House Chambers, Vermont State Capital, Montpelier Vermont

Posted on December 5, 2014

December 2nd, 2014

Location. House Chambers, Vermont State Capital, Montpelier Vermont

Depicted: Sgt. Eric Albright, Vt. State Police, 2014 National Enrique Camarena award recipient. Henry Farnum, PER, Drug Awareness Chariman, Brattleboro (VT) Lodge # 1499. Camarena Winners Trophy, & Camarena Bronze Bust.

Purpose: 24th, Annual Red Ribbon Holiday Tree Dedication ceremony, conducted in the House of Representatives Chambers of Vt. State Capital.

On Dec. 2nd 2014 Sgt. Eric Albright, Vt State Police, the 2014 recipient of the Elks National Camarena award (depicted), and Henry Farnum, Lodge Drug Awareness Chairman, Brattleboro, VT Lodge #1499 were invited to speak at the State of Vt. Capital honoring the 24th, annual Red Ribbon Tree dedication.

Barre Elks Lodge holds it’s 2014 Glitz & Glam Gala

Posted on December 1, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge recently held it’s 2014 Glitz & Glam Gala. The Gala offered more than 250 women in our community the opportunity to attend a glamorous event while supporting local charities. Over 150 local and national businesses and individuals donated items or services for the events Silent Auction. This years Silent Auction raised $5000. Proceeds raised will benefit Vermont Elks Charities and local charities in the Central Vermont Community.

Beltrami & Co. Photography photographed the ladies red carpet style. Entertainment was provided by RPM Entertainment. Do or Dye Salon painted nails for the attendees, Rebecca Hislop provided shoulder massages and Lookin Laugh Photo Booth provided ladies with fun photos to take home.

Last years inaugural event raised over $3000. This money was donated to Silver Towers Camp for Exceptional People, Project Independence, Central Vermont Humane Society, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Barre Youth Sports Field Hockey program, Circle Shelter for Battered Women, Red Cross blood drives and monthly Senior Citizens dinners held at the Lodge.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kristin Calcagni

Event planning committee. Standing from L to R: Kristin Calcagni, Maureen Lawson, Terry Paine, Rhonda Boyce, Kathy Lessard. Seated from L to R: Michele Campo and Donna Bartolucci. Missing from photo: Sandra Calcagni

Attendees

SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE #1560 GIVES DICTIONARIES TO THIRD GRADERS

Posted on November 21, 2014

For the past nine years, Springfield Elks Lodge #1560 has been giving all third graders in Springfield’s elementary schools the Elks Dictionary. Michael Tennis, Youth Chairman for the Elks presented (91) dictionaries to Union Street School recently. Over the nine year period they have given out 826 dictionaries.

With their classmates behind them, l to r with their dictionaries are Molly Tennis, Taylor Claflin, Luke Dockum, Camdyn Curtis and Michael Tennis, Elks Chairman

St. Albans Elks Lodge #1566 receives recognition from Vermont Special Olympics

Posted on November 19, 2014November 19, 2014

The Vermont Special Olympics held their annual Awards Banquet on November 8, 2014. Among the Awards presented was a special recognition to the St. Albans Elks Lodge #1566. In presenting the award, Chris Langevin, the Sports Manager for Special Olympics of Vermont, said the following:

“The Saint Albans Elks Lodge is one of the most generous organizations we know. Every year, they donate, cook, and serve lunches for hundreds of the School Unified Bocce and Track event at Collins Perley in St. Albans. Without their support our athletes would go hungry. We couldn’t be happier to have them as part of our community.”

Accepting the Award for the St. Albans Elks Lodge was the Event Chairman and PER Joe Montcalm.

Pictures l-r: Michelle Gates, Vice President of Development for Special Olympics Vermont,Event Chairman and PER, Joe Montcalm, and Chris Langevin the Sports Manager for Special Olympics Vermont

Bennington Lodge recently presented two awards to long time members.

Posted on November 14, 2014

Bennington Lodge recently presented two awards to long time members.

John H. Redding received the Elks Distinguished Citizenship award for devoting over 20 years of volunteering every Monday at Bingo. The primary beneficiary of funds raised at Bingo is Silver Towers Camp.

Bennington Lodge also presented an Elks National Foundation Honorary Founder Certificate to Gary Lewis. This award is presented to members who have donated $1000 to further ENF’s missions and ideals. Gary and his wife, Katherine, are both dedicated members of Bennington Lodge #567 and are very active with Veterans Service Programs. The Lewis family is truly an Elks family; his father, son and daughter in-law are also members of the Lodge.

From L to R: Granville “Chip” Paine, DDGER North, John H. Redding, Chad Schmidt, DDGER South and Charles Boyle, PER.

From L to R: Granville “Chip” Paine, DDGER North, Gary Lewis, Chad Schmidt, DDGER South

and Charles Boyle, Bennington Lodge ENF Chair

New ADA compliant playground is opened at the Silver Towers Camp

Posted on November 5, 2014

Members of the thirteen Vermont Elks Lodges and the Vermont Elks Association gathered at Silver Towers Camp for Exceptional People in August to open the new ADA compliant playground.

Bennington Lodge #567 is responsible for maintaining the grounds of Silver Towers Camp. In 2010, they recognized that the current pressure treated wood structure would need to be replaced. Lori Pinsonneault, from Bennington Lodge was elected Vermont Elks Association President in 2012 (first female President!) and replacement of the wood structure became her major fundraising project. What started as a swing set project quickly became a playground project.

Lori and her suite of officers visited all thirteen Lodges in Vermont and sold ducks (hundreds of them) at each visit. Ducks were also sold at the Vermont Elks Association Mid-year convention, State President Homecoming, the Vermont State convention and Elks National convention. Most winners returned their winnings back to the project.

Donations poured in from businesses as well; Bennington’s Catamount Rotary, CB Telethon Fund (in memory of Scott Moffitt, a camper at Silver Towers), Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation to name a few. Each Lodge donated back funds that were raised from yearbook sales for Vermont State convention. 2013-2014 VEA President Keith Palmer also donated a large sum of money raised from his visits to all of the Vermont Elks Lodges. Private donations, proceeds from t-shirt sales and other donations brought the fund to almost $39,000.

Of that money, $29,000 was spent on two high backed swings, four seat swings and a wheelchair accessible ramp swing. The remaining funds will be used to develop a path around the playground, purchase outdoor musical instruments and place climbing rocks near the playground.

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 have a high ratio of counselors to campers to accommodate the special needs of the campers.

Respectfully Submitted by Kristin Calcagni

Photos by Kristin Calcagni

Camper Michael Colucci tries out the wheelchair accessible ramp swing with help from his counselor Andre Nobrega.

Ribbon Cutting

Past State President Lori Pinsonneault enjoys swinging with help from Vice President Fred Dusablon.

Vermont Elks Holds State Soccer Shoot Finals in St. Albans.

Posted on October 22, 2014October 25, 2014

Congratulations to all the local soccer shoot winners who participated in this shoot and to all the Vermont State winners. Now, the 1st Place Winners will go on to compete in the Region 1 Soccer Shoot in Augusta Maine on the 7th, 8th and 9th of November.

I would like to thank Exalted Ruler Mark Hogaboom and all the St Albans Elks Lodge members that helped host this shoot, from setting up and tearing down to cooking and serving such a wonderful meal at the lodge after the event. A special thanks to Collins Perley Sports Center for the use of their beautiful facilities and to Vermont Elks State President Carl Colburn and all the Elk members from throughout the state that assisted in making this shoot a success. Lastly, but not least, I want to thank my family for not only the help they have given me since I started as chairman, but for all of their unwavering support. Again congratulations to all and we will see you in Augusta.

Chris Hall
Vermont State Elks Association
Soccer Shoot Chairman

The 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners are as follows:

Girls 8 years old and under
1^st Place –         Audrey Rupp                                        Windsor Lodge
2^nd Place          Linsey Miles                                         Springfield Lodge
3^rd Place            Molly McCall                                       Montpelier Lodge
Boys 8 years old and under
1^st Place            Sam Peckinpaugh                                  Windsor Lodge
2^nd Place           Brody Cassidy                                        St. Albans Lodge
3^rd Place            Ryan Dunn                                            Brattleboro Lodge
Girls 10 years old and under
1^st Place             Maya Marshall                                      St. Albans Lodge
2^nd Place            Arayln Connolly                                    Windsor Lodge
3^rd Place            Anika Turcott                                         Montpelier Lodge
Boys 10 years and under
1^st Place             Eben Mosher                                          Springfield Lodge
2^nd Place            Graiden Hawkins                                    Barre Lodge
3^rd Place            Charlie Thompson                                   St. Albans Lodge
Girls 12 years old and under
1^st Place            Michelle Townsend                                  Windsor Lodge
2^nd Place           McKenna Marquis                                    Newport Lodge
3^rd Place           Morgan Shoram                                         St. Albans Lodge
Boys 12 years old and under
1^st Place            Everett Mosher                                       Springfield Lodge
2^nd Place           Sam Rudman                                          Burlington Lodge
3^rd Place           Owen Fournier                                        Newport Lodge
Girls 14 years old and under
1^st Place              Ashley Parker                                       Bellows Falls Lodge
2^nd Place             Emily Willis                                         Newport Lodge
3^rd Place             Jenna Hallstram                                     Barre Lodge
Boys 14 years old and under
1^st Place              Will Kuyper                                           Springfield Lodge
2^nd Place             Colin Bryant                                         Newport Lodge
3^rd Place              Nathan Gravel                                      Barre Lodge

Pictured with Vt. Elks State President Carl Colburn are the 1st place winners who will be going to Augusta, Maine for the Region 1 Soccer Shoot: l-r Maya Marshall – St. Albans, Michelle Townsent – Windsor, Audrey Rupp – Windsor, Ashley Parker – Bellows Falls, Will Kuyper – Burlington. Not present for the picture were Sam Peckinpaugh – Windsor, Eben Mosher – Springfield and Everett Mosher – Springfield.

ALL THE COMPETITORS

8 & under

10 & under

12 & under

14 & under

8 & under

10 & under

12 & under

14 & under

Some pictures from the days event:

L-r – BFA St. Albans Seniors helping with the event: Elizabeth Hall and Dianne Benedicto

THANKS

Small Goal Practice

Grid Practice

Chris Hall – Vermont Soccer Director, Cal Colburn – Vt. Elks State Association President –

Mark W. Hojaboom – Exalted Ruler, St. Albans Lodge #1566

l-r “Chip” Paine – DDGER North and Carl Colburn – Vt. Elks State Association President

Barre Elks Lodge hosts their annual Soccer Shoot

Posted on October 13, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge hosted their annual Soccer Shoot at Farwell Field in Barre. Over twenty children ages seven to thirteen participated in either the five goal or grid goal contest depending on age.

In the five goal contest, a series of five goals, decreasing in size from 48 inches to 17 inches are used. The age groups that used these goals were divided into two categories, U-8 contains all ages seven years old and younger, and U-10 group contains ages eight and nine. The contest is open to boys and girls who shoot separately. The U-8 contestants kicked from 15 feet from the face of the goal, while the U-10 contestants kicked from 18 feet from the goal.

The Grid Goal Contest consists of a full-size goal sectioned off so points can be scored when the ball is kicked into certain sections. The age groups that used this goal are U-12, which contain the ages ten and eleven, and U-14, which contain ages twelve and thirteen. The contest is open to both boys and girls and they shoot separately.

Julia Ormsby, Cameron Gilwee, Whitney Renaud, Sarah Wedding and Jessica Scott of the Spaulding High School Girls Varsity Soccer team volunteered with registration, practice, and scoring.

First place winners will represent Barre Lodge at the Vermont Elks State Soccer Shoot on October 19 in St. Albans.

Results:

Girls U-10
1st Place: Julia Hallstrom
2nd Place: Rayna LongGirls

U-12
1st Place: Madeline Benoit
2nd Place: Raven Premont
3rd Place: Sabrina Metcalf

Girls U-14

1st Place: Jenna Hallstrom

2nd Place: Megan Brier

3rd Place: Abigail Benoit

Boys U-8

1st Place: Ryan Metzler

Boys U-10

1st Place: Graiden Hawkens

2nd Place: Noah Long

3rd Place: Angelito Bates

Boys U-12

1st Place: Levi Van Osdall

2nd Place: Camden Boucher

3rd Place: Noah Partridge

Boys U-14

1st Place: Nathan Gravel

The Participants

Spaulding High School Girls Varsity Soccer Volunteers: L to R: Julia Ormsby, Cameron Gilwee, Whitney Renaud, Sarah Wedding, Jessica Scott

First, second and third place winners: Front row L to R: Madeline Benoit, Raven Premont, Sabrina Metcalf, Ryan Metzler, Noah Long, Rayna Long, Julia Hallstrom, Angelito Bates. Second Row L to R: Levi Van Osdall, Noah Partridge, Camden Boucher, Nathan Gravel, Jenna Hallstrom, Megan Brier, Abigail Benoit, Graiden Hawkins.

Springfield Elks Lodge Crowns 2014 Soccer Shoot Winners

Posted on October 13, 2014

Recently, Springfield Elks Lodge #1560 held their annual Elks Soccer Shoot in Springfield and Chester. Over 200 young people, under eight to fourteen years of age competed for the right to participate in the Vt. Elks State Soccer Shoot in St. Albans, Vt., on Oct. 19th.

In the U-8 category, Lindsey Miles of Chester was first for the girls and Hunter Ferland of Springfield for the boys. In the U-10 category, there was Hannah Farrar of Chester and Everett Mosher of Chester. For the U-12’s it was Natalie Nichols and Eben Mosher. The U-14 there was one winner for the boys, Dylan Nault.

The Springfield Elks Lodge members would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all participants in this years competition and hope that they all come back for next years competition. Good luck in St. Albans!

Standing l to r front., are Hunter Ferland and Linsey Miles. In back are Dylan Nault, Eben Mosher, Everett Mosher, Natalie Nichols and Springfield Elks Lodge soccer chairman Andrew Murdock. They will represent Springfield Elks Lodge #1560 at the Vt. Elks Soccer Shoot in St. Albans on Oct. 19th, in St. Albans.

St. Albans Elks Lodge #1566 holds local Soccer Shoot at the Hard’ack Complex

Posted on October 9, 2014October 9, 2014

Free Hamburgs and Hot Dogs for everyone!

On behalf of St. Albans Elks Lodge, I want to thank all of our volunteers for their help putting on our local soccer shoot on September 20^th. A special thank you to Roger Bennett who has been so helpful in making this transition a success, I know I have a big pair of shoes to fill and I promise to do my best. The weather was not the greatest but with everyone working together, it made for a great day.

Thanks to all the volunteers and I sincerely hope I have not missed anyone.

Larry Bouchard, Zach Martin, John Irish, Shawn Luneau, Carl Bessette, Dave Bachand, Shawn & Stacy Trudo, Mike Rocheleau, Dan Ploof, Chris Beaudry, Sandy Bracey, Deb Chevrier, Chris Lyons, Sue Allard, Nora Racine, Margaret & Joe Montcalm, Betsy Bennett, David & Tamara Gagne, Todd St.Francis, Naomi Holm, Aaron Whitmore, Dianne Benedicto, Jim Hubbard, Lizzy Hall, Alysha Hall, Nikki Hall, Jacob Hall, Patrick Burke-Willett, Jay Bouwens, Keith Palmer and Mark Hojaboom.

St.Albans Elks Lodge will again host the state soccer shoot at Collins Perley on October 19^th and I am hoping that you will all join in and help make this shoot as successful as they have been in the past, again my sincere thanks to all of you.

Chris Hall, Vermont Elks State Soccer Shoot Chairman