Elections Ensure Elks Event Center Endures
Standing sentinel on the corner of Wolf Point’s Main Street, the Wolf Point Elks Event Center is truly the heart of this community.
It is where Wolf Point Elks Lodge #1764 members meet to decide how to best support the area — through grants to local emergency services organizations, by supporting homeless veterans through the national Welcome Home Program, by sponsoring the annual Elks Hoop Shoot which sends area basketball standouts ages 8-13 to district competitions and a chance to compete at the national level, by voting on the local annual scholarship winners who then compete for big dollar national scholarships, by donating to the food bank, by collecting coats for children in need, by providing grant funding to the high school’s art and industrial arts programs, and presenting grants to other area organizations to assist in their missions.
It is where local non-profits hold their fundraisers that allow them to better the community and area. It is a place where weddings, baby showers, birthday parties and funeral gatherings are held, allowing families and friends to celebrate all aspects of life. It provides a relaxed atmosphere for friends to catch up over cocktails. It hosts area business and cooperative meetings and Christmas parties.
However, the Elks is so much more than a building. The building is just that ... a building. The building exists only because of the hard work of community members back in 1949 when they worked to form an Elks lodge in Wolf Point and the continued dedication of members for the past 70-plus years.
It takes a full slate of officers and a three-member board of directors to maintain the Elks charter according to Elks Grand Lodge national statutes. What is a full slate of officers? Basically, there is a president (the Exalted Ruler) and three vice presidents; a three-member board of trustees; a secretary and a treasurer; and four other appointed positions. It takes a slew of committees, from the house committee that controls the bar and social quarters of the lodge to the public relations committee to the fraternal committee that is charged with promoting, supporting and overseeing: Americanism, Elks National Foundation, Flag Day, Elks Memorial Day, membership, lodge activities, state associations and Veterans programs. It takes 10 people who are willing to donate three hours of time each month to the Elks. It takes a dedicated staff to keep the doors open welcoming members and guests to enjoy the restaurant, lounge and casino facilities.
Next Wednesday, Feb. 28, is the lodge’s annual election of officers. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. and Exalted Ruler Jeff Presser hopes to see a good turnout of members to help select officers for the upcoming year which begins April 1. After five years of leading the organization, Presser plans to step down as Exalted Ruler.
“I will still be active in the Elks, but it’s time for me to let someone else lead the organization,” Presser said. “The Elks building is important to the community and I hope other members come forward to serve as officers for the upcoming year.”
If the Wolf Point Elks Lodge can not fill its officer positions, it risks losing its charter and, therefore, its building and liquor license. Under Grand Lodge statutes, the lodge’s assets would be liquidated and the funds held in trust until such time that the lodge could be resurrected. If the lodge could not be resurrected, the Montana State Elks Association would receive those funds after a period of three to five years.
