2024 - 2025

Approval to form a Ladies Auxiliary of Hanover Lodge #763 of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks was given at a meeting of the Lodge on Thursday, April 13, 1961.  A Teas was held for the wives of members of the Lodge on Sunday, May 7, 1961, when a delegation of members of the Auxiliary of York Lodge #213 explained to the ladies how they formed and told of their various functions.

It was voted to form an Auxiliary at this time, its purpose being to assist the Hanover Lodge in carrying out the principles of the Order and help in its social and civic activities, and to promote mutual enjoyment and social functions among the members of the Auxiliary.

The first officers chosen were:  Mrs. Rosemary Meredith, President; Mrs. Dorothy Swartz, Vice President; Mrs. Nancy Murphy, Secretary; Mrs. Ruby Smith, Treasurer; Mrs. Josephine Topic, Tiler; and Mrs. Marie Zartman, Chaplain.  Mrs. Helen Trostle was later elected to the Vice Presidency by the members to fill the unexpired term of Mrs. Swartz.

Our first executive meeting was held May 17, 1961, and our first Auxiliary meeting was held June 13, 1961, at which time our original by-laws were adopted.  By January 9, 1962, our membership had grown to 82.  Our first meeting in the new Lodge building was February 11, 1964.

The Auxiliary of Chambersburg Lodge #600 guided the Hanover Auxiliary in setting up their ritual, and the first Ceremonial Meeting was held July 12, 1962, with the officers of the Chambersburg Auxiliary installing the first officers of our Auxiliary.

There were many different gifts given to the Lodge over the years, such as: refinishing and reupholstering of furniture, drapes, stage curtains, remodeling of both ladies' restrooms, tablecloths, and new Jewels for the Officers (all of the above given on more than one occasion).  Additional purchases included holiday decorations, baskets for needy families, highchairs, sign out front, tables and chairs, dishes, carts, smoke eaters, planters in the grille room, folding doors, steam table, refinished door on the stage and painted the walls, new fryer to make peanuts and cashews and three flags (American, Elks and Bicentennial).

In the past 36 years (1995-2001) cash and material donations to the Lodge have totaled over $200,000.00.

In May 1971, Exalted Ruler Bob Alwood, proposed that the Auxiliary consider sponsoring a nursing scholarship.  The Auxiliary voted to sponsor a student of either a three- or four-year program in the amount of $250.00 per year.  This amount has been raised over the years to its current rate of $750.00 per year (as of 2001) per student.  Currently we have two young ladies receiving nursing scholarships and many have benefited in the past.

The following is a list of the girls who were awarded student nurse scholarships in recent years:  Karen Lawrence, Celeste Stremmel, Jane Howe, Amy Adkins, Heather Cummings, Jennifer Kessler, Jennifer Christi, Mary Lee Barger, Lean Grim and Courtney Reichart.  To raise money for the Nurses Scholarship Fund, we hold a Longaberger Basket Bingo the first Sunday in February.

Some of the various activities sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary have been bi-annual rummage and bake sales, peanut and cashew sales, sponsoring stands at band concerts, parades, etc., selling food items.  There were sales of such items as:  cookbooks, vanilla, pepper, candles, jewelry, Bicentennial Liberty bells, recipe cards, notepaper, sachet flowers, zip code directories, daily date books and entertainment books.

Fundraising projects have included:  corn bake, card parties, white elephant sales, chances for afghans, a hand-knit sweater (made by Janet Bollinger), chances on Christmas baskets of Joy, chances on Christmas items with $50.00 attached.  Also, there have been weekly Bingo parties and a used book sale, fashion shows, and craft shows.

All of these projects have helped support our donations to the Lodge.

The Ladies Auxiliary currently boasts a membership of 257 members (as of 2001).  A candidate for membership in the Auxiliary must be sponsored by an Elk in good standing or was in good standing at the time of his death.  The following are then eligible for membership; (a) wife; (b) single relatives as follows:  mother, stepmother, daughter, stepdaughter, legally adopted daughter, sister, half-sister, and (c) single widow.  (Single means unmarried, divorced, legally separated, or that the marriage has been annulled.)  In addition, the candidate must be at least 21 years of age, be proposed by an Auxiliary member, and have two Auxiliary members as references.  A candidate cannot be sponsored by a father, brother, or son if husband is living, and he is not an Elk.