Summit Elks Sees Surge in Membership

The Summit Elks Lodge, part of the national fraternal organization, has seen a surge in membership over the past five years, although numbers have been stagnant nationwide in other district lodges.

In 2004 the district only had about 150 members, while now there are over 400 men and women involved.

“Unlike a lot of other fraternal organizations, unlike other Elks, we’ve really expanded, ” said Mike Williams, the exalted ruler of the town’s chapter. “We have much better attendance.”

Williams said that people want to join the organization because of the amount of charity work its involved in. The Summit lodge focuses on raising funds for children with special needs, veterans and education.

“There comes a certain part in every persons life, they sit down and evaluate where they’re going,” Williams said. “It’s about time they do something for the community.”

The Elks Club sponsors a “campership” – a scholarship for special needs children to attend the Elks camp located in Hazlet. Four or five children are given the opportunity every year.

“If they go once, they tend to go back,” said Williams. While at the camp, children also interact with members of the Elks, who put on a big show one night a year to entertain the campers.

The Elks Club also sponsors adults who once attended the camp to return for a weekend celebration, allowing the organization to continue relationships with children they have helped in the past.

The Elks Club also sponsors events along with other districts that are open to the public.

Every year they plan a trip to Turtleback Zoo in South Orange, where they provide lunch for more than 1600 kids who enjoy the park throughout the day.

The organization also sponsors a fishing derby in Echo Lake Park, where they pay the state to drop fish into the lake for people of all ages to enjoy.

Another group that the Elks support is war veterans. Members visit the Lyons Hospital in Basking Ridge several times every year, specifically in the spring and around Christmas. They also sponsor trips to Somerset Patriots games, a concert in Echo Lake Park and dinners throughout the year to raise donations for the veterans.

“As long as there are Veterans, Elks will never forget them,” said Williams. Education has also been a priority for Elks Lodges nationwide.

Every year the organization provides scholarships of all amounts for students of all ages, specifically for those entering college.

Locally, the district lodge sponsors several baseball, softball and basketball teams. An annual “Hoop Shoot” basketball tournament is held every year for boys and girls aged eight to 13. Eventually children have a chance at competing nationally at the basketball Hall of Fame in Massachusetts. In 2006 a child from Summit made it there.

The Summit lodge also participates in the annual Memorial Day parade, where they provide hot dogs and punch to locals on the parade route.

The Elks can afford to do all of these events through membership dues (which are $60 per year), an annual charity ball and other donations. Williams mentioned that they do accept donations at headquarters, located at 40 Maple Street above Fiorino Ristorante.

The pillars of the Elks are charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity, things that Williams as exalted ruler takes very seriously. At the same time the lodge is very welcoming, allowing members to sponsor newcomers on the basis of only three requirements: members must be U.S. citizens, over the age of 21, and a believer in God.

As for Williams, he hopes that more people decide to join the Elks in Summit to create a more tight-knit community.

“When you walk away from one of the activities we participate in you have just a great feeling,” he said. “And we have a pretty good social life.”