Barre Elks Lodge 50/50 Raffle

Members of Barre Elks Lodge were recently invited to sell 50/50 raffle tickets at a Vermont Mountaineers home game at Montpelier Recreation Field.  $300 was raised for Vermont State Major Project, Silver Towers Camp for People with Disabilities, thanks to the generous winner donating their winnings back to Silver Towers.  Silver Towers is the chief charitable project of the Vermont Elks Association, which has owned and operated Silver Towers since 1958.  Silver Towers is a camp like no other, an overnight retreat for those with mental and physical challenges, ages 6 – 75.  It is among the first of its kind in the United States, and still remains one of the very few.  Silver Towers has a high ratio of counselors to campers to accommodate the special needs of the campers.
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Theresa Paine with Skip (the Mountaineers Mascot)
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L to R:  Karen Bingham, Loyal Knight Maureen Lawson and Leading Knight Donna Bartolucci

ALL THIRTEEN VERMONT ELKS LODGES DESCEND ON SILVER TOWERS CAMP

Members of all thirteen Vermont Elks Lodges descended on Silver Towers Camp in Ripton, Vermont for camp cleanup day.  Silver Towers Camp is the major project for Vermont Elks Association.  Silver Towers is an overnight camp for people with disabilities owned and operated by the Vermont Elk Charities, Inc. Silver Towers Camp provides an overnight camping experience to people with various disabilities from 6 – 75 years old. Our primary focus is to develop the talents of our campers in an atmosphere of caring, sharing and challenge while respecting each person’s worth. A variety of programs with the content of social interactions and cultural opportunities helps us attempt to form a well rounded person capable of facing future challenges.

 
Projects completed included painting, cleaning, rebuilding railings and ramps, planting new flower beds, mulching, trimming trees, weed wacking, installing white board, organizing the craft room and removing unused items. We even had some campers join us! Camp looks great and we can’t wait for the campers to arrive!

Photo taken by Kristin Calcagni, VT Elks Association PR Chair
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Back row L to R:  Peter Kelada, Silver Towers Camp counselor, Carolyn Ravenna, Silver Towers Camp Director, Robert Campo, Vermont Elks Association Vice President, Jackie Gauthier, PER Rutland Lodge, Tricia Dalglish, PER Rutland Lodge. Front row L to R:  Halle Loomis, camper, Jenni Whitney, camper, Katie Gauthier, camper and Joanie O’Bryan, camper.

BARRE ELKS LODGE – Cardboard box race!

Members of Barre Elks Lodge recently competed in a cardboard box sled race hosted by Montpelier Elks Lodge.  The sled race, on the third green of the Montpelier Elks Country Club rasied funds for Silver Towers Camp.  Members of Montpelier and St. Johnsbury Elks also participated.  Over twenty sled were entered into the children’s, single rider, double rider and group divisions.  Barre Lodge took first place in the children’s, single rider and double rider divisions.
Photo Attached:
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From L to R: McKenna Paxman, member Keith Paxman, Kellen Paxman, PER Stacy Holden, Loyal Knight Kristin Calcagni, Esquire Maureen Lawson, State Trustee Terri Ford and Michele Campo.

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

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
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 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
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Attendees

Bennington Lodge recently presented two awards to long time members.

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

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

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

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Ribbon Cutting

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

 

 

SILVER TOWERS CAMP – Ripton, Vermont

Members and friends of Barre Elks Lodge traveled to Silver Towers Camp in Ripton, Vermont to participate in the annual Silver Towers Walk-a-thon.  The walk-a-thon is held yearly on the first Sunday in August and is a major fundraiser for Silver Towers Camp.
All thirteen Vermont Elks Lodges participated in the three mile walk.  After the walk, campers performed songs, thanked Elks members and everyone enjoyed a barbecue lunch.


Silver Towers Camp is supported by Vermont Elks Charities, Inc, Vermont Elks Charities Endowment Trust Fund, Inc as well as the 13 Elks Lodges across the state of Vermont.  Silver Towers Camp provides an overnight camping experience to people with various disabilities from 6 – 75 years old.  It’s primary focus is to develop the talents of campers in an atmosphere of caring, sharing and challenge while respecting each person’s worth.

Barre Lodge sponsored Barre resident, Renee Houle, to attend Silver Towers Camp.  With the sponsorship, Renee was able to attend for two weeks and was “very excited to see my friends from last year.”
If you or someone you know is interested in attending Silver Towers Camp please get in touch with Barre Elks Lodge via our Camp Committee representative Stacy Holden at stacey.holden@hphood.com or by calling the Lodge at 479-9522.
Silver Towers walk a thon
Back row L to R:  Tiler Rhonda Boyce, John Cutler PER, PDD, Betty Cutler, PER, PDD, Chip Paine DDGER North, Teresa Paine, Stacy Holden, PER, Camp Committee representative, Tammi Holden, Lecturing Knight Donna Bartolucci, Second Vice President Vermont Elks Association Robert Campo, Loyal Knight Kristin Calcagni
Front row L to R:  Campers Renee Houle and Kristina LaRose

Barre Elks Club donates to Silver Towers

At the Vermont State Convention held at Jay Peak, Barre Elks Lodge presented Silver Towers Camp Director Carolyn Ravenna and Vermont Elks Association President Keith Palmer with a check for $1000 to benefit the state major project Silver Towers Camp.
Silver Towers Camp is an overnight camp for people with mental and physical challenges ages 7 to 70.  It is among the first of its kind in the United States, and still remains one of the very few.
The funds were raised at the “Glitz and Glam Gala” held at the Lodge in November.  The Glitz and Glam Gala featured a silent auction with all proceeds supporting local and Elks charities.  This is one of many donations made with the $3000 proceeds.  The Glitz and Glam Gala will be held onFriday November 21, 2014.
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Photo:  From L to R:  Silver Towers Camp Director Carolyn Ravenna, Loyal Knight Kristin Calcagni, Vermont Elks Association President Keith Palmer, volunteer Terry Paine, volunteer Michele Campo, Lecturing Knight Donna Bartolucci and Tiler Rhonda Boyce.

FRATERNAL NEWS – BARRE ELKS LODGE – SILVER TOWERS

Camper Nick Zecchinelli presents a plaque commemorating his great grandfather Albert Galfetti’s fundraising efforts back in the 1970’s.  In his retirement, Barre Fire Chief Galfetti used to volunteer his time and collect the pennies for gum ball machines benefiting Silver Towers Camp.  Little did he realize that his great grandson Nick would someday attend Silver Towers Camp.  Silver Towers Camp for people with disabilities is the Vermont Elks Association major project.  It is supported by Vermont Elks Charities, Inc, Vermont Elks Charities Endowment Trust Fund Inc and the thirteen Elks Lodges across the state of Vermont.
 
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Pictured L to R:  Silver Towers Camp Director Carolyn Ravenna, Nick Zecchinelli (camper and son of member Brian Zecchinelli) and Nick’s mom Karen Zecchinelli.