By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Taking the helm of the B.P.O.E. Skyforest Elks Lodge 2393 as Exalted Ruler is Josh Martin, who was installed at a ceremony held at the lodge on April 9.
The 2024-2025 officers of the Skyforest Elks Lodge were installed by visiting dignitaries.
Visiting dignitaries from other Elks Lodges did the honors, also installing the other officers who make up the 2024-2025 slate: Dino Whitehead, Leading Knight; Lise Shipley, Loyal Knight; Anabel Valdivia, Lecturing Knight; Dawn Neuenschwander, Trustee, 1st Year; Joe Valdivia, PER, Trustee, 2nd Year; Cindy Head, Trustee, 3rd Year; Perry Moore, Trustee, 4th Year; and Willie Kanayan, Trustee, 5th Year.
Appointed positions include Cody Pitman, Tiler; Tim Deuel, PER, Esquire; Pat Brennan, Chaplain; and Richard Kruger, Inner Guard. They were also installed during the ceremony. Each officer was invested with the jewels of their office.
“It’s nice to have a ceremony here after COVID and Snowmageddon,” Martin said. Because of those events, Willie Kanayan had served as Exalted Ruler for the past three years.
Martin added he is “looking forward to having a great year.”
“It is with immense pride that I take the helm of this organization,” he wrote in the Lodge’s newsletter. “The Elks have long held a special place in our community, fostering camaraderie, giving back to those in need and upholding the values of charity and justice.
“I ama deeply committed to continuing this legacy and propelling our Lodge to even greater heights. I am excited to embark on this journey with each and every one of you!”
According to Dawn Neuenschwander, owner of Neu-Art Studio and longtime Elks member: “We were originally chartered in the 60’s and met at the Tudor House in Sky Forest. Then in the 60’s moved to the current location in Rimforest retaining the name Sky Forest Elks Lodge 2393.” Dawn noted that “B.P.O.E stands for Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.” With regard to official place names (state and USPS), the two communities are Skyforest and Rimforest.