Elk in West Texas (no, not in the Lodge)

[Doug Kerr]

On our way to Alamogordo, New Mexico to check out the town and buy a house, we traveled for a while along US 82 from Big Spring to Lamesa. About halfway, which turned out to be near Ackerly, Texas, Carla said "are those wapiti (elk) over there?" I had missed it, but I turned around and went back.

Indeed, there was a herd of elk in a field next to the highway. We parked on the shoulder a little way from the nearest group and I walked toward them with my trusty EOS 40D in hand.

As I approached, they struck a classic elk pose (as if trying out for a shoot for a Hartford Fire Insurance ad):

Douglas A. Kerr: Elk in West Texas​

After a little while, they went into their next pose:

Douglas A. Kerr: Engagement​

No fighting, no rasslin' - just another classic pose.

This guy had a really large rack (although a few points were gone).

Douglas A. Kerr: Whatta rack!​

We were fascinated by the prospect that maybe these were being raised for movie work - they really knew how to hit their marks. But alas, no. A little research (after we go to Alamogordo and got on the air) told us that these were on the famous Coleman Ranch. One aspect of the large Coleman enterprise is big game hunting in a nearby reservation - with Elk on the menu.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Don Cohen]

Great way to take advantage of photo opportunities as they arise - and a nice story to boot! The interaction in the 2nd photo is really nice.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Don,

Great way to take advantage of photo opportunities as they arise - and a nice story to boot!

Thanks so much.

The interaction in the 2nd photo is really nice.

It was astounding. They moved into position and then just stood there. It actually looked as if one glanced at me to see whether I was ready for the shot so they could get on with their day!

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Doug Kerr]

Some here might not be familiar with my allusion to a "Hartford Fire Insurance ad".

"The Hartford" is the general reference name to a large empire of insurance-related financial services. It was founded in Hartford, Connecticut in 1810 as The Hartford Fire Insurance Company.

The company early adopted the image of a stag elk as the centerpiece of its corporate graphic identity. The elk was portrayed as crossing a stream. ("Hartford" can be thought of as comprising hart, a traditional name for a deer - and by extension, elk - and ford refers to a low spot in a stream where it can be crossed on foot, or the crossing process itself.)

The elk is now referred to internally as "Larry" (derived from Lawrence, the name of the actual elk that appeared in a series of television advertisements for the firm).

Here is a rendering of the Hartford elk by illustrator Lori Anzalone:

Lori Anzalone: The Hartford elk​

Best regards.

Doug

 

[Tracy Lebenzon]

Thanks for the explanation of Hartford Elk and also for the nice photos. Around here it’s very rare to see 2 full grown bucks. They typically become hat racks shortly after their 2nd or 3rd year.

BTW, those appear to be very well nourished elk. Are they in a sanctuary?

Around here the Roosevelt Elk which appears to be in the images above are also known by their native American name of Wapiti. Of course, almost no one actually calls them that.

 

[Asher Kelman]

Doug,

You do seem to have a penchant for finding ruminants with great sets. First the texas steers you have shown previously. That picture of them under a tree, if I remember right, is worth digging up. Here, these elk are splendid. Is it possible to find a vantage point whereby the b.g. is free of fences and other evidence of "civilization"?

Asher

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Asher,

You do seem to have a penchant for finding ruminants with great sets. First the texas steers you have shown previously. That picture of them under a tree, if I remember right, is worth digging up.

I'll try and reprise it.

Here, these elk are splendid. Is it possible to find a vantage point whereby the b.g. is free of fences and other evidence of "civilization"?

We may have a chance on our next trip out (about 2012.02.28 when we go to close title on the new house).

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Doug Kerr]

I made a joke about the Elks Lodge at the outset, so I thought I would tell a story about the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE). It's not a joke, exactly, but if it were, it would be at their expense.

I was an Elk once, a member of Dallas Lodge No. 71. A neighbor had been active in the lodge, and often invited us (myself and my late first wife, Bobbie) to go as their guests to dances and such at the lodge. (For most such events, it was permitted for members to bring non-members as guests.)

Bobbie enjoyed the social aspect of the lodge and encouraged me to become a member so we could more readily participate in that. I did, and was duly initiated. I never really had much interest in lodge matters proper, though.

After Bobbie died, I didn't do much with the lodge, and when it came time to renew my membership and pay my dues for the coming year, I contacted the lodge secretary and told him that I would not renew my membership. He said he was sorry to hear that and hoped that some time in the future I might reinstate my membership.

It turns out that my action did not make me a non-member of the BPOE - it made me a member not in good standing. (It turns out that I could have become a non-member by applying for an Absolute Dimit, which would have "allowed me to leave the lodge in good standing". You can of course imagine me doing such a thing!)

After Carla and I were married, the neighbor invited us to a dinner dance at the lodge as his guest. Our seats at the dance proper turned out to be at the same table as the Exalted Ruler of the lodge.

At the first break, he slid over beside me and said, "Doug, I understand that you used to be a member." I said, yes I had been. I expected that he would encourage me to reinstate my membership.

He said, "Well, in your status, you are not permitted to be in the lodge building".

Carla and I stood up. I announced to the crowd, "I find that we are not welcome here. Goodnight." And we left. It was of course rather an embarrassment to our host (whose seats were at another table).

I looked into the premise for this, and found that it related to a certain BPOE national bylaw. It said, and I paraphrase, that a member not in good standing was not entitled to any benefits of membership, including the use of the lodge facilities (just as for a not-member).

It is of course understandable that any organization would not extend the actual benefits of membership to a member not in good standing. But Lodge 71 (like many other lodges, I found out) had chosen to interpret this to mean that an ex-member would not be entitled to do things that a member of the general public could do, such as dine in the lodge restaurant on days in which it was open to the general public (many lodges did this as an additional source of revenue), or attend social events as the guest of a member in good standing (for events where this was permitted).

A while later, the lodge secretary called me and said he would like to discuss with me the possibility that I would be interested in reinstating my membership. He said, "It would be very easy. Why don't you stop by the lodge some day and we can chat about it."

I said, "No, sorry, I can't enter the building" (and reminded him of the situation).

"Oh," he said, "I'm sure that in this case we could certainly . . ."

I cut him off. Evidently he didn't know who he was dealing with.

Ah, fraternité at its finest.

Now, at the Mystic Knights of the Sea . . .

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Don Cohen]

That's quite a story, Doug!!

Sad how too many social organizations end up dividing people, rather than uniting them. Not exactly what we need today...

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Tracy,

Thanks for the explanation of Hartford Elk and also for the nice photos. Around here it’s very rare to see 2 full grown bucks. They typically become hat racks shortly after their 2nd or 3rd year.

BTW, those appear to be very well nourished elk. Are they in a sanctuary?

No, this is a private ranch. We suspect they are being raised to become safari trophies (the ranch owner conducts big game hunts, including for elk). But from the behavior of these, they may be movie animals.

Around here the Roosevelt Elk which appears to be in the images above are also known by their native American name of Wapiti. Of course, almost no one actually calls them that.

Carla does (as noted in my original narrative). She is 1/16 Cherokee (and actually the Cherokee name for this animal is a-wi e-qua).

I hadn't known what variety these were. Thanks for the info.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[CD Holden]

Doug,
I'm a Moose. When I was younger, I let my membership lapse due to lack of interest. After relocating to another state, it was later reinstated and I have been a member in good standing (though not very active) for over a decade. We don't have that silly bylaw and it is my opinion that having that one is against the whole concept of fraternity and community.
I hope one day they review and repeal or change this mess.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Chris,

Doug,
I'm a Moose. When I was younger, I let my membership lapse due to lack of interest. After relocating to another state, it was later reinstated and I have been a member in good standing (though not very active) for over a decade. We don't have that silly bylaw and it is my opinion that having that one is against the whole concept of fraternity and community.
I hope one day they review and repeal or change this mess.

Thanks for your observations.

It is quite clear that the "interpretation" that this lodge, and many others, have articulated of that bylaw clause (sensible on its surface) is intended to punish those that have the temerity to discontinue their membership.

I'm reminded of the day that Carla resigned her position with her last "corporate" employer, a large international professional association, shortly after we were married. They had fired her boss (a vice president, whose assistant she was), and advised her that she need not worry, her job was safe, and by the way she would be taking over many of his administrative duties, and those of another of his subordinates that was fired (without benefit of new title or rank or increase of compensation).

She told me that she planned to resign and give two weeks' notice. I suggested she resign at once.

She did that, the next day (a Thursday), advising that Friday would be her last day.

The Human Resources functionary was aghast. She said, "If you do that, you will not be eligible for rehire."

Carla said, "what part of 'I don't want to work here anymore' do you not understand?"

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

Doug and Chris,

I'd not want to belong to any exclusive club where they'd actually allow someone as upstart as myself to be a member. Can't stand these over-friendly, gregarious know-it-alls, who have no respect for rules!

Asher

 

[Mark Hampton]

Some here might not be familiar with my allusion to a "Hartford Fire Insurance ad".

"The Hartford" is the general reference name to a large empire of insurance-related financial services. It was founded in Hartford, Connecticut in 1810 as The Hartford Fire Insurance Company.

The company early adopted the image of a stag elk as the centerpiece of its corporate graphic identity. The elk was portrayed as crossing a stream. ("Hartford" can be thought of as comprising hart, a traditional name for a deer - and by extension, elk - and ford refers to a low spot in a stream where it can be crossed on foot, or the crossing process itself.)

The elk is now referred to internally as "Larry" (derived from Lawrence, the name of the actual elk that appeared in a series of television advertisements for the firm).

Here is a rendering of the Hartford elk by illustrator Lori Anzalone:

Lori Anzalone: The Hartford elk​

Best regards.

Doug

Doug,

my son loved this - and i must admit I did to. the whole thread that is - i read it to him. you and fahim should get together and make a book.

cheers