Welcome to Austin!
Grand Lodge Convention June 30 - July 3, 2024

State Conventions & Reunions Chairperson
Tammy Paterson
Lorain Lodge #1301

Grand Lodge Hotel Reservations

The 2024 Grand Lodge Convention will be held in Austin, Texas and the Ohio Elks Association will be housed at

JW Marriott Austin Hotel
110 E. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701
(512) 474-4777.  

The room rate is $135 per night plus tax, currently 17.61% ($158.77) which is good for up to 4 people per room.  Room reservations forms have been emailed to the lodges. All Elks planning on attending are urged to send in their reservations as soon as possible as rooms will fill up quickly.   The cutoff date for hotel reservations is May 13, 2024.   Reservations received after this date will be accepted based on availability of same type rooms at the convention rate if they are available. Once the rooms are filled any overflow will be housed at another hotel by the Grand Lodge convention department.

RESERVATIONS CAN ONLY BE MADE THROUGH THE OHIO ELKS ASSOCIATION AND NOT DIRECTLY WITH THE HOTEL

This is a non-smoking hotel and there are 8 other states housed at this hotel.  

The hotel provides no shuttle service to and from the hotel.  Taxis from the airport to the hotel are approximately $30.00.    If you are planning on driving, the Hotel has discounted the self- parking for convention attendees by 20%.

The JW Marriott is in the heart of downtown Austin. The resort features an on-site spa, outdoor rooftop pool, room service, several bars, four restaurants including a Starbucks.  I have also attached a list of restaurants in the area. The average room will have a coffee maker and a safe.  Some have a mini refrigerator as well.  

Grand Lodge Pre-Registration

Pre-registration for Grand Lodge is now open!

Ohio Hospitality Room Schedule

SATURDAY, JUNE 29
11:30 pm to 3:00 pm – Northeast District
8:00 pm to 11:30 pm –Northwest District

SUNDAY, JUNE 30
11:30 am to 2:30 pm – Southeast District
8:00 pm to 11:30 pm – Southwest District

MONDAY, JULY 1
11:30 pm to 3:00 pm – South Central District
8:00 pm to 11:30 pm – Northeast District

TUESDAY, JULY 2
11:30 pm to 3:00 pm – Northwest District
8:00 pm to 11:30 pm – North Central District

Bartenders are designated by the incoming District Deputies from lodges within their respective districts.  Please restrict bartenders to two (2) members per shift.

 THIS IS A NON-SMOKING ROOM

Visit Other States At Grand Lodge

One of the best things about going to Grand Lodge is visiting all the other State Associations during your visit. Eight other states will be housed in the same hotel as Ohio with the rest of the other state associations located in hotels around the convention center. the link below has a full listing.

Grand Lodge Schedule

The general Grand Lodge schedule has been posted. Detailed schedules, break-out sessions, seminars, contests, and exhibit schedules can be found at elks.org.

Grand Lodge Convention Shirt

Here is your opportunity to order a celebration polo as the Ohio Elks show our support for Doug and Julia Schiefer on their journey for the upcoming year! All orders placed will be delivered to the Ohio Elks Spring Convention during the April 26th-28th ,2024 weekend. They will be adorned with Doug’s logo along with the Ohio Elks logo on the sleeve.

Grand Lodge General Information

The 2024 Grand Lodge Convention will be held in Austin, Texas and the Ohio Elks Association will be housed at JW Marriott Austin Hotel located at 110 E. 2nd Street Austin, Tx 78701.   Telephone 512-474-4777.   This is a non-smoking hotel and there are 8 other states housed at this hotel.  

The hotel provides no shuttle service to and from the hotel.  Taxis from the airport to the hotel are approximately $30.00.    If you are planning on driving, the Hotel has discounted the self- parking for convention attendees by 20%.

The room rate is $135.00 per night plus tax, currently 17.61% ($158.77) which is good for up to 4 people per room.  Room reservations forms have been emailed to the lodges and are available on the OEA website as well.    All Elks planning on attending are urged to send in their reservations as soon as possible as rooms will fill up quickly.   The cutoff date for hotel reservations is May 13, 2024.   Reservations received after this date will be accepted based on availability of same type rooms at the convention rate if they are available. Once the rooms are filled any overflow will be housed at another hotel by the Grand Lodge convention department.

The JW Marriott is in the heart of downtown Austin. The resort features an on-site spa, outdoor rooftop pool, room service, several bars, four restaurants including a Starbucks.  I have also attached a list of restaurants in the area. The average room will have a coffee maker and a safe.  Some have a mini refrigerator as well.  

Ohio will have a Hospitality Room; room location will be determined at a later date.   The hours for the hospitality room is attached and can be found on the OEA website. 

Each Exalted Ruler or Alternate is asked to assist in bartending duties sometime in the hospitality room.   Your District Deputy will be assigning you a time to help in the room.   In the past this has worked very well, and many ERs find it fun and entertaining.

Due to the fact that Elks from other states usually visit our hospitality room, we are asking all Ohio Elks to please wear your registration badges when visiting our hospitality room. Some of the other states do require you to wear your registration badge to enter their room.

The Grand Lodge will provide bus shuttles from the hotel to the convention center starting on Saturday and running through Wednesday as well as all Grand Lodge functions.  The schedule will be on the Grand Lodge website by the middle of June.

The Sunday afternoon Opening Ceremony, Daily Business Sessions and the Closing session will take place at the Austin Convention Center located at 500 E. Cesar Chavez Street Austin, TX.

The Opening Ceremonies (open to all members and guests) will take place on Sunday afternoon, June 30, 2024, at 4pm. A Celebration will immediately follow the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, June 30.   This event will offer free Entertainment plus food and drink for purchase.

The Daily Business Sessions will be held Monday and Tuesday from 8:00 am till 12 noon (estimated end time). Wednesday will run from 8:00 am till 11:00 am. Please remember, this is Red Coats!!

Registration will be at the Austin Convention Center. Pre-registration for the Grand Lodge Convention opens on the Grand Lodge Website April 1st.  Pre-registration is recommended to avoid lines and safely receive your credentials and other critical attendee information.   Everyone must register for the convention and only registered Elks will be admitted to the business sessions, seminars and workshops.   Registration is also required to enter the Vendor areas.  Registration is cash, check, credit, or debit cards.

If your Exalted Ruler IS NOT attending the convention and the duly elected Alternate is attending in his or her place, you MUST notify the Grand Secretary to advise him that the alternate will be attending in place of the Exalted Ruler.   You will need to provide the Grand Secretary with the lodge name and number and the alternates name and membership number. IF both are attending, then you do nothing.

The Elks National Convention Commission is working closely with the Austin Convention Center to plan a safe and healthy Elks National Convention.  

Ritual Competition will also be at the Austin Convention Center and the location will be determined at a later date.   

The Seminar for District Deputies Designates will be held on Monday, July 1st and Tuesday, July 2nd at 12:45 pm in the Austin Convention Center, location to be determined.

The varying committee seminars/workshops will be scheduled starting as early as 9 am and following the General Sessions on Monday and Tuesday.   These will be listed on the website after May 2024. Please watch the OEA website for all updated locations and times.

Many people enjoy trading pins during the convention.  If this interests you and/or your spouse, bring pins from your Lodge to trade.   State pins are normally available for purchase at the Spring Convention in Dublin and we will have some available for sale in the hospitality room at Grand Lodge to use for trading purposes.

As time draws closer to the Grand Lodge Convention, members should log into the Grand Lodge website and check the Grand Lodge Convention Section as updates and information will be posted by the Grand Lodge.   They will post the schedule of events for the week, the busing schedule, etc. We will also have all available information as it comes in on the Ohio Elks webpage under conventions.

Attached is also a shirt order form.  We are planning for all Ohio members attending to wear this shirt in support of Doug and Julia.  We will determine which day by the April Ohio Elks Convention.  All shirts ordered will be able to be picked up at the April State Convention unless you need it shipped.  Any shirts ordered after April will be required to have it shipped, at your exspense, to your home address.

Please contact me by tammypaterson03@gmail.com or texting 440-258-5115 with any questions.