It is a fun interesting hobby for Elks, spouses and their children. There is a lot of history with the pins.
Every year we attend the Grand Lodge Convention and bring pins to trade. There are Lodge pins, Exalted R%uler pins, P.E.R. pins, State President pins, District and State pins. We design our own pins which is why you see so many different types, shapes and sizes. Some states / districts have pin sets (you can see some of these at the tables). Trading is a good ice breaker. Traders stand outside the door of the meetings and trade with the exalted rulers as they enter. We also have tables near the display area to trade. WE DO NOT SELL PINS HERE!!! There are booths from different states that sell pins for their charities. Some of these booths have pin sets for sale. You meet more people and learn about the Elks when you are trading. If you need any further information just ask a pin trader. Get details about purchasing pins from the venders at the convention. Sign up to receive a newsletter, just send me an email at Pintradr@aol.com When you get home be sure to tell the leading knights so they are prepared for their year at the convention. Every year we see disappointed exalted rulers who didn’t know about the pins and the trading.
When you are trading pins in the pin area people are very helpful and will direct the traders to the people who do trade.
You will see Dave V., Jim C, Earl D, Norm D, Josie K, the Merrick bros, Tom N, Gus N, Bob O, and Barney R. Oh, I’ll be there too! Come up and trade with us. There will be others but I know these traders will be there.
ORLANDO HERE WE COME!:
I was glad to see the Elks website is listing the hotels. This makes it easier to find the different hospitality rooms. Ask your representative to list in the lobby the times your hospitality room is open and the room number. Remember when you visit the hospitality rooms you MUST have your credentials on. Without them you will not be admitted. Be prepared.
If you haven’t seen the opening ceremonies, attend this year. This is very impressive and entertaining.
I want to congratulate Lee Schwein from Arizona on his year as president.
Did you know that the Honor Guard for the ceremonies is one of our own pin traders? Earl Decker, Past State President of Pennsylvania holds this position. Earl is from the Pottstown Lodge #814.
We also have Tom Day from Cicero-Berwyn, IL #1510 who plays Taps at the Memorial Service. You can see Tom at the booth for “Bugles Across America”. Tom started this organization and has several thousand buglers who play Taps at military funeral services.
SICKNESS / DISTRESS:
Jerry McCorkle had surgery recently and is home recuperating. Get well soon Jerry!
I just saw that we lost Bro. Bill Spurgin, PSP of Maryland. We send condolences to his wife Judy (a pin trader).
ELK PIN TRADERS WEB PAGE:
Jim LaBonte P.E.R. along with Dave Vernon Past State President, Doug Merrick P.D.D.G.E.R., and Dave Merrick P.D.D.G.E.R. from Massachusetts are re-vitalizing the Elk Pin Trader's page. If you are not listed there, go to the website and join. Thank you Jim for helping the pin traders.
PHOTO PROJECT
I have taken photos of traders at previous conventions. At a request two years ago, from a trader I have been taking pictures of the pin traders. I took a lot of pictures in Portland but haven’t put all the names with the photos.
Please stop by the tables and help me identify everyone. I hope to have photos of previous conventions with me. I will definitely be in the trading area starting Saturday.
I will have a form for you to sign so I can put the photos up on the Elk Pin Trader's website. Without your written/email consent I will not put the photos up. You can email your consent to me. Pintradr@aol.com
Jerry and Carol McCorkle will not attend the convention this year due to health issues. Tom Nauman will be at the convention and will have Tom and Jerry pins. You can also trade directly with Jerry by contacting him at jerrymc@comcast.net or Carol at carolsuemc@comcast.net.
Keep Jerry in your prayers and hopefully we’ll see them in Phoenix.
Sam Johnson, P.D.D.G.E.R. Tuscon East #2532 is unable to attend this convention. Sam just turned a 90 years young. Happy Birthday Sam. he hopes to join us next year in Phoenix. You can trade with Sam at samhjohns@aol.com
Ed Abel, P.D.D.G.E.R., Brunswick #691 wants to let everyone know he is alive and well, Ed wasn’t able to make the convention last year due to a RV trip to Alaska. This year he will miss because he is working in Utah. Ed you were missed and hopefully we will see you in Arizona.
If you want to trade with Ed, contact him at edabel@comcast.net.
I have had a request from a trader to pass along some information. People do trade by mail and with phone calls. He asks that when your lodge, exalted rulers or secretaries get requests to please return calls / email etc. You may not have pins but please be courteous and respond. Thank you.
To the lodges, some of the traders would like to see different designs with the pins instead of just the same pin year after year.
To the states that do trading (there are more than one) in the hospitality rooms, and in the trading area as well, we have another request. If you are trading sets and the traders have to see different individuals to get the complete set, please have everyone there with the pins or have the pins there. We have meetings to go to and may not always be able to come back several times.
There was a gentleman in Anaheim that was especially nice and took time to point out every ER, the DD and the VP who were trading pin sets.
Marty Shanahan is a new pin trader and would love to hear from you. Marty is from Toledo #53, reach him at tigger021@buckeye-express.com
Another new trader is Sami Drake, Leading Knight from Buena Park #2046. Sami’s husband Paul is ER again. They will be in Orlando and can be reached for trading at sanuka@aol.com.
Feel free to send me information, questions, requests, list your email for future newsletters. If you had a great experience trading at the convention and would like to share it, send it to me. Pintradr@aol.com
This newsletter is to help the traders answer questions and help them find other traders and pins. We trade pins then when we get home find pins that are alike. Later we realize they are parts of a set. Then we want to find the rest of the set. We can help you identify the pins / sets.
I need your help please. People move and / or change email addresses. I’m sure I have missed some traders due to the changes. Please reconfirm your email address with me if you want to receive the newsletter. I thank you.
We’ll see you in Orlando. Have a great convention.
Editor’s Note:
These newsletters are sent via the Internet and by mail. There have been a number returned due to wrong address. If you know of anyone that has stopped receiving the newsletters but would like to receive them, please contact me or have them contact me so I can update their addresses. Pintradr@aol.com
Also, I get compliments about the newsletter and I thank you for that but I need your input.
Penny Burns,P.E.R.
Leading Knight
Dolton-Lynwood Lodge #2335
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