President - Geff McDaniel
Elks Spring into Action!
Springtime is the time of year when flowers are budding, birds are chirping, and warmer winds are blowing. It’s also a time when people purge their houses of dirt, dust, and debris … aka spring cleaning.
But spring cleaning doesn’t just apply to houses anymore. Our Elks Lodges can also take advantage of this wonderful time of year to get organized and make improvements by “spring cleaning” Lodge operations. Spring cleaning our Lodges can show you what processes need improvement, help you streamline everyday operations, and give you a nice breath of fresh air.
It’s no secret that a Lodge website can help your business grow and evolve. But if you let much-needed changes fall through the cracks, your website can easily collect dust and damage your Image. Chances are, your Lodge has changed during the last year. You might have identified new community missions. Maybe the Lodge leadership has completely switched, or, you have a new location. Either way, you should take time to scour your website for things that outdated and irrelevant.
Maybe there is some content on your Lodge website that needs to be rewritten to better reflect your offerings or target market. Or maybe your website just looks completely outdated and needs a little love. Fixing little details (even CTAs or text) can make a huge impact. Even if your only website is on Elks.org, don't limit spring cleaning to the beginning of the year or springtime. Try to “spring” clean your website throughout the year and dedicate time for website cleaning year-round.
While you’re scrubbing down the rest of your Lodge in the springtime, don’t forget to deep clean your Lodge books. Your Lodge accounting books are the epicenter of your business’s transactions and financial records. They can help you forecast your financial future and make smart decisions about your finances. But none of this is possible if your books aren’t in tip-top shape. Keep your FRS reports up to date and your Lodge audit committee, DD, DL, and state sponsor happy.
There is no better time than the spring to take a step back to examine and freshen up your membership strategies. Marketing tactics are constantly developing. Each day, a new marketing trend pops up. Spend some time this spring sprucing up your marketing membership strategies. You can freshen things up by:
Researching new marketing trends
Investing in social media
Automating tasks (e.g., email marketing)
Participating in community events or parades
Analyzing last year’s data
Do what works, move on from losing strategies, everyone knows the Elks have always done it that way.
Now for the “fun” part … actually cleaning your Lodge *inside and out. If you want to literally spring clean your Lodge, give your building a deep cleaning. Doing some decluttering around the Lodge will do some good. After all, tossing out trash, dusting, and vacuuming never hurt anybody, right?
Spring cleaning your Lodge can make you feel refreshed and organized. Not only will your Lodge look better, but you might also feel better, too.
The President will be hitting the road. I am blessed by having 20 or so Lodges within an hour and enjoy attending events as a Member. The official visitation list for the President is as follows:
Aspen #224
Cortez #1789
Creede #506
Cripple Creek #316
Evergreen #2363
Gunnison #1623
Glenwood Springs #2286
La Junta #701
Lamar #1319
Leadville #236
Monte Vista #2456
Rangely #1907
Rifle #2195
Trinidad #181
Victor #367
If your Lodge is on my list (even if it isn’t) and there is an event you would like me to attend, please email me with the information, and I will do my best to schedule it. Bulletin and newsletter editors, please add me to your electronic distribution list at GeffMcDaniel.CEA@gmail.com.
1st Vice President - Elevinio "JR" Cruz
Hola Members,
Another year for the Colorado Elks Association has gone by. Thanks to everyone who helped make this past year a success.
A big KUDOS to our State President Cynthia Wyszynski and her husband Michael for an outstanding job in leading us and helping me along the way. I look forward to another successful year with upcoming President Geff McDaniel and wife Ellen.
The fall is approaching soon, and the state will be showing off the colors of the season. Hope you get a chance to visit throughout our wonderful state and look at what Colorful Colorado will showcase.
While you’re looking at the beauty of our state, don’t forget to stop by any or all our 55 Elk Lodges. Talk to the members, find out what that lodge is doing and doing well. Take it back to your lodge and if you haven’t already tried an idea that is working at someone else lodge, give it a shot. You just don’t know how it will improve your lodge and in turn, improve your community.
Thanks to all the lodges that I have visited, your hospitality of welcoming Janet and myself is something we cannot forget. We look forward to continuing our visits throughout the state.
See you at this year’s State Convention, looking forward to seeing you all there.
God bless and keep safe.
God bless and keep safe.
Fraternally,
Elevinio “JR” Cruz