Managing an Elks Lodge Business Successfully

Operating the Elks Lodge as the Business it is North District March 12, 2022 March 2019 Officer Training Colleen Gallant, Director Officer Training Successful Lodge

WHAT IS THE BUSINESS OF AN ELKS LODGE? Bar Kitchen Club Officer Training Successful Lodge

Who runs the business of the Lodge? ER Leadership Role of Business Chair Officers Support ER BOD Oversee the well-being of business Secretary Receive operational funds Treasurer Control of the money and accounting Audit Committee Make sure accounting done properly and give reports HC/Kitchen Chair Dept. Managers Club/Kitchen, Staffing, Supplies, Activities and give timely reports Members Where the workers or volunteers come from Officer Training Successful Lodge

What does it cost to run your Lodge Good records keeping provide data to calculate P&L Open Most important Daily records and monitoring Monthly reviews (in detail) Helpful in determining if these are profitable Special Events Fund Raisers Hall Rentals Officer Training Successful Lodge

Understanding Costs You must know the cost and profit for each product that you sell Proper pricing is essential The era of cheap drink and food prices are over and never achieved the desired result (Growing & Keeping membership) Price for each drink or meal must be set to make the planned profit margin in your budget Small pricing changes can make a big difference across a lodge year Officer Training Successful Lodge

Bar Policies & Procedures Staff must have proper procedures for opening and closing out the cash receipts Bartenders must know the approved pour for spirits and must be constantly monitored by HC Bartenders are in charge and can refuse to serve anyone TABC Training/Certification NOTE: There is NO excuse for any bar to be losing money Officer Training Successful Lodge

Kitchen Is often the most difficult to be profitable unless you have volume Portion Control Excess inventory, waste or theft can be the problems in an unprofitable kitchen Inventory must be completed monthly to know where you stand Officer Training Successful Lodge

Club Primary goal is to treat your member/guest as customers Make every attempt to maintain harmony in your club Quickly handle behavior problems rather than letting them fester Only the HC or Bartenders should be checking membership cards at the start of the year along with visiting members Officer Training Successful Lodge

IF YOUR LODGE ISNT FUN, NO ONE WANTS TO BE THERE Allowing a hostile environment Too many unnecessary rules Inconsistent rules or policy enforcement Officer Training Successful Lodge

Activities Planning & Execution Planning and setting of dates begin before the start of the year if possible (District Calendar) Activities need to be tracked and reported to the Lodge Each activity should be evaluated after event for success and failures to aid for future planning Officer Training Successful Lodge

Exalted Rulers & Knights ER s need to help train the Knights in running the business Delegate to the Knights and don t micromanage ER s cannot do it alone Officer Training Successful Lodge

QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION Officer Training Successful Lodge