Youth Activities Committee

Recognize America's Outstanding Youth

Grand Exalted Ruler's Message

My theme for 2008-2009 is “Elks—Growing Elkdom & Strengthening America.” What better way to carry this theme forward than through the vigorous application of our many outstanding Youth Programs in your local community.

The future of your Community, your State, our great Nation, and indeed our beloved Order depends greatly on how the youth of today are nurtured, educated and mentored through their formative years and on into adulthood. You and your Lodge have the opportunity and duty to take our various programs to the youth of your community, thereby helping in their development and preparation in becoming the leaders of tomorrow.

Our various Youth Programs, as well as others you may choose to pursue, are prime avenues through which you and your Lodge can reach the youth of your community and help them grow into productive citizens. The Hoop Shoot Free-Throw Contest, the Drug Awareness Program and Most Valuable Student Scholarship Program are three of our most renowned programs that every Lodge should strive to be involved in.

Recognizing the youth for their accomplishments is extremely important and an integral part of encouraging them for further achievement. This brochure offers various ways to provide that recognition.

Thank you for reading this message and brochure. Hopefully you and your Lodge will stimulate participation in our various youth programs, thereby “Growing Elkdom & Strengthening America,” as well as showing your community that “Elks Care – Elks Share.”

Paul D. Helsel
Grand Exalted Ruler

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The “Teenager” and/or “Student” Program is designed to recognize outstanding young men and women for achievements in school and community life—fine arts, hobbies, athletics, church, school, club and community service, industry and farming. Their accomplishments should be recognized and praised.

Our Subordinate Lodges should seek out Teenagers and/or Students in both Junior High Schools and Senior High Schools and select an outstanding boy and girl at both levels each month, and then yearly, and with publicity, give them awards for their accomplishments. Handsome certificates, to be signed by the Subordinate Lodge Exalted Ruler and Youth Activities Chairman, will be furnished to all Lodges participating in this Program. The certificates can be presented at a luncheon or dinner to which the parents, Lodge Officers, the Youth Activities Committee and media representatives are invited.

Your whole-hearted efforts toward making this Program a success will reap untold dividends for your Lodge, community, Order of Elks and our nation.

States with 75% or more Lodge participation in combined “Teenager” and/or “Student” Programs will be awarded at the next Grand Lodge Convention.

Nominating Procedure

The method of selecting the “Teenager and/or Student Of The Month and Year” and “Junior Teen and/or Student Of The Month and Year” is the responsibility of the Subordinate Lodge Youth Activities Committee. Working in conjunction with school authorities, a student nominating committee may be named. This committee would be responsible for screening “Teenager and/or Student Of The Month” nominees in a school. If more than one school exists in the area served by a Subordinate Lodge, an area committee could be appointed to further screen the nominees. On the other hand, it might be desirable to name a “Teenager and/or Student Of The Month” from each school within the jurisdiction of each Lodge, thus eliminating an area committee.

The important point to remember is that the underlying purpose of the program is to seek out Teenagers or Students whose accomplishments deserve public recognition and praise. To do this, the nominating process may be modified to accommodate conditions as they exist in a given community. If the “Teenager Program” is being used in your area, introduce the “Student Program.”

Recognizing Excellence In Scouting

Since those reaching the highest levels of personal achievement in the Boy Scout and Girl Scout Programs must complete a more formalized set of requirements as specified by their respective parent organizations, and are chosen without the need for our Order’s assistance in the selection procedure, the role of each Elks Lodge is to contact its local Scout councils and obtain the names of honorees in the community. The Lodge should then plan an awards dinner or ceremony at which both the young scout citizens and their parents are suitably acknowledged with the gratitude and respect of your Lodge's Elk family for their valuable contributions to America's future. Impressive and appropriate BPOE Certificates (Eagle Scout Award, Girl Scout Silver Award, Girl Scout Gold Award) are available free of charge upon request from either your State Youth Activities Chairman, the Grand Lodge Youth Activities Committeeman designated for the Scout Program, or the office of the Grand Secretary. If our young people and their families are doing their part for America, then it is Elkdom's responsibility to applaud and support their efforts in our Nation and our communities.

Contact

Ron Lamot, rlamot@aol.com