Thank you, members, for your confidence in electing me. I will do my best to represent you this year as your state president at all levels, lodge, state and national. We're a smallish state association, but good things come in small packages. And we are might for our size.
     Building on the mottos of our past state presidents, my motto is this: Elks Working together, Elks serving forever. It is only through teamwork that we accomplish our goals. Whatever team you are on - committee member or chair, lodge or state officer, or just all-around volunteer - remember that the cardinal principals of our Order facilitate working together, through faithfulness to duty, caring concern for all in need, loyalty to our Order, and friendship with all members.
     Our major state project, Elks Camp Barrett, also helps bring us together, not only in raising the funds needed to support its operation, but also in finding the children to send to camp, representing our lodges in running the camp, and keeping the buildings and grounds shipshape. The lodges elect and appoint the camp representatives, but every members of the association needs to be part of the team to ensure the continued success of ECB.
     Just about every past state president has challenged each lodge to start one new program. This year's challenge is specific. I want every lodge to get behind the Michale E. Manning coin can campaign. This one-year project partners us with the Vietnam Veterans of America and honors an Elk who has Mr. Veteran in our Order. They money we collect from spare change will help to change the lives of needy veterans.
     My own pet project this year will be scouting. Scouts have always been a part of our youth activities programs but this year let us make them a major focus. Toward that goal, I want every lodge in the association to charter at least one scout group, Cubs, Webloes, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Patrols. I want to see all our 39 lodges represented at the Camporee in November. I want to organize another Camporee in the spring. The scouts of today are the members of tomorrow.
     Finally, we must support with our dollars the Elks National Foundation and the William J. Jernick Fund. The former gives back to our association the funds to run Elks Camp Barrett and our youth and veterans programs. We get a lot more than we give. The latter gives back to our communities by assisting children who are fighting disease and disability. These are dollars well spent.
     As several past state presidents have said, this association is the cream of the crop, we are top shelf, but every single one of us must work together to maintain and enhance that status. So let's Just Do It!