Fenton Elks Lodge Planners Fire Up the Hotdogs

The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks have 75 lodges in Missouri, and they soon may have one more. Chairman Mike Belavich and Membership Chairman Russ Suda believe that Fenton would make an excellent home for a 76th lodge, and they are working to make it a reality.

"There are good people in Fenton, and we want to bring a great organization to a great city," said Suda at a hot dog roast and first membership drive for the proposed Fenton Elks Lodge at Bud Weil Memorial Park Saturday.

The proposed lodge has nearly 20 members signed up already, but they need 100 members before it can receive their charter. 

The Elks are founded on the core values of charity, justice, fidelity, brotherly love, and the Missouri Elks work together to provide help and funding for community organizations. Most notably, the Missouri Elks have a dental program on wheels that provides free dental care to children with physical and mental disabilities. The Missouri Elks provide $800,000 to $1,000,000 in dental care each year through the program.

"Fenton is growing, and it could use its own lodge," said Suda.

Proposed Fenton Elks Lodge Chairman, Mike Belavich, says he hopes to have the required 100 members before the start of the next Elk calendar year in April 2012. 

The Proposed Fenton Elks Lodge will have its next membership drive at Gravois Grill on July 31.