Veterans news from Bennington Lodge 567

We are very fortunate to have the VT Veteran’s home in our small city.
On March 10th we held our annual Las Vegas day at the Veteran’s home, where many Vets played cards and wheels winning prizes provided by the Elks.
 What was important about this one was that the activities director Michele Burgess was retiring at the end of March 2024, after her career as the activities’ director for the past 47 years. 
  She has worked well with us at the Elks in Bennington, enabling us to provide  5 activities throughout the year to our Veterans-consisting of 2 fishing derbies June and September at the Veteran’s home Charron Pond with a cook-out for Veteran’s and their families, 2 steak dinners with families in May and November at the Elks lodge (to get them out of the home for a bit)- followed by bingo with prizes, and the Las Vegas day at the Vets Home in March. 
 
Pictured are Veteran’s committee co-chairs Gary Lewis and Mike Kinney with Michele Burgess receiving a plaque of appreciation from the Elks. 
 
A photo of overall look of Las Vegas day.
News item submitted by Kitty Lewis.

Brattleboro Lodge #1499 donates $18,000 to Shields & Stripes Organization

Brattleboro, VT Lodge #1499 donated $18,000 to Shields & Stripes Organization.  The $18,000 will be used to fully fund a Veteran in their 6-month all-inclusive program which aids veterans in rejoining their families and communities as contributing and healthy members.  ChasingZERO project created fund rising events all year long with the mission to raise funds for Veterans and First Responders to decrease the suicide rate to ZERO.
 
 
Pictured L to R:  Lodge Member, ChasingZERO founder, and Army Veteran: Steven “Chase” Stanley, Chase’s Mom:  Penny Peterson and Adison’s Aunt: Kathleen Clark at the 22-mild walk to raise funds for Veteran and First Responder Suicide Awareness.  (Adison Clark, a Marine Veteran lost his battle to post-traumatic stress on American Soil on Jan 18, 2023)
 
News item submitted by Jil MacMenamin.

ELKS LODGE #1499 AWARDS BRATTLEBORO TROUP 405 NEWEST SCOUT

Sunday March 24, 2024 the Elks #1499 Lodge was honored to present the Elks “Arrow of Light” Certificate & Flag to Brattleboro Scout Troop 405‘s newest scout. During the Court of Honor: 5 Scouts advanced Rank, 31 Merit Badges were awarded, 2 Recruiter patches and 10 Southern Vermont Fall Camporee patches awarded.

Pictured l-r:  Jil MacMenamin, Elks Lodge #1499 and new scout Owen Malouin

News item submitted by Jil MacMenamin.

REGIONAL HOOP SHOOT – DETAILS

 
 
New England Elks Regional Hoop Shoot was held this past Saturday the 9th of March in South Portland, Maine. 6 contestants from Vermont were there competing and they brought home some hardware. 
 
 

Picture Front row:   Elsie Kilborn 10-11 girls Newport Elks lodge #2155, Adelise Consentino, third place 8-9 girls St. Albans 
lodge #1566, Cade Barcomb  first place 10-11 boys, Burlington lodge #916, Lincoln Sykes First place 8-9 boys, Newport Lodge #2155. 
Back:  Vt SDGER Robert Campo, Barre, Vt, Jackson Kilborn  2nd place Newport Lodge #2155, Ann Edgerley Vermont and Regional Hoop Shoot Trainer, Steven Edgerley, Vt.State Elks Association Hoop Shoot Chairman, Olivia Rodgers, First place  12-13 girls, Brattleboro Lodge #1499.
 
Lincoln Sykes took home the Walter Kettlelle trophy for high scoring boy of the day with a score of 24/25.  Olivia Rodgers took home the William Ferrick trophy for high scoring girl of the day with a score of 22/25. 

Also each shooter received a participation medallion and Team Vermont was awarded the Dick and Cindy Blinn medallions for best overall scores as a team, outshooting all 5 other States. 

Cade Barcomb, Olivia Rodgers and Lincoln Sykes will be headed to the Elks National Hoop Shoot contest in Chicago, I’ll, April 18-21to compete against 11 other shooters in their age groups.
 
News item submitted by Steve Edgerley. 
 
 

VT Elks News from Lodge #1499

Sunday Feb 25 2024, was Old Timers day at the Brattleboro Lodge #1499. The PER’s initiated 8 new members. Please give them a warm welcome.


L to R: Jacqlyn Snow, Dennis Richter, Joseph Mialkowski, Jason Meschke, Jill Meschke, Susan DeMatteis, Cindy Eaton and Charles Kent.

 

We also distributed 5, 10, … and a 60 year pin to Kenneth Tatro.

News item submitted by Jil MacMenamin.

BRATTLEBORO LODGE #1499 DRUG AWARENESS NEWS

Brattleboro Lodge #1499 had a great location for our Drug Awareness Trailer at the Harris Hill Ski Jump on Saturday Feb 17, 2024. .  Elroy the Elk greeted visitors and had their pictures taken with him and got great goodie bags!   This yearly event  has the Olympic-size, 90-meter hill and draws competitors from all over the world.  It also featured Friday evening ski jumping from the newly installed lights donated by the Brattleboro Elks.

News item submitted by Jil MacMenamin