Coldwater's Penny Geishert honored as first woman president of Michigan's Elks

COLDWATER — At the end of June, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks national convention in Austin, Texas, recognized Coldwater's Penny Geishert as Michigan's first woman state president.

A cancer survivor, Geishart ended her one-year term at the end of May.

She joined the Coldwater Elks in 1999, four years after the organization, which started as a men's social club in 1868 in New York, voted to allow women to join.

Geishert joined with three other Coldwater women, and within three months, she was lodge secretary. "I got involved right away."

When she met him in 1977, her husband Ed was a member. When he was the local Exalted Ruler, the couple attended conventions and other clubs.

Penny Geishert's state work began as a Southeast district chair, which encompasses Coldwater to Dearborn and Flat Rock to near Detroit.

In 2011, Geishert first served in a state chairmanship for three years and then as the Michigan Elks' first female state trustee for six years.

Geishert moved up the ranks, "I became the second, then first vice president until I became state president in May of 23."

Geishert said only some were ready. "Most people have been very receptive, very kind, very receiving. A few weren't quite ready for a woman to be state president."

Geishert said, "I think we've gotten the message out that the Elks is changing. Most every lodge in Michigan has at least one or two or more women that are officers."

As a young girl, her dad was an Elk. Geishert said, "Back then, it was pretty much just a social club. He went there to play cards with the guys and have a few drinks."

Elks changed over the years and more so with women members.

From a men's club, the BPOE became a community organization, giving grants through the Elks National Foundation to Scouts, Tommie's House, Veteran's programs, sports competitions, and youth programs.

Elks hand out millions of scholarships annually, including for those with special needs in Michigan.

Geishert said, "You can still join to become just a social member. But we really stress getting involved in volunteering in the community."

Geishert said adding women saved many lodges that struggled to find new members.

She said the Elks and many similar organizations have trouble finding new younger members with families so involved in sports and other activities with their children.

She said the average age of the Elks is now 68. "We don't pull many of the 20-year-olds in like we used to."

The Coldwater Lodge now holds community parking lot parties and events to interest younger people. Community involvement is still stressed. "When we do our new member orientation, we stress to them that we are a volunteer organization and that we expect you to volunteer (for the lodge and community). This can be fun, the camaraderie that you build with the other members and the people you meet."

Geishert and her husband said their fathers were lifetime Coldwater Elks. "We are just continuing, yet our own kids aren't interested."

Geishert said their two sons, daughter and son-in-law, the younger generation, have a different attitude. She hopes that as they age and their children get older, they see the value of the Elks.

Geishert hopes she is a model for other women to take leadership roles.

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Geishert served her year-long state presidential term with breast cancer metastasizing to her bones and lungs.

"It's considered a stage four, not curable but treatable," Geishert said.

A PET scan in June showed no active tumors.

Geishert said, "I'll live with it for the rest of my life. But hopefully that life's gonna go on for quite a while."

— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Coldwater's Penny Geishert honored as first woman president of Michigan's Elks