Winter 2022
The cover story for this issue of the Florida Elks Magazine explores a topic that has been near and dear to my heart for many years. That topic is Lodge Officer Training and its importance to the overall success of our lodges and even the order. But, before we even think about officer training, we must first conduct officer selection, and this might prove to be equally as important as officer training.
Recently, I sent the Lodge Secretaries an email and asked them to distribute it to their boards of directors. In the email I listed the costs for several things I believe to be important to include in every lodge budget. Many boards begin working on their next year’s budgets in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year in preparation for the budget submission and acceptance by the second lodge meeting in April. My hope is that every lodge will budget for (at least) the Exalted Ruler-elect, the Secretary-elect and the Treasurer-elect to attend the Florida State Elks Association (FSEA) Officer Training Seminar in Orlando March 11-13, 2022, and March 10-12, 2023. Additionally, my hope is that every lodge will pay for (at least) the Exalted Ruler and the Lodge Secretary to learn more about the state programs and projects while representing the lodge at the state convention May 26-29, 2022. Finally, my hope is that every lodge will pay for the Exalted Ruler and their spouse to learn more about the national programs and projects while representing the lodge at the Grand Lodge convention, this year held in Atlanta, Georgia, July 2-6, 2022. In all, these events require a lodge outlay of just over $4,000. It is a lot of money, I know — the lodge dues of around 40-50 members — but, when looked upon as an investment in the success of the lodge, perhaps it is a small price to pay! I have advocated for this support by lodges for years now, and I always accompany it with the suggestion that it is OK to hold fundraisers within the lodge to help defray these costs. Or, let your volunteers designate their tips to the “officers’ training” fund. If it is represented that a lodge expense is what the funds are being spent on, you are allowed to raise money! Another argument for why: imagine a company’s new hire who is thrown into a new culture and is expected to produce without the benefit of training and mentoring. As you will read in the participant testimonials in the cover story, many speak to the advantages of forming relationships with their fellow officers while attending these events and of having access to the training instructors throughout the year to assist with advice as they perform their duties. There is no such thing as too much training and instruction, but NO training and instruction subject the lodge to an oftentimes unproductive cycle of doing the same old thing which frequently was never right to begin with. Our training is not perfect, but the combination of years of knowledge and experience represented in the training instructors and the event presenters provides the best possible scenario for advice and instruction.
Once a lodge commits to the funding for officer training, it is now time to hold the new officers accountable for attending the training and events. As members announce their intentions to run for office, ask them this simple question: Are you committed to attending the training provided by the state? Ask them, too, if they have sought and reviewed any of the many resources available to Elks lodge officers on the Florida Elks website or in the manuals offered through the Grand Lodge. Chances are if they will not commit, or if they are not curious to seek resources and information about the job they are contemplating, then assume they already know it all and seek only to perpetuate the same old thing and the “that’s the way we have always done it” mentality! It’s harsh, I know, but if your prospective Exalted Ruler, Secretary or Treasurer has a vacation booked over the dates of the Officer Training Seminar or one of the conventions, perhaps they should wait another year before they commit to such an important leadership role within the lodge.
Our lodges are complex business operations with many moving parts. Lodge officers are called upon to use many skills and strategies while leading, in problem solving, in communicating and in resolving conflicts. Our life experiences equip us to manage many of these challenges, but the Elks have a structure that is intricate, albeit well-organized and time-honored. Just because someone led a management team in their career or held high office within another organization does not, in itself, sufficiently equip them to run an Elks lodge or be a part of an Elks officer team. We know this, and this is why we put so much effort into offering training and why so much has been written to instruct in the way we as Elks do things.
No one thing, not even training and event attendance, will be the absolute answer to our leadership needs, but these will go a long way to ensure success. A commitment to service, a willingness to learn new things and the humility to not always have to be right are major contributors to the success of any endeavor. Should we not expect the same for our Elks leaders? We must make these volunteer positions easier to do or no one will want them. We begin by offering training and then setting expectations. We deserve capable leadership, we must invest in training, and our investment and faith are worthy of respect by those we elect to lead!
It is an honor to be selected to serve as an officer in an Elks lodge. Many have come before us; many will follow. Let’s talk about this as we are sitting around the bar and let’s commit to electing only the very best to our positions of honor! Let us seek new members who will endeavor to take a leadership role in our lodges and let’s provide them with an environment within which to perfect and polish their skills while serving our members and our communities. Let’s bring honor to our lodges and those who belong to them.
Whether we lead or we are led, we all have a role to play in the successful operation of a lodge. What is your story? Email me at carl@floridaelks.org and share! I look forward to hearing from you!
State Secretary