Busnuts and Elks?

windtrader · July 31, 2017, 11:55:51 AM

How many of you are Elks members, drawn in by way of your bus conversion?

While out looking at buses, I discovered many coaches owned by older folks were Elks members. It seems back in the 90's converting buses was popular and many Elks members undertook these projects. Being a close knit bunch, meeting frequently, pre-Internet, it seems a lot experiences and knowledge was shared with other busnut members.

It appears the Elks after many years of declining membership started gaining net members last year. Other than the obvious benefit of having a place to stay in lodges across the country, what other considerations are there for joining?

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · July 31, 2017, 12:30:34 PM

I officially became an Elk last week. The primary purpose for joining for me is having another option for parking my bus at a very reasonable price when I travel. One of the advantages of the Elks locations is there are many to choose from and some are in a big cities and many have RV locations in cities where they may be no RV parks. This will be great for attending conventions.

The other advantage I see is when I am traveling and need assistance of any kind, I have other Elk members who will be able to point me to a good doctor, dentist or any other need I may have. From what I have seen in the short time I have been a member, the people at the club are some of the best you can meet. They are all great helpful people and will do anything to help you out.

My club (Garden Grove, CA) is very active and has meals 7 days per week for about $10 - $12 bucks and it is very great food including Prime Rib which I had last week. The bar also has very reasonably priced drinks and the make them the old fashioned way, called the "Elks Pour", plenty of liquor. However, it is not all that easy to get in, you have to know someone on the inside and you are basically voted in. Also, women are starting to join more and more as well and they would find it a very safe place to park and to visit as Elk members are very upstanding folks.

The other side of the coin which was not a concern for me, is that you are expected to participate in fund raisers and volunteer to help in any event they have. So if you are lazy, this is not the place for you. :-)

But if you are ambitious and want be able to meet up with true friends anyplace you travel, IMHO the Elks is one of the best groups out there .

akroyaleagle · July 31, 2017, 03:05:26 PM

I've been a member of the Elks for 0ver 20 years.

The Club at Chino ( I think) sells the camp guides. They are worth the money. But they don't seem to be updated.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · July 31, 2017, 03:21:41 PM

You can download Allstays for $9.99 on your smart phone and all Elk's club campgrounds are listed in there.

Dave5Cs · July 31, 2017, 03:41:53 PM

There are also "VFW's" which do the same thing but you must be a Veteran to park. and "DAV" for Disabled Veterans.

windtrader · July 31, 2017, 04:57:57 PM

##However, it is not all that easy to get in, you have to know someone on the inside and you are basically voted in##

If the Elks ever want to survive, the are going to work on gaining new members. The number of old whit guys left it's a dying breed. A major concern of mine is the shameful lack of diversity.

Is this due their lack of recruiting effort or they still using their 70's guildelines under the cover.

Sure, there now women, all white. To match all the whites guys pic on the lodge webpages.

http://www.elks1952.org/officers.htm

Gary's in a pretty large and active but the pics are the same - all old white guys and gals.

Really curious if others are not wanted I.e. Not voted in or others look at the pics and don't want in the first place.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

muldoonman · July 31, 2017, 05:42:37 PM

Do they have a secret handshake??

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · July 31, 2017, 06:02:56 PM

We can't divulge that information.

Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM · July 31, 2017, 06:18:13 PM

We have several black and Asian members in our Lodge but then again, we live in a VERY diverse area (about 50% white) which I enjoy as I like to learn from people of all backgrounds. In fact, a new black gentleman sat next to me during the ceremony last Saturday and we had two new women join out of a group of 15. If you ever come to Anaheim, CA, look me up and I will gladly take you in to the Lodge for dinner some night so you can see some of the members. But you are right, most of the older members are white folks and women have relatively recently become members so the culture is changing to keep up with the times.

But I still won't show you the secret handshake.

http://www.elks1952.org/lodge.htm

CrabbyMilton · August 01, 2017, 04:02:46 AM

I guess I never understood the reason to join such groups. Just get together with your own family and friends and do your own thing or go it alone.
If you want to join such things that's your prerogative.
I remember one of the cable networks did the short history of the Masons. I was left with the idea that the mystique is part of the trappings and in reality, it's just a bunch of guys who get together at certain intervals, talk about what is wrong with the world, and then play cards and drink beer.

luvrbus · August 01, 2017, 06:05:34 AM

I don't belong to any group but why is ok for all other ethnic groups to have their own groups and when the American white people do it they have no diversity.
Don to me that "old white guys is a dying breed " could be very offensive to some I am a old white guy myself and proud of it

bigred · August 01, 2017, 06:57:13 AM

Quote from: windtrader on July 31, 2017, 04:57:57 PM
##However, it is not all that easy to get in, you have to know someone on the inside and you are basically voted in##

If the Elks ever want to survive, the are going to work on gaining new members. The number of old whit guys left it's a dying breed. A major concern of mine is the shameful lack of diversity.

Is this due their lack of recruiting effort or they still using their 70's guildelines under the cover.

Sure, there now women, all white. To match all the whites guys pic on the lodge webpages.

http://www.elks1952.org/officers.htm I too,am for diversity however I would hope they would not get into this "politically correct at all cost's" mode of letting just any thing join just to have diversity!!!

Gary's in a pretty large and active but the pics are the same - all old white guys and gals.

Really curious if others are not wanted I.e. Not voted in or others look at the pics and don't want in the first place.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

Dave5Cs · August 01, 2017, 08:00:43 AM

We can't say it Clifford or we are called Racists?

Well Irish White Guys Matter!
My ancestors where treated like slaves in this country when they came here from Ireland. They weren't given anything just because they were from another country, they weren't even let off the boats until they had been checked for all kinds of diseases, They were the workers who helped to build a lot of the first cities and towns, settlements. The rich guys in those days used to use my ancestors to fight in the streets and they would place bets on them. But over time they worked hard and took themselves out of that roll.
They weren't handed anything they worked for it and gained respect. They didn't wine about poor old me or Break store front windows and steal things out of shop owners stores, or shoot cops trying to make a point. I don't care where you are from, what color your skin is, or where you live, I wait until someone shows me what they are about as a person. Period, getting off my soap box now and returning it to We The People. Not independent groups. Just sayin

akroyaleagle · August 01, 2017, 09:19:28 AM

I disagree with all the statements about the Elks being a "Whites" only organization.

The Elks are a benevolent organization totally geared toward serving the community. Please don't trash them unless you have personal experience with them.

There are no "secret" handshakes or any other such antics. Anyone desiring to become an Elk only needs to visit a Chapter. There will be folks there that will sponsor you. You will undergo a brief check to ensure you are not a moral or financial deadbeat.

I can't speak of racial or sex makeups of any of the Chapters except the ones I have personal experience with. Anchorage, AK Eagle River, AK and Huron, SD. The membership of those certainly represents the local community.

It saddens me to read members of this and other organizations are so quick to trash folks and things they have limited or no knowledge of.

I challenge you to wonder how a simple post about Elk campgrounds so quickly degenerated into spewing racial statements. Please reread your comments and determine if you are guilty!

Road Dawg · August 01, 2017, 09:43:05 AM

This well written reply, should be the final word on this subject ... period.

Thread drift pure abnd simple. It aint about buses anyway.

MOVE IT TO OFF TOPIC WHERE CRAP LIKE THIS BELONGS.