Cindy Groleau

ESCANABA — The members of the Past Exalted Rulers Association of Escanaba Elks Lodge #354 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America have announced Cindy Groleau, Esteemed Lecturing Knight, has been selected as the Lodge Officer of the Year for the 2024-2025 Fraternal Year.

Groleau has been a member of the Escanaba Elks for 14 years and has served as a lodge officer for the past four years — this being her second year serving as the Esteemed Lecturing Knight — and will be the Leading Knight in the coming year. Groleau was recognized as the Elk of the Year in 2017-2018 and as Citizen of the Year in 2022-2023.

In addition to her role as an officer of the lodge, for several years she has chaired the Community Service and Michigan Major Project committees.

Her volunteerism in all of these roles has resulted in countless hours contributed to project completions including providing needed appliances and supplies to Tri-County Safe Harbor domestic violence shelter, gathering and distributing supplies for the Hannahville Youth Center and the Civic Center After School program, tending to the Lincoln Road stretch for MDOT Highway cleanup, assisting special needs individuals and families with grant projects to secure access to mobilization needs, and the list goes on.

Groleau is responsible for the POW/MIA table in the front lobby and is currently spearheading efforts to have a stair lift installed in the lodge to better accommodate the new and existing members in need of mobility assistance.

Outside of her time at the Elks, Cindy has served in board chair positions with the Delta County Jaycees, Tri-County Safe Harbor, Delta Animal Shelter, Relay for Life, and Camping for Cancer. She has also donated her time with the Bonifas Art Center, Hope at the Inn, and Great Lakes Sports & Rec Club. A lifelong area resident, she lives in Escanaba with her husband, Bryce, and their dog, Syuk.