Santa Cruz Elks

Dine out for a good cause! This Tuesday when you dine at Chili’s 15% of the sales will support California-Hawaii Elks Major Project, Inc. (CHEMPI). Just be sure to mention CHEMPI when ordering your meal. #giveback #fundraiser

Wow! Thanks to several volunteers, 250 Veterans Flags are now flying at the cemetery. Flag folding and take down is at 3:30pm today. Attention Members! This is a reminder that we have a special #FlagDay program planned for tonight’s dinner. Details are below: - Welcome and introduce program... - Flag Day prayer - Flag salute - Boy Scouts Honor Guard(still confirming) - Flag quiz - Musical flag tribute (Lee Greenwood) - End and head to dinner See more

Attention Members! The Memorial Day BBQ is here! It’s a great day to spend some time by the pool. Enjoy steaks, chicken and Polish dogs on the big BBQ on the upper patio, served with fries, salads, chili and garlic bread. At the Snack Shack BBQ, we’ll grill hamburgers and hot dogs as usual. The Tiki Bar will be open and will feature Kelly and Kimberley’s SPECIAL BLOODY MARYs, plus mimosas and Bellinis and extras starting at 11am (it’ll be 5 o’clock somewhere!). And yes - there will be desserts!

Attention Members! Don’t miss our Annual Memorial Day BBQ on Monday! There will be expanded BBQ offerings steaks, chicken and Polish dogs on the big BBQ on the upper patio, served with fries, salads, chili and garlic bread. At the Snack Shack BBQ, we’ll grill hamburgers and hot dogs as usual. The Tiki Bar will be open and will feature Kelly and Kimberley’s SPECIAL BLOODY MARYs, plus mimosas and Bellinis and extras starting at 11am (it’ll be 5 o’clock somewhere!). And yes - there will be desserts! Hope to see you there!

It’s a beautiful day for the pool to be open and the Snack Shack to be back! : Alli Sunshine Quick

EXCITING NEWS for Elks Members The pool opens tomorrow! Please find important opening details below. The pool will be open for Silver Dolphin water fitness classes Monday and Wednesday 8:30am-12:30pm, and Friday 8:30am-10:45am. The Silver Dolphins have exclusive use of the pool during those times. Members may use the pool for lap swimming before the Silver Dolphin classes. The pool will also be open to Members only following the classes, and will close at 7pm. ... The Snack Shack will not be open until May, date to be announced. Until then, Members may bring their own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to the pool. Per County ordinances, everyone must wear a mask while up and about. Please socially distance, wash your hands frequently and stay with your group. We will provide sanitizing sprays and paper towels for you to use to wipe down your area before you leave. Be sure to use the trash and recycle bins for any waste or debris. We're excited to open back up for the season! Stay tuned for updates on the Snack Shack and upcoming Lodge events. Big, huge thanks to Mike Pruger, Russ Patterson, Eric Aasen, Jackie Pacelli and Bruce Bush for helping us prep the pool for the season. We are so appreciative of your volunteering your mornings to help out!

LAST CHANCE - Make your reservation today! Kelly is cooking up something special for a good cause on Thursday, March 18. Dinner includes full tri-tip with sides. Cost is $18 for adults and $8 for kids. Call and maker your reservations at 831-423-8240. Orders due today. Limited seating will be available inside as well as on the patio. Takeout is also an option! When making your reservation, be sure to note what venue you prefer. All proceeds will support our 2021 scholarships program.

Smoked Tri-Tip Dinner Scholarship Fundraiser This Thursday, March 18, Kelly is cooking up something special for a good cause. Dinner includes full tri-tip with sides. Cost is $18 for adults and $8 for kids. Call and make your reservations today: 831-423-8240. Orders due by Wednesday, March 17. Limited seating will be available inside as well as on the patio. Takeout is also an option (dinner pickup 5:30-6:30pm). When making your reservation, be sure to note what venue yo...u prefer. All proceeds will support our 2021 scholarships. This fundraiser will help ensure that deserving Santa Cruz kids receive the help they need through this program. The more we raise, the better the offering to our local kids.

Billy Starrs Rib Night Fundraiser This Saturday, Feb. 27, Billy Starrs returns with his famous rib dinner available for takeout. The meal includes slow cooked ribs, roasted potatoes, coleslaw and dessert. Meals are $17 for adults and $8 for kids. This is a Purple Pig fundraising event! All proceeds will support CHEMPI, providing free therapy for kids with disabilities. Call the Lodge by Feb. 26 to reserve dinners - 831.423.8240. Dinners can be picked up at 5:30pm on 2/27.

We're happy to report that our 2020 Adopt-a-Family effort was a GREAT success. The program spent over $5,000 on clothes, toys and food for our local community families in need! Support was provided to the JMJ House, Siena House, Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, and Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center. Wrapped gifts were delivered to 19 Families with 39 children, and unwrapped gifts of new jackets and toys to Walnut Ave Center. Thank you to all of our Lodge members who volunteered and donated to make this happen! Pictured: Sachiko and Jim Miller(Trustee), Michael Szeles PER, John Scally Esquire, Kristina, Stella Sofia Salciccia

LAST CHANCE! The applications for the Elks Most Valuable Student are available online at enf.elks.org/MVS. The deadline to apply is Nov. 15. The Most Valuable Student scholarship is available to high school seniors who are United States citizens. Applications are judged on academics, leadership, service and financial need. The application is completed online and must be submitted by the November 15, 2020. Ranging from $1,000 per year to $12,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university. The Elks National Foundation will announce 500 national winners in April 2021.

#DidYouKnow the Elks Lodge Snack Shack is open every weekend through October? That's right our Ellks Lodge members are continuing to have poolside fun this fall. Learn more about our Lodge and the benefits of membership: https://bit.ly/30rTcB9

Santa Cruz Elks Lodge at night. Photo by Michael Szeles