July 13, 2019

Lynn Rutherford-Snow Report on 2019 GL Convention at St. Louis2019 National Elks Convention

The 2019 National Elks Convention was held in St. Louis,Missouri on June 30 to July 3, 2019. Approximately 6,551+ Elks,guests and vendors were inattendance for the 155th GrandLodge Convention. This was ourFirst Membership gain in thirty-

nine years! Virginia wasrecognized for having aPlus 9 and received a“Citation of Merit”!!Roger Monger, ourWebmaster was

awarded a“Four Star”plaque for ourwebsite. VEA First Vice President John Owenand his lovely wife Nancy did an awesome jobwith our Virginia Hospitality room throughout

Justin Reiter accepting the plaque for Virginia having Plus9 in membership with Ron and Nancy standing and

cheering!

John and Nancy Owen whohosted our Virginia

Hospitality room in St. Louis

Roger andBarbara

Monger at theSt. Louis sign

the convention! Word quickly spread about the amazing food wehad with standing room only each day!

Elks walked or were shuttled by bus to the ConventionCenter to register and pick up their credentials Saturdaymorning. They were also checking out the various exhibits in theConvention Center. Lots and lots of Elk apparel and promotionalitems were on display.

Several Virginia Elks, Bev Hamby, AudreyHoffmaster, and Lynn Rutherford-Snow attendedan ENF function “You are the champions OURFRIENDS” on Saturday evening. Also inattendance were State Sponsor PGER Ron Hicksand wife Nancy. After the dinner, we weretreated to a tour of Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis

Cardinals baseball team. Several enjoyedcarriage rides throughout the city of St. Louis!

Sunday afternoon, several Elks toured theGateway Arch or the Anheuser-Busch Brewery toname a few. We were a little disappointed as theRiverboat Cruises were cancelled due to all therainfall and high waters. Some opted to take it

easy after a busy day flying or driving to St.Louis.

VEA President Frank Burns ofArlington-Fairfax 2188 proudlycarried our Virginia Flag duringthe Opening Ceremony Sundayevening. At the conclusion of

ENF function - BuschStadium

PGER Ron HicksintroducesPGERs and

spouses

Past FirstLady NancyHicks beingescorted by

Ray Dameron

VEA President Frank Burnsproudly carries our Virginia

flag

The Gateway Arch

the Opening Ceremony, all gathered were in for a real treat. Wegot to hear The Party Crashers, a seven member high-energyparty band who covers rock, pop, Latin, and country!

After our Business Session on Monday morning, Virginia Elksgathered in our Hospitality Room to fellowship with Elks whovisited from other states. Keith Campbell from Bedford 2844provided music each day in our hospitality room. He collected$600.00 for the Veterans and will assist “Bedford Rides” takingVeterans to and from appointments in the Bedford area. PDDGERMilton Werner raised $300.00 for the Virginia Charitable TrustFund doing his “Uncle Miltie Dance!” Winners of the 50/50 wereGigi Jones, Don Carpenter, Walter Hodges, and “Chief” Draper!

Later that afternoon several of us fromCharlottesville 389 delivered our 322 pairs ofsocks and 87 books to the ENF booth for achance to double our Lodge’s Spotlight Grant!Some Elks visited the Basilica of Saint Louis “TheOld Cathedral” next to the Arch. Beautiful!

On Monday evening,Robert Bennett, Diane Blesi, Vince and BarbaraBrandtner, Frank and Sandy Burns, Geoff andSusan Cox, Buddy and Bobbie Deese, AudreyHoffmaster, Don and Bobbye Netschke, andLynn Rutherford-Snow along with PGER Ron andNancy Hicks, were guests of GER Elect RobertDuitsman and his wife Beth for his celebration.

This reception was hosted by The California-Hawaii ElksAssociation and held at The Marriott!

ENF donations of 322 socksand 87 books for Spotlight

Grant

Diane Blesi with GER RobertDuitsman

After our Tuesday morning business session and balloting ofthe fifteen Resolutions, Virginia Elks returned to their HospitalityRoom to welcome our very own PGER and State Sponsor RonHicks! A very special treat “Ted Drewes Frozen Custard” made inSt. Louis was served! We all know how fondRon is of ice cream!! Later that eveningseveral of our Virginia Elks ventured “on thehill” for dinner at Favazza’s. It was delicious!

Virginia Elks along with Michigan Elksgathered around the Arch to do our ElevenO’Clock toast on Tuesday evening. Michigan didthe toast with our Karyn Swenor (VA Beach Elks2268) reciting the Jolly Corks. VEA President

Frank Burns led us in singing “God Bless America”. Virginia Elksalso did the 11 O’Clock Toast in our Hospitality room to close outour awesome week. Theresa Fahy of Onancock 1766 did theToast!

Grand Chaplain Reverend Father StephenMcNally opened our Memorial Ceremony withprayer on Wednesday morning. PGER Michael Zellen

assisted in theInstallation of GERRobert Duitsmanand other Grand

Lodge officers. PSP Don Netschke of Waynesboro 2270 wasinstalled as Grand Lodge Inner Guard and Father StephenMcNally of Bedford 2844 was installed as Grand Lodge Chaplain.

Favazza's "On the Hill"

Virginia and Michigangathered at the Arch to do

the Eleven O'Clock Toast

Installation of GL Officers Memorial Service

Grand Exalted Ruler Duitsman theninstalled our new DDGER’s before theclose of the session on Wednesdaymorning. Representing ourCommonwealth as DDGER’s will be EdTravers of Central, Wayne Blake of

North, Karyn Swenor of Southeast, and Vince Brandtner ofSouthwest.

At the conclusion of the convention on Wednesday, severalVirginia Elks did the tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery! Takingit all in were Frank and Sandy, Geoff and Susan, Bev, Dennis and

Linda, Audrey, Lynn, Theresa, Bonnie,Milton, and from NorthCarolina, Lisa andNorman. It wasawesome and we gotto see some beautiful

Clydesdales! Several of us had an early dinnerat “Hi-Pointe Drive-In!” It was “da bomb!” Bestburger I have ever had “The Arch!” Several of us stayed in St.Louis till Friday or Saturday. Lunch at the Brewhouse in the hotelon July 4th! Sweet potato tots were divine. An afternoon trip onThursday to “Grant’s Farm” where we saw Bald Eagles, camels,

VA DDGERs Wayne, Karyn, Ed, and Vince

Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour

Clydesdale horse

GoatCamelsBald Eagles

goats, and the like. Dinner thatevening at Caleco’s Bar & Grill!Later that evening St. Louis puton the best fireworks show everat the Arch! Thousands uponthousands gathered for thisSpectacular display offireworks!!

A great time was had by all and we look forward to travelingto Baltimore, Maryland for the 2020 National Convention!

Article and Photos Submitted by Lynn Rutherford-Snow

Send comments to webmaster@virginiaelks.org

Ron, John, Nancy, and FatherMcNally Waynesboro 2270Top two Hoop Shoot National Champions

Virginia Elks 1Virginia Elks 2

Northern Virginia Elks

Air show on July 4th

Fireworks at Arch on July4th!