Next year she will advance to Deputy Grand Master, and in July 2012 she will take on the duties of Grand Master.
Mrs. Short's husband, George Short, finished his stint as Grand Master for the Atlantic region in 2009.
Mrs. Short has been involved with the Odd Fellows movement for almost 30 years. She joined the Rebekahs in 1981 and later became an Odd Fellow in 2001, not long after women were allowed to join the formerly male-only fraternity.
She will be the first female Odd Fellow to take on the three main roles in the Atlantic region. She said she was concerned that some of the traditionalists might not welcome a woman with a leader, but was welcomed with open arms.
Mrs. Short said she plans to promote youth issues in the club as she spends three years in the Atlantic executive.
She said some Grand Masters promote causes such as cancer research or aid for the blind, but as leader of the Sunrise Theta Rho Girls' Club in Port aux Basques, youth participation is the issue she is most concerned about.
As leader of the local Theta Rho club, Mrs. Short helps organize meetings and events for the members. The girls in the club provide volunteer services around the town, such as performing beach cleanups or painting public spaces.
She said through service, the girls learn how to be better citizens. Theta Rho also provides the youth with travel opportunities, scholarship opportunities and a chance to meet other members from other clubs.
This September, the Sunrise Theta Rho Girls' Club will host a regional assembly, which will have members from clubs as far away as Massachusetts coming to take part in meetings.
Mrs. Short said she decided to take on the roles of Grand Warden, Deputy Grand Master and Grand Master to act as a role model for the girls in her club.
"I've taught these girls for six years and I want them to see that women can do anything," she said.
As Grand Warden this year, Mrs. Short's duties will include travelling to some 15 Odd Fellow clubs around the province, chairing meetings, and bestowing Grand Lodge degrees upon other members during ceremonies.
As Grand Master, she will get to host the Grand Lodge Sessions in July 2013 here in Port aux Basques. Mrs. Short said the meetings bring close to 200 people to town, adding extra dollars to the coffers of local businesses.
"This time they told me they're coming days ahead. Last time they were bogged down with meetings and they want to give themselves more time to explore the area," she said.
reporter@gulfnews.ca
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