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Thousands of members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America and guests have gathered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from July 2 to July 5 for the BPO Elks National Convention.

During the convention, David Dwayne King, of Morristown, was installed as District Deputy for the BPO Elks for lodges in the East District of the Tennessee Elks Association and will serve a one-year term.

The BPO Elks is one of the premier patriotic and charitable organizations in the United States of America and is committed to making its communities better places to live.

Each year, the Order donates more than $350 million in cash, goods, and services to the needy, students, people with disabilities, active-duty members of the US armed forces and their families, veterans and their families, and charitable organizations.

In the 155 years since the Order’s founding, the BPO Elks has made charitable donations totaling approximately $12 billion.

As part of the Elks’ ongoing commitment to help students achieve their goals, the Elks National Foundation awards annual college scholarships worth a total of more than $4.5 million each year to students across the country.