Author: Larry Bouchard

Barre Elks Lodge Fraternal News

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The Barre Area Veterans Council, comprised of the Barre Lodge of Elks #1535, American Legion Post #10, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #790 and Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Camp 302, hosted a very successful homeless Veterans Stand Down.  The free, all-day event was open to all Veterans, homeless or at-risk and their families.  Over forty Veterans from Vermont and New Hampshire attended the stand down.  Veterans from the Northeast Kingdom, Rutland, New Hampshire and southern Vermont received showers, haircuts, short term resources such as a hot meal, winter clothing, toiletries and cold weather items.  Long term resources from the Veterans Administration, housing, legal and employment agencies, and counselors were also provided.  

Barre Lodge members donated well over 500 volunteer hours, clothing, toiletries, camping and food supplies.  Undergarments, blankets, toiletries, heat-a-seats, laundry detergent, shoelaces, hand and foot warmers, backpacks, beef jerky and protein bars were purchased with a $2000 Freedom Grant from Elks National Veterans Service Commission.  Six of twelve Vermont Elks Lodges donated items or funds to stand down.

Thirty six Veteran service organizations and over one hundred thirty volunteers participated in the event.  Over $200 in gas cards and $160 in grocery cards were given to attendees.

Photos by Kristin Calcagni)

From L to R:  Army Veteran Rodney, Esquire Cindy Wedding, Army Veteran Dana and Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson

 

From L to R:  Exalted Ruler Maureen Lawson assists Veteran Chris Connolly with items received from stand down.

Ryan Marcell is going to Nashua, NH for the Soccer Shoot Regional Competition

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In this picture is the boy from Windsor Vt., who took first place in the boys group ages 7 & under. His name is Ryan Marcell son of Kathleen Ryan and Josh Marcell.from Windsor Vt.. He is shown being presented with a trophy and a gift certificate for his parents to buy gas to take him to Nashua N.H. for the Regional competition. 

Presenting the gift and trophy is Exalted Ruler Nathan Willard and District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Norman J. Marshall.

News item submitted by Norm Marshall.

Vermont Elks State Soccer Shoot Finals held in St. Albans

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The Vermont Elks State Soccer Shoot was held on Sunday October 15, 2017 at the Collins Perley Complex in St. Albans.  Elks volunteers from around the state were on hand to make the event a fun activity for the contestants.  The Soccer Shooters represented cities and towns from throughout the State. 

After the competition was completed, everyone moved to the St. Albans Elks Lodge for a Spaghetti lunch and the presentation of the awards.

The First place winners will now go to the Elks Region I Soccer Shoot to be held November 3, 4, and 5, 2017 in Nashua, NH hosted by the New Hampshire Elks.

To see the following and more pictures, go to the VT Elks Shutter fly site.  link:  https://vermontelks.shutterfly.com/

 

l-r: Tristin Parker – Springfield #1560, Grace Kobella – Bennington #567, Jack Touchette – Barre #1535, Alicia Coon – Bennington #567, Jake Tostrup – Springfield #1560, Lila Coon – Bennington #567, Addelyn Snide – Springfield #1560.  Missing from phote – Ryan Marcell – Windsor #1665

News item submitted by Larry Bouchard

Springfield Elks Lodge #1560 Hosts State Pres. & District Deputy

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  Springfield Elks Lodge on Saturday, Oct. 7th hosted the Vt. Elks State President Brian Gaura of Rutland Lodge and District Deputy South Norman Marshall of Windsor Lodge.
 
    During the afternoon  the District Deputy and his suite of officers did an inspection of Springfield Lodge and buildings making sure everything was doing well.  In the evening both suite of officers were treated to a sit down dinner of chicken parm and/or spaghetti and meatballs.   Following dinner the band, “Sound Investment” played for all to listen and dance to.
 
Pictured l to r; are Carolyn Ravenna wife of Brian Gaura Vt. Elks State President, Springfield Exalted Ruler Vicki Siliski and her husband Eugene Siliski, Marge Gallant with District Deputy Norman Marshall. 
 
News item submitted by Mike Gunn.

SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE #1560 — DICTIONARIES TO THIRD GRADERS

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For the past eleven years, Springfield Elks Lodge #1560 have been handing out Elks Dictionaries to all third graders in the Springfield School system.  It is estimated that, close to fourteen hundred third graders during that time period have received one.
 
    This year 80 third graders at Union St. School were the latest recipients for the dictionaries.  The Elks Lodge uses money to pay for the dictionaries by receiving grant money from Elks National after they have reached their per capita for the year.
 
 
    Frt l to r; Morgan  Vaughan, Hailey Deneen, Gavin Heath, Avery Deschand, Sophia Lihatsh, Ashley Ferguson, Madelin Olsen, Chase Strong and Demitri Jasinski.  In back are Elks members, Gloria Gunn, Victor Baskevich, Exalted Ruler Vicki Siliski, Michael Tennis and Eugene Siliski.
 
News item submitted by Mike Gunn

Barre Elks Lodge hosted a First Responder Appreciation Dinner

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To celebrate Patriotism week and express our gratitude, Barre Elks Lodge hosted a First Responder Appreciation Dinner on September 14th.  Over 70 first responders, Elks and guest  enjoyed dinner in the main hall.   Able to attend this year were departments from:  Barre Town Police, Barre City Policy and Fire Departments, Williamstown Public Safety, Barre Town EMS, Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Plainfield Fire and Rescue.  Exalter Ruler Maureen Lawson presented each department with a Certificate of Service.  Our thanks to all who were able to attend and  to Blossom Cottage for their donation of two arrangements.   We hope to see more departments represented next year.

Springfield Elks Put On A Luncheon For GER McPherson On His Arrival In Vermont

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  Upon GER McPherson and his wife’s Patricia  arrival in Vermont on Tuesday from being in Rhode Island the day before the Springfield Elks Lodge #1560 put on a luncheon.  Ray Latelle of Springfield Elks Lodge was recognized as the only 75 year tenured member of the state of Vermont.  Another member of Springfield Lodge, Charlie Brent with 73 years a member could not attend.
 
    When he left for Rutland GER McPherson had one more stop to make before the banquet in the evening.   That was to take a gondola ride up Killington Mt.  While at Springfield he passed out his GER pins as well as his wife, Patricia did the same.
 
 
Front l to r; DD South Norman Marshall, PSP Donald Bishop of Springfield, Ray Latelle Springfield longest tenured member of (76) yrs young, GER Malcolm McPherson, ER Vicki Siliski of Springfield, PSP Ray Buison of Bellows Falls,  Back row l to r; PSP Andrew Cook of Springfield, SP Brian Gaura of Rutland, Grand Lodge Sponsor, PGER David Carr, Grand Tiler SDGER Earl Cavanagh, PSP Keith Palmer of St. Albans.
 
Post was submitted by Mike Gunn

Barre Elks Raise $6200 for Silver Towers

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Barre Elks Lodge #1535 raised $6200 to for Silver Towers Camp at the First Annual Barre Elks Invitational Golf Tournament.   The tournament was held at Barre Country Club with a dinner and awards following at the Lodge.   Funds were raised via sponsorships and team participation and will be used to perpetuate Silver Tower’s Camp in Ripton, VT. 

First place team was: Devon Smith, Todd Benoit, EJ Blondin and Julie Charron.
 
 
 
The Silver Towers Camp for People with Disabilities is the chief charitable project of the Vermont Elks Association, which has owned and operated Silver Towers since 1958. It is among the first of its kind in the United States, and still remains one of the very few.
An overnight retreat for those with mental and physical challenges, the camp demands more focused attention than others, and thus has a high ratio of counselors to campers to accommodate the special needs of the campers.
 
New item provided by Barb Watters.

Vermont Elks and 4H Cow Plop Contest

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On Sunday August 13 Bellows Falls Elks Lodge #1619 held their 3rd Annual Cow Plop Contest for their State Major Project, Silver Towers Camp at Rocky and Karen’s in South Charlestown. The Vermont Elks being a very close knit community had participants from Lodges throughout the State. Two contests were held and prizes of $300 & $150 were won in both. The first contest winners were Brian Read of Charlestown and Joe Montcalm of St. Albans Lodge. The second contest was won by Renee St. Sauveur and Mike McLean, both of Charlestown.

$550 was raised for Silver Towers Camp from the first contest, along with donations of over $160 from hamburg, hot dogs (cooked by Jerry & Cheryl), corn on the cob, soda and water. Plus, one of the winners generously donated his winnings of $150  to the VT Elks Charities Endowment Trust Fund.

 

Pictured are: Past State President Ray Buisson (BF Lodge #1619), President Elect Morris “Rocky” Putnam (BF Lodge #1619), 4H’er Abigail & little sister Megan Putnam, District Deputy South Norm Marshall (Windsor Lodge #1665), and Past State President Keith Palmer (St. Albans Lodge #1566), along with the main attraction, Thistle and Apricot. Many many thanks go out to those who donated their time for the cause. Ray, Norm & Keith were good sports to “judge” the contests.

Article Submitted by:  KAREN MCCORMICK-PUTNAM