Past State President - Lisa Richmond
From State President Lisa Richmond: "Grow!"
"Growth Spurts"
In keeping with my theme for this year, "GROW!" I am excited to begin planting the seeds in our Minnesota garden of Elkdom. We met last month in Hopkins and did the hard work of getting our Elkdom garden growing. We staked out our garden, tilled the ground, pulled out a few rocks and weeds that might get in our way, and now we are on to the fun part: planting the seeds and watching Elkdom grow right before our eyes!
As with any garden, we will fight the unseen and the unknown. Pests will worm their way into our foundation, but we have the tools and resources to keep them at bay. Mother Nature will do her best to create snafus over which we have no control. But through it all, our best gardening tools will be our founding principles: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity.
Our garden will grow in fits and starts. We will see this happen as we attend the Grand Lodge Session in Phoenix later this month. There are many proposed changes before us as a National Organization. Some will be weeds, rocks and pests, others will spring up in glorious color to make our garden of Elkdom one of the most beautiful in the nation. I urge each Exalted Ruler to lead thoughtful discussions at your Lodge meetings, in order that you may cast your vote with the best interest of your Lodge and State Association at heart.
And as we have observed three important holidays in recent months: Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day; I hope you have planted a plethora of red, white and blue seeds in your garden. We must continue to honor our veterans, our flag, our freedom and our heritage. It is the basis of life the way we know it, and the foundation of the Victory Garden we hope to create.
Happy Gardening! "GROW!"
Lisa Richmond
President, MN Elks Association
"Growth Spurts"
In keeping with my theme for this year, "GROW!" I am excited to begin planting the seeds in our Minnesota garden of Elkdom. We met last month in Hopkins and did the hard work of getting our Elkdom garden growing. We staked out our garden, tilled the ground, pulled out a few rocks and weeds that might get in our way, and now we are on to the fun part: planting the seeds and watching Elkdom grow right before our eyes!
As with any garden, we will fight the unseen and the unknown. Pests will worm their way into our foundation, but we have the tools and resources to keep them at bay. Mother Nature will do her best to create snafus over which we have no control. But through it all, our best gardening tools will be our founding principles: Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity.
Our garden will grow in fits and starts. We will see this happen as we attend the Grand Lodge Session in Phoenix later this month. There are many proposed changes before us as a National Organization. Some will be weeds, rocks and pests, others will spring up in glorious color to make our garden of Elkdom one of the most beautiful in the nation. I urge each Exalted Ruler to lead thoughtful discussions at your Lodge meetings, in order that you may cast your vote with the best interest of your Lodge and State Association at heart.
And as we have observed three important holidays in recent months: Memorial Day, Flag Day and Independence Day; I hope you have planted a plethora of red, white and blue seeds in your garden. We must continue to honor our veterans, our flag, our freedom and our heritage. It is the basis of life the way we know it, and the foundation of the Victory Garden we hope to create.
Happy Gardening! "GROW!"
Lisa Richmond
President, MN Elks Association