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Date: 8/2/2023
WESTFIELD — Recently the Westfield-West Springfield Elks Lodge honored eight members who reached the milestone of being a part of the Elks organization for 50 years, thanking them for their dedication and service along with initiating seven new members.
Secretary Patricia O’Connor said, “The strength of any organization lies in the dedication of its members, so we feel it is important to recognize those who were members for 50 years. We wanted to do so at the same meeting in which we welcomed new members so they can know they are coming into an organization that values all of our members, and is a real community, a brother and sisterhood.”
New member John McCormack is an Army veteran and what drew him to the Elks was that they do a lot of work for veterans in the community.
“I want to carry the torch and continue to give back to the community and the military veterans,” McCormack stated. “I try to get involved as much as possible to assist in those avenues.”
Lesley Lambert, another new member, had several friends that were already members, including O’Connor, and having visited as a guest she decided it was time to join. The thing that impressed Lambert is that the local lodge does a lot for the youth in the community, and she felt strongly that she would like to participate and help in whatever way she can to improve the lives of their young people.
“Being an Elk is like having a badge,” Lambert explained. “You’re committed to being a good member of the community. The lodge has a reputation of being loyal, honorable and doing good.”
The original group was established in New York City, when a group of friends called the Jolly Corks started gathering. After a member died, his family was left destitute, and the group supported them. They then decided to create a more permanent organization to serve the community and on Feb. 16, 1868, they became the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, devoted to helping the community wherever charity, justice, and brotherly love were needed, with a particular focus on youth and veterans.
Over the years, there was a lot of growth within the movement, and many towns and cities were establishing their own lodges. The Westfield Lodge was established March 26, 1924, having branched off from the lodge in Holyoke. In 2013, it merged with the West Springfield Lodge to become the Westfield-West Springfield Lodge. Anyone aged 21 and older can be an Elk. The Westfield-West Springfield Lodge district encompasses not only the towns in its name, but also Agawam, Southwick, and all the Hilltowns. Members pay a nominal dues to support the operation of their lodge and the national organization.
Longtime member William Herd has been an Elk for 52 years. He moved to Agawam in 1970 and joined what was then the West Springfield-Agawam Lodge of Elks. Herd thought it was a good place to meet other area people for social events and participate in other activities offered at that lodge.
“Fifty-two years have gone by since 1970,” Herd said. “As those years went by, I joined lodge committees that put on many social and charitable events benefiting area organizations.”
He joined the Lodge Audit Committee in 2000, serving until 2011 when the West Springfield-Agawam Lodge closed. Herd then transferred his membership to the Westfield-West Springfield Lodge of Elks.
Another longtime member, who holds the position of Lodge Esquire, is Donald Loiselle Jr. Loiselle has also been an Elk for 52 years, and a lodge officer for 42 years. He was exalted ruler in 1979 and 1980 at the age of 34, one of the youngest to hold that position. Loiselle has also served in the State Association, the Veterans’ State Committee and the Ritual State Committee.
“No matter where or what they ask me to do as an officer, I take the position and I try to do it to the best of my ability,” Loiselle said. “I encourage people to get involved with the lodge, because it needs help a lot of times. We help people, get food for them and do what we can to make the lodge better.” He continued, “As new members come in, we have to bring them up to date on how the lodge is and what the lodge does. We have a lot of history, and we should be building on that.”
The Westfield-West Springfield Lodge currently has 355 members. Like many fraternal organizations, it lost members during the coronavirus pandemic, but it is rebuilding. Anyone who is interested in joining or learning more can contact Patricia O’Connor at 413-562-5962 or email westfieldelks1481@gmail.com. The lodge is at 56 Franklin St., Westfield, and open six days a week. It hosts activities and events for their members, including dinners, dances, cornhole and karaoke nights, and more.