​Hello ladies & Welcome to 2023!
When I accepted VP the position, I said I hoped to contribute to continuing the work of the organization & to continue the feeling of community & connectedness that I see in the group – especially in these times that have turned our world upside down. As president, I commit to furthering those goals.
It is shaping up to be another challenging year. In addition to pursuing fund-raising activities and maintaining our all-important social network with gradually decreasing membership, we must for sure find a new “home” as Shrine House has been sold and must be vacated the end of May.
Membership, fund raising & location are intertwined. We lost quite a few members in 2022 – and did not gain new members. We are a small group and none of us are getting any younger. There are a few things we can do. We can look within our immediate families and connections to find / identify potential new members and talk with them about KLA and our role in fundraising for the children. Invite them to come out to a meeting to see firsthand what we do. We will be making a concerted effort to raise our profile with posting information to the website. We regrettably missed the Jan. 14 installation of 2023 Khartum Potentate Illustrious Sir Klaus Knorz, but he has forwarded his contact information to me and telephoned me to introduce himself and express appreciation and support for KLA. He spoke of his intent to foster connection between all groups in the Masonic Family and the need to support each other. To that end, I will endeavor to attend Masonic Family events and raise awareness of KLA, starting with IOJD Bethel 9 installation of officers on Jan.26.I will make effort to attend Masonic Family meetings so KLA is represented, and we can promote our activities along with other organizations.
Ill Sir Klaus also spoke of our relationship with Children’s Rehabilitation Foundation and stressed that he considers it part of his mandate to foster such relationships that work to benefit the children. He has committed to meeting with me at some point when he is in Winnipeg- he will be here in February for a Nile event. I will follow up with him to arrange to meet.
Membership is linked to fundraising. We no longer have the major fundraising raffle due to the pandemic and it simply became impractical for our small group to carry out successfully. We had great success last year with sales fundraisers like Bothwell Cheese and Morden’s Chocolates and will likely look at doing them again. We have become very proficient at order forms and processing orders. These fundraisers can be run by a small group of ladies. We had a VERY successful card party last fall, albeit a huge amount of work related to food. We are contemplating pivoting to a Dessert Card party as opposed to a Luncheon Card party, but we have hit a snag…….
Which brings us to location. Shrine House has been sold with possession date end of May. We are secure for meeting dates thru May but April and May for sure will be in smaller room – either 123 or the lounge. The activity room is unavailable as it is being used as the collection center for furniture and other items for sale by Khartum. The significant impact for us is that we do not have use of Shrine House for Annual Dinner or Dessert Card Party. We will be discussing /deciding at February meeting what to do. The Annual Dinner can be at a hotel / alternate venue, but cost will likely increase. The Dessert Party likewise will require consideration of costs – it is counter productive to hold a fundraiser if profits are eaten up by costs.
2023 marks our 98th year. We have a long history of service to the Shrine and are poised to continue to survive and thrive going forward.         Stay Tuned!!
Barb Ginsberg
PRESIDENT KLA 2023

As we enter the year 2022, we are also celebrating the 97th year of the Khartum Ladies Auxiliary. This is also the second year of dealing with the COVID 19 Pandemic. The world has certainly changed in the 97 years since the KLA was established and the last two years have really challenged the purpose and mandate of KLA. However, the Ladies of the KLA have stepped up to the plate and while some of our traditional fundraising activities have been modified or cancelled, we are still making generous donations to the organizations that we support. We are still sending gifts with the children who are attending their first Shriners Hospital for Children appointment. We are still having fun, although we have been restricted in face to face meetings and events. This is because of you, the Ladies of the KLA.
 I am humbled and honoured to be your new President this year.
While we do not know what lies ahead of us for this year, I am hopeful that we can resume some of our traditional events this year. Foremost, however, is the safety and health of our Ladies. We will continue to have ZOOM meetings when it is not safe to meet face to face. When it is safe to meet face to face, we will use the larger Activity Room so that all the Ladies can safely distance themselves from each other.

We will try to bring in guest speakers at meetings to educate and entertain you. Our fundraisers last year were highly successful and so we are planning to continue to have a New Bothwell Cheese Fundraiser in the spring and a Morden’s Chocolate Fundraiser in the fall. If conditions permit, we may go ahead with the Card Party in the spring. This has always been a popular event and has been missed due to cancellations. We will hold the Annual dinner and the Christmas luncheon if conditions permit. Bowling has always been an important event for some ladies and the Bowling Committee is still in place to organize this activity when permitted.
 
I look forward to working with each of you this year and making 2022 another successful year for KLA.  Please call me with questions, concerns or ideas. I would love to hear from you!
 
                                                                                                                  President Brenda

​Another year is just about past
Or is it another year gone,   at last
We’ve seen the sorrow and we’ve seen the pain
We’ve seen the drought, then finally rain.
 
We’ve lost many dear ones
Through these hard days
Sometimes it was just like
Walking in a haze.
 
But then hip, hip, horray bowling started again
It’s time to see my old bowling  friends
That first week I laughed so much I was sore
And boy oh boy I just wanted more.
 
I’ve had great fun these last few months
Playing with my buddy bunch
But really, lets be honest I do have a hunch
It’s always been about the lunch
 
So now Christmas season is almost here
A time for laughter, for fun and for cheer
Enjoy the times this festive season brings
Along with hugs and other things
 
For in my mind I have no doubt
 That 2022 will be better through out
 
And with this same hunch
I know it won’t be long
I’ll be back to playing
With my great bowling bunch

​- Jane Roth

On Monday, October 4, 2021, President Susan Woodward had the pleasure to present a $500.00 cheque to Potentate Denis Lorteau for the Khartum Patient Transportation fund.  This fund helps patients of Shrine Hospitals and their families to travel for the treatments.

On October 4, 2021  President Susan Woodward had the pleasure of presenting to Georgette Holberg, her 25 year service pin and certificate.  Congratulations Georgette and thank you for you continued service.

On October 4, 2021, President Susan Woodward had the pleasure of presenting Myra Logan with her 25 year pin and certificate.  Congratulations and we look forward to your continued service.

President Susan Woodward presented two cheques to Christine Schollenberg, Executive Director of the Children's Rehabilitation.  One amount was from a monetary gift from the late P.P. Rae Spears for cerebral palsy patient Ryder Smith, 11yrs old, to purchase a bike. This will allow him to be more mobile, improve physically and socially and help him to participate with his family. Also a cheque for $2000.00 from the Khartum Ladies Auxiliary to assist with the Repair Department so that they can keep repairing and loaning out equipment.​

Khartum Ladies Auxiliary make tote bags for our new patients that are sent to a Shrine Hospital.  The bags are decorated (these bags done by Carolyn Kristjanson) and items appropriate to the child's age are added to the bag for entertainment.  We are very proud to do this for the patients and hope they find the bags enjoyable too.