One year ago this month, Moose Lodge 1703 of Albert Lea opened at its new location in Skyline Plaza.

To celebrate this anniversary, the organization is hosting several open house events Friday and Saturday at the lodge.

On Friday, there will be a supper, raffles and entertainment by Mega Force.

On Saturday, a bus will leave at 9:45 a.m. for a golf outing at Oakview Golf Course south of Freeborn. A taco lunch, with free cake and coffee, will be served at the lodge at noon.

From 2 to 6 p.m., people can get $1 tap beer as part of a special for the anniversary, and at 4 p.m. will be a Pelican Breeze cruise. There will be a silent auction with the proceeds going to Moose Heart.

At 6 p.m. there will be an outside barbecue, and then at 8 p.m. will be a street dance with entertainment from the band Working Class.

All events are free, except for the street dance, which will be a $5 cover charge for non-Moose members.

“We just encourage

everyone to check us out,” said Deb Akemann, senior regent for the Women of the Moose.

Bob Sorenson, governor of the Moose, said the men’s charter for the organization was established in January of 1953, with the Women of the Moose’s coming shortly after in November.

The Moose initially began next to the post office but spent most of its time at 328 E. Main Court, Sorenson and Akemann said. In December of 2007, the decision was made to let the city buy out the Main Court building, as it was in the middle of a flood plain.

That building was later demolished.

Skyline Plaza began construction in January of 2008 in preparation for the Moose Lodge to move in. The new lodge opened in June.

Akemann said since the new facility opened, membership has increased substantially.

Membership is up by 219 for the Moose and by 91 for the Women of the Moose. There are now more than 830 members in both organizations.

“Our move has opened us up a lot more,” she said. “It’s the size and the newness of it.”

For the men, memberships cost $60 to join and then $40 for every year afterward. For women, the initial cost is $50, with $30 for every year afterward.

Throughout the year, the Moose offers many services to its members, Akemann said.

There are several meal nights at the facility, including Wednesday night burger nights and Friday night suppers. There’s an in-house dart team and an annual picnic, and members are able to rent out the facility for a cheaper price than nonmembers could.

Every third Sunday of the month, the facility provides made-to-order omelettes. Akemann said at the last Sunday this happened, there were around 240 made-to-order omlettes.

Another important part of the Moose organizations is their donations to local organizations, she pointed out.

For 2008-09, the Moose donations and charitable gambling donations totaled almost $22,000. The Women of the Moose donated $4,200.