June 18, 2025

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What a great time Ana and I had at the 124th GEA Annual Meeting at Jekyll Island.  It was great to be with our friends again.  I want to thank everyone for the trust you have placed in me.  I am honored to serve as your State President.  I extend special thanks to my good friend Bruce Hayden, Special Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, and Michael Smith our State Sponsor and Past Grand Exalted Ruler for their support.

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To the Past State Presidents: thank you for supporting me, and for all you do for this association.  Special thanks to all the lodges for your support.

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My Mission Statement is Georgia Elks Have Heart.  Elks Care, Elks Share, that is our motto.  We honor the Flag of our Country.  We believe in God, we support our Military, First Responders, our Communities and Children in need, and our State Major Project Elks Aidmore.  We also support our fellow members emotionally and, in some cases, monetarily as we live by our obligation:  "The faults of our members we write upon the sand, their virtues upon the tablets of love and memory."

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What a great year!  We had a growth of 132 new members and ended up number 12th in the nation!  We must now focus on the new lodge year with the same enthusiasm.  Increasing membership is always a goal each year for without it our organization would slowly fade away.  Finally, we should have a retention plan to keep our current members.  Quoting my good friend Steve Petrie, "Remember why you joined..." is a positive message that we can share with our members.  We will continue having zoom calls on the second Monday of each month at 7 PM to discuss Membership and share success as well as help with any needs that lodges may have.  We need every lodge to attend these zoom calls, because if you are not participating, you are missing out on ways to keep your members engaged and having fun and remembering why they joined.  I urge you to attend these calls.

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I plan to be very visible to each lodge and want to attend as many events as my time permits, so please call or email me so that I and my team may support your efforts.  My cell number is 229-834-3743 and my email address is lpope9681@gmail.com.

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Speaking of my team, let me acknowledge them.  Steve Petrie, President-Elect, and State Chairman for Membership, Lake Oconee Lodge #2849, Dave Morrero, Northeast VP, Augusta Lodge #205, Steve Henderson, Northwest VP, Union City Lodge #1617, and Bob Reardon, Southern VP, Albany Lodge #713.  Now add to that Bethany Jackson, Northwest District Deputy, Cartersville Lodge #1969; Ed Whitcomb, Northeast District Deputy, Lake Oconee Lodge #2849; Brenda Sailors, Southern District Deputy, Brunswick Lodge #691; Bruce Hayden, Special Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler, Valdosta Lodge #728; and Tim Whalen, PSP, Secretary/Treasurer, Griffin Lodge #1207.  Together, this is a talented team and we aim to make this year successful for all lodges and with your help we will achieve that goal.

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Our most valuable teams are our Exalted Rulers, along with the officers and members of each lodge, YOU ARE THE BACKBONE OF OUR ASSOCIATION.

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Fraternally, 

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Larry Pope

President Georgia Elks Association

2025/2026

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