Annual Calendar
Lodge Chair Annual Calendar
Section titled “Lodge Chair Annual Calendar”This calendar provides a month-by-month guide to help you plan your DAP activities throughout the year. Use it as a roadmap to stay ahead of key opportunities and deadlines.
Elk Year
The Elk Year runs April 1 - March 31. Plan your activities around this cycle for reporting purposes.
Year at a Glance
Section titled “Year at a Glance”| Month | Primary Focus | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|
| April | New year kickoff | Set goals, plan year |
| May | Foundation | Build relationships, gather resources |
| June | Summer prep | Plan for back-to-school |
| July | Mid-year | Convention, summer events |
| August | Back to school | School outreach begins |
| September | Red Ribbon prep | Plan October activities |
| October | Red Ribbon Week | Peak activity month |
| November | Follow-up | Thank partners, continue outreach |
| December | Year-end | Review progress, plan Q4 |
| January | Contest push | Promote contests heavily |
| February | Contest promotion | Continue contest outreach |
| March | Year-end wrap | Submit entries, final activities |
April: New Year Kickoff
Section titled “April: New Year Kickoff”Theme: Start fresh and set the tone
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Review what worked last year (if applicable)
- Set 2-3 goals for the new Elk Year
- Connect with your District Chair
- Take inventory of materials
- Plan major activities for the year
Key Dates
Section titled “Key Dates”- April 1 - New Elk Year begins
- April 15 - Contest submission deadline (for last year’s winners)
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Attend lodge meeting to share DAP plans
- Report goals to District Chair
May: Building Foundation
Section titled “May: Building Foundation”Theme: Prepare for success
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Ensure CLMS access is working
- Request educational materials from State Chair
- Identify target schools for fall outreach
- Research community events for summer/fall
- Recruit 1-2 volunteers to help
Opportunities
Section titled “Opportunities”- Spring community events and festivals
- End-of-school-year events (if you have existing relationships)
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Initial outreach to schools (plant seeds for fall)
- Connect with other lodge committees about DAP
June: Summer Preparation
Section titled “June: Summer Preparation”Theme: Plan ahead while schools are out
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Finalize school contact list for fall
- Plan Red Ribbon Week activities
- Identify summer community events to attend
- Prepare materials for back-to-school season
Opportunities
Section titled “Opportunities”- Summer youth camps
- 4th of July community events
- Vacation Bible schools
- Summer reading programs at libraries
Key Dates
Section titled “Key Dates”- Late June/Early July - Grand Lodge Convention (if attending)
July: Mid-Year Check
Section titled “July: Mid-Year Check”Theme: Summer activities and convention learning
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Attend Grand Lodge Convention (or get updates from State Chair)
- Staff booth at summer festivals if applicable
- Prepare for August school outreach
- Confirm Red Ribbon Week plans
Opportunities
Section titled “Opportunities”- County fairs and festivals
- Youth sports events
- Community celebrations
- Summer camp programs
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Share convention updates with lodge
- Confirm fall plans with District Chair
August: Back to School
Section titled “August: Back to School”Theme: Launch school outreach season
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Contact schools to schedule presentations
- Attend back-to-school events and fairs
- Distribute materials to schools and community locations
- Finalize Red Ribbon Week plans
- Promote contests to schools
Opportunities
Section titled “Opportunities”- Back-to-school nights
- School open houses
- Community health fairs
- Youth sports season openers
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Email or call school contacts
- Remind lodge members about upcoming activities
Start Early
Schools fill their calendars fast. Contact them in August to get on their schedule for fall presentations.
September: Red Ribbon Prep
Section titled “September: Red Ribbon Prep”Theme: Prepare for peak activity month
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Confirm all Red Ribbon Week events
- Order/gather Red Ribbon materials
- Schedule volunteers for October events
- Continue school presentations
- Promote contests in schools
Key Dates
Section titled “Key Dates”- Late September - Finalize Red Ribbon Week schedule
Opportunities
Section titled “Opportunities”- School presentations during Drug-Free Schools Week
- Fall festivals
- Sports events
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Send Red Ribbon Week details to volunteers
- Coordinate with schools on ribbon distribution
October: Red Ribbon Week
Section titled “October: Red Ribbon Week”Theme: Maximum impact and visibility
Red Ribbon Week (Last Week of October)
Section titled “Red Ribbon Week (Last Week of October)”- Execute all planned events
- Distribute red ribbons at schools
- Staff community event booths
- Take photos of all activities
- Track attendance and materials distributed
Other Activities
Section titled “Other Activities”- Continue school presentations
- Promote contests
- Log all activities in CLMS
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Daily updates during Red Ribbon Week
- Share photos on social media
- Thank volunteers and partners
November: Follow-Up
Section titled “November: Follow-Up”Theme: Gratitude and momentum
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Send thank-you notes to schools and partners
- Complete CLMS logging for Red Ribbon Week
- Continue school presentations through fall semester
- Share success stories with State/District Chair
- Promote contests to schools
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Thank-you notes to all partners
- Report Red Ribbon Week results to District Chair
- Share highlights at lodge meeting
December: Year-End Review
Section titled “December: Year-End Review”Theme: Reflect and plan ahead
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Review year-to-date activities
- Assess progress on annual goals
- Plan activities for January-March
- Prepare contest promotion push for January
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Year-end summary to lodge and District Chair
- Holiday appreciation to volunteers
January: Contest Push
Section titled “January: Contest Push”Theme: Maximize contest participation
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Heavy contest promotion in schools
- Visit schools to talk about contests
- Distribute contest entry forms
- Plan any winter community events
- Set deadline for collecting entries (late February)
Key Dates
Section titled “Key Dates”- April 15 - State deadline for contest submissions (plan backward!)
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Contest information to all school contacts
- Reminder to District Chair about promotion efforts
Contest Countdown
With April 15 deadline, you need entries collected by early March for judging. January is your prime promotion month.
February: Contest Promotion
Section titled “February: Contest Promotion”Theme: Final contest push
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Follow up with schools on contest entries
- Continue promoting until collection deadline
- Plan any February community events
- Begin thinking about next year’s plans
Opportunities
Section titled “Opportunities”- School health classes often cover drug topics
- Valentine’s-themed “love yourself, stay drug-free” messaging
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Final contest reminders to schools
- Update District Chair on expected entries
March: Year-End Wrap
Section titled “March: Year-End Wrap”Theme: Close strong
Activities
Section titled “Activities”- Collect all contest entries
- Conduct lodge-level judging (if applicable)
- Submit winning entries to State Chair
- Final activities before year-end
- Complete all CLMS logging
- Review year and document lessons learned
Key Dates
Section titled “Key Dates”- Early March - Collect entries from schools
- Mid-March - Complete lodge judging
- March 31 - Elk Year ends
Communication
Section titled “Communication”- Submit winners to State Chair
- Year-end report to District Chair
- Thank-you to volunteers and partners
Quick Reference: Key Deadlines
Section titled “Quick Reference: Key Deadlines”| Deadline | What | Action |
|---|---|---|
| April 15 | Contest state submissions due | Entries to State Chair |
| August | School calendar fills | Contact schools early |
| Late October | Red Ribbon Week | Execute events |
| March 31 | Elk Year ends | Complete all reporting |
Quarterly Rhythm
Section titled “Quarterly Rhythm”Q1 (April - June)
Section titled “Q1 (April - June)”- Set goals, build foundation
- Prepare for busy fall season
- Summer community events
Q2 (July - September)
Section titled “Q2 (July - September)”- Convention and summer activities
- Back-to-school outreach
- Red Ribbon Week preparation
Q3 (October - December)
Section titled “Q3 (October - December)”- Red Ribbon Week peak
- Continued school presentations
- Year-end review
Q4 (January - March)
Section titled “Q4 (January - March)”- Contest promotion and collection
- Final activities
- Year-end reporting
Monthly Checklist
Section titled “Monthly Checklist”Use this checklist at the end of each month:
- What activities did I complete?
- Did I log everything in CLMS?
- Did I check in with my District Chair?
- What’s planned for next month?
- Do I need any materials or support?
Plan Ahead, Execute Consistently
The most effective Lodge Chairs stay a month ahead in their planning. Review this calendar monthly and you’ll never miss an opportunity.