Ouray Elks Lodge #492
Happy Elk Spring!
It is so nice to enjoy the spring of the year. May is a really good month. There are good things happening at the lodge. We will be changing the lock on the front door on the first of May, so you will have to have a new membership card to get in the door. Make sure that your dues are paid and you have your new membership card. The State has finally issued our 2026 Bingo and raffle license. Yay! We are running our Joker’s Wild game at Friday Night Dinners again. The jackpot is growing fast. The Kentucky Derby is on May second. We are looking forward to lots of Elks attending the party. Mother’s Day is the next on the 10 th of May. There will be an Elks Mother's Day ceremony. Please be there to honor all our mothers. Memorial Day is coming up at the end of the month. I will be there to help put out flags at the cemetery. Please plan on showing up to help put out the flags. If we have lots of help, it will go quickly. It is actually a very rewarding experience to go through the cemetery and put out the flags. A couple of weeks ago, we had a pizza night for the Friday night dinner. It was a big hit.
We got lots of positive feedback and a couple suggestions to make it even better. Stay
tuned, we are already planning for our next pizza party! Thank you all that come into the lodge and helping make it a happy place that people want to visit. And I especially want to thank all our wonderful volunteers that run the social quarters, prepare the dinners, and run our many events. Together we are amazing! Thank you. Let’s have a great month!
There’s something special about walking into a Lodge that feels cared for—where the details reflect not just maintenance, but pride. It’s more than polished floors or straightened chairs. It’s the sense that everyone who enters is stepping into a space that matters. Taking pride in your Lodge starts with recognizing that it belongs to all of us. Every member plays a role in shaping the atmosphere, whether it’s by lending a hand before or after meetings, noticing small repairs that need attention, or simply treating the space with respect. Pride isn’t assigned—it’s shared. When a Lodge is well-kept, it sends a quiet but powerful message. It tells visitors that this is a place of purpose. It tells new members they’ve joined something meaningful. And it reminds longtime members why they felt that connection in the first place. But pride goes beyond in the physical space, it continues in how we greet one another, how we conduct our meetings, and how we uphold the values we represent. A Lodge that runs with care, respect, and enthusiasm creates an experience people want to return to—and be part of. Small efforts add up. Straightening regalia. Refreshing common areas. Volunteering for upkeep days. Even arriving a few minutes early to help set the tone. These actions may seem minor on their own, but together they build a culture of ownership and respect. Pride is contagious. When a few members step forward, others follow. Before long, it becomes part of the Lodge’s identity—not because anyone demanded it, but because everyone chose it. So, take a moment the next time you walk through those doors. Look around. Ask yourself what you can do, however small, to leave it better than you found it. Because a Lodge that reflects pride doesn’t just look better—it feels stronger. And that strength is something every member helps create. If there are any concerns, issues, or questions please do not hesitate to contact me:
Jill Scheu
970-318-8489 jscheu.ourayelks492@gmail.com
APRIL MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS
Members 362
Delinquents 106
Candidates 2
Regular Members dues are $102.00
Lifetime Members dues are $72.00
Lodge mailing address:
BPOE #492
PO Box 647
Ouray, CO. 81427-0647
Make check payable to BPOE #492
Ouray Elks Lodge #492 Mother Lodge of The Western Slope
Email: ourayelks492@gmail.com
Website: www.ourayelks.org
Location: 421 Main Street PO Box 647 Ouray, CO 81427
Phone: (970) 325-4510