BOULDER (AP) – Fifty years ago, when the local branch of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, better known as the Elks Lodge, opened its campus on 28th Street in north Boulder, the club had 3,500 members and was one of the most active social and charitable groups in the area.
Today, the Elks Lodge in Boulder has just 414 members, having struggled to recruit enough young people to account for the many older ones who have passed. The Elks haven’t just struggled of late here; the organization has seen similar drop-offs around the country.
“People today are so busy with all kinds of different opportunities that they just don’t join organizations like this as much as they used to,” said Sheril Wynne, exalted ruler – the equivalent of president – of the Boulder Elks. “There’s way more people to help and things to do than we have the membership for.”
The 116-year-old club’s headquarters, which includes a 38,000-square-foot main building, a pool area and a big backyard, is impressive but clearly in need of modernization.
The challenges and limitations for the throwback organization are shared by many branches of Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Lions Club and other institutions focused on service and community but faced with aging ranks and membership declines.
In an effort to adapt, the Elks of Boulder have launched a capital campaign and are focusing recruitment efforts more on young adults.
The campaign has just begun, and it seeks $125,000 – $30,000 for repairs to the youth activity building, $40,000 for an upgrade of the Elks’ public pool, $40,000 for repairs to the main lodge and $15,000 for a new energy system.
Meanwhile, membership is on the (slight) up for the first time in years. Though 414 is a far cry from 3,500, this year’s figure represents a net gain of 12 people, which is the only positive bump in membership that the club’s had in about a decade, according to Wynne.
“Our goal is to get back up to 1,000 members,” the exalted ruler said. “That’s a high goal, but I think with our new young members and their energy, we can see that in the next five years or so.”
Alison Van Kempen, 35, is a leader of the Elks’ younger contingent. She said she’s found that the other members near her age often have shared reasons for participating.
“I think there are young professionals buying homes in Boulder and looking for community here,” Van Kempen said. “They’ve kind of left the Pearl Street bar scene.”
Of course, many young adults in the city might not even know about the Elks, since their building, large as it may be, is so far set back from 28th Street.
“We have this 30,000-square-foot building in north Boulder with a liquor license and an amazing ballroom, and people don’t know about it,” Van Kempen said.
The internet savvy of younger members, she added, has revitalized the club’s outreach strategy.
“The biggest thing the Elks Lodge needs is just to get the word out about what’s going on,” Van Kempen said.
What’s going on is philanthropy and social events, primarily. The former has historically included preparing food baskets for the poor, giving scholarships to graduating high schoolers, sponsoring the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, and programming for the elderly and for veterans, among other activities.
“Our charitable work is the one thing that binds us together,” said Jim Luckow, who’s been a member for 50 years. “I think people here want to help others, and there’s a lot of satisfaction derived from that.”
Naturally, though, the Elks aren’t nearly as active on that front today.
There is some irony in the fact that their membership has fallen so dramatically, because the group has never been more inclusive. The national Elks organization, which was formed in 1868, didn’t allow women until 1995.
In 1969, the Elks in Boulder drew heavy criticism for following a national Elks policy limiting membership to white people.
Today, the Elks have cut their list of disqualifiers down to one: All Elks must say they believe in God.
Otherwise, anyone can join.
Wynne said the club has stayed afloat in Boulder thanks in large part to money it gets for hosting events in its massive space.
And she’s hoping the capital campaign and membership push will move the Elks beyond merely scraping by.
“Our main goal is to come back to the place we were at one point in the community,” Wynne said. “We want people to know they’re welcome to come in, especially if they need help of any kind. That’s what we’re here for.”
