News item submitted Jackie Driscoll-Page
Elks News
SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE 1560 FLAG DAY-HONORS EAGLE SCOUTS
Springfield Elks Lodge 1560 held their annual Flag Day ceremony on June 14th with (16) Boy & Cub Scouts in attendents with parents and Elk members. PER Vicki Siliski and the Scouts presented the flags as she spoke about each flags history.
Each year all Elks Lodges in the USA are required to hold a Flag Day ceremony at which time some Scouts are honored. This year, the Elks presented two new Eagle Scouts with their Elks certificates. They were Thomas Czwakiel son of Scoutmaster Bruce & Lisa Czwakiel and Liam Mallan the son of Neil & Sherri Mallan. Both are members of Scout Troop 252 in Springfield. Thomas earned his rank on Nov. 20, 2019 and Liam earned his on Feb. 19, 2020. Thomas has been actively involved in Troop 252 for four years and has held positions of Senior Patrol leader, Scribe and Webmaster. Thomas’ Eagle Scout project was restoring/replacing the four Eureka Road historic signs on Eureka road. Thomas plans to complete high school in a couple years and continue on to college to study computer science. Liam has been involved in Troop 252 for six years and has held leadership positions of Senior Patrol Leader, Order of the Arrow representative. Liam’s Eagle Scout project was building soccer benches and replacing the old signs at the Saxton’s River Recreation Area. Liam plans to complete high school and then continue on to college to study Geology with a minor in Volcanology.
Eagle Scout Thomas Czwakiel with his Scoutmaster/Dad Bruce and Exalted Ruler Ed Knoras.
Eagle Scout Liam Mallan with Dad/Mom Neil & Sherri Mallan, Scoutmaster Bruce Czwakiel and Exalted Ruler Ed Knoras.
News items submitted by Michael Gunn
Silver Towers Ride is ON
Greetings Vermont Elks, I’m super excited to announce the Silver Towers Ride is on!!
Attached is information/pledge sheets about the 2020 Silver Towers Ride. Even though the campers can’t be at Silver Towers this summer, we will be riding on Sunday, July 12th to help raise funds for this incredible camp!! Let’s pull together and make this a great day. There’s no better event to get you out of the house after a very long Spring, all while practicing safe social distancing, you can take a beautiful ride to Ripton VT, meet up with old friends, make some new ones and share in a BBQ lunch.
Due to the late notice of the ride happening, I’m asking for everyone to please do your best to share this information with your Lodge, family, and friends. Post to Facebook, email to lodge members and committee members, add to your Newsletters and Lodge calendars, etc. Whatever you can do to get this information out would be greatly appreciated.
To date we have two meeting points at VT Lodges, see the attached information. If you would like to set up a meeting point for your Lodge please let me know the details of meet-up time etc.
We are working on raffle or prizes and pulling together volunteers to help out on the day of the ride. If you can help or donate a raffle item, please let me know. Do not hesitate to reach out with any questions by email or 802-917-1154. We realize this is late notice, but together we can make this a great event for Silver Towers, benefitting all future campers.
I hope to see you on Sunday, July 12th. With COVID19 we ask that you remember to practice safe social distancing, and bring a mask.
Elks Care Elks Share
Lisa Hickory, Barre Elks #1535
St. Albans Elks lodge 1566 uses Gratitude Grant to support Martha’s Kitchen
This is what the Elk’s is all about, giving back to our communities! Thanks to the Grand Lodge’s ENF Gratitude Grant, the St. Alban’s Lodge was able to provide Martha’s Kitchen with a $2000.00 donation to help support our community’s needs during these trying times. Martha’s Kitchen has provided thousands of to go meals during these past few months! Elks Care, Elks Share!
News item submitted by Stacey BeyorTrudo.
NOTE: The Silver Towers Camp will not open for 2020 due to the Covid-19 virus
FRATERNAL NEWS JROTC honored by Barre Elks
Ethan Asselin, Spaulding High School JROTC Captain was honored as Student of the Month by Barre Elks Lodge #1535. Ethan has lived in Barre Vermont his entire life and been a member of the JROTC for four years. He is the son of Vance and Meredith Asselin and has a sister, Lily. Ethan has attended Barre Town Elementary and Middle Schools and currently a Senior at SHS. Ethan has passed honor classes and was in Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH). IN addition to academic and JROTC honors, he attained the high honor of Eagle Scout. After graduation Ethan plans to attend Norwich University studying criminal justice His career goal is to join the U.S. Army and become a military police officer and then be a criminal investigator, in the forensic science field. In addition to his Scouting, JROTC and other activities, Ethan works at the Medicine Shoppe in Barre.
l-r: Barb Watters, Exalted Ruler, Ethan Asselin and Robert Campo, PER Lodge Secretary
News item submitted by Barb Watters
SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE 1560 SECURES GRANT FOR THE VETERANS PLACE
Recently, Springfield Elks Veterans chairperson, Vicki Siliski applied for a Spotlight Grant through Elks National for The Veterans Place in Northfield, Vt. She received back a sum of $2000 for her efforts.
The criteria for the grant for homeless veterans at the The Veterans Place home in Northfield is to provide them with useful items to be used by the Veterans. For this project, the $2000 is going to help the home to purchase new box spring and mattresses for 26 rooms that they have for the Veterans. This amount won’t buy for all 26 rooms but it will go a long way to help them complete their project.
The home was formally the Northfield Hospital which was turned into a home for homeless Veterans trying to get back on their feet. The Veterans may stay there for two years then the home will help them by donating things for their next home or apartment. They supply them with kitchen utensils, furniture and goods to set up their home. This program is helped by the VA Hospital in White River Jct., Vt. who screens the applicants from their patients in White River.
Caption for pic: L to r; Elks member Eugene Siliski, Administrative manager Karen Boyce, Elks Vet’s chairperson PER Vicki Siliski, Elks member Gloria Gunn and Vet resident at the home Bill Carrier.
News item submitted by Michael Gunn
SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE 1560 RECENT NEW MEMBERS
Recently, Springfield Elks Lodge #1560 initiated their newest class of members. This makes (21) new members during the 2019/2020 Elks year. Shown L to r; Jessica Corliss, Chelsey Anderson (NM), Installing ER Vicki Siliski, Debra Birtelle (NM), Maureen Blais. Back row; Jason Hurd, Davin Lucius (NM), Jim Morse ER, Dave Pappas (NM). NM-New Member.
News item submitted by Michael Gunn
Fraternal News Barre Elks Student of the Month
Eleanor Steinman, a Sophomore at Spaulding High School, was honored by Barre Lodge of Elks as the January Student of the Month. In selecting “Ellie”, Youth Committee Chair Jeff Roy stated, “her community involvement and leadership are something we, as Elks, can surely appreciate!” Eleanor was nominated by Guidance Counselor Peggy Portelance. In the nomination, she stated “Eleanor is kind, sweet, thoughtful and generous. She works hard both as a student and as a Student Council member. She led the Red Cross Blood Drive, managing all levels of organizing this campus event. She does all with a smile on her face and a genuine willingness to help. Eleanor is a gift as a student and SHS community member”. We look for-ward to recognizing more SHS Students as well as continuing recognition for the JROTC of the Month. We have invited 8 Eagle Scouts to be our guests for an upcoming Thursday Night meal as well. Elks Care—Elks Share and support the outstanding your people in our community.
Photo credit Barb Watters
SPRINGFIELD ELKS LODGE 1560 ANNUAL SPECIAL AWARDS NIGHT HELD
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