The Monessen Elks Lodge meets the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
Monessen Lodge has an olympic size pool which opens on Memorial Day and closes on Labor Day. It also has a baby pool for the for the toddlers. There is strict supervision by the life guards at all times.
Membership for the pool is open to any BPOE member in good standing, but membership in the Monessen Lodge is not required.
HOURS: 12:00 PM TO 6:00 PM, OR CLOSE AT MANAGEMENT DISCRETION.
RATES: Family Pass-$100.00 Individual Member Pass- Included with dues. Daily Rate-$10.00 per person, any age, any time.
Pool Party Rates: $75.00 up to 75 people. $150.00 over 75 people.
The dining room is open on Thursday nights from 5pm to 8pm for pizza and salads. The dining room is also available for catered events such as banquets, weddings, and dinner meetings.
The grill area opens at 1 PM daily, during the summer months. During the winter months, the grill area opens at 3 PM.
LODGE OFFICERS 2010-2011
EXALTED RULER DENNIS WINCE
LEADING KNIGHT BERNIE THEISER
LOYAL KNIGHT TOM CROCKETT
LECTURING KNIGHT TOM SALAK
SECRETARY TERRI MYSHIN
TREASURER ALAN SLATTERY
TILER OPEN
ESQUIRE OPEN
INNER GUARD ALAN GODISART
CHAPLAIN MARK KRUCZEK
5 YEAR TRUSTEE JOSEPH BILLY
4 YEAR TRUSTEE JEFF MEHOK
3 YEAR TRUSTEE WILLIAM LYNCH
2 YEAR TRUSTEE AL SALASKE
1 YEAR TRUSTEE DAVE YANKOSKY
PRESIDING JUSTICE TIM MAATTA
THE GOOD ELK
The Good Elk !
The first of April, I never remember... I pay my dues the end of December... But I'm a good Elk! I never hear the eleven strokes chime... I'm not in the lodge at that particular time But I'm a good Elk! I don't go to meetings and address the ER... I expound on my viewpoint while perched at the bar.... But I'm a good Elk! State major Project gets nothing from me.... I have no handicapped children, you see.. But I'm a good Elk! Although I don't vote in annual elections, I sure disagree with my brothers' selections... But I'm a good Elk! I go to parties (the ones that are free), When they charge to get in, I stay home with the TV... But I'm a good Elk! Lodge of Sorrow I never attend, But I'll expect you all there when I reach my end... For I am a good Elk! And on the First Sunday in the Month of December In long years to come, I'm sure you'll remember... That I was a good Elk!
Famous Elks
Although the original Elks were actors and entertainers, members of other professions soon joined the organization. Today's Elks represent just about the full spectrum of occupations in America. Throughout the course of the Order's history, many celebrities from the entertainment field, business and public service have been Brother Elks.
Presidents Warren G. Harding, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy were all Elks. Former President Gerald Ford belongs to Grand Rapids Lodge No. 48, where his father served two terms as Exalted Ruler. Of course, many members of Congress have been Elks, too. Former Speakers of the House Tip O'Neill, Carl Albert, John McCormick and Sam Rayburn all belonged to the fraternity. Former Speaker Tom Foley belongs to Spokane, Washington, Lodge. And the late Hale Boggs of Louisiana was also an Elk.
General John "Blackjack" Pershing, American general and hero of the First World War, hailed from New York Lodge No. 1 as a lifelong member. 70,000 Elks served in the First World War; 1,000 gave their lives in the service of their country. 100,000 Elks served in the Second World War, over 1,600 made the supreme sacrifice for American freedom.
Entertainers Lawrence Welk, Will Rogers, Jack Benny and Andy Devine were Brother Elks, too. Brother Devine served as Exalted Ruler of San Fernando Lodge No. 1539. And Brother Clint Eastwood is a member of Monterey Lodge No. 1285. William F. Cody, better known as "Buffalo Bill," was also a Brother Elk. From the sports world, the Order has counted among its members the likes of Vince Lombardi, Casey Stengel, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford and Jim Finks.
At every meeting of the BPOE, and every social function, when the hour of 11:00 p.m. tolls, the Lodge conducts a charming ceremonial known as the "Eleven O'clock Toast." In fact, the clock tolling the eleventh hour is part of the BPOE official emblem, and is directly behind the representation of an elk's head in the emblem of the Order.
Regular meetings of Subordinate Lodges have always been held at night. In the earlier days, they were usually held on Sunday nights and were concluded about eleven o'clock. As the participants departed, the Brothers made inquiries about the absent Brothers and expressed sympathetic interest in the causes of their absence.
It soon became a custom for some member to propose a toast to the Brothers who were not present. And in the course of time, this custom was quite generally observed whenever a group of Elks were together at eleven o'clock. Eventually, the Grand Lodge specifically provided for such a ceremonial to be observed during Lodge sessions; and designated it as "The Eleven O'clock Toast." Under this provision, whenever a Lodge was in session at that hour, the regular order of business was suspended for a few moments while the Exalted Ruler recited the beautiful ritual prescribed, concluded with the words: "To our absent Brothers."
Since women were permitted to join the Elks since 1995, the toast is now pronounced as "To our absent Members."
If you would like to visit a site that contains a wealth of information and pictures of the Elks Organization, please visit this site.
YOU WON'T BE SORRY
