Barre Lodge makes use of a $2000 Beacon Grant from Elks National Foundation

Posted on July 23, 2014July 23, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge #1535 was the recipient of a $2000 Beacon Grant from Elks National Foundation. Beacon Grants offer Lodges the opportunity to develop an ongoing, charitable, Elks-led community project.

Barre Lodge chose to work with the Veterans’ Place in Northfield to help meet and fulfill the needs of the Veterans it serves. The Veterans’ Place is a transitional housing facility combined with assistive services for Homeless Veterans in Central Vermont. Their goal is to help Homeless Veterans transition from the homeless population. The purpose of the Veterans’ Place is to help Vermont’s Homeless Veterans by providing desperately needed resources in an all-in-one locale so these Veterans may regain their PRIDE, reach their full potential, and once again become contributing members of society.

Lodge members purchased essential items needed by Veterans transitioning from the Veterans’ Place into their own apartment. Sheets, pillows, pillowcases, hangers, bath mats, toiletries, towels, extension cords, glasses, cleaning supplies and many other items were packaged into “welcome home” kits. Each Veteran transitioning from the Veterans’ Place will be able to use items from their kit to set up their new home.

Back row: Residents/Veterans Bob Shaw, Alan Peterson, Tony Dragon. Front Row: Resident/Veteran Rich Burbank, Barre Elks Lodge PR Chair Kristin Calcagni, DDGER North Granville “Chip” Paine and Resident/Veteran Thomas Quintin.

Barre Elks Lodge members Cindy Wedding and Mary Whalen organize the “Welcome Home” kits.

Barre Elks Lodge member Cindy Wedding adds an American Flag to a “Welcome Home” kit.

Barre Elks Lodge members with “Welcome Home” kits for Veterans of the Veteran’s Place in Northfield, VT. From L to R: PR Chair Kristin Calcagni, Alyson Codling, Lecturing Knight Donna Bartolucci, Ike Chase, Mary Whalen and Paul Gagne.

News from the 2014 Elks National Convention in New Orleans

Posted on July 23, 2014July 23, 2014

The following pictures were taken at the recent Elks National Convention held in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Bill Bryan, who is retiring from the Drug Awareness chair, is giving the Drug Awareness report at the convention. Bill is from the Bennington Lodge #567.

Eric Albright, a State Trooper from Brattleboro, receives the Enrique Camarena award. The Brattleboro Lodge # 1499 will receive the Bust of Camarena at the Grands visit to Windsor in September.

Left to right: Steve Edgerley Vermont Elks Association Drug Awareness Chair, Carl Colburn Vermont Elks Association President, Eric Albright a State Trouper from Brattleboro receiving the Enrique Camarena award, and Bill Bryan, Director Elks National Drug Awareness.

BARRE ELKS LODGE #1535 MAKES DONATION TO THE VERMONT FOOD BANK

Posted on June 21, 2014July 23, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge #1535 was the recipient of a $2000 Gratitude Grant from Elks National Foundation. Gratitude Grants offer an opportunity for Elks to think about how best to serve their community and make it stronger. Gratitude Grants are the ENF’s way of saying thank you to every Lodge that meets the National President’s per-member goal for giving to the ENF.

The Lodge held a food drive during the months of March and April to collect non-perishable food items and toiletries to donate to the Vermont Foodbank. The food drive was such a success that it will be continuous throughout the year.

In addition to the food drive, Barre Lodge also made a $2000 donation to the Vermont Foodbank. Ninety-two cents of every dollar donation made goes directly to programs. A $1 donation can provide 3 meals to Vermonters in need.

L to R: Secretary Betty Cutler, Vermont Food Bank Representative Patrick Gilbert, Chairman of Trustees Brian McAvoy, Lecturing Knight Donna Bartolucci, PER Granville “Chip” Paine and Vermont Foodbank Director of Food Resources Tom Abbiati

St. Albans Lodge #1566 serves up lunch for the unified Special Olympics Bocce games

Posted on June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

The St. Albans Elks Lodge, working with the Special Olympics of Vermont provided a BBQ lunch for the competitors and guests at the Special Olympics Unified Sports Bocce competition held at the BFA St. Albans Collins Perley complex on May 22, 2014.

The Special Olympics Unified Sports® brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete on the same team. By pairing peers with and without disabilities on the same team, students are given the opportunity to build more inclusive schools. Unified Sports promotes equality on and off the field. The motto for Unified Sports is “On the field we’re teammates and off the field we’re friends”.

Hamburgers, Veggie Burgers, Hot dogs, chips, sodas, juice and milk was available along with all the trimmings expected of a BBQ. Desert consisted of Strawberry and Chocolate Ice Cream. Seconds were welcomed! Over 500 people were served.

The St. Albans Elks volunteers were honored to be able to provide a good time for the competitors and guests.

FRATERNAL NEWS – BARRE ELKS LODGE 1535

Posted on June 6, 2014June 6, 2014

Members of American Legion Post #10, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #790, Barre Elks Lodge #1535 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #792 participated in Barre Town Elementary and Middle School’s Memorial Day program.

Pictured L to R: Adam Boyle, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #792 – Ron Tallman, American Legion Post #10, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #790, Barre Elks Lodge #1535 – Malcolm Macaskill, American Legion Post #10, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #790 – Rick Bolduc, American Legion Post #10, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #790 – Granville “Chip” Paine, American Legion Post #10, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #790, Barre Elks Lodge #1535 – Mike McCorkel, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1892

Barre Elks Lodge #1535 hosts Annual Recognition Ceremony and Dinner

Posted on June 6, 2014June 12, 2014

Barre Elks Lodge #1535 hosted the Annual Recognition Ceremony and Dinner of the Granite Center Chapter of the National Honor Society. Twenty four students from Spaulding High School Class of 2014 were inducted into the Granite Center Chapter.

The keynote address was given by Ms. Jody Emerson. The National Honor Society ideals of Scholarship, Leadership, Character and Service were read by Nicky Johns, Rachel Ornitz, Janki Patel, Kacey Cressey and Amanda Ford.

National Honor Society Members – SHS Class of 2014

Sam Biondolillo, Co-Treasurer

Kacie Cressey, Co-Treasurer

Amanda Ford, Secretary

Chelsea Graves

Brandon Garbacik

Mariah Harding

Nick Hebert

Nicky Johns, Vice President

Tiffany Joslin

Samantha Keene

Justin LaPerle

Paul Lenahan

Jaime Marsh

Rachel Ornitz, Co-President

Anna Paterson

Janki Patel, Co-President

Christy Pelloni

Rebecca Rouleau

Jeff Roy

Jordan Scoville

Kailey Stevens

Cheyenne Tardi

Kali Webster

Nikki Woodcock

Photo: Spaulding High School inductees. Photo provided by Mark Ouimet.

Hoop Shoot Vermont Proclamation

Posted on June 1, 2014June 1, 2014

David Gratton a 10-11 year old from Derby Vermont was presented a proclamation from the State of Vermont for his achievement in the Elks Hoop Shoot. David won his local, district, State, and Regional contest and then he went on to compete in the National Contest in April in Springfield, Mass. State Representative Mike Marcotte was instrumental in getting a proclamation for David and Jacob Cady from St. Johnsbury area who also went on to compete at the National Level. Jacob was presented his at the State House but David was unable to attend so his was presented to him at Elks Lodge # 2155 by Representative Marcotte and Senator Robert Starr. It was presented at a lodge meeting with Mr. Marcotte reading the proclamation before presenting it to David. See the Proclamation here: Proclamation for David and Jacob_0001

Rangeley Maine and Hoop Shoot Proclamation 071 (2)

In picture from left to right: Steve Edgerley, State Hoop Shoot Director, Richard Gratton, David’s father, David Gratton, Representative Mike Marcotte and Senator Robert Starr.

Picture provided by Steve Edgerley

St. Albans Elks Lodge #1566 uses Grant funds for local Garden

Posted on May 25, 2014

The St. Albans Elks Lodge #1566 will partner with Northwestern Medical Center (NMC) and Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) and our local food shelf, to expand affordable access to fresh, healthy and locally grown produce. Citizens of all ages and economic circumstances will experience the benefits of community, while becoming healthier through improved diets, exercise, education and positive social interactions. This garden will have exposure through the Hospital’s community newsletter Insight, which is distributed 6 times annually and The Headliner, a monthly publication of hospital staff and volunteers. This project will also be promoted through coverage in local media outlets and recognition on the Gardening Shed, located at the garden site.

This project will establish 14 new raised beds for hospital patients, visitors, community members and local citizens who benefit from the food shelf. Specific efforts will be made to include Hawk’s Nest, a residential retirement community of 100 senor residents, adjacent to the garden. Additionally, Northwestern Counseling and Support Services utilize the Garden for client support groups and programming to encourage wellness and community. As described above, our lodge will have coverage in local media outlets, Northwestern Medical Center publications as well as publications from our local food shelf. This will be collaborative effort by all parties and we are looking forward to working with these agencies to provide a much needed resource in our community.

Thanks go to St. Albans Elks National Foundation Chairperson, Kimberly Bourbeau for her efforts in obtaining this grant.

Barre Elks Club donates to Silver Towers

Posted on May 25, 2014May 25, 2014

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.

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.

Barre Lodge recently hosted DREWSTRONG

Posted on May 25, 2014

Barre Lodge recently hosted DREWSTRONG, a dinner, dance and silent auction to benefit Drew Bernier, 5 year old son of new member Marie and Josh Bernier.

Up until February, Drew was a very healthy, happy and active five year old boy. It started with a rash on Drew’s body that Marie and Josh wanted to get checked out before they brought his new baby sister Sophia home. After countless tests, a cytogenetic test revealed that Drew was missing one of his number 7 chromosomes. Because of this, Drew was at a very high, predisposed risk of developing Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), a fast spreading leukemia which is rarely found in children. He needed to have a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible so he did not get full-fledged leukemia.

Drew and his family headed to Boston Children’s Hospital in April and Drew started chemotherapy to kill his current immune system and bone marrow. Thanks to a very generous bone marrow donor, Drew received his bone marrow transplant on May 8th. Drew will have to stay in the hospital for 4 to 6 weeks post-transplant to make sure his body does not reject his new bone marrow. After this, the entire Bernier family will stay at the Ronald McDonald house and go to daily doctor appointments for 4 to 6 weeks. If all of this goes as planned, the Bernier’s will then be able to come back to Vermont. For 6 to 9 months following, only family members can have contact with Drew.

DREWSTRONG raised over $17,000 to help ease the financial burdens associated with loss of Marie and Josh’s income, insurance premiums, deductibles and co-pays, transportation to and from Boston, lodging, post-transplant follow up care, and prescriptions. Cash donations can be sent to Granite Hills Credit Union, Attention: Drew Bernier Fund.

Special thanks to Wendy Gillander for soliciting all of the food donations from area businesses, Kasey Miller for donating his DJ services, Jared Hart for emceeing the event, Tracey Wright for organizing the silent auction items and countless others who made this event such a success. Barre Elks are proud to be a small part of such an amazing, thoughtful, generous and fun community.

Photo: Drew Bernier holding his DREWSTRONG poster signed by all of the guests at the DREWSTRONG event.