Oregon State Elks Association

Grand Esteemed Leading Knight Gene Spina who was installed at the Grand Lodge Convention in Austin, Texas in July. Gene's journey through Elkdom and through life is remarkable.

Gene was initiated into the Gateway Lodge #2411in March of 1980, and has served on numerous committees within the lodge, including the Americanism Committee for ten years; the Public Relations Committee for twenty-one years; Drug Awareness chairman for twelve years (with the success of this program being recognized by Oregon's Congressional Delegation and by then First Lady Nancy Reagan). Gene is responsible for writing several procedural policies and sample contracts including the lodge's Safety Manual, Employee Policy, Officer's Training Manual, and in writing the By­ Laws for the lodge's Scholarship Trust. Gene received six awards for outstanding rendition of the Elks Initiatory Ritual and served as chaplain on the 1983 National Western Division Championship Ritual Team. He progressed through the chairs and was elected Exalted Ruler in 1991- 1992. He has been Elk of the Month, Elk of the Year, and is an Honorary Life Member of Gateway Lodge #2411.

Gene's service to Elkdom at the state level is vast. Within the Oregon StateElks Association, he served as Trustee for 8 years, including a 2 year stint as Trustee Chairman. Within the OSEA, he has served on theElk's Children's Eye Clinic Liaison Committee, as director of the Elks Youth Eye Service, a state association mediator, on the OSEA Public Relations committee, on the Elks Training committee, and the State Ritual Trust, serving as president of the association's trust in 2009 andin 2010, and was selected Oregon State Elks Association's Elk of the Year in 1995-1996.

Gene has served as a Grand Lodge Special Representative from2003 to the present, including work in Steering Committees to help other lodges in the state. Gene was alsoappointed to the Grand Lodge Membership and Lapsation Committee in 1996, serving one year as co-chairman and three years as chairman.

Gene is a U.S. Navy Submarine Veteran, a graduate (with honors) from Concordia University, and a retired Regional Vice President. He has been married for 53 years to his loving and lovely wife Joanne. He has two children (Steven and Linda) and five granddaughters.

Gene, you make the OSEA proud. Congratulations on a well deserved honor.