Petersburg Pilot

Luhrs serve as State

Presidents of Elks & Emblem

First time event for both nationwide organizations

January 14, 2009

Mike and Barb Luhr made history last year when both were named state presidents of their respective organizations, The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Alaska State Association of Emblem Clubs. For Mike it required a six year track of increasing responsibilities and for Barb, it was five years. Both assumed their duties in April of last year. The timing of their terms required a bit of luck, according to Barb, since she declared she wanted to seek the presidency, while Mike wasn’t sure he wanted the presidency.

Not only was history made in Alaska, but it was also the first time husband and wife held the president positions during the same terms of office nationwide. When not carrying out volunteer duties, the couple own and operate Piston and Rudder Service located on the Ocean Beauty dock adjacent to the North Boat Harbor.

Mike is a fourth generation Elks member and his grandfather Herb Stewart started the Student of the Month recognition program in Petersburg that is still functioning today at the Petersburg Lodge.

A major part of the presidents’ responsibilities each year is visiting each club across the state as well as attending the National Convention held in Valley Forge, Penn. For Barb it meant trips to 11 clubs; for Mike, 17. The couple was able to do some joint club visitations during their terms and noted that it was a lot of fun to meet with both Elks and Emblem club members together.

For Barb, the most enjoyable part of her visits to clubs was to initiate new members into the organization and to meet members of clubs throughout the state. Mike said he enjoyed going to lodges that are carrying out unique community projects. That included everything from the Seward lodge hosting a Cub Scout Pack meeting to a bus shelter relocation project in Bristol Bay.

Mike explained that the club visits are to encourage local lodges and clubs to participate in state and national projects and to work with them to grow membership and carry out local projects. The couple also advises members of any pending or proposed changes in the organization and offers accolades for superior performances by the lodges, clubs or their members.

Barb explained the State Association projects are the Special Olympics in Alaska and local, state and national scholarship programs.

Mike said the BPOE lodges support the Alaska State Elks Youth Camp located in the Palmer-Wasilla area, which provides summer camp trips to over 100 kids at no cost to the children or their families.

Another project is the Alaska Wounded Vets program, which this year brought six wounded veterans to Petersburg this year for 2-3 days of fishing. Lodges across the state provided similar events.

They also provide scholarships, sponsor the Statewide Hoop Shoots and Soccer Shoots and participate in a Drug Awareness Program.

Petersburg will be the host city for the State Convention for both the Emblem Clubs and Elks Lodges this April. They expect approximately 100 attendees.

Mike has been an Elks member for 33 years and Barb an Emblem Club member for 28 years.

Locally, the Emblem Club has worked with the Lodge to maintain the dining facility for members and guests. For the past 27-months the Emblem Club members have volunteered their time to cook and serve meals for their patrons. They were able to hire a paid cook for the first time in two years, “and we’re getting rave reviews for our food,” she added.

Past State Presidents from Petersburg include Ken Slavin for the Elks and Beulah Luhr and Lynda Fredricksen for the Emblem Club.