Beta Sigma Phi's Winter Gala raises $7,000 for local shelters

Beta Sigma Phi's Xi Tau Chapter raised $7,000 at their Winter Gala Feb. 8 for RezQ Dogs and Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter, spliting the money evenly between the two organizations.

"We all have animals and we all love animals. We knew RezQ Dogs were purchasing land up north," said Beta Sigma Phi member Christie Johnson, "... it was a no-brainer."

The event held by the local chapter of the non-educational international service sorority served cocktails, and a prime rib or shrimp dinner. After dinner there was a performance by the Montana band "The Max."

The evening also featured a silent auction which included items like a handcrafted knife donated by local artisan Lincoln Holt of Montana Hammer, a kitchen knife set from Havre Realty, a booze basket from the Havre Tavern Association, handmade blankets, baskets and quilted placemats, specialty cup sets, and a year's worth of pizza donated by Pizza Hut.

Johnson said that the event served 136 plates of food.

This surpassed the expectations of Kim Federspiel, president of Friends of the Havre Animal Shelter, who received her giant novelty check for $3,500 at the Eagles Club Tuesday evening.

"It was really impressive," she said.

That sentiment was echoed by RezQ Dogs Co-Founder Anita Wilke who received her check soon after.

"It was fantastic. It was absolutely fabulous," she said. "The ladies did an amazing job, the band was great, the support we received from the community was amazing."

RezQ Dogs is moving their headquarters from Fort Belknap Indian Reservation to Havre in order to escape their frequent flooding problem.

Wilke said she knows exactly where the money from the gala is going.

"It's gonna all go toward the new place," she said.

She said the money will specifically go toward completing the perimeter fence, and whatever's left over will be put toward installing exercise runs for the dogs.

"The waterlines are in, the powerlines are in, the well is operational. So, we're just gonna have to start finishing the fencing, and once that's done, we can actually start moving," she said.

Wilke said that events like this have positive effects on her organization, which operates on donations and grants, though Wilkes have had to rely on their personal money to help the non-profit to meet expenses.

"We have been very, very lucky recently, that we have such a big support from the community, that we actually haven't had to lately," she said, "but when we first started, it was mostly funded by our personal finances."

Federspiel said she also has an idea of where this money will go.

"Nothing is set in stone yet," she said. "We're thinking of having another free spay-neuter clinic."

She said the next clinic is tentatively scheduled for May but, using the money from the Gala, they might do one sooner.

Catherine Huston said she and her colleagues at Beta Sigma Phi are hoping to make events like the Winter Gala more frequent.

"The Beta Sigma Phi groups, even before us, used to have a benefit ball, and every year the Beta group would choose a different organization," Huston said. "... We'd like to try to get that going again."

"We want to say thank you to Havre, for supporting RezQ Dogs, and for supporting the animal shelter," said Jacquelyn Hentschel, another member of Beta Sigma Phi.

She also gave thanks to The Eagles who hosted the gala and sold tickets along with Baldwin Insurance Co.

Hentschel said another Winter Gala will be held next year. But her organization has yet to decide who the recipient of the proceeds will be. She said the public will not know until at least December.