I laid it on you all a bit heavy last month, so I want to clarify my position with you as your Exalted Ruler. My road to Exalted Ruler has not been an intentional venture, but one that I will always treasure. When I admonish you over anything pertaining to the good of the Lodge as I see it, I do not do so because I think that I am smarter, nor more concerned than any of the rest of you. I do so because I feel it is part of my responsibility to look after what I consider to be good for the Lodge. I may not always be correct in my assumption, and I am quick to admit it, nor do I mean to imply that I think I am the only one capable of doing so. If I can do at least one thing that will make a difference for the good of Chico Lodge #423 in all the years hereafter (and not screw anything up,) I feel that I will have left a worthwhile legacy. There are a lot of incidentals to attend to along the way. Since I do have the job, I intend to do my best to do it right. So please bear with me.
We must keep moving forward. If we do not, there is a natural tendency toward entropy, a state of disorder.  Nothing remains static. Large social systems and institutions often fail, because they lose the values that provide the foundation for stability and the continuance of the fundamental process (bet you can think of several  good examples.) Of course, we want to continue to enjoy all of the wonderful activities here at Chico Lodge #423, and to add to them where we can.
My major goal is to institute the “Antler Program” in our Lodge so we can try to influence the younger  generations in the principles that we embrace, and set the course for future Elk membership. For those of you  who are not familiar with the Antlers, it is Junior Elks, ages 12 through 20. They have their own officers, including  trustees, and their own bank account. They have their own Statutes and By-Laws. They meet once a month  under the supervision of a five member Advisory Board of Elk members. It will take a major effort to bring this  goal about and will take a great deal of volunteer help. I’m in the market now, so the line forms at the right.
I am hoping to have a Community Youth Talent Show in the Fall or early Spring next year, with proceeds  donated to the school music and art programs. Evan has a great Halloween event in the works for kids and adults.
I would also like to do the Charity Ball again this year with the “Swing Kings,” if we can find an open date on the calendar that will work. The State President will be in  Paradise in October and may visit our Lodge on Friday, October 15th. Evan is gearing up for NFL Sunday. With the capability of three or four games simultaneously, it  should be a great season at the Lodge.
Well, both conventions are behind me. The National Convention was impressive, particularly the Opening Ceremony and the Memorial Service. We voted on fourteen resolutions, none of which greatly effects the operation of our Lodge. I have put a copy of the resolutions and the results of the votes, along with the convention news  booklets for each day on display on a table in the Lodge room for anyone interested in what goes on at these conventions. On the back of each news booklet is a  schedule of that day’s events. It is interesting to see what is involved in maintaining the statutes, rules and regulations of the Order.
The “Most Valuable Student” recipients, one boy and one girl, were quite impressive. ENF awarded each of them with a $60,000 scholarship. The two “Hoop Shoot” winners, a boy and a girl, both nine years old, were very cute. The National Foundation awarded a brand new large Ford van and $25,000 for gas money to a young  group of musicians call “Recreation” that travels the country performing at Veterans’ Hospitals. They were really great. I am going to try to get a CD to show here at the  Lodge. The only downside to the whole experience was the price of a glass of wine at the hotel. You could go broke trying to get a “buzz.”

Joe Lusher, Exalted Ruler