Bullhorn
Berea Elks Lodge #1815
January 2024
Happy New Year from the Exalted Ruler
2024; it’s been a good year. Our lodge has received $10,000 in grants, which means we have donated over $10,000 and our time to various groups, such as our Veterans, the Cleveland Food Bank, back packs to the Berea schools, drug prevention programs, the Alia Bailey toy drive, the Peace Officer’s Memorial Society, the Hoop Shoot, the Americanism Essay contest and several other activities. We volunteered a lot of our personal time to make all of this happen.
2024; it’s also been a bad year. We only added two new members to our lodge. To grow and survive, we need new members with new ideas. We need people who have a desire to get involved with the great work Elks do.
Congratulations to John Masterson on winning the highly coveted Elks Calendar #1815! So far, we have sold 112 Buckeye Bucks calendars. Rich & Dianna Threadgill have teamed up for 28 of them. As promised, here are the latest sellers. Mike Merda, Danielle Mahaney, Jeff Coyle, Jon Elias, Chuck Laveglia, Duane Gibson, Caroline Kuhl, Casey Kensinger, and Donna Bowman. There is still time, Calendar sales. continue into the new year.
As the Elks Fraternal year winds down, it’s time to start thinking about next Fraternal year, which begins April first. Think about volunteering to become an officer or committee chairperson; there are many different roles available. Jeff Coyle and I can answer any questions you may have.
Socially, January starts off the new year with a bang. The dart league continues on Tuesdays, the machine golf league is ongoing, and of course the 1815 Club. The Peace Officers’ Memorial Darts Tourney is scheduled for January 11. A movie night and a wine-tasting round out the Saturday events. Finally, the Ohio Elks Northeast District meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 19 in Ravenna.
Fraternally,
Bob Bickford, Exalted Ruler
Lodge Officers
Exalted Ruler - Bob Bickford
Esteemed Leading Knight - Deb Greenhill
Esteemed Loyal Knight - Hans Larsen
Esteemed Lecturing Knight - Dianna Threadgill
Secretary - Jeff Coyle, PER
Treasurer - Danielle Mahany, PER
Chaplain - John Masterson
Inner Guard - Dawn Larsen
Tiler - Eric Banks, PER
Esquire - Lenny Oliveri, PER
Lodge Trustees
5th Year - Jon Elias, Chairman
4th Year - Rich Ward
3rd Year - Pat Greenhill
2nd Year - Aric Pruitt-Humphreys
1st Year - Andy Tyler
UPCOMING EVENTS
January
Jan 3 - Americanism Essay Judging
Jan 8 - Lodge Meeting
Jan 11 - Greater Cleveland Peace Officer Memorial Society Dart Tournament
Jan 11 - Wine Tasting
Jan 15 - Board of Directors Meeting and PER Meeting
Jan 18 - 1815 Club Meeting
Jan 19 - Northeast District Meeting at Ravenna
Jan 22 - Lodge Meeting
Jan 25 - Movie Night: Rear Window
Jan 29 - 5th Wednesday (Lodge Closed) - Schnitz Ale Brewery
February
Feb 1 - Cookie Decorating Class
Feb 5 - Lodge Meeting
Feb 7 - District Americanism Essay Judging
Feb 8 - Margaritas and Tacos Night
Feb 9 - Super Bowl and Meat Raffle
Feb 12 - Board of Directors Meeting
Feb 14 - Valentine’s Day Special Grille Menu
Feb 15 - 1815 Club Meeting
Feb 19 - Lodge Meeting - Officer Nominations
Feb 22 - Elks Leadership Kollege - Newark #391
Tuesdays and Fridays
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT TRIVIA!
January
Jan 1 - Corey Evaldi
Jan 2 - Jaiden Caracci
Jan 4 - Nate Moore, PER
Jan 9 - Tylor Mahany
Jan 12 - Donna Bowman
Jan 12 - Mary Sampson
Jan 14 - David Kay
Jan 17 - Ed Marasigan
Jan 20 - Beth Skutnik
Jan 23 - Steven Oliveri
Jan 25 - John Kirkland
Jan 29 - Danielle Mahany, PER
Jan 30 - Matt Williams
Berea Elks #1815 Making a Christmas to Remember for Foster Kids
Berea Elks Lodge #1815 partnered with Cuyahoga County Children & Family Services donating Christmas gifts to 40 kids currently in foster care with the county. They currently have over 2,200 kids in custody of the county so the need is off the charts. We're grateful to have a chance to make a difference for 40 kids this year. Thanks to all the members who shopped and donated gifts. Many thanks to lodge members Hans and Dawn Larsen for putting this program together. The lodge utilized a $4,000 Elks National Foundation (ENF) Gratitude Grant to help cover the costs of the gifts. In all, nearly $5,000 in presents were donated to these families.
Veterans Donations
Our Lodge delivered 54 backpacks to the VA Police stuffed with personal dignity supplies that will be handed out to homeless veterans by the department. This was made possible by a Freedom Grant from Elks National Foundation (ENF) and by additional donations from lodge members. Many thanks to all who helped put this together. We were told that the VA Police would immediately be taking these to Warren, OH and that all of these will be gone in a day as the numbers of homeless veterans in that area is just staggering. Thanks again all…we hope to do another batch in the spring.
Community Efforts Recognized
Congratulations to our Esteemed Lecturing Knight, Dianna Threadgill for being recognized by Berea City Schools for all the great work she does each year driving the lodge’s backpack program for Berea 5th graders. It’s a ton of work each year and she does an amazing job. Way to go Dianna!
Hoop Shoot Success
Berea’s annual Hoop Shoot Contest was another resounding success. We had 14 participants and 13 volunteers. We will be sending 5 winners on to the District for the next round of competition!
Berea Elks #1815 Host Alia Bailey Memorial Holiday Toy Drive
Berea Elks Lodge #1815 recently hosted family and friends of the Alia Bailey Holiday Memorial Toy Drive at the lodge. Alia lost her life in a tragic car accident in 2017 as a student of Grindstone Elementary in Berea.
Since then, the family has gathered toys in Alia’s name and have donated them to local children’s hospitals during the Holidays. This year several hundred gifts were donated by members of the community and then wrapped at the lodge.
So many gifts were given that the family had to rent a box truck and two vans to haul them to a local Hospital. Many thanks to the family, friends of the family, and to lodge members for the generosity and support this year!
Americanism Essay Judging - Volunteers needed!
Fri. Jan. 3rd at 7:00 pm
12 -18 people needed for Friday evening Jan, 3rd to evaluate the 2024-2025 Americanism Essays from local 5th thru 8th graders. 'What Does Patriotism Mean To Me?" is this year's theme. We need to select the top 3 essays in each of the 4 grade levels. This is always a fun time!! Please just show up by 7pm. We should finish around 9 - 9:30.
Bill Maloney - Lodge Americanism Chair
Learn more here: elks.org/programs/americanism.cfm
CHARITY DART TOURNAMENT!
Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025
Start Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Berea Elks Lodge #1815
626 North Rocky River Drive, Berea, OH 44017
Last year, 23 teams joined us, and we raised over $2,000 for the Greater Cleveland Peace Officers Memorial Society (GCPOMS), a nonprofit dedicated to honoring peace officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
This year’s tournament features two-member teams. Participants can be Elks members, their family, or active/retired law enforcement.
Entry Fee: $60 per team ($30 per person)
Payments can be made via cash or check to Berea Elks Lodge #1815.
Register Today!
Contact Art Bowker at:
elks1815dartle@gmail.com
216-262-2946
Spots fill up quickly—don’t miss this exciting event for a great cause!
Pre-Lent Wine Tasting
Join us Saturday, January 11th at 7:00 PM for our “Pre Lent” Wine Tasting. We’ll feature great wines designed to pair well during the Fish Friday Season at the lodge. We’ll have six amazing wines paired with some of the best locally sourced foods along with some preview samples of the upcoming Fish Friday menu at the lodge prepared by PER Chef Nate.
Tickets available here: https://www.bereaelks.com/lodge-store/wine-tasting
Buy now, tickets sell out fast!
Cookie Decorating Class
Saturday February 1st 7:00pm
Tickets are available at the Lounge. Act fast to secure your seat(s) for this sweet set!
All materials provided to take this cookie decorating class and to transport home. @$50 per
(Gentle reminder, there are no refunds unless class is cancelled. This is because of the perishable items and the advanced prep work. Your seat can be transferred to another student for the same day class or your set can be picked up. Thank you for your understanding).
Class is about 2.5 hours
Max 18 people
Final count by Sunday January 26th
Super Bowl Meat Wheel Raffle – Feb 9th at 4 PM!
Get ready for the most delicious Super Bowl Sunday yet! Join us for the Super Bowl Meat Wheel Raffle and you could walk away with some amazing meat prizes!
What’s the Meat Wheel? It’s a spinning wheel numbered with awesome cuts of meat—steaks, chicken, ribs, sausages, and more! Buy a ticket, spin the wheel, and you could win big!
How to Enter:
Tickets are just $10 each! 50 Tickets will be sold for a chance to win! Every ticket gives you a chance to win one of our mouthwatering meat prizes!
Prize List:
T-bone Steaks
Grilled Chicken Packs
Ribs Galore
Gourmet Sausages
Bacon Bundles
And more surprises!
Event Details:
Date: February 9th – Super Bowl Sunday!
Time: 4:00 PM (Don’t miss the big spin!)
Tickets: $10 each
Get your tickets now – they’re selling fast! Tickets can be purchased at the Lounge
Come for the Meat Wheel stay for the Super Bowl – you won’t want to miss out!
Margaritas & Tacos
Hola Amigos!
Join us for an amazing night of fresh made tacos and amazing margaritas! We’ll be serving a flight of three amazing craft-made margaritas expertly paired with three different hand-made tacos. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. with the first round starting at 6:30 p.m.
Special dinner event February 8, 2025 and requires advanced order by February 5th.
Price is just $25/person and tickets will be limited.
2025-2026 Berea Elks Lodge Officers and Committee Chairs
As our Lodge heads into the next fraternal year, we are looking for members interested in becoming a Lodge Officer or Committee Chairperson. Part of our Lodge’s success has been through the healthy rotation of these important positions. This helps bring in new ideas and prevent burn out among our active members. If you are waiting for a nudge or a sign to get more involved, consider this article to be it! Many of the open positions do not require the significant time investment, responsibility, or experience that you may expect. If you would like to learn more or ask any questions reach out to Secretary and PER Jeff Coyle, or any PER and current Lodge Officer.
Berea Lodge #1815’s 75th Anniversary Pin Contest
Attention Lodge Members, 2025 is our Lodge’s 75th Anniversary!
In honor of this momentous occasion, our Lodge will be holding a contest for a new pin design which honors this impressive milestone.
We are looking for a unique design which can be made into our new Lodge lapel pin. These pins will be ordered in bulk and will be available for purchase at the Lounge. The winner will be forever established in Lodge lore and will receive a free meal from the 11th Hour Grille!
Creativity is encouraged, but the pin should mention Berea 1815 and the 75th Anniversary. Designs cannot contain any copyrighted material, which includes official BPOE logos.
Submissions should be sent to BPOE1815@gmail.com or delivered in person to Lodge Secretary Coyle. All submissions should be turned in by February 1st and will be reviewed by the Pin committee. The top designs will be presented to membership for a vote during the Lodge meeting on February 5th.