"I Am An Elk"
Jackie Norris
When I took up golf, I didn't expect it to change my life. But it did. That's because it was golf that caused me to join the Elks, and becoming part of the Elks has given me a second family I never expected to have.
Those friendships made me get more and more involved, and I've been an Officer. Over the years, I've been involved in the Lodge's Youth Activities. As a mother, it does my heart good to see these boys and girls who win scholarships or Soccer and Hoop Shoot competitions filled with pride because of an opportunity to excel that the Elks gave them.
Every year we hold a Youth Banquet where all the young people who won Elks' academic or sports awards throughout the year come together. There isn't a Banquet that goes by where one of the parents doesn't walk up and say, "I had no idea how many things the Elks do in Hastings!" It's hard not to be proud of an organization that touches as many lives as the Elks.
My friendships here will last a lifetime. And, the way we reach out to give opportunity to youth, personal attention to Veterans, help to military families and support to each other just makes it clear what an amazing group of people we have.