Wolf Point Elks Event Center, Elks Lodge Starts Fundraising Campaign In Lieu Of Banquet

The Wolf Point Elks Lodge #1764 and the Wolf Point Elks Event Center, the entity that owns the Elks building on the corner of Main Street and Third Avenue South, have started a sponsorship campaign to raise money to support the upkeep and expenses of the building which serves as an event center in Wolf Point for many groups.

The fundraising campaign will replace the annual Night at the Elks that will not be held this year due to COVID-19.

The idea behind getting area groups and businesses advertise on the walls of the ballroom started several years ago under then-Exalted Ruler Gene Pronto as a way to support the costs of maintaining and updating the building.

This year’s Exalted Ruler Jeff Presser took the idea to fruition.

Three metal elk cutouts — two cut by Pronto’s son Garrett and one by Wade Krauth of Ruff Cut Creations — have been hung on one wall of the upstairs ballroom with the names of sponsors below them. The three elk symbolize the three levels of sponsorship: gold, $1,000 or more; silver, $500 to $999; and bronze, $250 to $499.

Numerous businesses and families have stepped forward already, pledging the annual sponsorship funds.

Gold sponsors include: Opportunity Bank, Bryan’s, W5 Services and Northern Plains Independent.

Silver sponsors include: High Plains Motors, Presser Family, Gary and Marilynn Johnson and Build Pro Construction.

Bronze sponsors include: Ruff Cut Creations, LK Realty, Aaron and Kristen Kurokawa, What Ever Construction, Larry Greufe, Dennis Heser, Louise and Jerald Petersen, Wemmer Family and James and Michelle Johnson.

For more information, contact Presser at 653-1310 or fill out the form that can be found on page two and return it to Presser with your sponsorship donation.

Presser stressed the importance of gaining new members to help spread the workload required to keep the lodge in compliance with Elks national requirements. Both the lodge and the building corporation meet once a month.

Without the lodge remaining active and in good standing with the national organization, the Elks Club will not have a liquor license that enables it to host the many community activities it does each year.

The national Elks organization has many grant opportunities and community service programs that could be utilized locally, but the local lodge needs members willing to help with applying for the grants and overseeing the programs.

Some national projects include the HoopShoot, scholarship opportunities, drug awareness and veterans services programs. There are a variety of grant opportunities that can be sought for a wide range of potential projects.

Contact any Elks member for more information on how to join the organization or stop at the lounge and pick up an application.