January 24, 2026

 

Wow, the year is rapidly passing by, with about 5 months left in the state year and 3 months left in the lodge year.  My hope is everyone had a joyous holiday season.

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Our Georgia Elks Association Spring Meeting will be held in Macon Georgia at the Macon Marriott City Center, located at 240 Coliseum Drive on February 27th and 28th.  We are honored to have our Grand Exalted Ruler Bryan Klatt, and his wife Susan join us.  It is also our pleasure to have Florida VPAL Jeff Muehlfeld & accompanying him is Francisca Pouza.

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We have seen some accomplishments in our membership of some lodges.  As Georgia Elks we must buckle down and work on membership delinquents.  As of this writing, we have 370 members that need to be contacted.  Georgia stands at 8.1% delinquency rate vs the National average of 8.7%. This is a good thing, but we are in the middle of the pack (so to speak) Nationwide.  As we strive for five, we must contact these members to encourage them to come back and be a part of our wonderful organization.  I have seen all the remarkable things that our lodges across the state are doing.  Exalted Rulers, Secretaries, Membership chairpersons rally around these opportunities and let our delinquents know that their support helps to fund these activities, remember Be the Difference.

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As of this writing, we have received $187,500, and some pending, in ENF grant fundings to help support our communities and Veterans throughout the State.  I want to congratulate each lodge who has worked diligently on grant applications. Please remember to send in your receipts and reports for each grant by your closure dates.

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I encourage each lodge to support our ENF Golf outing to be held May 15th at Apple Mountain Golf Course in Clarksville Georgia by supporting a team.  A hole sponsorship cost will be $600 for both, so please contact Brian Russell who is our State Chairman for ENF.

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I ask our members across the state to please support our State Major Project Aidmore, the cost is $8 a month.   I want to applaud Dr. Vickie Hale and her staff, along with Stanley Santee, board of directors, and lodge Trustees for their commitment and dedication to our state project.  If you want to learn more about Elks Aidmore, please contact Stanley Santee or your local lodge Aidmore Trustee.  Also, if you are ever in the Conyers area, please drop by Aidmore and visit the new GEA Museum.  It will be well worth your time. 

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Fraternally, 

​Larry Pope

President Georgia Elks Association

2025/2026

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