December Meeting Highlights

Meeting Highlights:

• Angela Authement was appointed as interim Treasurer by the Exalted Ruler Ernie Babin until nominations and an election at the Regular Meeting on January 9th.

• Initiations into Elkdom: Ann Labat, Melissa Hunter, Priscilla Larpenter and Jerry Larpenter

• The following were balloted favorably for initiation: Tellie Christofferson proposed by Ernie Babin and James Knoblock proposed by Teena Knoblock

• Propositions for Membership: Joan Boudreaux proposed by Ernie Babin

• Cable services have been installed.  Plans are being made to watch the Super Bowl at the Lodge.

• Approved sending $250.00 to the California Elks Association to assist those Elks impacted by the California wildfires.

• Preparations are being made for the Mid-Season Conference and the Extravaganza to be held Friday, January 18th thru Sunday, January 19th.

• The Grand Lodge and State Association Per Capita increased to $25.50 a member.  Thus, the 2019-2020 dues for Regular Members will be $68.00. 

• The 2019-2020 dues for Lifetime Members will be $46.75.  The amount paid in previous years only covered the Administrative Expenses of the Houma Elks Lodge.  Grand Lodge and LEA State Association Fees are $25.50 per Elk member.

Yours in Brotherhood,

Sam Authement PER
Secretary

November Meeting Highlights

Meeting Highlights:

• Propositions for Membership: Tellie Christofferson proposed by Ernie Babin and James Knoblock proposed by Teena Knoblock.

• Ernie said that he attended the Muscular Dystrophy event on October 28th and said that the Elks were thanked for allowing them to use the Coteau Facility at no cost.

• Warren and Skip cooked burgers and hot dogs for the Homeless Veterans in Houma on December 10th.

• Ernie said that 13 Elks, Boy Scout Troop 311, and about 150 residents were in attendance for the Veterans Recognition Ceremony at Heritage Manor on Sunday, November 11th.

• Brenda mentioned that we will have a LEGO Robotics Expo on Saturday, December 8th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Elks Rental Hall on Coteau Road.

• We need to get a list of names for everyone that has a current bar card so we can keep this behind the bar. Remember, if you would like a bar card the lodge will reimburse the cost. Contact Sam Authement for more information.

• Jerry Larpenter and Priscilla Larpenter were balloted favorably for initiation into Elkdom.

• I am still working on getting the cable re-connected at the lodge. I’ll send an email to everyone once this is done.

• Beulah announced that PGER and current State Sponsor Millard Pickering and his wife Suzanne will be attending the Mid-Season festivities.

Yours in Brotherhood,
Sam Authement PER
Secretary

October Meeting Highlights

Meeting Highlights:

• We have currently received registrations for the 2019 Mid –Season Conference from 5 of the 8 Louisiana lodges with a total of 70 registrations paid in full. Remember that you have until December 1, 2018 to pay for registration before a $10.00 late fee/registration is applied.

• The lodge was opened for the Rougarou Festival in which hot dogs, nachos and popcorn were sold. The bar was also opened for the members and guest that attended the event.

• Thanks to Ray LeBlanc and Beulah Rodrigue for their efforts in getting some limestone brought to the Coteau Property and getting the road grated by Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government.

• The Lodge voted to reconnect the cable at the lodge during the October 10th meeting.  I have made a few calls and will continue trying to get the cable reconnected.

• We welcomed 5 new members into the Lodge following an initiation on October 24th.  Our new members are Ray Moore, Suzanne Richard, Billie Babin, Todd Jobson, and Robin Jobson

• On October 24th, the following candidates were balloted favorably for initiation into Elkdom; Ann Labat, Melissa Hunter, Lawrence Frederick, and Mary Frederick.

• We are currently at 138 members with 4 candidates awaiting initiation and 2 candidates in the investigation process.

Yours in Brotherhood,
Sam Authement PER
Secretary

September Meeting Highlights

Meeting Highlights:

• Rene Pelanne, DDGER, visited our Lodge on September 12, 2018.  He expressed the good work that we are doing and encouraged the need for us to increase membership.  The only finding from the visit was that we need to revise the Lodge Bylaws to include the Secretary and Treasurer salaries.

• The Lodge will open for Rougarou Festival on Saturday, October 20th.  The plan is to open the bar and serve nachos and other snack items.  Anyone interested in helping should contact Elaine Stanley.

• The Lodge voted waive the Coteau Property Hall fee for Children with Muscular Dystrophy for Sunday, October 28th.  They are planning to have indoor and outdoor Halloween activities for the event.  Anyone interested in helping with the event including the Trick-Or-Treat should plan to attend between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

• We have decided to defer the Late Fee for Mid-Season Conference of $10.00 per person to December 1st instead of October 1st.  Several Elks in the New Orleans and Slidell Lodges have sent in their registration forms with payment. Any members of Houma Lodge #1193 planning to attend needs to fill out the registration form so that we will have an accurate count for those attending.

• There has been some interest in having cable services turned back on at the Lodge.  This will be discussed by the board at the next meeting and brought to general membership.

Yours in Brotherhood,

Sam Authement PER
Secretary

August Meeting Highlights

Meeting Highlights:

• The Houma Elks Initiated Bernita Guidry into Elkdom at the August 22nd Regular Meeting of the Lodge.

• John D Williams was Balloted favorably for reinstatement into the Lodge.

• Family Night will be held on Friday, September 21st where the POW/MIA Ritual Ceremony will be held in recognition of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.  We will have hot dogs, chili and chili fritos at no charge for all that come out.  The public is invited.  If anyone plans to attend, please give me a call so that we can have a headcount for the food.  The POW/MIA Table will remain on permanent display afterwards to show support to Veterans that never returned home.

• Mid-Season Conference will be held in Houma on the weekend of January 18th thru 20th.  A flier and registration form with details and cost will be sent out soon for all those wishing to attend the events that are being planned.

• We received a gracious donation from the Homeless Veterans Shelter to be used for improvements at the Coteau Property for the road and parking areas.

• Barbara Sullivan was presented with the Plus Eleven (11) Membership Watch from Grand Lodge for the 2016-2017 Lodge year.

• Warren Michel was presented with the Plus Three (3) Membership Pin from Grand Lodge for the 2016-2017 Lodge year.

• The annual Visit of the District Deputy to the Houma Elks Lodge will be Wednesday, September 12th.  If are free, please make plans to attend the 6:30 Houma Elks Social where we will be having Jambalaya and White Beans for dinner, and 7:30 Regular Lodge Meeting.

• The Lodge received a copy of the Minutes from the Louisiana Elks Association Business Meeting held at the State Convention in Lafayette.  If you would like to review them, a copy of them have been left by the Table in front of the Television. 

Yours in Brotherhood,
Sam Authement PER
Secretary

July Meeting Highlights

Meeting Highlights:

• At the regular Lodge meeting on July 11th, Teena Olden was balloted favorably for reinstatement.

• We will be having an Initiation for Bernita Guidry at the August 8th meeting.

• The next District Deputy Clinic will be Saturday, August 18th, at the Elks Lodge in Opelousas, Louisiana.

• The annual Visit of the District Deputy to the Houma Elks Lodge will be Wednesday, September 12th.

Yours in Brotherhood,
Sam Authement PER
Secretary

June Meeting Highlights

Meeting Highlights:

• At the regular Lodge meeting on June 13th, a motion was approved to use the 2018-2019 150th Anniversary Grant to sponsor a youth Lego League Team for local, regional and state competition.

• At the regular Lodge meeting on June 27th, the 2017-2018 Annual Financial Report was presented to the general membership.

Yours in Brotherhood,
Sam Authement PER
Secretary

May Meeting Highlights

2018-2019 National Convention Agenda

Location: Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, Hall 3, 900 E. Market Street, San Antonio, Texas 78205

• Early registration ends June 24th, at the cost of $50.  Registration is $60 after June 24th
• Saturday, June 30th, registration begins from 8:00 AM - 4:15 PM, can visit exhibit areas
• Sunday, July 1st, registration continues from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, can view exhibits areas
• Official Grand Lodge Opening Ceremony & 150th Anniversary Celebration Sunday, July 1st, 4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
• Monday, July 2nd, registration continues from 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM, can view exhibits
• Opening Grand Lodge Business Session from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, seminars in the afternoon
• Tuesday, July 3rd, last day of registration from 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM, can view exhibits
• Grand Lodge Business Session from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, seminars in the afternoon
• LEA State Association dinner at Salt Grass, more details to come
• Exalted Rulers Ball from 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
• Final Grand Lodge Business Session Wednesday, July 4th, 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Yours in Brotherhood,
Sam Authement PER
Secretary

April Meeting Highlights

The Louisiana Elks Association (LEA) State Convention will be held at the Garden Plaza Hotel in Lafayette, LA on the weekend of May 18-20, 2018. At the LEA State Convention, we get a chance to see what the other lodges across the state are doing to help promote Elkdom. You can help to support these lodges through the many raffle drawings held with the winners being announced at the banquet on Saturday. If you are bold enough, you can participate in the Ritual Contest. There are several contests for the Lodge officers and an open Ritual Contest for the “11 O'clock Toast” and the “Tribute to the Flag.” The Ritual Contest start on Friday afternoon and conclude Saturday afternoon. The banquet is Saturday evening with a dance and live music following. The convention ends on Sunday morning with a final Business Session and a Memorial Service to remember all Louisiana Elks that have passed away during the 2017-2018 Elks Lodge year.

Yours in Brotherhood,

Sam Authement PER

Secretary

March Meetings Highlights

At the March 14th regular meeting:

• A motion was approved to donate $100 to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.  A motion was also approved to donate $250 to Kelci Verdin to attend Youth Leadership trip in Washington, D.C. 

• Susan Cadiere and Bernita Guidry were proposed for membership by Sam Authement.

 At the March 28th regular meeting:

• Richard Jansen, Carrie Jansen and Patricia Avet (proposed by Sam Authement) were initiated into Elkdom.

• Susan Cadiere and Bernita Guidry were balloted favorably to be initiated into Elkdom.

• A motion was approved to have the signatures changed on the Lodge Checking Account.

• A motion was approved to accept the Operating Budget for 2018-2019 Lodge year.

Yours in Brotherhood,

Sam Authement PER

Secretary