Committee Chairmen, and individual Members also contributed to the project. All net money will go towards the purchase of additional dictionaries for our 3rd graders. To date, more than 6,000 dictionaries, including the same amount of Elk anti-drug related materials have been given to our local Antelope Valley Elementary School third graders since the inception of this program.
   This morning, Tuesday, September 15th, 2009, an Elk foursome, consisting of Dictionary Chairman Raymond Pompey PER, Jerry Mundell, Dictionary co-chairman and Lodge Bulletin Editor, Monty Meeks, and Stan Foster arrived at the Sierra Elementary School in Lancaster, CA. There the children and teachers from five 3rd Grade Classrooms assembled in the school gym.
    Pompey told the children what was to be found in the dictionaries and how to use it. Mundell instructed the students about the use of illicit drugs and alcohol. At the conclusion, 144 dictionaries and 144 drug related book marks were handed out.
Mundell also gave a homework assignment to the teachers to do, and the children were instructed to look up the information as well to see if the teacher did her/his homework. Each teacher who did not receive a dictionary in the previous three years were also given a personal dictionary.

   Tuesday, September 8, 2009, the Lodge honored seven Law Enforcement Personnel for their services while serving the Lancaster community. The event was open to the general public starting at 7:00pm.    Lodge member Dave Barrett officiated and introduced by reading a biography of each guest speaker; Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca arrived late because of business related matters, Lancaster Sheriff Station Captain Axel Anderson, and Lancaster California Highway Patrol Captain Jerry Flavin.    After the introductions were conducted, the names and biographies of eight local Officers killed in the line of duty were read as the chimes rang forth for each officer in their honor.   Lodge Plaque Awards were presented to each recipient by Exalted Ruler Bob Lee Hancock and Dave Barrett.
The honored officers from the Lancaster Office of
the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department:
Deputy of the Year: Jeff Williams
Reserve Deputy of the Year: Brad Hertan
Reserve Search & Rescue Deputy of the Year: Captain John Johnston
Lancaster Station Volunteer: (Lake Los Angeles Sub Station) Leland Willard
Lancaster Station Volunteer: Ron Rock.
From the Lancaster Office of the California Highway Patrol:
Officer of the Year:Jeremy D. Picker
Senior Volunteer Program: Patricia Gillis

   On February 24,2009, the Lodge recently presented awards to eight media representatives from the Antelope Valley.
The honorees were:
Stan Foster (Lodge 1625 Lodge Web Site Manager)
Jerry Mundell (1625 Newsletter Editor/Publisher)
Dennis Anderson (Antelope Valley Press Editor)
Charles Bostwick (Antelope Valley Press, Managing Editor)
Liane Roth (Antelope Valley Press, Valley Life Editor)
Kim Rawley (Antelope Valley Press, Valley Life Section Editor)
Russ Williams (Time Warner Communications, Manager)
Naomi Huerta (News Producer)

    The event chairman, John Brown, opened the evening and spoke on the the importance of the media in promoting the programs and charitable works of the B.P.O. Elks and in publisizing the activities of the Lancaster Elks Lodge. He mentioned that the term of "mass media", which was coined in the 1920s, is the communications process which reaches the most people with the most informaion in the most effective manner. John further noted that, while the Elks depend on newspaper, radio and television to publisize the Elks and their programs, the Internet is the newest media method that is used to promote Elkdom. For many Lodge members, the monthly newsletter is a vital part of reaching out to them with news about their Lodge.
   The eight honorees received Certificates of Appreciation and plaques.
All media methodologies were recognized: The Lodge Bulletin Editor/Publisher, the local newspaper The Antelope Valley Press, cable Television Time Warner Coimmunications and the lodge's presence on the Internet(Lodge Webmaster). All activities of interest to the Antelope Valley and the members of the Lodge are published by these media people in a timely manner, and we are pleased to recognize them for their dedication and professional support in the promotion of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and its works.