Event News
LODGE ACTIVITIES By Jan Trudeau
Hello April and hello to the New Elk year. 2026-2027. Welcome to all the newly elected officers and committee chairs. Let’s see what we have in store for you this month.
We start with Bingo on Satur-day April 4th at 1:00. Please notice the time change from 2:00. We start earlier because after Bingo, we will have our Iron Chef Elk contest that same day at 3:30. Last month’s contest featured applesauce and Kim McIlonie won with her applesauce crumb cake! Congrats Kim. We collected $125.00 from the judges/tasters and the funds went to the charity-PACC-Pima Animal Care Center.
The April ingredi-ent for Iron Chef Elk is yogurt. Consider making something to compete, or come and taste/judge. It’s only $5.00 per person and the winner gets to pick the charity that the money goes to.
Lobster Fest happens on Saturday April 11th from 5-6:30. It’s $45.00 per person for amazing lob-ster flown in from the east coast. Find the sign-up sheet in the lounge. Make sure there is still room, as there is limited seating.
The DDGER golf tournament is being held on Sat-urday April 18 th at the Views golf club. Check the lounge for more information. The next weekend-April 25th is the annual dart tournament. This event is always a blast and raises funds for the Veterans committee. Check the lounge for flyers and sign-up sheets.
Texas Hold ‘Em card games are scheduled for Sunday the 12th and also on Sunday the 26th . Please sign up in the lounge so we know how many tables to set up.
Darts are on Saturdays except none on Saturday the 11th . The lobster folks need the back patio, and none on Saturday the 25th -we will have already played darts at the tournament.
Wednesdays are the usual-2nd Wednesday is Tacos and Trivia, and the 4th Wednes-day is the full dinner and music bingo. Please sign up for the dinner in advance. Other Wednesdays will offer a light fare as do Fridays before the Queen of Hearts drawings.
Well, that’s all, it’s going to a very busy April. Enjoy!!
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Thank you to all the Elks who helped make our “stuff a box/bags” event so successful! We utilized 2 grants form the grand lodge-a Beacon grant, and a Gratitude grant to create these boxes and bags. The total was $9,000!! Wow, we have never had an event quite this large. We made food bags and boxes so that during school breaks the families that qualify will have meals at home. This is a very worthwhile project and I know we really made a difference in many of our less fortunate neighbors lives. Way to go Elks!!
HOUSE COMMITTEE
Ann Girvin
Hello Everyone, Let me introduce myself—my name is Ann Girvin, and I am your new House Committee Chair.
I’d like to start by thanking Pam Wedwaldt for her great work and guidance as I step into this position.
A little about my background: my wonderful husband and I moved to Tucson from Connecticut in October 2020. I love being here, and I’ve been lucky enough to have one of my four children follow us out here. I enjoy cooking, and you can usually find me at the Elks on Wednesdays and Fridays. I am very passionate about volunteering and would love to connect with anyone interested in getting involved. Volunteering can sometimes feel intimidating— you may not know what to expect or how much time it requires. Let me assure you, we have plenty of opportunities, both big and small, and I’m happy to talk with you about options that fit your interests and availability. We have some wonderful committees that would love your support.
This coming year is shaping up to be an exciting one! We already have a full calendar of activities in April, including a golf tournament on April 18th and a dart tournament on April 25th. We also host weekly events like Wednesday and Friday dinners, along with Queen of Hearts. Other activities include darts, Texas Hold’em, bingo, and the Iron Elk Competition, as well as our monthly trivia and music bingo.
Looking ahead, we’ll also have events like our Mimosa Brunch (AEMP) and Veteran Games (Veteran’s Committee), just to name a few.
In addition, we are working toward an important goal—paying off the mortgage and fundraising to move forward with a new building. With so much going on, there are bound to be questions. Please feel free to reach out! Not only will it let me know you read this, but it will also give me the opportunity to help answer your questions or connect you with someone who can. You can stop by and see me in my happy place (the kitchen) on Wednesdays or Fridays, or email me at Ann@tucsontrivia.com.
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to talking with or meeting you!
Warm regards,
Ann Girvin