Who Are the Elks?

Elks Care, Elks Share. Are YOU an Elk?

Elks Lodges bring so much more to their communities than just a building, golf course or pool. They are places where neighbors come together, families share meals, and children grow up.

Elks invest in their communities through programs that help children grow up healthy and drug-free, by undertaking projects that address unmet need, and by honoring the service and sacrifice of our veterans.

How to Join the Elks

Any Elk in good standing (including those from another Lodge) may propose for you to join the Mount Airy Elks Lodge. The official application can be obtained at the Lodge or apply online here.

Once the form is filled out please give or mail it to the Secretary along with payment of the Initiation fee. The process includes an investigative and indoctrinative phase in which an Elk from the membership committee will call you and arrange for a meeting at the lodge. Once approved by a membership vote the next step is to undergo the ritual of initiation. During this nearly 137 year old ritual which has had only minor changes since inception, candidates must pledge to our oath which includes a belief in God. The ritual when rendered from memory by the officers can be quite an impressive ceremony which hopefully will imbue the new members with the true meaning of our venerable fraternal organization.

The whole process can take as little as six weeks and as long as 3 months to become a member. It all depends on the timing of the application and how it relates to Lodge meetings etc.

Eligibility

An applicant must be an citizen of the United States of America, of good character, 21 years of age or older, and believe in God.

Yearly Dues

New members will be required to pay pro-rated dues at the time of initiation. Pro-rated simply seems that if you joined in October (our fiscal year is from April to March), the pro-rated dues would be 1/2 of the total yearly dues. This is in addition to the initiation fee that was included with the application.

Transfer or Reinstatement of Membership

Contact a lodge official for the forms and procedure for transfer of membership or reinstatement.

Membership is the 'Life Blood' of our Order

The primary message from every Grand Exalted Ruler each year is the same; membership is the "#1 priority" in Elkdom. We, as members are given the assignment to procure new members and work to retain our current members. It is only through a strong, active and growing membership that we can hope to fulfill our Order's mission; that is, to promote the charitable and patriotic programs in our communities that aid our youth, our veterans and those in need.

Let's get our lapsed members back...there may have been various reasons why an individual has allowed their membership to lapse, but, a member who has chosen to be dropped had at least one good reason to join our Order in the first place. We must make an effort to bring back these good citizens to active membership in Elkdom. We all know who these individuals are. Please help our Lodge and community by personally contacting these lapsed Elks, invite them back to the Lodge, tell them about all of our great community programs, and urge them to return as a member in good standing! We miss them all!

Let's all make an effort to reinstate lapsed Elks by inviting them back, and let's all be part of an ongoing campaign to sign up new members!

Thanks in advance for everyone's efforts. Remember - Membership is the 'Life Blood' of our Order!