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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

PELHAM – The Cahaba Valley Elks Lodge recently installed its officers for the 2025-2026 calendar year and celebrated its annual fish fry on Saturday, April 5.

The new officers for the lodge are as follows:

 

• Bob Shinpaugh, treasurer
• Mary Ann Mcklm, chaplin
• Cherie Huey, lecturing knight
• Christi Jone, loyal knight
• Howard Prater, esquire
• Shanon Hubbard, exalted ruler
• Jim McBrayer, leading knight
• Leon Johnston, secretary

 The Lodge’s annual fish fry exists to support the Lodge’s various charity programs. Along with the fish fry, the lodge’s members recently donated funds for Oak Mountain Ministries and Family Connection Inc. for each charity to receive 10 Easter baskets.

The baskets included personal care items, a notepad, pens/pencils, a bunny stuffed animal and chocolate.

Sharon Gaydon, former president of the lodge and chairperson of the lodge’s public relations committee, outlined the history of the Cahaba Valley Elks Lodge.

“Cahaba Valley Lodge No. 1738 was established at 1738 Morgan Park Drive in 1986,” Gaydon said. “It previously existed as Homewood Lodge No. 1738. The newly established lodge continued the guiding principles of the national Elks organization, The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Immediately, lodge members began seeking opportunities to implement its charitable mission in its new community. Our role is to improve the quality of life for all residents within our communities.”

Gaydon explained that the lodge’s mission is to inculcate the principles of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. Furthermore, the lodge recognizes a belief in God, promotes the welfare and enhances the happiness of its members, quickens the spirit of American patriotism, cultivates good fellowship, perpetuates itself as a fraternal organization and provides for its government.

“The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share,” Gaydon said.

Officers for the Elks Lodge are elected annually. Gaydon explained their purpose and how they further the mission of the lodge.

“The new officers are charged with the responsibility of implementing the various projects and programs chosen by the members,” Gaydon said. “Their leadership roles are fundamental to the lodge’s successful fulfillment of its mission.”

The lodge currently supports dozens of charitable organizations throughout Shelby County, seeking to further its mission by supporting others. Gaydon outlined upcoming events that the lodge is participating in.

“Cahaba Valley will be partnering with American Village to present a Flag Day program at 10 a.m. on June 14 at the American Village campus,” Gaydon said. “(We will also) host veterans from the Col. Howard Veterans Home at a Barons baseball game in August. We’ll have our annual fall ‘Pelham’s Best Catfish Fry’ fundraiser in October, plus a BBQ dinner in February 2026. We have a rental program for meetings, parties and family events that provide revenues to fund our community projects.”

The lodge’s annual fish fry happens in both the spring and the fall, and Gaydon gave background on its creation.

“We have held fall season catfish fry events for at least 15 years,” Gaydon said. “About seven years ago we began offering a spring edition. The lodge has enjoyed a loyal following of people who love fresh, never frozen catfish grown in Alabama catfish farms. We plan to increase our public awareness of these fundraisers in the hope of encouraging further community support.”

Throughout the lodge’s history, the organization has invested more than $3.5 million in community outreach programs. For more information on the Cahaba Valley Elks Lodge, visit Cvelodge1738.org.