National officials hope Elks Lodge 2596 will be able to re-open
Elks Lodge 2596 closed its doors suddenly last weekend, but the national headquarters of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) in Chicago is determined to get the Cape Coral lodge back up and running again. They just can’t say when that will be.
“We want a lodge in Cape Coral,” said past BPOE national president and chairman of the advisory committee Paul Helsel. “We don’t want to lose a lodge with 1,100 members.”
The lodge, at 4631 SE 10th Place at Club Square, received notice last week that its charter was being suspended. Trustees are being sent in to help the membership reorganize.
“They have been on probation for the last three years,” said Helsel. “We operate to a certain set of requirements so that lodges are financially stable. Restructuring has to do with the membership stepping up to the plate to straighten things out.”
The Cape lodge was closed for a time in 2013 amid allegations of mismanagement and misuse of funds. It reopened after reorganizing and was placed on probation.
Closing last week left a number of organizations and civic groups scrambling for new meeting places for their various functions. A local Realtor said the building, owned by the club, will be put up for sale.
“I don’t know that for sure, but it is one option,” said Helsel. “Lodges typically reopen after reorganizing, but I’m not sure how long that will take.”
Helsel indicated it is possible that the cost of maintenance of the building could be one factor contributing to the financial difficulties, but there are other factors as well.
“It is possible that the lodge could downsize and reopen at another location,” Helsel said.
All of the club’s members will be receiving a formal letter from the national headquarters explaining the situation.
Lodges also are located in Matlacha, North Fort Myers and Fort Myers, but they are not affected by the Cape’s charter suspension.