Let me begin by extending my thanks to the membership of the West Virginia Elks Association for allowing me the opportunity to  serve as your President 2011-2012 . Also thanks to Clarksburg # 482 for the years of support as well as guidance and ideas that gave me the ability to be here today.  And to my wife Katie, my year will be full and complete with you by my side to enjoy this great experience.

 My slogan for this year is �Change for the Future of Elkdom�.   A  great President once said �For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the Law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.� My goal this year is to promote the programs Grand Lodge has given us to change for a better future in the West Virginia Elks State Association.

We can make a difference in our Association by offering our members as well as new members, the penny for his idea, the nickel for the implentation of his idea, the dime for forming his committee and working the idea and last the quarter for the end result of his works. Hopefully this will give incentive that our membership will act upon and promote  not only Elkdom but the feeling of a goal well done. Also he  may see a Grand Lodge Grant for his Lodge as a sense of the group effort of the work and accomplishment for Elkdom that  he and his Lodge has performed. We can shine but it has to  move forward, not past, not present but to the future.

I personally feel that we must change to enter into the 21^st Century  to survive and grow. Without change we can only remain doing the same things that we have done before.  Please make changes in your Lodge to strengthen the membership. Grow with the times not the past.   

Katie and I look forward to serving our great State Association  for 2011-2012.

Fraternally

Jerry French

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