33 new members welcomed into Rochester Elks lodge during initiation ceremony

New members pose for a group picture after the Initiation ceremony on Sunday. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - The Rochester Elks welcomed 33 new members into the Order during a Sunday initiation ceremony presided over by Exalted Ruler Mark Guilmett and his Officers of the Rochester Elks Lodge #1393 on Columbus Ave.

This puts the Rochester membership over 1000.

This ceremony also marked the Visitation of Matthew Sanborn, a Past Exalted Ruler from the Rochester Elks and current District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for the South District of New Hampshire. Accompanying Sanborn was his suite of officers that included, Don Chesnel, Esquire to the District Deputy; Jerry Skidds, Auditor to the District Deputy and Scott Welch, Safety Inspector to the District Deputy.

After the ceremony, all in attendance were treated to a roast pork dinner. The Rochester Lodge is one of 13 in the State of New Hampshire. Statewide membership is approximately 8,500 members and over 800,000 nationally.

The Elks are a private organization engaged in many volunteer activities, including Youth Activities, Scholarship Programs, Veterans Programs, Community Affairs, Drug Awareness Programs and philanthropy in regards to helping other nonprofit organizations through grant funding provided by the Elks National Foundation.

For more information about the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, please visit www.elks.org