What Is CLMS?

Chicago Lodge Membership System also known as Chicago Lodge management System or CLMS was initiated in July 2007 during the Grand Lodge Convention in Charlotte, NC.

With over 1200 Lodges using Yuma 6 membership tracking program, Grand Lodge accepted Dr Frank Farese’s gift which has allowed Grand Lodge to leap forward in our plans to have a national membership database centered at the Grand Lodge Headquarters.

Lodges that are presently using Yuma6 will be able to migrate to the new CLMS program by installing a simple downloaded upgrade. Lodges using other software or using a paper based system will need to consider the data-entry needed to enter their 5505 data into the system after downloading a free software install.

CLMS will be the only software solution that will interface seamlessly with the Grand Lodge databases. Going forward, Grand Lodge is committed to reducing Secretary workload by integrating various data exchanges between CLMS and the Grand Lodge databases. This effort will also assure everyone that a centralized database reflects up-to-date information at all times.

The CLMS program is presently being beta tested and should be available for general release near the early part of the 2008-2009 Lodge year.

Will CLMS be mandatory? Not unless your Sponsor makes this a requirement, but the Advisory Committee anticipates that all Lodges will be on CLMS within a year.

Take a moment or two to explore the ChicagoLMS website:

• The helpdesk tab permits you to submit questions or report problems, even ask for remote support for the software
• The Knowledgebase permits you to find answers to frequent questions 24 hours a day, 365 days per year
• The Contact Us page provides a variety of means to contact us and going forward will also list local contact information for coordinators, training opportunities and mentoring
• The CLMS Documentation page provides an online version of the manual and a downloadable manual that you can print if desired.
• The downloads page provides the links to obtain the free software download as well as release notes and various pictorial installation walkthroughs

Overview of CLMS Features

Here is a partial list of the CLMS features available in Chicago Lodge Membership System.

• Uses the approved Grand Lodge Chart of Accounts
• Interface with QuickBooks Basic and Pro
• Internet Connectivity
• Connection to our server for automatic timely sub-point updates, fixes and downloads
• Elks National Foundation posting
• Automatic CASS Mail Certification via Internet
• All Grand Lodge Required Reports
• Ability to Send Reports via Internet
• Ability to Send Lodge Bulletins via Internet
• Ability to Send Dues Statements via Internet
• GL and State Directory with Email Addresses
• Built-in Help System
• Extensive output options for reports to PDF, Microsoft Word format, Excel, HTML or RTF format
• Print member and ID cards, labels & envelopes
• An extensive web-based knowledge base or issues and tips to get your job done
• A Helpdesk ticketing system to allow your issue to be tracked until resolved (this assures you will get a call back, try it next time you have a problem)
• Backup and Restore of your database to the Grand Lodge servers to protect your data from loss, etc. You have heard of fires or natural disasters that have resulted in records loss, this would help prevent this. Safeguard you membership records, make sure you perform the offsite backups.
• Automated submission of Membership reports (April & November) - no need to send the documents to Chicago.
• Monthly data-entry of Charitable records so you don't have this chore waiting for you next Spring. If you keep up with this month-to-month, you merely press submit to Grand Lodge when the time comes.

In the future:

• We will using the offsite backups to update Grand Lodge records vastly reducing the reporting required by the Lodge to the Circulation Department. This process will occur overnight.
• State Associations will have limited access to member data so that membership goals set by the Associations can be tracked in near real-time.
• Automation of By-Laws revision.

All information was taken from this website:

http://www.elks.org/ChicagoLMS/whatisclms.cfm?CFID=24699766&CFTOKEN=51058838

Click above to see more.

George R. Bloodworth, SCEA Secretary

768 Stiles Drive

Charleston, SC 29412-5070