The Moose Mountain – Kisbey #483 Sask Elks Lodge welcomed the Grand Exalted Ruler of the Elks, Deborah Sallenback from Aldergrove, BC, to the community on Thursday, Feb. 8.
“It’s my first time here,” Sallenback said. “I’m seeing a lot of countryside in this position that I never would have seen otherwise because I’m driving across the country.”
The local Elks hosted a supper in her honour and welcomed the community to attend. Members of the Moosomin Elks Lodge also travelled to Kisbey for the event.
Claudia Mullis, Provincial President of the Rebekah Assembly of Saskatchewan, said a few words about the community Sallenback was visiting: “We always help each other on different projects… we’ve been doing that for many years. I think one thing we have in common [the Rebekah’s and the Elks] is that we like to help our community. One of the projects that the Rebekah’s works with is vision and the Elks have one focused on hearing; so we’re helping people in different ways...”
Sallenback then spoke explaining how the Elks are changing and adapting to show younger generations what their intentions are and how they can help.
“Over the last 10 years, we’ve lost a number of members; but, over the past year or two there has been a change of attitudes and there are younger lodges out there that are revitalizing what we’re doing. We’re working together to celebrate the future.”
The Elks have been in Canada since 1912 – there are over 250 Lodges across Canada and approximately 11,000 members according to the Elks of Canada website.
“The strengths of our Order involve the hard work of our membership in building and strengthening our communities they live in while providing assistance to children and families in need,” Sallenback states on the Elks Canada website. “Our greatest achievements recognized by our peers is our work in Speech and Hearing in many provinces’ across Canada. We have campaigned hard in recent years to have all Provinces adopt programs, which result in mandatory testing of new borns for hearing loss at birth.”
“Through our National Charity, the Elks and Royal Purple Fund for Children we have been able to raise funds to support children under the age of nineteen as well as provide assistance to families whose home was destroyed by fire as well as many other personnel assistance imitated by Lodges.”
She also said in her speech on Feb. 11, that the Lodge held a Food Drive and was able to gather 80,000 lbs last year. They’re hoping to do it again this year and reach 100,000 lbs.
Finally she thanked the hosting lodge for its hospitality and delicious roast beef meal.
