News

SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE 1560 ANNUAL SPECIAL AWARDS NIGHT HELD

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 Springfield Elks Lodge held their Annual Awards night during February’s Valentines dinner/dance held on Feb. 15th.
 
     Exalted Ruler Jim Morse started out by giving out (4) Most Valuable Elks Awards to, Kathi Williams, Ed Knoras, Ed “Jigger” Barton and Thomas Snide.  He remarked “that without these four members”, doing their thing for our Lodge he doesn’t know where 1560 would be.  Next was “Chairperson of the Year” awarded to Victor Baskevich who is chairman of the youth activities of Hoop and Soccer Shoots.  
 
     During the year each month there is an Elk of the Month award and on this night he awarded an accumulative monthly Elk of the Year award to PSP Andy Cook.  Next award went to Heidi LaCerte as the “Pot Stirrer Award” as she gets things done and sometimes stirs up ideas to make the Lodge a better place.  Next was two Grand Exalted Rulers Awards to two members deserving of this award.  Carolee Murchie and Karen Whitney.   Maureen Blais was awarded the Elks “Citizen of the Year:, which is a person that not only helped our Lodge but in some way touched the community.
     
     Selecting an “Officer of the Year” is the hardest award for an Exalted Ruler to choose as all of ER Morses officers helped him out continually.  This year Jim chose PER Vicki Siliski who filled in for the late Michael Luurtsema as Esquire and also did a fantastic job as the Lodges Veterans chairperson for this Elk year.  Mr. Morse also felt, she not only dedicated herself to helping our Veteran’s, she dedicated herself to helping our Lodge now but he believed she will continue to help Veteran’s in the future.
 
     Last award of the of the night was Exalted Ruler Jim Morse’ selection of Gloria Gunn as “Elk of the Year”.  Mrs.  Gunn according to Mr. Morse  helped with all of the day to day operations of the Lodge from helping with weekly cash up, helping with the weekly drawings, helping with purchasing items, helping with event after event, to taking linens home each week to be laundered, and was Elks National Foundation chairperson. 
 
At the recent awards night Springfield Elks Lodge 1560 Exalted Ruler Jim Morse is shown presenting Gloria Gunn with the Lodges’ “Elk of the Year” plaque.   
 
Springfield Elks Lodge 1560’s Exalted Ruler Jim Morse is shown presenting PER Vicki Siliski with her “Officer of the Year”. award.
 
News items submitted by Michael Gunn

Fraternal News Barre Elks Lodge

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Sunday’s North Barre Rink Open House was a huge success!  Over 200 community members enjoyed learning to skate, playing hockey and figure skating at the newly updated outdoor rink.  Barre Elks members were on hand with Elroy the Elk, skating, offering coffee, hot cocoa, popcorn, snacks and door prizes.  Updates to the outdoor rink were made possible with a $2500 Elks National Foundation Promise Grant.  Updates included replacing boards around the perimeter, painting the entire perimeter, replacing hockey nets, removing a stove from the warming hut and installing electric heaters.  Barre Elks members would like to thank the core group of volunteers that work tirelessly to make sure the rink is in tip top shape.  North Barre Rink is located on Treatment Plant drive in Barre’s North end.  Hours are 8 a.m. – 9 p.m.   Check out their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/northbarrerink/ to see the status of the ice.  To become a member of Barre Elks Lodge and assist us in supporting numerous charities and community programs, complete an application at https://www.elks.org/membership/default.cfm?source=Membership or call the Lodge at 479-9522. 

A young skater gets some help from Elroy the Elk.

 

Longtime rink volunteers with Elroy the Elk.  L to R: Gilles Boutin, PD Kelty, Miche Poirier and Alex Cameron.

 

Elroy the Elk was a huge hit with the kids! 

SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE 1560 ANNUAL HOOP SHOOT

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 Recently, Springfield Elks Lodge held their Annual Hoop Shoot at Riverside Middle School for participants aging from 8 to 14.
 
     The following participants were awarded 1st place trophies in 8/9 years of age for girls was Keeli Stewart, 10/11 years of age Savannah Dezaine and the 12/13 age group Meadow Murchie.  For boys age 8/9 Jacob Blair, 10/11 age group, Oliver Kelley and 12/13 age group Sebastian Salls.  Trophies for 2nd place for girls 8/9 age group Payton Austin, 10/11 age group Hailey Magill 12/13 age group Amelia Murchie.  For boys 8/9 Carl Johnson, 10/11 age group Christian Arie and 12/13 age group Jeremy Wilson, Jr.
 
     All the first place winners will compete in the Vt. Elks Southern District Hoop Shoot event at Springfield High School on January 11th, 2020 at 10 AM.  The Elks Lodges in the South are comprised of Springfield, Brattleboro, Bennington and Rutland.  First place winners in each age group will participate at the Vt. Elks State Hoop Shoot in Barre, Vt., on January 25th at 10 AM.
 
 
Shown are the recent winner at the Springfield Elks Hoop Shoot,  Frt with 2nd place trophies are Payton Austin, Christian Arie, Hailey Magill, Carl Johnson,  and Amelia Murchie.  2nd row with 1st Place trophies are Jacob Blair, Sabastian Salls, Past Exalted Ruler Vicki Siliski, Oliver Kelley, Keeli Stewart, Meadow Murchie and Savanah Dezaine.
 
News item submitted by Michael Gunn.

Barre Elks Lodge Fraternal news

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Members of Barre Elks Lodge received word that twenty residents of Barre Gardens were in need of lap blankets.  Within 24 hours,  twenty blankets had been purchased , wrapped and delivered in time for their annual Christmas party Wednesday December 18. 2019.  Special thank you to Maureen Lawson for organizing and delivering the blankets. 

 
L to R: Elks officers and donors James Gordon, Patty Ristau, Robert Campo, Cindy Wedding, Frank Hotaling,  Karen Bingham and Maureen Lawson.
 
Photo taken by Kristin  Calcagni 

Bennington Elks Donation to Boy Scouts

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Scouting out the Spirit of giving.

Donald Roy (ER) is presenting Mike Andrews of the Boy Scouts Troop 353 with a check for $700 from the Bennington Elks Lodge 567.  The Lodge uses its annual youth activity fund, supported by our over 800 members to help foster the leaders of tomorrow.  

News item submitted by Kelly Kervan

SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE 1560 WELCOMES THREE MORE MEMBERS

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     Recently, Springfield Elks Lodge 1560 initiated three new members into their Lodge family.  This year alone they have welcomed (22) new members as they grow with leaps and bounds.  Reason for this influx of new members, according to them. “they see what the Elks do for the community including Youth Activities and Veterans, etc., and they choose to be a part of this trend”.   For those citizens locally who wish to join, feel free to ask an Elk member or go on line, at Elks.org and apply.
 
 
L to r; Scott Rogers, son Dean Rogers (new member), PER Vicki Siliski, Alyssa Lucuis (new member), PER Jim Morse and Jeffrey Eaton (new member) following the recent initiation into Springfield Elks Lodge 1560.
 
News item submitted by Michael Gunn.

Fraternal News – Barre Elks Lodge

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Barre Lodge #1535 was the site for the Barre Area Veteran’s Council Veteran’s appreciation dinner on November 7th.  Over 200 people attended the Roast Turkey Dinner, served by volunteers and students from Spaulding High School.  Veterans were the guests of the Council.   Proceeds of the evening were donated to   Fowler’s R&R Ranch Corp provides assistance to returning soldiers in their transition to civilian life by providing a low-stress working and living environment with mentoring in technical skill building. Specifically, we specialize in agriculture, farming, and gardening as well as other hands-on activities and learning opportunities surrounding farm work and local business. As an organization we are largely self-sustaining and our contributions to the community through an array of value-added products enrich Vermont’s locally based food market.
 
The Barre Area Veteran’s council is comprised of volunteers from Barre Legion Post 10,  Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 790,  Barre Lodge of Elks #1535, American Legion Auxiliary Post 10 and Sons of Union Veterans of Civil War. 
 
Photo Credits Kristin Calcagni
 
Ron Talman, Maureen Lawson and Chuck Barney
 
Veterans Renee Hotaling and Paul Gagne
 
Amy and Brian White, Brenda Clark  and Leo Fortier at the booth for the  VERMONT (SSN 792).  The submarine, (SSN 792), is the 19th nuclear attack submarine of the Virginia-Class, and is the third U.S. warship named “VERMONT.”   VERMONT is expected to be commissioned in late spring/early summer of 2020.  This volunteer committee’s mission is to provide a memorable Commissioning for the ship’s officers, crew, and sponsor; the U.S. Navy; the State of Vermont and its people; and the men and women who built the ship.
 
News item submitted by Kristin Calcagni