June 12,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog with a little help from our friends
Ridgewood NJ, The Elks has been under probation for many years. As with other Elks clubs closing, it is for a lack of memberships. Many are combining.My Elks in Florida has a thriving membership, but as the years went on, it dwindled and was merged with another lodge.Per the bylines of the Elks, they do have the right to take all assets under that Lodge.But, and this is a big but, the leadership in Ridgewood may have the rights to the building. As many know, our town hall was the original Elks. Ridgewood gave the the Elks and one stipulation. I think was that it would not be a private club. I believe the Ridgewood Elks is 1 of only 2 lodges in Jersey that is open for non-members. July 4th was always great there to see the parade.
According to a member, Ridgewood Elks grew membership 43% in the last 3 years and closing the lodge was a “done deal” no matter how well they were doing. The trumped-up charges are being appealed by members in an Elks Grand Forum case and the building ownership is being contested in a Superior Court litigation. The property is owned by a separate Holding Corporation. There is recent legal precedence fighting the Elks Grand Lodge successfully in a similar case – Elks Building Corp. of Norwood vs. BPOE. Austin TX Elks, now “The High Road”, is also successfully suing Grand Lodge for their property.
I have lived here for 30 years. I have never met anyone who has said that he/she is an Elk.
I do not know what they do or how members are selected.
Why aren’t local members speaking up? Who are these people asking for financial support?
I can’t imagine giving money to an organization when it is not clear who will be making spending decisions and exactly what they plan to to.
On the national website it identifies the philanthropic activities of some lodges. In Ridgewood we are being asked to donate to the lodge itself.
do a “Ridgewood Elks ” search on this blog to get up to speed on the Lodge
Does the national chapter own the building? Can they just sell it?
This place is ok, but could have been great. Pretty sure someone robbed them blind years ago, cause no one wants to mention why he is gone.
12:53 the recorded ownership of the Elks Lodge is Ridgewood Elks Holding Corp. (REHC) who’s deed dates back to 10/24/1953. At sometime in 1977 there was a deed transfer between the REHC and RM&M Associates (who might be McQuire, Maun and Reardon? other names associated with searchable results). Neither deed is available from the county site. I cannot determine who is the owner is for sure from documents available on the internet.