National Elks leader to tour Alaska

Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks David R. Carr will visit Alaska from Aug. 28 to Sept. 4. He was installed in July as the head of the national organization at the Elks annual Convention in Phoenix, Ariz.

Carr and his wife, Penny, of Albany, N.Y., will visit five of the 18 lodges in the Alaska State Elks Association — Fairbanks, Valdez, Palmer, Eagle River and Anchorage.

Accompanying the couple on their travels will be Alaska State Sponsor, Past Grand Exalted Ruler Roger R. True and his wife, Marilyn, of Washington state; Alaska State Elks Association President Roland Reiswig and his wife, Vitha; Washington State Elks Association President Joe Basil and his wife, Virginia; District Deputy Bruce Morinitti of Eagle River; Special Rep. Al Nagel of Eagle River; and past Alaska State President Richard “Tiny” Fagg of Eagle River.

The visit includes a trip to Santa Claus House in North Pole, a fishing charter in Valdez, spending time at the Alaska State Fair (possibly working at the Palmer Elks Lodge Rat Race booth), Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage and attending the Anchorage Market and Festival.

A fraternal organization founded in 1867, the Elks have about 2,000 lodges with more 900,000 members in all 50 states.

For more information, visit alaskastateelks.org or elks.org.