On behalf of the over 21,300 Elks of Connecticut I welcome you to our Association’s web site.  The Connecticut Elks Association is comprised of 33 Local Lodges, 17 of them providing service to their communities and Elkdom for over 100 years.

Connecticut is the birth place of two of the Grand Lodge’s programs.  In 1927 at Meriden Lodge No. 35 the endorsed candidate for Grand Exalted Ruler John F. Malley first proposed the creation of a charitable trust to "unite the forces of the Order into a mighty army for the service of mankind."  At the following Grand Lodge convention in Miami the delegates voted to create the Elks National Foundation and made an initial contribution of $100,000.00.

The second Grand Lodge program that was initially established in Connecticut is the Soccer Shootout.  The program was conceived by Past Grand Esteemed Loyal Knight Francis Joyce, a 56 year member of New Britain Lodge No. 957.  The program as envisioned by Fran continues today as the under 10 and under 8 program.  Unfortunately Fran passed away in June of 2009.  Although he is missed he will not be forgotten.  The Area 1 Soccer Shootout highest boy and highest girl award is now the Francis Joyce award.

We are very proud of our State Major Project – Connecticut Safe Kids.  In conjunction with the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center the program seeks to prevent injuries to children and thus keep them from requiring the use of the medical center.  Through the use of bicycle helmets, smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, child safety seats and many other safety devices we have significantly reduced the rate of injuries to the children of Connecticut.  The Connecticut Elks Association is proud that the $100,000.00 that we raise and donate is used to provide these items at no cost to the recipients.

This past year Connecticut also is proud of the fact that Detective Mark Trohalis of the Danbury Police Dept is the recipient of Connecticut’s Enrique Camarena award for his efforts in fighting drug abuse. He was also honored by a second place award in the Grand Lodge National Drug Awareness Camarena award contest.

As you tour this web site you will find many instances of how the Lodges of Connecticut and the Connecticut Elks Association are participating in the programs of the Grand Lodge.  While we are justly proud of our accomplishments to date we also realize that there is much more that can be accomplished.

While we are a small State by geographic area with over 21,800 members we rank in the top 20 of the State Associations nationally.  It is indeed an honor and privilege to serve as the President of the Connecticut Elks Association for the Association year 2010 - 2011.  Connecticut Elks – “Working Better Together” to demonstrate that “Elks Care – Elks Share”

This Page Last Updated: June 10, 2010