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- Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks
- Ephrata Elks Lodge #1933
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- Contact Address: Norma "Sally"
Vest
- P.O. Box 322
- 170 Akron Road
- Ephrata, PA 17522
- 717-738-0920
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- Officers:
- James Sweigart, Exalted Ruler
- Norma "Sally" Vest, Secretary
- Meeting Time: Third
Tuesday
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- Meeting Location:
Ephrata Elks Lodge, 170 Akron Road, Ephrata
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- Membership
Information
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- Rental
Information
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The Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks of the U.S.A. was founded in February 1868. Today, there
are 2,100 local lodges nationwide, with 108 throughout the state
of Pennsylvania, and three in Lancaster County (including the
Lancaster Lodge and the Columbia Lodge). With more than 1.1 million
members, B.P.O.E. is one of the largest and most active fraternal
organizations in the world! The Elks mission: To inculcate the
principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity;
to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance
the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American
patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself
as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government,
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States
of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent
programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share.
For additional information, visit: www.elks.org.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of
Elks Lodge #1933 was established in June 1954. The present Lodge
facility on Akron Road was first occupied in 1959. The 17-acre
Akron Road property consists of a 5,400 square foot facility
with a grill room and bar, with a 2,300 square foot banquet room
on the 2nd floor (with a maximum capacity of approximately 150,
to also accommodate dancing). The banquet room is available for
rent by the public. Also on the site is a 1,000 square foot outdoor
pavilion, with complete cooking accommodations and an adjoining
service bar. This facility is also available for rent by the
public (see 'rental' information). The Lodge is open for business
Tuesday through Sunday.
The Ephrata Elks Lodge conducts numerous
fund raising activities during the course of the year. Money
raised is contributed to many community organizations, such as:
local emergency service providers, high school post proms, Ephrata
War Memorial, and the Ephrata Public library, among others. An
annual Christmas Charity donates food baskets to needy area families,
and an annual Easter Egg Hunt is held for local children. Additional
Lodge functions include the National Hoop Shoot and National
Soccer Shoot competitions for boys and girls between the ages
of 8 and 13, with winners advancing to District, State, Regional,
and National finals. Also, the Ephrata Lodge recognizes a Student-of-the-Month,
selected from the Ephrata, Cocalico, Warwick, Garden Spot, and
Conestoga Valley school districts. Elks National College Scholarship
applications are distributed to local school districts, judged
locally, and then submitted for District, State, and ultimately
National consideration, with a total amount in excess of $2,200,000
in scholarships awarded annually (ranging from $60,000 to $4,000),
to the most deserving students. The Ephrata Lodge also offers
two local $500 scholarships each year for students planning to
pursue a trade vocation. The outdoor facility is made available
each year free-of-charge to the local Pioneer Fire Company and
Ephrata Area Rescue Service for their respective fundraising
events. The 'major project' of the Pennsylvania Lodges is to
provide 100% financial support for a team of 24 full-time nurses
who provide in-home care to physically and mentally handicapped
individuals whose families would otherwise be unable to provide
such care. Another key focus of all Elks Lodges is to promote
Drug Awareness programs and information in their local communities.
Additionally, The Elks holds all military service veterans in
the highest regards, and Lodges provide for visitations by area
veterans hospital facilities.
If you are interested in becoming a member
of The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, please see the
'membership' link at the top of this page.