VERMONT ELKS “MOST VALUABLE STUDENT” 2014 SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE REPORT

Posted on April 12, 2014April 17, 2014

The Vermont Elks Association Scholarship Committee met at Barre Lodge #1535 on Sunday, January 19, 2014 to judge the 50 “Most Valuable Student” brochures received. I would like to thank all 8 of the Elk members that traveled to Barre during inclement weather from the various lodges to judge the scholarships and for their support of this worthwhile project.

The Vermont “Most Valuable Student” winners and their sponsoring Lodges were Kristen Switzer, Rutland Lodge, Bhumika Patel, Bennington Lodge, Brett Elliot, St. Johnsbury Lodge and Taylor Marquis, St. Albans Lodge. Their brochures have been forwarded to the Elks National Foundation Judging Committee for evaluation at the national level where they will be awarded at least $4,000.00 over four years. Vermont’s quota to the Elks National Foundation is four students, two boys and two girls.

From the remaining brochures, we selected the highest score from each of the participating 11 Lodges and awarded a $1,000.00 scholarship to each for one year. After that was completed, money for six more awards was available, and the committee selected the next highest scores for these supplemental awards. A total of $17,000.00 was awarded again this year. We were also very pleased to have 4 applications for the Roger S. Sheridan scholarship. This year’s winner was Christopher P. McAuliffe from Brattleboro Lodge.

Thank you to each of the Lodge Scholarship Chairpersons for their participation this year. Your efforts are what make this program a success.

Thank you to Barre Lodge for the use of the facility and for the coffee and donuts.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert J. Campo
State Scholarship Chairman

Drug Awareness Poster & Essay Contest Winners for 2013-2014

Posted on April 3, 2014

VT ELKS DRUG AWARENESS
POSTER & ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS
2013-2014

THEME – “DOWN WITH DRUGS-UP WITH AWARENESS”

Congratulations to the Vt. State Elks Winners

POSTER WINNERS ESSAY CONTEST WINNER
Bennington Lodge # 567 Newport Lodge # 2155
Ethan Yonconish Kayana Larose
Hoosick Falls Central School Newport Center School
Bennington, Vt $ 30.25 Gift Card and Bicycle
Grade 4

Springfield # 1560 Overall winner
Elizabeth A Griswald
Union St. School
Springfield, Vt
Grade 5

$30.25 Gift Card and Bicycle State Winner Girl
Elizabeth A. Griswald Springfield Lodge # 1560
$30.25 Gift Card and Bicycle State Winner Boy
Ethan Yonconish Bennington Lodge #567

$30.25 Gift Card
Merle Russell Springfield # 1560
$30.25 Gift Card
Kate Lockett Bennington # 567

Note: Gift Card Activation Fee $ 3.95 INCLUDED IN THE $ 25.00

New England Elks Regional Hoop Shoot Results

Posted on March 30, 2014

The New England Elks Regional Hoop Shoot was held in South Portland Maine March 21, 22 and 23 with hoop shooters from all of New England competing. Vermont had 2 Regional winners who will go on to the National contest April 11, 12 and 13th in Springfield, Mass. There will be 72 shooters at the contest from all over the US.

Kaia Anderson from St. Johnsbury Lodge, Sawyer Ramey, Rutland Lodge, Katie Cushing, St. Albans Lodge, David Gratton, Newport Lodge, Emily Willis, Newport Lodge, Jacob Cady, St. Johnsbury Lodge and Steve Edgerly Vt. Elks State Hoop Shoot Chairperson.

Emily Willis was in a shoot off for third place. David Gratton 10-11 year old from Newport Lodge won his contest with a score of 19/25 and a shoot off with 5/5 and Jacob Cady from St. Johnsbury Lodge won his contest with 23/25 and 5/5. Jacob also won the Walter Kettelle trophy which is given to the high scoring boy and girl of the shoot. Jacob and David will go on to the National Shoot in April.

David Gratton with Keith Palmer, Vermont State Elks Association President

Jacob Cady with Keith Palmer, Vermont State Elks Association President

Jacob Cady recieving the Walter Kettelle trophy from Mr. Walter Kettelle

Barre Elks Lodge – Senior Citizens Meals

Posted on March 28, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge has received a $2500 grant in conjunction with the Vermont Community Foundation’s Small and Inspiring Grant award program.

The grant will assist the Lodge in continuing to host Senior Citizens meals once per month during the fall, winter and spring months. These meals provide an outlet for social interaction and a hearty homemade meal for the senior citizens of the Central Vermont community. The invisible benefit of these meals is strengthening the social fabric of our Central Vermont community through connections and friendships.

As a result of the Small & Inspiring grant, we look forward to expanding the number of seniors we host at each meal. The funds will be used to promote the monthly meal, reach out to senior housing complexes with invitations and gas cards to defray transportation costs and work with local agencies to identify individuals that would benefit from a night out with social interaction over a hearty meal.

For more information on how the Small & Inspiring Grant award is helping to make a difference in the lives of senior citizens in our community, we invite you to visit our website at www.facebook.com/barreelks. You can also find information there on our upcoming events for this year and volunteer opportunities.

Some of the regulars at our Monthly Senior meals

Barre Lodge – Cornhole for a cause

Posted on March 28, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge held it’s first annual “Cornhole for a Cause” Cornhole Tournament to benefit the Vermont Foodbank. Thirty teams participated in the double elimination tournament. The tournament was organized by incoming Exalted Ruler Kevin Major and PR Chair Kristin Calcagni. “The tournament was a huge success, everyone had fun and supported a worthy cause in our community. That’s what Barre Elks Lodge is all about.”

The tournament was such a success that the Lodge plans on holding another tournament to benefit another charity later this year.

First place team: Jon Murchison & Kevin Major

Barre Elks Lodge

Posted on March 16, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge held it’s first “Share the Love for Silver Towers” event on February 15. Guests dined on a five course meal of shrimp cocktail, Caesar salad, cheese ravioli, tenderloin or chicken marsala. The chocolate fountain was a huge hit; over 60 pounds of chocolate was consumed.

The Lodge held it’s first ever Wine Pull fundraiser. For $15, guests could pull a wine cork and win the corresponding bottle of wine. For $20, in addition to pulling a wine cork and winning a bottle of wine, they could try their luck on the wheel of hearts. Those who landed on a heart, had their choice of an additional prize. Two hundred dollars was raised to benefit Silver Towers, the chief charitable project of the Vermont Elks Association.

Photo: PR Chair Kristin Calcagni explains the Wine Pull to member Gary Clark.

Barre Elks Club

Posted on March 16, 2014

On Thursday February 27, members of Barre Elks Lodge visited the Central Vermont Humane Society to deliver a donation of cash, rawhide bones, kitten food, blankets, treats and medications. This is the first of many donations to local non-profits with the $3000 that was raised at the Glitz & Glam Gala held at the Lodge in November.

CVHS was very appreciative and we look forward to working with them in the future.

Pictured from L to R: CVHS Executive Director Mary Taylor, PR Chair Kristin Calcagni, Barre Elks Lodge Volunteer Terry Paine and Inner Guard Donna Bartolucci.

Barre Lodge Fraternal news

Posted on March 16, 2014March 16, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge #1535 held a ride in on the snowmobile trails between trail markers CA109 and CA19 in Peacham. The weather was beautiful! Over thirty riders stopped in and enjoyed homemade chicken noodle soup, hotdogs, homemade cookies, cupcakes and hot cocoa.

Three hundred dollars was raised for Silver Towers camp 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.

This yearly event is held on Daytona 500 weekend.

Photo: Barre Lodge trustee Chip Paine with St. Johnsbury Lodge Treasurer Jennifer Gould.

FRATERNAL NEWS – BARRE ELKS LODGE

Posted on January 29, 2014January 29, 2014

On Saturday January 25, the Vermont State Elks Association held it’s annual Vermont State Hoop Shoot contest at Spaulding High School. Ten of the state’s thirteen Elks lodges were represented at the state competition.

The Hoop shoot contest starts at the Lodge level and is open to all girls and boys ages 8 – 13. First place winners at the Lodge level moved on to the regional level and first place winners at the regional level competed at the state level on Saturday.

Each competitor took ten practice shots and fifteen competition shots; the competitor with the most successful free throw shots was the Vermont State winner and will compete at the New England Regional Hoop Shoot in Maine in March.

Boys 8 & 9 years old:

First place: Sawyer Ramey representing Rutland Lodge #345

Second place: Braedan Adams representing Montpelier Lodge #924

Third place: Luke Dudas representing St. Johnsbury Lodge #1343

Girls 8 & 9 years old:

First place: Kaia Anderson representing St. Johnsbury Lodge #1343

Second place: Peyton Reynolds representing Windsor Lodge #1665

Third place: Natalie Norcia representing Brattleboro Lodge #1499

Boys 10 & 11 years old:

First place: David Gratton representing Newport Lodge #2155

Second place: Gregory Fitzgerald representing Brattleboro Lodge #1499

Third place: Eamon Cassels representing Montpelier Lodge #924

Girls 10 & 11 years old:

First place: Katie Cushing representing St. Albans Lodge #1566

Second place: Shea Pickering representing Bellows Falls Lodge #1619

Third place: Alyssa Slocum representing Windsor Lodge #1665

Boys 12 & 13 years old:

First place: Jacob Cady representing St. Johnsbury Lodge #1343

Second place: Jackson Lane representing Bennington Lodge #567

Third place: Ronald Johnson representing Barre Lodge #1535

Girls 12 & 13 years old:

First place: Emily Willis representing Newport Lodge #2155

Second place: Olivia Rockwood representing Windsor Lodge #1665

Third place: Nicole Norcia representing Brattleboro Lodge #1499

Vt. Elks State Hoop Shoot

Posted on January 26, 2014

On Saturday January 25, the Vermont Elks held the State Hoop Shoot finals. Eighteen contestants competed at Spaulding High School in Barre, VT to see who would go on to the Regional Contest in South Portland Maine. The shooting was competitive and each contestant gave it their all. The Regional Shoot is March 21-23 in Maine and the winners from there will then continue to the Nationals in April.

First place winners: l-r front row: Kaia Anderson 8-9 St. Johnsbury Lodge, Katie Cushing 10-11 St. Albans Lodge, Emily Willis 12-13 Newport Lodge , Jacob Cady 12-13 St. Johnsbury Lodge, Sawyer Ramey 8-9 Rutland Lodge, David Gratton, 10-11 Newport Lodge

Back row Steve Edgerley, Vermont State Hoop Shoot Chairman and Keith Palmer, Vermont Elks Association State President