Georgia Elks and the Be Something program: building stronger communities

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has been part of American community life since 1868, yet its influence stretches well beyond the United States. Australian readers might be more familiar with similar fraternal groups like the RSL or local Rotary clubs, which share the Elks' commitment to service, fellowship, and supporting young people. The Georgia State Elks Association carries that tradition forward with a forward-thinking initiative known as the Be Something ™ program, designed to give teenagers a clear pathway into leadership, education, and civic engagement.

For those unfamiliar with the term, "Elks" refers to members of this historic fraternal order, not the animal. Lodges operate in cities and small towns alike, and the Georgia branch oversees dozens of chapters across the American Southeast. While the program is rooted in Georgia, its philosophies align with values that resonate strongly in Australian communities, from the surf clubs of the Gold Coast to the footy clubs of regional Victoria. Understanding how the program works offers a useful lens for anyone interested in youth development, volunteerism, and grassroots community building.

Origins and the spirit of the order

The Elks began in New York City during the post-Civil War era, when a group of actors and entertainers wanted to create a space for social gathering that also gave back to those in need. Within a few decades, the order had grown into one of the largest fraternal organisations in the United States, with hundreds of thousands of members. Lodges funded hospitals, built playgrounds, and supported families affected by war, poverty, and disaster. This tradition of practical generosity became the foundation for everything the Elks do today.

The Georgia State Elks Association is the regional body that coordinates activities across the state's lodges, from Atlanta down to Savannah and out to smaller cities like Valdosta and Warner Robins. The association runs scholarship programs, hosts youth camps, and supports veterans' initiatives, mirroring the work of Australian organisations such as Legacy or the Smith Family. Many of these efforts have a common thread: they invest in young people at moments when a small boost can change the trajectory of a life.

The Be Something ™ program emerged from this long-standing commitment. Its name is more than a slogan, it is a challenge issued to teenagers who might otherwise drift through high school without a clear sense of direction. The trademark reflects the program's structured approach, with defined curriculum, measurable outcomes, and a network of mentors who walk alongside participants. In a country as geographically vast as the United States, that scaffolding matters, and it is one of the reasons the initiative has gained attention from educators and community leaders elsewhere.

What the Be Something program actually does

At its core, the program helps secondary school students identify personal goals, build practical skills, and connect with adult mentors who can guide them through the transition into further education or work. Participants attend workshops, complete service projects, and take part in discussions about leadership, financial literacy, and civic responsibility. The curriculum is designed to be accessible, avoiding the jargon that often alienates teenagers who are already disengaged from formal schooling.

In practical terms, the program operates through partnerships with local lodges, schools, and community organisations. A lodge in Macon, for instance, might host a Saturday session where students practise interview techniques, learn how to budget a first pay packet, or hear from tradespeople about apprenticeship pathways. These sessions are deliberately kept small so that mentors can build genuine relationships with the young people involved. That relational element is something Australian youth workers often cite as the missing ingredient in large-scale government programs.

Parents and teachers frequently notice changes in participants within a single term. Students who once skipped classes start showing up early. Young people who were unsure about their future begin talking about university degrees, TAFE courses, or gap-year plans with newfound clarity. The program does not promise miracles, and it does not claim to solve systemic inequality on its own, but it offers something rare in the modern landscape: sustained adult attention focused on a teenager's growth. For families who have struggled to find that kind of support through mainstream channels, the program can be a genuine turning point.

Comparing the approach to Australian models

Australia has no direct equivalent of the Elks, but there are several programs that share similar DNA. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, widely run through schools in Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth, emphasises community service, skill-building, and physical activity for young people. Scouts Australia, with its strong presence in regional towns, focuses on outdoor skills and citizenship. The Smith Family's Learning for Life program supports students from low-income backgrounds through mentoring and educational resources. Each of these initiatives recognises that adolescence is a vulnerable period and that thoughtful intervention pays dividends.

The difference lies partly in scale and partly in cultural framing. The Elks are a single large organisation with a unified brand, which makes it easier to roll out a program consistently across an entire state. Australian youth programs tend to be run by a patchwork of charities, government agencies, and school-based initiatives, which can lead to uneven coverage. A teenager in Tamworth might have access to a strong mentoring program through their school, while a peer in a smaller town could fall through the gaps. The Be Something ™ model suggests that a single coordinated network can fill those gaps more efficiently, even when the cultural context differs.

For Australian community leaders considering partnerships or simply drawing inspiration, the program's emphasis on measurable outcomes is worth studying. Too often, youth initiatives are judged by how many young people turn up to an event, rather than whether their lives actually improve. The Elks track scholarship recipients, monitor program completion rates, and follow up with alumni years later. That kind of rigour is increasingly demanded by Australian funders, including philanthropic bodies and state governments, who want to see evidence of impact before committing taxpayer dollars.

Rituals, ceremonies, and the lodge experience

Beyond the formal program, the Elks are known for their rituals and ceremonies, which play a significant role in shaping lodge culture. New members are initiated through traditional rites that have been refined over more than a century, and regular meetings follow established protocols that emphasise respect, order, and brotherhood. These practices are not merely decorative; they reinforce the values that underpin the order's charitable work. A detailed overview of these traditions can be found in a recent guide to Elks rituals, which explores how the symbolic elements connect to the order's broader mission.

For outsiders, the ceremonial side of fraternal organisations can feel a little mysterious, even slightly old-fashioned. Australians tend to be informal in their community gatherings, preferring a relaxed sausage sizzle at the local cricket club to a structured ritual. Yet there is something powerful about shared symbols and repeated practice, and it is no accident that groups like the RSL, with their formal commemorations on Anzac Day, command deep respect across the country. The Elks draw on a similar well of tradition, and the discipline of their ceremonies helps members feel they belong to something larger than themselves.

Members often describe lodge meetings as a mix of serious business and genuine mateship, a term any Australian would understand immediately. Business is conducted efficiently, but the evening usually ends with a meal, a few yarns, and the kind of easy conversation that builds lasting friendships. That social fabric is what keeps members engaged for decades and what makes it possible to sustain ambitious programs like Be Something ™. Without strong bonds between adults, volunteer-driven initiatives tend to fizzle out within a year or two.

Practical impact and where the program is heading

The Be Something ™ program has already supported thousands of students across Georgia, and its alumni include teachers, tradespeople, small business owners, and public servants. Many credit the program with giving them their first real sense of direction, often during a turbulent period of adolescence. Scholarships awarded through the program have helped students afford university fees, trade school costs, and the everyday expenses that can derail a young person's studies, things like textbooks, transport, and a reliable laptop.

Looking ahead, the Georgia State Elks Association has signalled its intention to expand the program, including more partnerships with schools and a stronger digital component to reach students in rural areas. There is also growing interest from Elks lodges in other states, which see the program's success as a template worth replicating. For Australians, the lesson is that well-designed youth programs require patient funding, dedicated volunteers, and a willingness to measure outcomes honestly. The Elks have shown that a fraternal order with deep historical roots can still innovate and speak to a new generation.

One practical note for anyone researching community resources: families sometimes need access to essential services around the clock, and reliable directories of local providers can be hard to find. A useful example of how regional directories are organised can be seen in resources like this 24-hour pharmacy guide, which demonstrates the kind of detailed local information that helps families navigate everyday needs. While the Elks do not run health services, the same principle of connecting people with what they need, when they need it, sits at the heart of their community work.