HARLINGEN — Growing up, Katie Wallace was used to looking at the women in her family work at the Elks Lodge in Harlingen.
Now, Wallace is the youngest woman elected officer in the South District and is the fourth in her family to hold the exalted ruler position.
Wallace explained the Elks Lodge is a charity based organization, and it supports different local organizations — including baseball teams, veterans and homeless veterans and children with special needs, among many others.
“The possibilities of all the things that we do are really endless,” Wallace said.
“Veterans and children are who we serve the most in our organization,” she said.
For Wallace, in the grand scheme of things, she has been a part of this organization all her life, she said.
“I was about 6 years old when my father was the exalted ruler, and 11 years ago I started working there. And I liked everything we stood for,” Wallace said.
She was not yet 21 when she began volunteering and raising money for different projects.
Once she turned 21, she officially joined and has been heavily involved for the past five years.
Being an exalted ruler, Wallace explained, is like being the figurehead of the organization.
“If I wanted to do a fundraiser for something, I would direct that, and as a team we make it happen,” she said.
“My job would not be possible without the other people as far as members and committee members. I would not be able to do anything without them,” Wallace said.
Her position officially starts April 1, but she has already stepped into whatever the organization needs to do.
However, a transition must go on between her and the previous exalted ruler.
“We have been able to get things going as we open back up, and we’re just getting things done,” she said.
Wallace works as a kindergarten teacher at a daycare and is working on becoming a full-time teacher by attending school as well.
For her, throughout the years the organization has changed, and now she is part of change, too. When her father was the exalted ruler, children used to not be allowed to be present during the organization’s meetings, and her father changed that.
“I felt that this was the perfect opportunity to do what I love to do and serve my community,” Wallace said.
“I am excited. I was highly encouraged. And this month is women’s history month, and knowing I am the first woman to do this, it is a great honor. And I hope that message gets out to encourage other women in the community. Women can dominate anything and make a difference,” she said.
