Oregon State Elks Association

On behalf of our 56 lodges of the Oregon Elks Association, I welcome you to our new 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 hearing impaired children 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.

Tim Deseve, President, Oregon State Elks Association

Lodge members from Milwaukie #2032 in conjunction with the North Clackamas School District have adopted the Riverside Elementary School to participate in the County "Back Pack Buddy" program. This program provides two days of child friendly, nutritious food to be sent home on Friday of each week for those children who are enrolled in the County's subsidized lunch program. Without this program, these children would in most cases go hungry until they return to school on Monday.

To date Milwaukie Lodge has provided weekend meal packs to the needy children of Riverside School, starting with 24 packs at the beginning of December and adding more students each school week until the present count stands at 43 students per week. The Lodge has also provided eleven new coats for the most needy children.

Milwaukie chose to add a tagline to the "Elks Care, Elks Share" slogan by adding the words "Throughout the year" Milwaukie members have been very generous in giving money and food for the program as well as helping with making up the packs. Many members have joined the Back Pack Buddy Century Club with their donations of $100.00 or more. At Milwaukie Lodge, they have adopted the position is that in order to nourish the mind, you must first nourish the body.

Every February, Elks have the opportunity to choose their leaders for the following Elk year.  Lodges that meet weekly nominate candidates at the first two meetings of the month of February, with elections held the third meeting of the month.  If your lodge meets less frequently, your election schedule may vary.

As the Order of Elks is distinctively American, our right to choose our leaders is patterned after the democratic process of the United States.  Please do your part: Participate in the elections, nominate a candidate if you feel they are worthy, and possibly consider running for an office.

The 2009-2010 Grand Lodge Training test is available.  If you haven't taken the test before, it's a wonderful opportunity to familiarize yourself with the Grand Lodge Statutes, the committee manuals,and the rules of our Order.

The OSEA Training committee encourages all officers in Oregon to take the test. You can submit your results to Carl Schmauder (Training Chairman) and on successful completion you will receive a certificate from the OSEA acknowledging your accomplishment.

To receive a copy of the test,