ELK OF THE MONTH FOR
August 2010

Our Elk of the Month for August 2010 is a very familiar face in the Lodge.  The boyish grin, the infectious Tom Sawyer personality and the rich, sonorous voice could only describe one person, Russ Muma.

Born in Hood River, OR on September 26, 1960, Russ is the youngest of three brothers and two sisters.  Growing up in that area of the country, with the mighty Columbia River flowing by his doorstep, must have afforded Russ a very Tom Sawyer/ Huck Finn type of childhood.  Indeed, he seems to have exhibited some of their more adventurist characteristics.  In High School, on a cold, snowy day while waiting for the school bus, Russ and friends were waiting inside the school where it was warm.  The principal, probably wanting to get home himself, informed them they had to wait outside…in the cold and the snow.  In retribution, Russ and his friends lifted the principal’s VW bug and placed it between two stout columns, making it impossible to drive.  To this day, he doesn’t know how the principal got it free.  He also had a short career as a train robber, holding up the Mt Hood Dinner Train on horseback, wearing bandana and cowboy hat and brandishing pistols, much to the delight of the tourists on that popular excursion.

After High School, Russ moved to Portland for some college courses and to find work.  He was employed at the Boys and Girls Aid Society and Fred Meyers Credit Union before being hired by EE Schenck Co as their bookkeeper in 1995, a position he still holds today.  It was there that he met his lovely wife Debbie whom he married on October 23, 1998. 

Russ joined the Order in 2000 and soon became very involved.  He was chairman of the Youth Activities Committee and has become a major player in Gateway’s Showtime Revue where he consistently delights the audiences with his professionalism and remarkable talent.   He stepped up to serve his Lodge by going though all of the chairs until finally becoming Exalted Ruler in 2008-2009.  His rich, deep voice and easy, un-hurried delivery assured him first place in most of the Ritual contests.  As a Past Exalted Ruler, he is still to be seen volunteering at many events and functions, usually without being asked.  He just shows up and gets to work without any fanfare, exhibiting the true characteristics of a dedicated Elk.

It is an honor to present our Elk of the Month for August 2010, Russ Muma.

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ELK OF THE MONTH FOR
JULY 2010

Our Elk of the Month for July 2010 is another one of those quiet, behind the scenes kind of guys that do so much for our Lodge.  He was born in Lampasas, Texas on August 25, 1933 and was the sixth child of twelve born to parents William and Susan Wilmoth.  His is our own Chuck Wilmoth.

In October 1954, at the age of 21, he found himself living with one of his brothers in Salinas, CA.  I suppose that under those circumstances it would only be natural to think about joining the Army, which is just what he did.  He did his basic training at Ft Ord.

Chuck met his loving soul mate, Colleen Mollahan, in January 1955 while visiting another brother in Portland, OR.  It must have been love at first sight because by the time he returned to Ft Ord, they were engaged to be married.  In March of that year he was transferred to Ft Lewis on route to a tour of duty in Alaska.  Colleen and her mother took a bus and met him in Tacoma and on March 31st they were married.  In August the happy couple settled down to life in Alaska and by October the snow started to fall.  And it didn’t stop until the following March!  Chuck was transferred back to Ft Lewis in October 1956 and in July of 1957 their daughter Linda was born.  She was followed in July of 1960 by son James.  Fast forward 50 years and they now have nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

In October 1957, Chuck was honorably discharged from the Army and he and his family set up housekeeping in Portland.  He hired on with Freightliner in 1958 and after 38 years with them retired in 1996.

Chuck became a member of our Order at Gateway Lodge in April 1983.  He is a very active member of the Veterans Committee and donates a great deal of time and energy assisting our nation’s veterans in the VA facilities in the area, helping to collect and recycle cardboard to raise funds for the committee and being useful at all of the committee functions.  He is almost always available to lend a hand with just about anything happening at the Lodge.  He has volunteered to help with the Spaghetti Feed and other events, pulled kitchen and dining room duty and helps maintain the grounds around the Lodge.  He and Colleen (who finally became a member in 2009) are regularly seen dancing up a storm and socializing in the Lounge most weekend nights and are familiar faces at every Lodge/ Club event.

The officers and members of Gateway Lodge are proud to honor our Elk of the Month for July 2010, Brother Chuck Wilmoth.

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ELKS NATIONAL FOUNDATION BRONZE AWARD

The distinguished Elks National Foundation Bronze Plaque and Pin were posthumously awarded to charter member Ron Brown for his contributions of over $5,000.  OSEA Chairman of the Board of Trustees Gene Spina and OSEA ENF Chairman KC McCuen presented the plaque and pin to Ron's wife Eleanor in a simple ceremony during the Lodge meeting on June 17.  

(left to right) PER Gene Spina, OSEA Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Lois Freeman, Gateway ENF Committee; Eleanor Brown and PER KC McCuen, OSEA ENF Chairman.

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ELK OF THE MONTH FOR
JUNE 2010

Our Elk of the Month for June 2010 epitomizes the very spirit of the Elk of the Month program.   He has been actively involved within his Lodge on many levels since he was initiated a mere 17 months ago.  He stepped up right from the start and got involved, joined and became very active in several committees and became an integral part of many Lodge events.  It is a pleasure to introduce our Elk of the Month for June 2010, Jeff Lindsey.

Jeff was born on April 25th 1940 to Homer and Bea Lindsey in Southgate, CA.  He has two older brothers, Raymond and Richard and a younger sister Patty.  His early school years were spent in nearby Torrence and he graduated from Southgate High School in 1958 where his senior yearbook named him “the cutest guy in the class”.

After High School, Jeff joined the Air Force and was stationed in Grand Forks, ND for three years as an air policeman before being sent to an isolated station in Ontario, Canada as Airman in charge of security.  Upon his retirement in 1962 he joined the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department and in 1974 he became the Resident Deputy for Douglas County in Roseburg, OR.  In 1977 he relocated to the Portland metro area, joined the Army Reserves and worked at Wacker Siltronics until his retirement in 2002.

Jeff and his 3rd wife Mary were married in 2004 and between them they have 5 children; Daryl, Dorie, Dane, Ryan and Scott and 10 grandchildren.

Jeff joined Gateway Lodge in January 2009.  Almost immediately he got involved with the Veterans Committee, Public Relations, Drug Awareness, the Kitchen Kids and the After Lodge Committee.  He spent the entire summer of 2009 single-handedly manning the Lodge pavilion at the Rose City Farmers Market telling the community about Elkdom and our Lodge.  He and Bob McKay are spearheading our Drug Awareness program into the local schools and he is actively working within the Veterans Committee to assist our nation’s honored veterans in the local VA centers.  He has also found a place in the kitchen and dining room on Thursday nights and after initiations he and Bill Hornbeck have now added pizza and chili for those that are feeling a bit peckish.

Jeff’s participation in his Lodge should be an inspiration to all of our members.  He is a shining example of what an individual can do by getting involved and how the Lodge and its members can benefit from it.

Gateway Lodge is proud to present our Elk of the Month for June 2010, Jeff Lindsey.

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ELK OF THE MONTH FOR
MAY 2010

Our Elk of the Month for May 2010 is one of those silent workers here at the Lodge.  Most never see him doing what he does best.  He was born on October 30th 1939 in Davenport, Washington to parents Don and Amanda.  His name is Rodney French.

The French family relocated to a ranch in Milton-Freewater where Rodney attended school.  After graduation from High School in 1957, he attended Transportation College and thus started a 40 year career with Burlington Northern as a trucker.  During his career he logged over a million miles without incident, which is a significant achievement.  Towards the latter part of that career he was a diesel tractor driving instructor and spent 5 years in management.  He is also a proud, long-time member of the Teamsters Union.  He retired from trucking 12 years ago in 1998.

Rodney comes from a family of 4 children; a brother in Spokane and two sisters here in the Portland area.  He also has three children, Linda, Laurie and Amanda.  These days he shares his life with his companion Angie.

Rodney likes the outdoors as you can tell by his hobbies.  He likes fishing, horses and cars and rarely misses a car show.  One of his greatest passions is yard work.  And that’s what he does for his Lodge.  During the day, Rodney might be spied trimming here, pruning there or just making sure everything is neat and tidy.  He never makes a big show of it; he just shows up now and then and does what he does best.  It is the kind of service to our Lodge that is easy to overlook because it is so subtle, yet so important.  It helps to maintain our good outward face in the neighborhood and in the community.  He also assisted in designing a portion of our Lodge lighting to maximize efficiency while minimizing energy output.

When not being of service to the Lodge, Rod and Angie can be found here enjoying the video activities in the Game Room, dancing on the Lounge floor or providing stimulating conversation at the bar.

The members of the Lodge are proud to recognize the services of our Elk of the Month for May 2010, Rodney French.

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NEW ELKETTE OFFICERS FOR 2010 / 2011

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NEW WIDOWS OFFICERS FOR 2010 / 2011

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ELK OF THE YEAR FOR
2010/ 2011
JIM SCHUERMYER

Gateway Elks Lodge is pleased to present our “Elk of the Year” award to Jim Schuermyer.  Although Jim is a Past Exalted Ruler, he continues to carry a heavy load in our lodge, always volunteering and being there when needed.  Jim is a member that everyone can rely on to get the job done!

Jim was born Oct. 29, 1960.  He graduated from Benson Polytechnic here in Portland in 1978, where he studied printing.  He worked as a printer following his graduation.  Jim then moved from printing to owning his own deli and donut shop.  It was a favorite stop for the locals and Jim even had his recipe for Carmel Apple Nut Rolls published in the Oregonian, not once, but twice.  Then Jim “shifted gears” and entered the automotive field.  He worked as a manager of a Jiffy Lube and at Toyota, before his current position of Service Manager at Rey Reece Volkswagen, where he has worked for the past ten years.

After Jim’s initiation as an Elk, his heavy work load kept his involvement in the lodge limited to quick visits or bringing his daughters in for children’s activities.  Then, with a little “arm-twisting” from his dad, Past Exalted Ruler Chet Hicks, Jim started his six-year journey through the chairs.  He held the offices of Chaplain through Leading Knight before becoming Exalted Ruler for 2007-08.  He has also been honored with “Officer of the Year” (2005-06), “Elk of the Month” (Nov. 2009) and has distinguished himself and his lodge with several First Place honors at the yearly Ritual contests.  Jim has marked his time with Gateway with a “pioneering” attitude by starting the downstairs club, his all-black uniforms and showing off his “ruby-red slippers” in entertainment shows.

You can almost always find Jim helping out with the numerous committees he serves on, including PERS, Entertainment, Meadowood, Lodge of Sorrow, Scholarship, Cronies, Oktoberfest, Christmas Baskets and Stockings, Kids Shows, Youth Activities, Dictionaries for 3rd Graders and Hoop Shoots.  He has now branched out to become one of three District Ritual Chairmen.

Jim met his wife, Denice, while working with the Entertainment Committee at Gateway as their “sound guy.”  They were married at Gateway Lodge, during Jim’s year as Exalted Ruler, on the night before they flew to North Carolina for the Elks National Convention.  They honeymooned there with 8000 of their closest friends!  Together they are a powerful duo, always working to better Gateway Lodge.

When not working or watching the Blazers (Jim is a HUGE fan!), Jim spends time with his daughters, Jamie and Kasey, and keeps up with his niece and nephew’s sports activities.  Jim and Denice enjoy camping in their motor home and hanging out with their many friends from Elks.

The members of Gateway Lodge are proud to honor Jim Schuermyer as Elk of the Year for 2009-10.

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OFFICER OF THE YEAR FOR
2010/ 2011
ED PARMER

Our new Officer of the Year was born in Medford in July of 1958.  He moved to Portland in the 60’s and went to work full time at the age of 14.  He went to high school at night where he earned his GED.  When he turned 17 he joined the navy, where he received his training as a boiler tech.

He married his wife Teresa in 1978 and they have three grown children, Dana, Christine and Benjamin.  Due to work constraints, he was not able to volunteer as much as he would have liked while his kids were growing up.  But, he did find time to help with the PTA on movie nights, school plays and on carnival nights.  He was a co-Boy Scout Leader and helped any way he could.  He even purchased tickets so that every Campfire girl at his children’s school could attend the Circus.  He and Teresa are now the proud grandparents of eight wonderful grandkids.

All though he gives to many charities, our new officer of the year gives much more to individuals in need.  From getting a single parent help at Christmas, to helping a family in need get heat at no charge, he is there to lend a hand.  He has even gone out of his way to let family members know when an aging client is having life issues.

Volunteering at the lodge, as much as his work allows, he is a trustee, a member of the scholarship fund committee and a crony.  He has helped with the veterans’ yard clean up and gives a hand to the Meadowwood committee when they need extra help in the kitchen or the park.  He will lend a hand to any committee in need, including packing and delivering Christmas food baskets, serving and doing clean up at many of the lodge banquets, serving Monday night spaghetti and helping with many of the big outside events.

Of all of the services he provides the lodge, his biggest accomplishments are seen by few but enjoyed by all.  He puts in many hours every month helping with the maintenance of the lodge and its properties.  He has helped to keep our aging heating and cooling system running as well as possible.  He maintains much of the kitchen and bar equipment and helps with repairs at the rental house.  He has even gone up and patched the roof in the pouring rain.

Gateway Lodge is proud to present our Officer of the Year, Brother Ed Parmer.

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CITIZEN OF THE YEAR FOR
2010/ 2011

Gateway Elks Lodge #2411 is pleased to present the Elks Distinguished Citizen Award for 2010/ 2011 to Captain Doug Stanley.  With this award he is recognized by the Lodge as Gateway Elks’ “Citizen of the Year”.

Captain Doug Stanley was born at Ft Eustis, Virginia on May 27 1965 and is currently a member of the Military Intelligence branch of the United States National Guard in command of HHC STB (Special Troops Battalion).  Previously he was with the 234th ENG Company from Camp Rilea, OR as the Executive Officer in Balad, Iraq where his unit did convoy security in and around Baghdad.  After returning home for a year his unit was gearing up for deployment back to Iraq while he stayed behind to command the Rear Detachment unit.  He is married and has a 14 yr old daughter Samantha and a 12 yr old son Hunter.

In August of this past year Captain Stanley started working on the HHC/ C Company Christmas Dinner.  The original intent was to have the spouses and kids of the deployed unit to join the families of the rear detachment for a dinner that would honor the forward unit serving overseas and their spouses for waiting for them.  He was also working to have the entire meal paid for.

Once the planning was started and all the activities in order, word got back to Battalion Commander, LTC Perez who decided that the focus should turn from the two units to the entire Battalion.  With the scope now expanded from 100 people to approximately 400, Captain Stanley turned to the Gateway Elks for help.  With the ease of an accomplished event planner he managed to get the Yellow Ribbon organization to pay for the room rental and the food costs in exchange for providing resources to the families.  The result was a tremendous party for all concerned.

As a member of our military who has seen action abroad and as a patriotic American, Captain Doug Stanley has proven himself to be counted amongst the few who have earned the title “Citizen of the Year”.

The members of Gateway Lodge ask that the community to join them in congratulating Captain Doug Stanley as the Elks “Citizen of the Year” for 2010/ 2011.

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ELK OF THE MONTH FOR
FEBRUARY 2010

Back before digital technology, drect TV and cell phones a little guy was born in Twin Falls Idaho on March 19, 1941.  His name was William Jacobson and unbeknownst to his parents Fred and Othello, he would grow up to be our Elk of the Month for February 2010.

In 1943 his father’s position with the railroad transferred them to Portland.  Bill attended school here and graduated from Benson High School and Portland State College.  After graduation, in 1959, he joined the United States Navy in whose company he spent the next 10 years.  At retirement he was an operator on a Nuclear Submarine.

Bill went to work for Precision Cast Parts in 1979 and stayed with them for 19 years, retiring in 2007.  He met his lovely wife Carolyn in 1984 and in 2000 they were accompanied by eight of their close friends to Las Vegas where they were married.  They have three children, Kim, Eric and Scot who have blessed them with 5 grandsons and 5 granddaughters.

He is a Charter Member of Gateway Lodge and has been a very active member throughout the years.  He was Exalted Ruler of the Lodge in 2003/ 2004 and is one of the more active members of the Past Exalted Rulers.  He can be found working the Spaghetti Feed, Crab Feed and many other “feeds” besides.  For the past few years he has been known to all of our new members as the Elk that took them through the world of indoctrination into the Order.  He has been active on the Meadowood Committee and is currently the District Chairman for the Americanism Committee.  For two years he was Sergeant at Arms and traveling companion of then State President Bill Patrick and in March will step up to be the President of the Oregon/ Washington Past Exalted Rulers Association.

In his leisure time, Bill likes to read anything from political subjects to history.  He enjoys being with his grandkids and he and Carolyn have a great deal of fun traveling in their motor home.

The members of Gateway Lodge stand in recognition of a truly inspirational member, our Elk of the Month for February 2010, Bill “Jake” Jacobson.

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ELK OF THE MONTH
FOR JANUARY 2010

Our first Elk of the Month for the New Year is a frequent presence in the Lodge although some may tend to not see her.  Being somewhat short in stature, she nevertheless towers over many of her peers with her generosity, her gentle but somewhat playful nature, her willingness to help with whatever needs to be done and her kindness to others.  Gateway Lodge is proud to present as our Elk of the Month for January 2010, Linda McLean.

Linda was born a few years ago in Portland, Oregon on September 27th and is the eldest of the three children of Pete and Beryl McLean.  Her sister Terry Hays lives in Portland and brother Gary lives in Sandy.

She is a graduate of Park Rose High School where she played the clarinet in the High School band.  After graduation she worked for the 1st National Bank, East Hill Church, Portland Pipe and City Center Parking as a payroll bookkeeper.  But such a demanding career didn’t stop Linda from also volunteering to help with activities that mean so much to her.  She has been a volunteer at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, AA Sports Marathon, Triathlons and the Portland Marathon.

And, of course, she is busy with her Lodge.  Linda joined Gateway Lodge in 2001 and has been busy working on numerous committees.  She has gone to Meadowood Speech and Hearing Camp for the past 8 years, works on the Christmas Basket program, Adult Picnic, Membership, Auditing, Hoop Shoot, Past Elks of the Year Breakfasts, the PER Spaghetti Feed, Elks National Foundation and Meadowood’s Monday Night Football Hamburger Feed.  And, if ask, she’ll probably lend a hand with whatever else is needed.  She has also held the position of Lodge Treasurer and has been an Oregon State Elks Association Tiler and Inner Guard.

Now you might get the idea that Linda is all work and no play, but that is far from the case.  She enjoys sports, is a season ticket holder to the Portland Trail Blazers and attends many of the touring theatrical productions that perform in Portland.  At home she enjoys spending time with her niece and her two grand-nephews Hudson and Hayden.

The members of Gateway Lodge are proud to honor Linda McLean as our Elk of the Month for January, 2010.

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