If we can avoid any further delays we should be able to have a wonderful Super Bowl Party.

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1 Taunton Lodge of Elks John Quincy Adams Road Taunton, MA Taunton Lodge of Elks Officers Exalted Ruler: Rose-Marie Monahan, PER Esteemed Leading Knight: Sandra Boyer Esteemed Loyal Knight: Tim Avelino, PER, PDD Esteemed Lecturing Knight: Donna Allen Esquire: Bill Collins, PER, PDDGER Treasurer: Jim Strojny, PDD, PSP Secretary: Kristina MacEachern Chaplain: Tabitha Monahan Tiler: TBD Inner Guard: Kathy Collins Elk Riders Acting President: Ron Jollymore Trustees: Bob Monahan, Jim MacDonald, Tim Bilodeau, George Mandeville, Maria Bilodeau House Committee Members: Bob Folcik, Ray Gagnon, Donna Allen, Bill Collins Help is needed Auditing: TBD Elks National Foundation: Sandy Boyer Veterans: Joe MacDonald Webmaster: Rose-Marie Monahan Scholarship: Carol Doherty Building: Bob Folcik Fraternal: Bill Collins, Jim MacDonald, Maria Bilodeau, Janet Smith, Deb MacDonald Serving the Greater Taunton Community since 1890 Dear Members, Happy New Year! It has been many years since the High Street building was sold and we have a daily active membership. I am happy to say that we are on our way to be back. The Banquet Facility will be opening as soon as we receive our occupancy permit. The fire department has come in and requested a few minor items to be done. These items are being attended to. This frigid weather caused a pipe to freeze. Luckily, Jim M. found the problem and was able to take the necessary steps to prevent additional damage. As soon as we receive the occupancy permit the beer will be ordered and we will be able to open. We have been working with Verizon to get the Internet, cable, and phones working. We have two televisions ready to show the games. If we can avoid any further delays we should be able to have a wonderful Super Bowl Party. Watch your s, Facebook, and check in with other elks if you are not on social media. The announcement will be made as soon as the proper paperwork is received will be a new beginning for the Taunton Lodge of Elks #150. Hopefully, we will be able to bring back most, if not all, of our traditions. There has been many discussions The Banquet Facility is in need of some tender loving care. We will be looking for members to help out with some painting, minor repairs and cleaning. There will be a signup sheet posted in the Banquet Facility. of parties, fundraisers, and just a place to get together and have fun. The following functions have been suggested for consideration: 150th Anniversary Celebration Spaghetti Dinners/State Elk Functions Not so Newlywed Game Member Feud (from Family Feud) Murder Mystery Dinner Member nights Open Houses Corn Hole Tournaments Games There are so many more. All we need is the desire and people to participate. An Event committee is needed asap to assist with putting this together. It doesn t matter if you want to work on one event or several please contact me so we can get started. I am also looking to start a Marketing Committee. Again, please let me know if you can be involved. Happy New Year! See you at the lodge soon.! Fraternally, Rose-Marie Monahan, PER Happy New Year

2 Lodge News and Updates The place to discuss Lodge business is on the floor at a Lodge Meeting. Lodge business should not be discussed in the VFW Pub. If you have any questions, issues or items of discussion please come to a lodge meeting, that is the where you will get the most updated and accurate information. Keep in mind rumors and hearsay distort the facts. Antlers Taunton Lodge #150 Grand Lodge has been working on reinstating the Antler Program. This program is for ages twelve to twenty. Having younger members will assist in growing our youth program interest and participation. This program will help teach the importance of community service, tradition, and respect of our country. Elks programs benefit all ages. Now it will be all ages involved. Applications are now available at the VFW. Message from Grand Exalted Ruler Malcolm McPherson, Jr. The new year brings an opportunity to start fresh. We make resolutions to stop procrastinating, eat healthier, exercise more, act nicer to others, and so on. Yet many of us set unachievable expectations and are left wondering why we abandon our resolutions by February. Let s resolve to get rid of resolutions this year and instead set goals that we can realistically attain. I challenge you to choose just one actionable goal that you can execute this calendar year within your Lodge, community, or the greater Order. Here are some ideas to get you started: Share your pride in being an Elk by recruiting and installing a new member. Volunteer to chair a committee or event within your Lodge. Run for an officer position within your Lodge this coming March. Seek out a new charitable initiative for your Lodge to support in your community. Master the Elks ritual process and help strengthen your Lodge s ritual performance. I hope these ideas spark a desire to make a difference in your community and work together with fellow members. If we give ourselves realistic goals, then we re more likely to stick to them and ultimately become a stronger Lodge. As Pat and I get back on the road again this month, another one of my goals for the remaining year is to promote our 150 years of Elkdom. As we get closer to our annual reunion in July in San Antonio, Texas, I challenge each of you to bring your great works of Elkdom into your local communities. I look forward to hearing about the ways you are strengthening Elkdom as we continue this journey together.

3 Help for Hurricane areas Recently, with the catastrophic floods in Texas, the Elks Disaster Relief Program, Inc. donated $25, to aid those victims. To help replenish those funds, I encourage your Lodge or State Association to raise and donate what you can for this most important program. Without support, eventually we may not be able to continue to live up to our motto Elks Care Elks Share by easing the burden and lend a helping hand to the victims of major catastrophes. Donations are tax deductible as allowed under the 501 (c)(3) IRS Code. All checks should be made payable to: Elks Disaster Relief Program, Inc. Contributions should be mailed to: Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Attn: Bryan Klatt, Grand Secretary 2750 North Lakeview Avenue Chicago, IL Save the Date 1/ 1/ 18 Happy New Y ear 1/ 2/ 18 7pm BOD meeting 1/ 3/ 18 7pm House Committee Meeting 1/ 9/ 18 Lodge Meeting 7pm 1/ 16/ 18 Initiation with Orientation 6pm 1/ 17/ 18 7pm House Committee 1/ 18/ 18 7 pm Elk R iders meeting 1/ 23/ 18 New member initiation 1/ 23/ 18 Lodge Meeting 7pm Elks Riders Next Elks Riders Meeting: Every 3rd Thursday of the month -7pm at the VFW. All members are welcome If you are not receiving s from the secretary, please send an to secretary@tauntonelks.org, Have an event to add to the newsletter? Want to report to the membership about committee activities and meetings? Please send all submissions for the newsletter to newsletter@tauntonelks.org Submissions are due no later than the 15th of the month to be included in the following months newsletter (October 15th for November). Timely information submissions are essential for the newsletter to go out to the membership on time. If you know of a member who is confined at home or hospitalized, Please notify Sandy Boyer, or charity@tauntonelks.org. Cards, telephone calls and/or visits would certainly be appreciated and welcome. We would appreciate a member of the family calling the lodge to advise us of any hospitalization or death of a member. If the family would like a ritual for a deceased member, please call the Lodge Leading Knight, Sandy Boyer. Hospital At Home Volunteers are also needed to help prepare the newsletters for postal mailing. Please the newsletter@tauntonelks.org for more information. Nursing/Retirement Homes

4 From Our ENF Chairperson Sandra Boyer The Elks National Foundation fundraiser raffle tickets are still on sale We have postponed the drawing date to allow for additional ticket sales! We will draw the winners at our first meeting of 2018 on January 9 th!!! Prizes include: an IPad pro, a queen size Elks t-shirt quilt and a Budweiser scratch ticket bucket. Tickets are $15 each or 2 for $25. Here we are Happy New Year to All! Finally- we are moving into our new home at 775 John Quincy Adams Road. It has been a long journey and the process has not been easy but we have made it! Although our goals have been modified over and over, we ARE opening our new lodge, a member s lounge and function facility for the Taunton Elks #150!!!! We have reset the goal of building on the addition until we are open and have begun to generate funds to pay for the furnishings that will be needed. In 2018, I am looking forward to becoming the Exalted Ruler elect and I have begun making plans for doing so. Much support is needed as we grow our organization at our new home. I am looking for members to be a part of the exciting future that is now on our door step. The team approach that I envision consists of all members and future members. A great team is currently in place and will be built upon to continue the work on future goals of for our lodge. We need you to be on this team. Please be in contact to see how you may be included. I would like to make it a goal for all members to bring in another member in An each one, reach one campaign if you will! How do you get someone to join the Elks? A good start is by asking someone! Next, tell them about the Elks. Tell them better yet, Show them how we support youth thru drug awareness programs, hoop & soccer shoots, the Americanism essay contest, support of the Boy Scouts and of course through scholarships. Tell them Show them how we support veterans by providing gifts at the holidays, food donations, and other initiatives throughout the year. Tell them how we support our community by providing member volunteers, financial contributions and other supports as needed and requested. Don t forget to Tell them Show them All the fun and comradery that is free to ALL members. Thank you for your support! In brotherly love, Sandra Boyer

5 If you are on the delinquent list please mail in your dues payment ASAP to avoid being DROPPED on March, You may mail it to P.O. Box 482 Taunton, MA or drop it in the secretary's mailbox at the VFW. We Appreciate your membership! Log onto elks.org for additional information that is not for the general public. The Grand Lodge Newsletter will contain the delinquent list and anything else that should not be available to the general public. Hours Sun, Sat Mon. Tues., Wed., Thurs. 12 PM - close 3 PM - 9 PM 4 PM - 9 PM Fri 4 PM - 12 AM Closing hours may be extended due to activity level at the pub Temporary Lodge Phone #: Until further notice please use the above number. Thank you.