grow the order in elktober!
Elktober is BACK! This October, let’s promote our organization and do something fun in our community. During convention this year, delegates were tasked to come up with ideas of Elktober events to share with our members. We hope that your lodge can participate this year and grow the Order in Elktober! Here are the ideas below:
Host sportsman dinner
Offer free membership first year
Host a regatta
Have family day
Have supper meetings with guests
Host open house
Advertise in local news paper
Have each of your members bring in one new member
Car wash where members are available to talk to vehicle owners about the elks/give handouts and swag
Annual garage sale with banner visible so people know where the proceeds are going and are prompted to ask questions
Promotion of Elks initiatives like children’s camps to draw in parents as members
If you feed them, they will come - oyster feed, steak BBQ, etc.
There should be a discount for lodges to order shirts/promo to give away to new initiates during Elktober. Also discussed “Ask me about the Elks” shirts
Connect with other volunteer groups during Elktober to promote volunteerism in general
Lodges in close proximity to each other should try to join up for Elktober to get more ideas
Move toward attracting people who are closer to retirement and want to get involved with something in their newfound spare time
One lodge had a canoe run and BBQ
One has been holding meat draws and 50/50 draws on a virtually during the pandemic.
Pancake breakfast with extended hours
Volunteer with a local Habitat build that will also build lodge team building
Halloween Friday Party (movie and popcorn with a treat bag after, face painting, a haunted hall)
In all cases it was felt that we should target family activities with a theme of getting back together with one another and celebrating the reconnecting with neighbors, friends, family and community.
Display Boards tell what we do
Host a harvest feast for the community
Have a children themed day where we can invite the community
Promote your lodge on social media
Do a community project that you think is needed and get the community involved to help i.e., splash park, community garden a walk way
Do something for the essential workers in the community to say thank you
German Octoberfest/Beer Fest with all of the things that goes with it.
Host a meal, a live band some dancing. Have different laptops at different stations around the room with each laptop playing different themes about the Elks
Have some events to announce that we are back in September, we survived, and we are going to be stronger to promote Elktober
Food drive in supermarket parking lot
Open coffee house with live music
Raffle in shopping mall
Buying lunch for seniors’ group
Local festival parade, have a float and distribute hand-outs
Provide security service at local outdoor events
Sponsor a children’s colouring contest in local newspaper
Be sure to plan your Elktober event to include the press
Have a supper and invite the town council and mayor
Be sure to get the word out about what your Lodge does for the community.
Have a kids Halloween party
Have a theme night. i.e., Farmer or Firefighter