Art Echternacht, CHEA President
Officers and members of Elks Lodges of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (“BPOE”) throughout the States of California and Hawaii will gather in Anaheim this May for their 98th annual convention. In addition to seminars, workshops and planning for charitable work in the year ahead, a new President of the California – Hawaii Elks Association (“CHEA”) will be installed. Attendance is expected to exceed 1,500.
CHEA is a charitable organization serving children with disabilities since 1950. With 172 lodges in 19 Districts (including the Islands of Guam and Philippines), CHEA serves disabled children, veterans, and youth in a wide range of activities. In addition to their charitable activities, all Elks Lodges provide social activities for their members. The 98th CHEA convention chairperson is Tom Lemm, Past District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler from Huntington Beach Elks Lodge. He leads the volunteer members of the ten Elks Lodges in the Orange Coast District and is responsible for organizing and running the convention.
CHEA is best known for its state-wide children’s vision testing program and support of children with disabilities through its Major Project program, affectionately referred to as the “Purple Pig.” Elk members fill a purple piggy bank with “A coin a day so children can walk, talk, see and play.” The Purple Pig also raises funds through its member’s use of the search engine, Good Search. When used, Good Search provides a donation to the CHEA Major Project. At last year’s convention, the Purple Pig fund raised a little less than three million dollars. This year, the 172 CHEA Lodges expect to exceed that charitable amount.
Current CHEA President Art Echternacht (Santa Ana Elks Lodge member) said, “In addition to the Major Project, CHEA Lodges also support many other charitable programs: the Dictionary Project, Hoop Shoot, Drug Awareness, Americanism Essay Contest, Academic Scholarships, Law Enforcement/Firefighter Recognition Programs, programs for hospitalized and homeless Military Veterans and many youth programs (scouting, music, sports, etc.).”
Tom Lemm, 98th CHEA Convention Chairperson
The Orange Coast District is comprised of ten lodges in Orange County: Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley, Newport Harbor, Orange, Santa Ana and Westminster. Headquarters for CHEA is in Fresno with Chicago as the headquarters for the BPOE. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 145 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
Hal Mattson, Orange Coast District Publicity
