Aloha Fellow Elks

Aloha Fellow Elks,

I hope this letter finds you well. For those of you who are on the front lines of this crisis—health care workers, firefighters and police officers, educators, city and state workers, and public welfare volunteers—mahalo and stay safe. As Elks and American patriots, we owe it to those in the trenches to practice behavior that will help minimize community spread of COVID-19. Please mask up when required to do so and maintain social distancing. Let’s help keep our kupuna safe, as well as all those who need extra protection.

To our Elks staff, we say mahalo to you as well. Our skeleton crew is working hard on our to-go food service and in maintaining our Lodge.

As of this writing, the timeline for reopening the Lodge is still uncertain, but we are preparing for it nonetheless. Club manager Adriana and her Food and Beverage work group are sifting through a mountain of best practice advice from local and national restaurant associations as we await specific guidance from local and state government. We will keep you informed through email blasts as we learn more.

Our House Committee has been “Zooming” our biweekly meetings to comply with the Governor’s stay at home order. I will gladly receive member concerns via email at rmotter@elkslodge616.org and share them with the committee.

Please remember that a return to business as usual in the life of our Lodge will take time and there will likely be adjustments that we all will have to make once our doors open. As we anticipate seeing each other again, let’s prepare to exercise patience and continue to support our staff and each other.

We are living through times that none of us could have imagined, yet I often think how lucky we are to live in Hawai’i. Our people are our strength and the beauty that surrounds us is a constant reminder of life’s fulness in our island home. Let’s keep spreading aloha throughout these moments, sharing and caring as Elks do.

Fraternally yours,

Russ