Entertainment the month of May includes: Piano in the dining room on Tuesday Nights from 6:00-8:00 pm with Greta Nelson; Rock Creek on the Lodge Floor on Friday, May 4th; and The Lowdown Dirty Dogs in the TR Lounge on Friday, May 25th.

Wednesday Burger Picnics start May 2nd. Come out for a fire grilled burger at the Elks. When it’s your turn to cook, stop in for a great picnic burger meal at a great price.

Seven dollars per person includes a great burger with lettuce, onion, tomato, & pickles, baked beans, potato salad, and lemonade. You know it’s really spring when cookouts at the Elks begin. They are held every Wednesday through the summer into the fall, 6:00-8:00 pm.

The Roughrider Car Show will be here at the Elks on Sunday, May 20th. The TR Lounge will be open from noon-6:00 pm and serving food from noon-5:00 pm. There were a bunch of great cars here last year. Come check it out!

We carry can koozies, strapped can koozies, wind jackets, T-shirts and Elks Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Lodge Pins.

The Lodge has a number of 100 year anniversary items for sale as well. They are in our display case near the front door so you can look them over before you buy.

Holy Muscato! We had our largest turnout for “Tasting Wine at 1199″ this year with over 125 participants. We tasted 22 wines and sampled many food items. We had peanut sauce-chicken Satay, shrimp cocktail, prime rib rumaki, artisan cheeses, sweet and spicy meatballs, Italian puff pastries, chocolates, dipping oils and more. Be sure to get yourself involved next year! Thank you to our Executive Chef Dave Schuh and our staff for the great food, Didonna’s Italian restaurant for the great bread, and Arrowhead Plaza Drug for the chocolates. Thanks to Jim from Northwest Beverages, Shannon with Ed Phillips and Sons, and Sandy and Bob from Republic Distributing for all the great wines and their expertise at the tasting.

Register soon for the 7th Annual Elks 1199/Jerome Distributing 4- person Charity Golf Scramble! The tournament is slated for Friday, June 1st at Tom O’Leary Golf Course. The entry is $85, which includes: green fee, cart, prizes, two mulligans, and a Burger or Brat dinner with all the fixin’s following the tournament here at the Elks. Open to the first 30 teams, Register ahead of time! Final registration at 11:30 that Friday, Shotgun start at 12:30.

Businesses or individuals can sponsor a hole for $150.00 (charitable donation). Come on out and show your support for Elks charities by doing something fun!

As golf season begins, we open later on Thursday nights to accommodate those late evening outings. We’ll be serving food until 10:00 pm on Thursdays in the TR Lounge all summer long. You can still make the 19th hole at the Elks!

We will be opening the Patio at the end of May, weather permitting (and so far it is). Patio entertainment on Wednesdays this summer include: Sport N Wood (June), Jamaican Meh Crazee (July), and Tom O’Neill (August). Other entertainment on weekends include: Jeff Lange, various Jazz groups, Joe Friday, The Lowdown Dirty Dogs, Clean Slate, Toonz, and more.

See you at the Elks!

Steve

May 1-7, 2012 is designated as Elks National Youth Week.

Locally the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge will be holding its annual Student Government Day on Friday, May 4th. Several area high school seniors will be spending their morning job-shadowing with state, county and local government agencies. A luncheon will be held at the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Club for the students and officials, with the guest speaker being former Governor Ed Schafer. Area scholarship recipients will also be receiving their scholarship awards.

The Elks Girls Soccer Shoot is on Saturday, May 19th and will be held in conjunction with the Bismarck Soccer League Spring Jamboree at the Cottonwood Soccer Complex on South 12th Street.

The Benevolent and Fraternal Order of Elks, America’s foremost fraternal organization, has been recognized by a noble creature, the elk, which is the symbol of the order.

It is a peaceful animal, but will rise in defense of its own in the face of a threat. The majestic creature is fleet of foot and keen of perception. The stately elk is a most fitting representation for a distinctively American, intensely patriotic, family-oriented organization subscribing to the cardinal principles of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America has indeed fulfilled those principles and established a distinguished record of service and achievement since its founding on February 16, 1868.

Without dedicated members, no organization can be successful. Through your dedication, the Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge #1199 prides itself in having the largest membership in the nation! Our Elks Lodge is involved in many programs unbeknownst to much of the community including Veterans programs, Student Scholarships, Hoop Shoot and Soccer Shoot, Drug Awareness, Children’s Christmas Party, Elks Chorus, Elks Band, Memorials, Americanism, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Elks Camp Grassick, several athletic teams plus over 50 Social and Community Awareness projects and charities. To support the Elks’ good works, we continually need new members! You became a member because someone asked you. Please return the favor and ask someone to join today!

Remember “Elks Care – Elks Share”.

One of our largest charitable fundraisers will be held on June 1st. The 7th annual Elks Charitable Golf Tournament will be held at the Bismarck Tom O’Leary Golf Course. Forms can be picked up at the Elks for hole sponsors and team registrations. It is only open to the first 30 teams, so make sure you sign up today! This is a very fun event – don’t miss out on this one!!

The Elks has many events and activities going on during the month of May. Please read the monthly newsletter to make sure you’re not missing out on all the fun!
Scott Volkert, Exalted Ruler, Bismarck-Mandan Lodge #1199

It is my sad duty to announce the death of Eugene C. Hammling, Louis Huber, Theodore Keller, Harry Berg, Duane Traynor, Robert Raney Jr., Al Golden, Daniel Miller, Myron Schmidt, Clarence Olson, James Erickson, Dale Wentz, Robert Johnson.

May their Virtues be written on the tablet of love and memory.

The chorus will share familiar songs through the evening with the music of Big Al’s dance band, so bring your sweetheart and have a fun evening while you support the Elks chorus, ambassadors for our club from this community for over 50 years.

This event will be open to the couples who provide a tax deductable donation to this party. For reservations call Bill Schott at 663-0066 or 391-5611 for a fun night out.

December was a very busy month at our lodge. A BIG thank you to all the wonderful staff who worked hard during the year to make your experience at the Elks an enjoyable one, as well as those who worked in making all the Christmas parties a success.

December 3rd was the annual Elks Hoop Shoot Contest. A big thank you to Scott Volkert, Esteemed Leading Knight, in this being another huge success for all his efforts and organization as well as his volunteer helpers in organizing this event.

The annual Elks Memorial Service was held on Sunday, December 4th. This is a lodge ritual of remembrance of those who have passed away during the year. It is an honor for the officers to perform this ritual for the families of our departed members. A special thanks to Pastor Paul Nather, Minister to Youth Families at Century Baptist Church for his message that was delivered during the service.

On Saturday, December 10th was the annual Children’s Christmas party which was organized by Mike Lindblom, Chaplain, as well as the many volunteers who helped make this another successful party that was enjoyed by many families and children in their chance to visit with Santa and convey their “wish list” to him.

Let us celebrate the New Year with free Tom and Jerry’s and Bloody Marys on New Year’s Day to all members. This is a time to come down for some fun and fellowship and visit with those who are home for the holidays.

Let me also urge everyone to purchase their car raffle tickets for the 2012 Chevrolet Convertible Camaro, which is a 45th anniversary edition, to be given away in March. This is a big fundraiser for our lodge in which it allows many things to be done and given to Camp Grassick, as well as for other causes and needs in our community. I want to thank you in advance for your loyal and continued support of this event.

We hope you begin your new year at the Elks and look forward to your continued support of the nation’s largest membership lodge in the nation.

Rick DeBolt
Exalted Ruler
Bismarck-Mandan Lodge #1199

It is my sad duty to announce the death of John Yonker, Roger Peters, Ed Doyle, Max McMullen. May their Virtues be written on the tablet of love and memory.

Entertainment coming up includes: The Continentals on Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; Freeway on Friday, January 6th; The Low Down Dirty Dogs in the TR Lounge on Saturday, January 7th; Chain of Fools on Friday and Saturday, January 13th and 14th; great country with Roxy and the Barn Cats on Friday and Saturday, January 20th and 21st; E Z Street on Friday, January 27th; and Marv Allen DJ on Saturday, January 28th.

From Lounge 1199: We have our new bar menu up and running. Enjoy our famous Elks burgers, and many other items in the 1199 Lounge. We also have three 42” plasma TVs in the lounge for your viewing and listening pleasure.

From the T.R. Lounge and Grill: Our 11th Annual Chili Cook-Off will be held on Sunday, January 15th, so get ready to whip up your best tangy, zesty, beefy, spicy hot, or five alarm chili, and we’ll have some fun tasting them! Prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place. This is a great event and is very popular with our members.

The Elks Chorus will be having a pancake breakfast fundraiser on Sunday, January 29th on the lodge floor. Check out their feature article in this month’s newsletter for more details. The rest of the lodge will be closed on Sunday, January 29th.

Weekends at the Elks: the seafood bar is open Saturdays from noon–2:00 pm and our evening grill is open at 5:30 Saturdays and noon-7:00 pm Sundays.

Make sure you attend the Elks Super Bowl Party, Sunday, February 5th! As usual we’ll have chili, dips, chips, and unique food items to enjoy, not to mention $2.00 domestic tap beers, and $6 pitchers all day!! Get in on the fun! We will be featuring free food at halftime. Get in on the Superbowl sports boards soon!

Coming Sunday, February 26th, NASCAR party here at the Elks!!!! It’s Daytona in all of its glory. We’ll have prizes, games and more! Gentlemen, start your engines!

Thank you for your patronage this Holiday season.

See you at the Elks
Steve

Parents, Grandparents, Children and Grandchildren of members and non-members alike were treated to bags of candy, face painting, tattoos, hot dogs and pop!
The Bismarck-Mandan Elks Lodge #1199 sends a big thank you out to Carl Goetz for helping guide Santa and his Reindeer to the Lodge Floor on South Washington Street! Also, to Mike Hoffert and his crew from Balloon Critters, who entertained participants with balloon art and face-painting for the many happy children.

Finally, a big cup of Christmas Cheer goes out to Elroy the Elk, and the officers and volunteers who helped before, during and after the party!

Many Blessings for a Great and Happy New Year!
Michael Lindblom, Lodge Chaplain

I would like to remind all of our dedicated members that Thursday, March 22nd is not very far away. Have you remembered to buy or sell the Camp Grassick Raffle tickets that were sent to you? Have you turned in your tickets and could use a few more books?

We really need your support once again in order to make this year’s raffle another success. Through your support, the proceeds of this major fundraiser allow us to provide assistance at Camp Grassick as well as other worthy charities in our local community.

We are asking each of you to spend a few minutes reflecting on this fundraiser. It helps Camp Grassick to defray the costs associated with providing a camp experience to children with various challenges and disabilities. Please consider all that you have been blessed with and do this one small act for others…purchase the three books of tickets that you received or ask someone you know to purchase some of these tickets.

One of you are going to win the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS RS Convertible! Or one of the other fantastic prizes. Also, if you didn’t win wouldn’t it be fun to know you may have sold a winning ticket to a friend? Most importantly, isn’t it important to help support such a worthy fundraiser?

Thank you to each and every one of you. Without your help we couldn’t assist with this important work. With ALL your help we can do so much more! If you did not receive your tickets or could use more tickets please give the office a call.

Elks Care, Elks Share!
Ryan K. Farstveet, Raffle Chair