The Latest from Lodge 572...

September Newsletter & Calendar Now Available

The newsletter and calendar for September are now available. To view/print them, please use the links in the menu on the left.

Labor Day Hours

The club room will be open on Monday, September 7^th (Labor Day). Food service and drawings will not be available on this day.

Building Fund Raffle

To help the Lodge financially after the COVID-19 shutdown, we will begin selling raffle tickets in September. These raffle tickets will be ten dollars each, for a chance at winning one of three cash prizes: $500, $250, $100. The tickets can be sold to anyone as long as they are sold by a member of the Lodge. The drawing will take place on October 24^th, 2020. According to current restrictions, both the front and back rooms can be open for the drawing, but we will be limited to 50 people in either side (this could change by the time the drawing takes place). If the Lodge fills up -- not to worry -- you will not need to be present to win! Tickets will soon be available in the Lodge. The money that results from this raffle will be used to replenish the building fund, which has taken a blow due to various freezer/cooler issues that the Lodge has faced over the last few months.

Monday Nights Volunteers

The second Monday of September will be the beginning of our new initiative where members will form groups to volunteer to cook dinner, serve food, and bartend. If you would like to participate in an existing team, you can contact the following team leaders: Jim Ferguson/ Jerry Willet, Richard Martin/Darcie Hastings, Kathy Guetersloh/Selena McBride, or Steve Schemonia/Christian Rose. If you would like to create your own team that you think can outperform any of the teams listed above, do not hesitate to reach out to any of the current team leaders and express your interest. We hope to see many of our members enjoying their Monday nights with some friendly culinary competition and a chance to win a little extra money for a dollar!

Lodge 572 Earns Awards from IECCC

Although there weren't the usual presentations and fanfare at the Illinois Elks state meeting (which was canceled), our Lodge once again was awarded for its fundraising efforts for the Illinois Elks Childrens Care Corporation (IECCC) for the 2019-2020 year. For gross contributions, Lodge 572 was awarded 2^nd place in the state (out of 69 lodges) for a total contribution of $20,448.00. Our per-capita contribution of $30.34 per member garnered us 1^st place in the South District.

South District Golf Scramble

This Annual Golf Tournament is scheduled for October 3, 2020 at Union County Country Club. Lodge #572 has been a consistent participant in this South District fundraiser, for some years, and we hope to continue doing so, again this year! Our Lodge, certain Elk Members, and some Murphysboro Business entities have also provided support through Hole Sponsorships ($75 this year). Sponsorship Forms and Team Entry forms are now available in the Lodge Club Room. For questions, you can contact: Becky Bourland, Dist. Secretary, at 618-922-9648 or beckybjbourland54@gmail.com; Darcie Hastings, District Treasurer, at 618-521-6050 or darcieh2@gmail.com; Erick Hallam, Golf Committee Chair, at 618-528-4700 or ericklhallam@gmail.com

Also, Golfers All....our Annual Lodge #572 Golf Scramble, originally scheduled for earlier this year, had to be cancelled, due to Covid-19. We are currently looking at rescheduling this event. As soon as we know the details on this item, we will get the information out! Stay tuned....!!

Members -- Time To Renew Your Membership Dues

Please remember that the current Elk Year ended on March 31, and the new one began on April 1. Regular dues for 2020 - 2021 are $70.25, and life member dues are $32.25. (Note - a $2 increase is the result of increased liability insurance rates incurred at the Grand Lodge level.) We realize that many people have other concerns/issues/problems this year. If you have difficulties paying your dues due to the pandemic, please contact the Lodge. We can work something out.

Due to the delay in the Lodge opening, members who have not yet paid their dues have been eligible to participate in drawings up until August 1^st. However, with the Lodge now open, we must return to enforcing the regulations of our Order, along with our own House rules which require that members must not be on the CLMS delinquent list, on the first day of the month, in order to participate in any drawing that month.

Lodge 572 Continues To Give During Crisis

Murphysboro Lodge #572 Exalted Ruler, Christian Rose, presented a $2,000 check to Carnalita Cahill, Coordinator of the Warming Center in Carbondale. The Center is a temporary shelter helping the homeless, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic situation. This donation will help with the purchase of cleaning supplies, food, clothing, hygiene items, PPEs, etc., and is made possible by our Lodge receiving an ENF Spotlight Grant. Another example of your Lodge helping those of our area who are in need: Elks Care - Elks Share!

CCC Physical Therapy Scholarship Awarded To Student Sponsored By Lodge 572

Lodge #572 is pleased to report that Carly Carril of Evansville, Illinois has been awarded a 3rd year of scholarship assistance by the Illinois Elks Children's Care Corporation (CCC), for 2020-2021. Sponsored by our Lodge, Carly is a Physical Therapy major at Maryville University (near St. Louis). This year's award amount is $1,100. Carley sent a message to members of Lodge #572: "Please tell them that I appreciate their hard work & contributions needed to make this scholarship possible!" To all of you who have helped in any way with our Lodge's support of the CCC, here is an example of your efforts paying off!!

Elks National Foundation 2020-2021 Scholarship Information

Most Valuable Student (MVS)
Open to ANY High School Senior who is a U.S. Citizen. Judging Criteria: Academics, Leadership, Financial Need, and Service. 500 4-yr. awards as follows: Two $50,000; Two $40,000; Two $30,000; 14 $20,000; 480 $4,000. Applications are available online at enf.elks.org/ MVS and are due online on or before November 15, 2020.

Legacy Awards
Open to college-bound high school seniors who are the children or grandchildren of duespaying Elks. 350 scholarships at $4,000 each. Judging based on applicant's commitment to the core values of the ENF: Knowledge, Community Service, Charity, and Integrity. (Legacy scholars are required to serve with the Elks throughout college, to receive their scholarship funds.) Applications available online starting September 1, 2020, at enf.elks.org/Leg. Due online on or before February 5, 2021 at 11:59 a.m. Central Time.

Emergency Educational Grants
Provides undergraduate college financial assistance to children of deceased or totally disabled Elks in the form of renewable, one-year grants of up to $5,000. (This grant is for educational assistance only and is not intended to cover the entire cost of a college education.) Eligibility: attend an accredited U.S. college or university as a full-time (12 semester hours) undergraduate student; demonstrate financial need; be unmarried & under the age of 24 during the academic year for which assistance is desired. Applications available by request between May 1 and November 2 of the academic year for which assistance is desired. To request an application, contact the ENF Scholarship Office at 773/755-4732 Additional information about these Grants can be found at enf.elks.org/EEG

Finally, you can contact the following Lodge Scholarship Committee persons: Merle Evans (618-303-1693 or merle_evans@elks572.org) or Don Siefert (618-201-4184 or donnansief@aol.com)