Elks Lodge gets facelift

It began nearly four years ago…the dream of enlarging the Elks Lodge in Thompson Falls. It was apparent we had outgrown the facility we were in. It was increasingly more difficult to hold functions for members, let alone conduct significant fund raisers for the community. Then it began coming together. You know how it is working with committees…no matter how dedicated each one is. But, work together everyone did! And successfully!

The Trustees selected Chris Crow of Crow Construction of Thompson Falls as the contractor. He said he could get the job done in three months and three days. There were some naysayers. Chris began construction on August 5, 2010. You can see by the above photos, it was completed by November 5, 2010. Through all the construction, the Lodge was closed only 2-1/2 days. Members consider that a miracle.

The first Lodge function was the weekly Lodge potluck on November 5th, where about 75 members and family were in attendance. The next major event was November 12th when the Elks put on the annual free dinner to all Veterans and their families and Elk and their families. This time over 150 dinners were served, twice as many as the previous year. The third event was the Coalition for Families auction which well over 200 people attended. The dream had come true!

The Clark Fork Valley Elks Lodge #2757 has a right to be proud. For the fiscal year 2009-2010 we had an increase of 20 members. For the half year we’re in now (2010-11) we have already gained 22 new members. Members feel it is not only a new building and friendly members, but the beneficiaries of rich traditions and feelings of reverence for the Family, our Nation and its Flag.

Several of our members are chairing events for youth. Recently Darrell Torgrimson led the Hoop Shoot at the Thompson Falls gym. The Elks Drug & Alcohol Awareness trailer has been taken to several locations in Western Montana by Bev and Fred Barrett to make students and parents aware of drug and alcohol problems. Judy Lewis has been working on the Most Valuable Student contest; and Ray and Carolyn Marshall have begun the Annual Americanism Essay Program. Margaret Smallwood has already raised significant money, and is working on increasing that, by seeking grants for the Thompson Falls baseball field. These are but a few of the community functions our Lodge does, not just in Thompson Falls, but in all of Sanders County. We encourage anyone who is interested in working on projects like these to talk to us about becoming a member.

There will be a Grand Opening for the entire community to attend, probably some time in January. Watch the newspaper for an ad about this.