano he also heard string melodies in his head. In order to release what he heard, he learned to whistle the string section as he played the piano. Later, when digital keyboards were first introduced, Charles began composing the melodies he heard in his head; with both piano and strings combined.
During a very troubling time in Charles' life, he found himself on the Oregon Coast pondering deeply about life. It was then he picked up a stick and wrote "Moments of Peace" in the sand. Seconds later an ocean wave came and washed it away. It was then that Charles realized that all we have in life are Moments of Peace. And within this revelation, his concept of “Moments of Peace” was born.
Today Charles is a well-known and well-respected independent artist who lives in Portland, Oregon. Over the years he has produced, composed and recorded 7 albums; two of which were nominated for a Grammy (Spirit Rising and Still in the Moment). The melodies are described as "Heartfelt", "Enriching", "Captivating" "Romantic" and “music that reaches the depth of your soul”. Charles plays all his music live, nothing is pre-recorded, so the music breaths with depth and movement. Many music instructors have described Charles' music as "Impossible", as he plays ALL of his piano melodies with one hand; both treble and base! With his free hand he plays his string melodies. His music can be described as simple sounding melodies with complex musical structure.
Charles Suniga is much more than an amazing piano player; he is a relatively hidden local treasure here in Portland. Not only does he receive hundreds of testimonials and recommendations through mail, internet and publications, he is a generous benefactor for charities in the community. Charles uses his musical talents and connections with other entertainers to perform benefit concerts to raise money for Portland’s Children’s Hospital, Veterans and other local charitable works. Last December he held a Christmas concert at Milwaukie Elks Lodge, the proceeds of which were split between the eight Metro Elks Lodges to help fund their various charitable activities. And he plans to do it again this year! He has also donated CD's to help Cancer patients.
Charles Suniga is a gift. A gift to all whose lives he touches with his music, his smile and his love. His scope is wide. The emotions he can generate, from his "Louis Armstrong' to "Mabel´s Dance' to his stores that make you want to dance and laugh and sometimes cry. Charles is humble, he is gentle’ he is funny, he is sincere and he is real.
The members of Portland Lodge are especially grateful for Charles’ music, his charitable contributions and for the very special man that he is. Portland Lodge is proud to honor him as our Citizen of the Year.
For more about Charles, please visit his website at http://www.momentsofpeace.com
Gateway Teenager of the Year 2013
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Teenager of the Year
In celebration of Elks National Youth Week, May 1st thought May 7th, 2013, the Gateway Elks Youth Activities Committee is pleased to announce our Teenager of the Year. She is a senior at Sam Barlow High School with a 4.0 grade-point average. In addition to academic excellence, she is active in school activities and in the community. The daughter of proud mom, Marci, her name is Sarah Anne Prom.
Sarah is a two-year member of the National Honor Society. Last year, she was editor of the Barlow Key Club - responsible for seeking out new members. And, this year, she is the club's co-president.
Since 2011, Sarah has volunteered at the Legacy Mt. Hood Medical Center. Thus far, she has racked up about 310 hours of service. She's been a Salvation Army bell-ringer and a volunteer homework tutor with the Students Uniting Neighborhoods (SUN) program at Gordon Russell middle school. She has also been seen helping out at Zarepath Kitchen in Gresham. Zarepath Kitchen is a church-sponsored, all-volunteer effort which, each weekday, serves hot lunches to "anyone who shows up."
Sarah has been a "Big Sister" to a fourth grader in the Reynolds school district and raised money for Big Brother/Big Sister during the 2010 Phone-a-thon. She's also raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society by collecting "Pennies for Patients" at Barlow High School. And, she has been selling "Busoga Beads". These beads are actually made by women in Uganda and 100% of the proceeds go to address women's and children's issues in Uganda and Mozambique.
Doing her part to help the environment, Sarah has been involved with Friends of Trees – planting trees around Gresham. She has planted trees and helped eradicate invasive species plants as part of the Johnson Creek Watershed Council. And, she has assisted in the SOLV (Stop Oregon Looting and Vandalism) expansion into the invasive plant species problem. In addition, Sarah participated in the Mt. Hood Fish Toss – adding essential aquatic nutrients by "tossing" in decomposing salmon carcasses. These nutrients are expected to help in restoring salmon and steelhead populations in local freshwater systems.
In her free time, Sarah enjoys running, reading and spending time downtown – window shopping. She attends the Powell Valley Covenant Church with her family. And, she is looking towards a career as an elementary school teacher – particularly in the Kindergarten through third-grade segment. She hopes to attend Concordia University or University of Portland.
The Gateway Elks lodge, #2411, is part of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, USA. For more information on the Elks, our youth programs or our many charities please check us out atwww.gatewayelks.com or www.elks.org, "Like" us on Facebook or call (503) 255-6535.
Denice Schuermyer
Public Relations Chairman
Celebrating the Stars of Our Community
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On Tuesday, May 7th, during Elks Youth Week, Springfield Elks Lodge hosted their 4th Annual Celebrating Students Banquet. In attendance were students who were awarded Student of the Month by the Elks Lodge for the months of November 2012 through April 2013 as well as The Elks National Foundation Most Valuable Student Scholarship winners.Springfield Elks Lodge offers the opportunity to 9 area high schools to participate in the Student of the Month Program. They are: Academy of Arts and Academics, Gateways High School, Lowell High School, McKenzie River High School, Mohawk High School, Oakridge High School, Pleasant Hill High School, Springfield High School and Thurston High School. Unfortunately not all of the high schools have taken the opportunity to have their students honored by the Elks.
Also in attendance this year were two other shining high school stars in the community: Ashley Ritchey and Mercedes Russell – both girls announced their award of full ride basketball scholarships to their school of choice. Mercedes is ranked the #1 high school senior girl for basketball in the nation. Special certificates of achievement and a gift card were presented to each of these girls as a thank you for volunteer services at the Youth Activities breakfasts in our lodge over the past 3 years.
An ensemble of student musicians from Academy of Arts and Academics played a selection of music while the guests ate their meal. They were lead by A-3's April Student of the Month, Faith Grossnicklaus.
A special plaque was presented to Willie Sprague, owner of Papa's Pizza, for his partnership in the Student of the Month Program with the Springfield Elks Lodge. Papa's Pizza has been very generous in the community with its fundraising efforts and to date, has donated over $93,000 to our community.
Several staff members from Thurston High School and Gateways High School were in attendance. Nancy Golden, Springfield School District Superintendent also attended the annual event.
It is at this celebration of students, that we announce our Student of the Year. We strive to select a student that exemplifies the qualities inherent to our Fraternal Organization,... Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity. This year, we chose a senior from Thurston High School who began a Community Service Project in her junior year. Because of the success of this project, it will be carried forward after she graduates and it will become a legacy at Thurston High School. Heidi Brown has a heart for special needs children and a passion for cheerleading. She put together a cheer squad of special needs students and these students perform at pep assemblies and halftimes of some of the basketball games. Not only has Heidi's project made a difference in the lives of the special needs kids she works with, but the student body of Thurston High School looks upon these students in an entirely different way. Heidi plans to attend Western Oregon University in the fall with a major in education and wants to teach special needs students at the high school level. It is with great pleasure that the Youth Activities Committee of the Springfield Elks Lodge presents its Student of the Year Award to Heidi Brown.
The Passing of the Torch
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As many know at the Summer State Convention many torches where passed. Many of the torches are well known like State President and some are little unknown torches like mine the State Webmaster. Many of you known that Tony Baker is stepping down as State Webmaster and passing his torch to me. For those that have not met me yet I am Kevin Stucker. A little about myself and what I hope to bring to an already great and successful website. I am a Veteran of 8 1/2 Years where I was the Commo Chief and Network Admin for my unit. As of this time I am still in college to further my skills as a Network Administrator. I am also the Loyal Knight at Corvallis Lodge #1413. I understand that Tony has done many a great things here and I have some pretty big shoes to fill. Yet with a little patients and time I hope to stand as tall as Tony. I look forward to the time I spend as your new webmaster and working with each lodge to show what ELKS mean to all of us.
Thank You,
Kevin Stucker