Elks Open New Lodge in Palo Alto

After 88 years, the Elks unveiled their new flagship Elks Lodge in Palo Alto last Saturday in what California Sen. Joe Simitian called “a great leap forward.”
Elks Open New Lodge in Palo Alto
3/17/2011
Updated:
3/17/2011

PALO ALTO, Calif.—After 88 years, the Elks unveiled their new flagship Elks Lodge in Palo Alto last Saturday in what California Sen. Joe Simitian called “a great leap forward.”

“It means a fresh start for an organization that has been dedicated towards helping the community,” said Chet Hayes, who serves on the Elks board of trustees and was chairman of the construction committee for the new lodge.

After three years of hard work Hayes is excited and recognized the efforts of their general contractor, Vance Brown, who completed the project under budget and ahead of schedule. Hayes also thanked billionaire landowner John Arrillaga who “oversaw the project with no charge to the Elks.”

The modern facility spans 40,000 square feet and includes a bistro and lounge, grand ballroom, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, handball court, racquetball court, billiards, library, card room, and conference rooms for Elk members to enjoy.

“Yes, it’s a great facility… It’s a great resource for the area, but it’s also a place where people will develop and maintain personal relationships and a sense of community,” added Simitian when talking about the essence of the lodge with The Epoch Times after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Simitian, who used to visit the Elks lodge in the 60’s, wanted to celebrate the sense of community that the Elks provided Palo Alto with construction of the new facility.

“We take that for granted too often I think. It doesn’t just happen without someone saying we are going to create that space and provide that structure and I think that’s what really is being celebrated here today with the ribbon cutting for the new Elks,” said Simitian.

“It’s a gathering place for community building,” said Palo Alto Mayor Sid Espinosa during his speech at the new grand ballroom.

Espinosa is enthusiastic about the impact Elks make in the community and looks forward to the next few years of growth at the Elks Lodge.

“The community work, the community projects, the engagement out in Palo Alto has a long legacy,” said Espinosa. “It’s something we want to honor today and applaud.”

Who are the Elks?

Back in 1868, a man by the name of Charles Vivian started a fraternity, and decided to name it after elks (the animal) due to their protective and peaceful nature. After being inspired by the deeper meanings of benevolence, Vivian declared the fraternity as the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE).

“Elks are people from all walks of life who believe in the golden rule and contributing to the lives and well-being of those around them,” reads the Elks website. “We guide ourselves through life with strong morals and a great love of our fellow man, always adhering to the founding principles of our order: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, and Fidelity.”

Becoming an Elk is free, but you must be a U.S. citizen, be old enough to drink, and carry a belief in God and country to join. Contact [email protected] for more information on membership.

Their community involvement includes “raising funds for disabled children, autistic children, children who have spinal cord injuries [and] hearing loss,” said Hayes. “We also have a very strong contingent that helps out in the children’s hospital. We bring our disabled veterans in here for barbeques; we run bingo once a month for all of them at their hospital facilities,” he added.

Along with donating the first veteran’s hospital to the U.S. government, the Elks website reads that they have donated over $4 billion to “America’s youth, veterans, disadvantaged and handicapped, and to individuals and groups in support of patriotic and civic programs” since 1868. They are one of the country’s largest private providers of college scholarships according to their website.

After a decline in membership over the last few years and the ongoing construction, the Elks have seen participation picking up now that the lodge is opening up. Paul Eisenman, who will be the next “Exalted Ruler” (president of the Palo Alto Elks) beginning in April, is optimistic due to recent statistics.

“This is the new generation of Elks Lodges… The last five years we dropped 10 years in our average age from 70 to 60,” said Eisenman to The Epoch Times at the opening.

Mr. Hayes hopes the new building will help the Elks to share their good work with the community.

“I think we have a launch pad to give more exposure to what we are all about… This is the star of all Elkdom,” said Hayes.