In May 2009, after a long battle with cancer, we lost GEA President Elect Myron Holmes. Since Myron had not yet been installed as President, an election took place on Saturday June 6th to elect a new President Elect to be installed that evening as the GEA President. Nominated for 2008-2009 President Elect were Rosalyn Neal (Marietta) and Larry Capes (Covington Lodge) and Larry Capes was elected. Tim Whalen (Griffin) who ran unopposed was elected as 2009-2010 President Elect. Running to fill the office of Secretary/Treasurer (vacated by Tim Whalen) were Richard Fradette (Camden County) and Tommy Thompson (Albany) and Tommy Thompson was elected. There also were elections to the Board of Directors with Roy Spiker (Valdosta) elected to fill a 2 year term (vacated by Robert Amy) and Steve Shirah (Savannah) elected to fill a 4 year term. Congratulations to all these fine Elks!

The 2008-2009 Elk of the Year Award was presented by GEA President John Yost to Perry Scott (Covington) for his extensive work this past year teaching lodge secretaries about the Grand Lodge CLMS computer program. Perry Scott traveled to lodges all over the state and has been available to assist secretaries with the new GL software. Perry also created the award winning Georgia Elks website and continues to maintain, improve and update this site, promoting Elkdom in Georgia. Thanks to Perry on the website there is a "CLMS Resource Page for the Lodge Secretary" , all GEA officers and committees, the latest edition of the GA Elks News, State Auxiliary officers and news, Aidmore news, an up-to-date calendar, a photo gallery and coming soon the Drug Awareness Trailers will be scheduled thru the website. Perry has a long history with the Georgia Elks having served two times as the Decatur-Stone Mountain Lodge 1602 Exalted Ruler, many years as Lodge 1602 Trustee and Trustee Chairman, Grayson-Loganville Lodge Building Committee Chairman, as NE Vice President, as Northeast District DDGER and most recently as the GEA webmaster.

The 2008- 2009 Georgia Elks Woman of the Year Award (the Mary Gibbs Award) given annually to an outstanding Auxiliary member by Jim Gibbs PSP, was awarded posthumously to Loretta Fitzgerald Rhodes. Loretta was the wife of Vance Rhodes PSP and a very hard worker for the Elks for the past 10 years, both at the local and state levels. In 2000 after she married Vance, she joined the Decatur-Stone Mountain Auxiliary where she served on all committees including Hoop Shoot, Drug Awareness, and Aidmore. Loretta supported Vance in his successful run for GEA President 2005-2006 and continued to work for Elkdom. She served as President of the Grayson-Loganville Auxiliary in 2006-07 and 2007-08 and helped close Lodge 1602. In 2008 she joined the Atlanta Northlake Auxiliary and continued to work on Drug Awareness, Hoop Shoot, the 2009 GEA Spring Meeting Committee and the Dictionary Program. For the state auxiliary, Loretta always supported Aidmore and served as Chairman of the Aidmore Kitchen Committee and Chairman, 2009 Auxiliary Cookbook Committee.