NO MAN STANDS SO TALL AS HE WHO STOOPS TO HELP A CHILD" SINCE OUR BEGINNING THE ELKS HAVE HELD IN THEIR HEARTS THE YOUTH OF AMERICA . THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY AS WELL AS THECONTINUANCE OF THE ELKS ORGANIZATION FALLS IN THE LAPS OF THESEYOUNG PEOPLE. EARLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE ELKS, LODGES EVERYWHERE HAD BE-COME ACTIVE IN HELPING THE KIDS AND TRYING TO BROADEN THEIROPPORTUNITIES. IN 1911 IT BECAME AN ELKS NATIONAL MOVEMENT. IN 1913 WE ELKS THREW OUR SUPPORT BEHIND THE "BIG BROTHER"MOVEMENT AND BY 1917 OVER 400,000 ELKS FROM 1100 LODGES WERELOOKING AFTER 30,000 LITTLE BROTHERS. FROM 1920 TO 1945 YOUTH PROGRAMS HELPED BUILD GOODCHARACTER IN THE "JUNIOR ELKS" AGES 15 TO 20. BUT THE START OF WWII CAUSED THE DEMISE OF THE JUNIOR PROGRAMS AS MANY OF THEYOUNG MEN WERE CALLED TO SERVE THIS NATION IN THE WAR THE BOY SCOUT PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1910. LODGES BEGANSPONSORING TROOPS IN LARGE NUMBERS. 14 TROOPS IN 1920, GROWINGTO OVER 1,200 IN LATER YEARS. PROVIDING THE SCOUTS NOT ONLY ASAFE PLACE TO MEET BUT LOCAL LODGES GIVE HUNDREDS OFTHOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MONEY AND EQUIPMENT EACH YEAR TO THESCOUTING PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY MANY ELKS HAVE BECOME THESCOUT MASTERS AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE ORGANIZATION. RICK G. PHELPS -
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