Club Hours and Meetings:
As. always, the bar will open at 4:00 pm and close at 8:00 pm on Wednesday and Friday nights unless there are customers in the club area. If there are customers in the club area, the club will remain open until the last customer leaves. We will continue to be open every Thursday night during the hours of 3:30 – 9:00 pm. The Board of Trustees will meet at 5:30 p.m. on September 18, 2008, while the Lodge Officers will meet at 7:00 pm on the same evening. We still need a new member on the Board of Trustees.

Meals on Membership Nights:
All meals are on a first come first serve basis every Thursday night from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. The last time we had steaks we served 60 people. The other Thursdays we serve between 30 and 40 people. Thanks to all of you for coming down and to Roger Mellendorf as well as Ron Deutsch for doing an excellent job at the grill. The white onions with the grilled steaks were great. Once again, we need to thank all those that consistently use the Club in any way on any night whether it is to eat, to visit or to play cards. Your loyalty in using the club on Wednesday to Friday nights and in paying your dues is what keeps the Club and Lodge going. The price for a meal is currently $7.00 per person. The meals for the month of September are:

Bring a friend, especially one interested in being an Elk. Remember that you can have free coffee with your meal. Where else can you get seven dollar meals with free coffee?

Home Page and e-mail Addresses:
The home page address is www.brookingselks1490.org and the e-mail address is Elks1490@mchsi.com. Check out the home page as it does contain a great deal of information about the Club and the Lodge. You should also use the Lodge e-mail address to contact the Lodge Secretary or the Exalted Ruler. Remember to contact Jerry if you have an address change.

GOLF TOURNAMENT
The Bobcat Backers annual golf tournament on Saturday, August 2nd at the Brookings Country Club went very well and the four young ladies representing the Elks Club had a fantastic time. The Elks have sponsored a team for the last four years and all profit for this tournament goes for scholarships to our high school graduates. Here is another way the Lodge helps students.

Parties in the club area
If you want a party at the Club just give us a call. Remember that members get the Club area free of charge. Members only pay for the bartender. The Bobcat Backers are back again and already we have parties scheduled for September through December. Tell your friends about the Elks Club for birthday parties, graduation parties, wedding rehearsal dinners, class reunions and retirement parties.

Future Events to put on Your Calendar:
1. The Free Pancake Feed for Veterans and families will be on Tuesday, November 11th from 6 – 9 am at the American Legion, which is located at 1229 Western Avenue. We will need volunteers to cook and to serve so please say yes if called to help. If you are a veteran come out and enjoy some good food and great company.

2. Old Timers Night will be on Friday, November 21st from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Reservations are required so If you receive a poster in the mail in October and you plan to attend you need to call Jerry at 692-4640 or 692-1490 and leave a message with your name and the number of tickets you want. You must make reservations before November 18th.

3. Tom and Jerry night will be at the Club on December 19th from 6 p.m. until the last person leaves. There will be free snacks and chili to go along with the free Tom and Jerry’s. Come down and have a great time just as we did last year. If you were not there last year then try it this year. This is your party.

4. The Elks Hoop Shoot is planed for December 14th at the 5th Street Gym with the doors opening to set up at 1:00 pm, registration at 1:30 and competition from 2:00 till done. Say yes if called to work. Kids love this and it is a great activity!!!

5. The Elks Memorial Service for deceased members will be held on December 7th at 4:00 pm in what used to be the Joe Garity Ball Room. Letters of invitation will be sent to all spouses and relatives of deceased members living in the area. The service, with refreshments, last about one hour.

Changes to take place at the Lodge and Club Starting in 2009
¬ Our contract with the City should be ready by January 1, 2009. The contract will be discussed and voted on at the business meetings. It is your Lodge and Club so read the newsletter and attend the meetings in order to voice your opinions and to vote on what to do.

¬ Due to the increase in the cost of food, the price for meals will go up to $9.00 for steaks and $8.00 for all other meals as of January 1, 2009. We have been losing money on meals since June.

¬ As of January 1, 2009, all new contracts to rent the facility for a party will increase to $150.00 for non-members. Members will still only need to pay for the bartender.

Jerry Bergum, ER