You must be sponsored by a member of the Elks. The Elk who proposes you for membership must obtain a Membership Application from the Lodge Secretary. To be eligible for membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, you must be a citizen of the United States over the age of 21 who believes in God.

Visit join.elks.org for more information.

After your proposer fills in the required portion, you will be given the Application for Membership. Fill it in, following the instructions and answering all questions. Return the completed application to the Lodge Secretary with the prescribed application fees. Your application will be read on the floor at a regular Lodge meeting. It will then be forwarded to the Investigating Committee, who will call and interview you. After the interview is concluded, the committee will report to the Lodge concerning your membership. The members will be given a notice not less than 10 days nor more than two months before the vote will be taken. When the vote is concluded, you will be notified and asked to present yourself and your spouse for indoctrination. During indoctrination, you will learn more about the Order’s programs and charities. You will also be told during the program the date you will be initiated.

After initiation as an Elk, you can take part in all meetings and social functions of the Lodge. If for any reason your application is rejected, you cannot make application for membership for six months from the date of rejection.

See our Frequently Asked Questions for Lodge dues

Click HERE to find out more about the Elks and to fill out a Membership Inquiry Form

Click HERE for the Smithsonian BPOE Article

Online Membership Invitations and Applications
Current members of the Elks can send membership invitations to friends and family via the elks.org website. Invitees can then “click through” to submit their application online, and secretaries can then import the application into the Chicago Lodge Membership System (CLMS) with the simple click of a button. This streamlined application process will enable members to invite worthy candidates to join any Lodge in the country, and will significantly reduce the delays and inconvenience associated with hard copy applications.

Reinstatement
There is a reinstatement fee of $25, then a prorated portion of the Elks dues – depending on when the reinstatement is voted and approved.