It’s almost time to say goodbye as Exalted Ruler. It has been a year that I will remember the rest of my life. Many of you have thanked me for my efforts this year, but you have done far more for me. You have taught me much about love, both giving and receiving. On that subject I remind you of what I believe you already know. It is important that we all love one another. Love is not an action, it is a “state of being.” If we are all in that state, we can have a tremendously positive effect on our Lodge and our community. Every major religion and philosophy has emphasized this virtue through out mankind’s history. Unfortunately, too few have taken it to heart and given it a try. Certainly Elks, being the Best People On Earth, should be at the forefront in this endeavor. Obviously this does not mean we will always agree with one another, but even
disagreements can be done in a spirit of love.
Before we could take the Obligation for membership, we had to profess a belief in God, whether we define God  anthropomorphically or as a Spirit. If we honestly professed such a belief we need to decide how we believe and commit  ourselves to living our lives accordingly. It is by far the most significant commitment we can make. We must be open minded and non-judgmental toward others who may have different convictions. There is a reason that our Founders were adamant that we were able to profess this faith. We are all One in Spirit. It is what unites us. No doubt God wants us to
have a good time and enjoy ourselves while we are here, so we don’t have to be overly pious about it.
One of the biggest benefits of our Order to it’s members is the sense of ‘Community’, which by definition means a large group of ‘like-minded’ individuals sharing common interests and principles. It has been proven that it is a major factor in promoting happiness, good health and longevity. While we may not share each other’s views on all matters, we still have much in common by supporting our Order and all that it stands for. We must continue to uphold and maintain the foundation of our Order by adhering to our Cardinal Principles.
I am very proud to have served in a long line of Exalted Rulers, and soon to be a PER from Chico Lodge No. 423. I have been
very fortunate to have had the time to devote to that effort, being retired and living close to the Lodge. It will be sometime before that situation will exist for another Exalted Ruler, so I implore you bear that in mind for our incoming Exalted Ruler. I believe Mike Staples will do a great job and serve the Lodge well.
I am sure all of the Officers will continue to have what is best for the Lodge in mind at all times. You can be confident that you are in good hands with our current Board of Trustees. I didn’t always agree with them, but have always respected their
commitment and hold them in high esteem and affection. It is their job to keep the Lodge in good financial shape and  properly maintained, and they do that well. If both the executive branch and legislative branch always agree, someone is not doing their job properly. I do think it is important for our Lodge to be as involved in our community as much as possible. We need to have a higher profile by being more active and letting everyone know the good works that we do and the love that we share. This sometimes necessitates trying something different. There are some minor financial risks involved in doing so, but also the potential for great rewards.
I bid you all a very fond farewell as your Exalted Ruler, but not as a Fraternal Brother and friend. The time has gone by very fast. One year was not enough to accomplish all that I would have liked to have done, and looking back we missed some  opportunities. Sometimes objectives and goals have to be repeatedly revisited to finally succeed, but it is time to hand the  gavel to another worthy soul. May God bless you all.