NC Elks Lodge Development Fund, Inc.

After 18 years of serving as a Special Deputy GER, we have unfortunately seen five lodges go out of business here in North Carolina — Lexington, Brevard, Durham, Burlington, and Gastonia.

Each of these lodges had funds or property that, when sold, were placed into a special Elks Defunct Lodge Fund under the discretion of our state sponsor, Arthur Frost, PGER.

Use of the Funds

Over the years, portions of these funds have been distributed to support various statewide Elks initiatives:

• 💰 $60,000 was given to the trust to purchase a bus for the Veterans Home.

• 💰 $21,000 was donated to the State Association to replace covers on the Drug Awareness trailers, helping to improve our public image.

• 🏗️ Two loans have been made to lodges — one for an HVAC system, and another for building improvements and expansion.

• 🌴 Oak Island Lodge received funds to help consolidate operations, pay off their mortgage, and complete basement and tiki bar renovations.

At present, the account holds over $2,000,000 from the assets of the five former lodges.

A New Direction

So the question becomes: What do we do with these funds from now on?

Today, we are pleased to announce the creation of a new corporation — the NC Elks Lodge Development Fund, Inc. — to manage and purposefully direct these funds.

This corporation will help support and promote existing Elks Lodges throughout North Carolina, focusing on:

• Enhancing curb appeal and lodge facilities

• Recognizing and rewarding effective lodge management

• Encouraging growth and sustainability among lodges

We welcome ideas and suggestions from any member on how best to accomplish these goals.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the following individuals for their efforts in establishing and managing this new corporation:

• Michael Bryant, for handling the corporate filings through the Secretary of State and IRS

• Phill Driscoll, Treasurer

• John Lawrence, for coordinating action on how to use these funds

We also wish to recognize the many dedicated members who assisted in the process of closing and supporting lodges over the years:

Lexington Lodge: Larry Shafer, PDD; Butch Tomlinson, Past DD; Ed Robinson, PSP, and others Brevard Lodge: Ruth Whitmire, PER, Past DD; Judy Blizzard; John Hill, PDD; Scott Larnard Durham Lodge: Mike Mitcheal; Hugh Norfleet Burlington Lodge: Peter Breidenback, Past DD, State President; John Bullock, PSP Gastonia Lodge: Joe Heavner, PER; Tom Jones, Past ER and DD, Shelby

Appreciation

Finally, recognition and thanks go to those who have worked tirelessly to keep their lodges strong and active across the state: David King (Elizabeth City), Jack Strickland (Kinston), Burt King and Larry Pendry (North Wilkesboro), Robert Green (Waynesville), Tom Jones (Shelby), and Charles Liggon (Wilson).

Your dedication and leadership have helped keep these lodges intact — and for that, we say thank you.