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

The first place winners are:
Girls 8-9 year old division: Kelby Rinas
Boys 8-9 year old division: Sean Seefled
Girls 10-11 year old division: Emma Marion
Boys 10-11 year old division: Cole Baumiller
Girls 12-13 year old division: Michaela Casey
Boys 12-13 year old division: Connor Marion

The second place winners are:
Girls 8-9 year old division: Katheryn Kraft
Boys 8-9 year old division: Carson Rohrich
Girls 10-11 year old division: Laura Wolf
Boys 10-11 year old division: Austin Schmidt
Girls 12-13 year old division: Alexis Bentz
Boys 12-13 year old division: Jared Baumiller

The third place winners are:
Girls 8-9 year old division: Erin Snider
Boys 8-9 year old division: Nathan Al-Khafaji
Girls 10-11 year old division: Madysen Mosolf
Boys 10-11 year old division: Shane Siverson
Girls 12-13 year old division: Allison Abel
Boys 12-13 year old division: Kolby Yantzer

Congratulations to all the winners!

A big thank you to each captain and their volunteers: Captain Jim Lindseth and Dean Learn, Doug Peterson, Jerome Learn and Ethan Peterson; Captain Mike Abel and Joel Springan, Lauren Bucholtz, Mack Bucholtz, Marina Brackel, Rachelle Bakken and Rod Bakken; Captain Dennis Hensel and Lee Fischer, Jeff Small, Jeff Evink and Bill Pfau; Captain Margaret Kiefer and Dean Terry, Craig Malm, Cindy Weekes and Amanda Kiefer; Captain Mike Lindblom and Dan Clausnitzer, Sharon Clausnitzer, Mandi Clausnitzer, Ryan Talbacka, Evie Roberson and Justin Roberson; Captain Paula Amelsberg and Gene Gorseth, Gary Austad, Al Mastel, and Ed Knudson.

Also thank you to the people that helped with the lunch setup and the awards ceremony held at the Elks Lodge after the shoot: Arlan Scholl, Jani Seifert, Eldie Ulmer, Sarah Scholl, Annette Scholl, Jonathan Plante, Hannah K., Rod Bakken and Rick DeBolt.

And a special thanks to Darrell Klipfel, Cary Backstrand and Nicole Jochim for all your help.

Thanks to the following businesses for donating their products and services: Gate City Bank, American Bank Center, National Sunflower Association, Image Printing, Dakota Awards, Wachter Middle School, The Finder & Mandan News, Bismarck/Mandan Elks Lodge.

If I have missed anybody, please except my apology and thank you for helping with this worthy project.

Over 3,000,000 boys and girls ages 8-13 participated nationally this year in the “Hoop Shoot” free throw contest. Locally 21 out of 68 schools participated and a total of 1,239 (594 girls and 645 boys) participated at the school level and 81 (38 girls and 43 boys) participated at the district contest held at Wachter Middle School. The first place winners will now advance to the state Hoop Shoot, which will be held Saturday, January 14, 2012 at the Jamestown High School in Jamestown ND. The regional contest will be held in Rapid City, SD on March 3, 2012 and the national finals will be held on April 26-29, 2012 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

If you would like to participate in the Elks Hoop Shoot free throw contest, contact your school principal.

We’ll kick off 2012 with a concert at Faith Lutheran, 1402 E Ave C, on January 15th at 2:00 pm. Expect to be entertained by a variety of secular, patriotic, sacred and contemporary music. Our program will be enhanced by the beautiful voice of Colleen Reinhart, music director at Faith.

Although the Grand Lodge has “uninvited” us to the national convention in Austin next July, we will still offer our mouth-watering pancakes and sausage on January 29th from 9:00-1:00. The Chorus spouses will, as always, have a plethora of delectable homemade baked goods for sale.

The annual Lincoln Day observance is scheduled for February 11th. Check the February Newsletter for the time.

There are always openings for new members. All that is required is a love of singing and the desire to be a part of a long time Bismarck institution. (We’ve been around since 1956.) No auditions required; just show up any Tuesday at 6:30 to check us out.

We hope you had a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. We extend our best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous New Year.

Howard Loftesnes

The featured game was Green Bay at Kansas City

NOTE: This will be our final week of sports parties at the Elks, since the Lodge will be closed on Christmas Day and we will be out of town for New Years.

Each week during the regular season, we will give you a chance to win either a $75 Pro Image gift certificate (good for an NFL jersey of your choice) or a $75 Elks Gift Certificate!

It’s FREE to play and there will be trivia, drinks and prizes throughout the season!

Next weeks featured game will be xx at xx starting at NOON! Check out our NFL Sunday Ticket Page for more details!