A new civic club is forming in Mount Pleasant and the drive to garner members has begun. Several interested parties have formed a group to established an Elks Lodge east of the Cooper and they need 100 members to do it. Summerville Elks Club members started the process, but after being transferred out of state, Rodley Millet, Gordan Hanson and Michael Fenwrick took the reigns along with several others to keep the ball rolling.

There are more than 1 million members in 2,000 lodges across the country. Elks are considered one of the largest fraternal organizations in the country with a 141 year old history.

Fenwrick is the exalted ruler of the proposed Mount Pleasant club. He oversees the ceremony which is very ordered and begins with a prayer and the pledge and also ends with a prayer.

He also works closely with the national advisory council which oversees the procedures of becoming a designated club.

The lodge, like other Elks will focus primarily on fund-raising and community work. One of the Elks biggest projects is the D.A.R.E program. The organization also focuses on providing scholarships to students and assisting veterans.

Their national focus is Alzheimer's. Locally they plan to help ECCO and the Teachers Closet, among other things. In fact, according to Millet, the group has already begun their community efforts.

There are no membership requirements, but Elks do believe in a supreme being and extoll all the virtues of patriotism.

They are looking for family oriented members who put family and their country above all else. In addition, female members are encouraged, despite by-laws of the past.

In an effort to gain awareness the club has created their own web site as well as passed out hundreds of information leaflets for interested members during the Mount Pleasant Christmas Parade.

Right now the proposed organization has just under 40 members. The first 100 to join will be considered charter members.

Millet encourages new residents who were past members of other lodges to join as well as those looking to give back to their community.

According to Fenwrick, he was interested in joining because as a veteran himself, he wanted to continue to reach out to fellow servicemen through community involvement.

Gordan Hanson's father is an Elk in Summerville.

He knew of the Elk's legacy and wanted to get involved with his community while having fun.

He felt this was just the right approach.

Millet is an Air Force veteran and made Mount Pleasant his home seven years ago After a little research he knew the organization fit his personality and his beliefs.

His goal is to help support his community.

There has not been talk yet of where to establish a permanent facility, but any donation of space or land would be tax deductible.

Like other lodges across the country, the group wants to establish a permanent facility with various amenities.

Currently the Point Grill is donating the use of their facility.

Current members pay for their meals and various raffles pay for the minimal overhead incurred with starting the organization.

For more information visit www.proposedmtpleasantelks.org.

Currently the club meets and the Point Grill, in the Omar Shrine Building the second and fourth Tuesday at 6 p.m. for social hour and dinner and then the meeting begins at 7 p.m.

There are no attendance requirements but members must be committed to designated civic and club projects. Visit the web site for a membership application which costs $25.

Make checks for the application fee payable to 'Proposed Mt. Pleasant Elks Lodge and mail the completed application along with Check to Proposed Mount Pleasant Elks Lodge PO Box 2530 Mt. Pleasant, SC 29465.

If the minimum number of 100 required charters members is not reached the application fee will be refunded.