Skip to main content

Celebrating the New Year at the ENF


by: Katlyn Geldert
Donor Services Assistant

Fall 2016 was one for the record books for me. I got married, the Cubs won the World Series, and I was hired at the Elks National Foundation in the Donor Services Department! All three amazing and life changing events. 


The Wedding

As 2016 ended on such a high note, I am really excited for 2017. It’s going to be a great year! It’s already off to a fantastic start, as I am loving my role as a Donor Services Assistant. I enjoy processing donations as well as seeing the high level of fellowship and support throughout the Elks communities.

During my work week, I send out acknowledgement letters to thank those who have donated. I also spend time working on adjustments to donations to make sure that the correct donors are credited for their generous gifts. Most days, I process donation information that comes through our bank’s website and through online remittances. I update donation totals and per-member-giving standings weekly on the ENF website. I have many different tasks to get done, but it has been very engaging because I am constantly learning new aspects of working for a non-profit from my lovely coworkers.
Hannah (L) and Katlyn (R)

One of my favorite things about working for the ENF, in addition to my kind and hilarious coworkers, is the amazing architecture of the Elks National Memorial. Even after

working here for two months, walking through the rotunda is still a breathtaking experience. I feel exceptionally lucky to work in a building that is so aesthetically alluring.

I enjoy how different my job at the ENF is from my previous jobs. Before coming to work here, I was a teacher for five years. I am very thankful for the amazing and unexpected experiences teaching gave me. I have always loved to travel and teaching gave me the opportunity to do that! Right after graduating college, I traveled through Peru then I moved to Incheon, South Korea to teach kindergarten and elementary school for over a year. During that time, I met some of my best friends and was able to explore Korea, Thailand, and Japan.

When I returned home to Minnesota, I started substitute teaching and then I was offered a job here in Chicago to work at a Montessori school. For the past three years, most of my interactions at work have been with students aged three to six. Since joining the ENF, it has been a nice change of pace to interact with my current coworkers. No one has cried or spit on me when excitedly telling me a story, yet. 
Katlyn visiting Machu Picchu in Peru

Thank you for reading about all things Katlyn! I hope you are having a wonderful New Year. If you have any questions regarding your donations, please feel free to reach out to me at katlyng@elks.org or at 773/755-4862.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Labels

Show more

Popular posts from this blog

Seizing Every Opportunity

Reflections from the SAB President By Kat Nakamura 2019 MVS Scholar Hi, Elks Family! I’m Kat Nakamura, a 2019 MVS Scholar currently serving as the president of the Scholar Advisory Board. My time with the Elks has been a transformative experience, not only providing me with financial support for my education but opening the door to a nurturing community of like-minded individuals and remarkable opportunities. My journey began when I applied for the Elks Most Valuable Student scholarship, and little did I know it was just the beginning of a life-changing adventure. Months later, my mom encouraged me to apply to join the Scholar Advisory Board. Initially hesitant, I thought there was no chance of being accepted. Little did I realize that this decision would lead me to one of my most cherished experiences throughout college. The Scholar Advisory Board are the representatives that advise the ENF on scholar relations. Apart from being on the board, members attend the Elks National Conve
Post a Comment
Read more

A Boatload of Scholars, a Busload of Clothes

By: Aditi V. Patel,  2019 Most Valuable Student scholar Last week, I had the pleasure of serving alongside 20 other amazing Elks scholars as a part of the Tampa Elks Scholar Service Trip. I did my research before the trip and found that Hurricane Ian had displaced more than 40,000 Floridians in September 2022—I wanted to do something to help! After landing in Tampa, we got right to work by sorting a busload (literally) of clothing that Tampa, Fla., Lodge No. 708 collected from the community for Greater Pine Island. We organized each item of clothing by size, made sure each item was in good condition, and placed them into bags. Whenever there weren’t clothes at my table, I would shift to another station to help others, and I saw other scholars doing the same. It was amazing to see everyone laboriously working for hours without any complaints, learning names and fun facts as we went. We had dinner at the Tampa Elks Lodge, which is where I had my first genuine conversations with the s
3 comments
Read more

Finding a Place in the #ElksFamily

by Aleah Hahn, Most Valuable Student Scholar Aleah Hahn received a second place Most Valuable Student scholarship in 2018. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2021 with degrees in Biosystem Engineering and German. She is pursuing her master’s degree in Marine Resource Management at Oregon State. In her free time, she likes to cycle, forage and hike. Over my spring break I was able to partake in the 2022 Spring Elks Scholar Service Trip in Chicago! In 2018, I attended the 150 for 150 Service Trip in San Antonio, where we celebrated the Elks 150th anniversary through service. Both were amazing experiences to serve in the name of the Elks. They were alike but also different in many ways.  In San Antonio, I connected with Elks state leadership from my home state of Michigan since the trip was at the Elks National Convention!  I served with 149 other scholars and met many of them. It was a great opportunity to connect with other scholars. The majority of our service was at Haven
1 comment
Read more