the 916 bulletin

THE 916 BULLETIN
The Monthly Newsletter of the BENEVOLENT & PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS Lodge #916
925 North Avenue
Burlington, VT 05408
(802) 862-1342
The Exalted Ruler’s Message
Our Lodge is like a train ride. We
ride...we get off. We get back on and ride
some more. There will be derailments and
delays. Certain stops will translate into great
memories of joy, some will end in profound
sorrow. So it is with our membership. When
they join they are enthusiastic about
participating. But some, after a time, seem
to find other trains to ride.
If you see someone get off our train and
don’t return, please seek them out so we can
keep our passenger car full while always
leaving room for more passengers.
This coming year I am asking all of you as Elks to ride the train with me
and my Officers and make it a smooth journey. We will help guide the train, but
we want all of you to come along with us.
I want to thank Gary Little, Past Exalted Ruler, for many years of service
and dedication to this Lodge. He is not going away! He has been elected as a
Trustee and will continue to work for the betterment of the Lodge. Welcome
aboard Rick Boucher...you will be in charge of the caboose so no one falls off.
I am looking forward to working with all of my Officers this year.
“Communication” - not “speculation” will be on the agenda.
Volunteers are still the most important part of the Elks Lodge. They give
freely, unselfishly and without hesitation many hours of their time to show what
Elkdom is all about. Please, when you see someone volunteering take a moment
to say THANK YOU!
I will do my very best this coming year to be the Exalted Ruler that all of
you have entrusted me to be.
Fraternally Yours,
APRIL 2007
350 Club.....................................................3
Activity Calendar .......................................8
Birthdays....................................................5
Bits & Pieces..............................................4
Blood Drive................................................6
Children’s Easter Party ..............................5
Contact Information ...................................2
Easter Sunday.............................................1
Eldoes Update ............................................7
Elks Care Elks Share..................................7
Flag Day.....................................................7
Lodge Notices ............................................2
March Trivia Answer .................................5
Membership Drive .....................................2
Officers ......................................................2
Pig Roast ...................................................7
Ritual Team................................................5
Special Olympics .......................................3
Vermont State Elks Convention.................3
Texas Thank You.......................................4
This ‘n That................................................6
Three Corks................................................6
Volunteer of the Month..............................5
We Won!....................................................4
Meeting Night
Thursday, April 5th
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 7th
Diane Hazen, Exalted Ruler
JOIN US FOR SPECIAL SURPRISES
ON EASTER SUNDAY!
OPEN 4-8PM z WIN PRIZES!
Open on Easter!
Sunday, April 8th
Steak Night
Wednesday, April 11th
•
•
•
Regular membership meetings are held on the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7pm.
Members are welcome to attend the Governing Board meeting on the second Tuesday at 6pm in the upstairs meeting room.
The Lodge Investigating Committee meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm when there are members proposed.
THERE ARE NO APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP OR REINSTATEMENT THIS MONTH
THE 916 BULLETIN
LODGE OFFICERS 2007-2008
Exalted Ruler:
Esteemed Leading Knight:
Esteemed Loyal Knight:
Esteemed Lecturing Knight:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Inner Guard:
Esquire:
Tiler:
Chaplain:
Organist:
State Trustee:
Diane Hazen
Dave Blankemeyer
Mary Paule Hill
Rick Boucher
Charles Munson
Brian Bouchard
Steve Schifilliti
Robert Brown
Daniel Ryan
Hank Metevier
Rick Guest
Bruce Webster, PER
The Monthly Newsletter of the
Benevolent Order of Elks Lodge #916
Published monthly and mailed to all current Lodge Members and
select others, by bulk mail at Burlington, Vermont. The content can
also be viewed at the Lodge’s Website, www.bpoe916.com
Relevant information for inclusion is welcomed and should be
submitted by the 15th of the month proceeding the publication by:
• emailing to [email protected]
• Placing the material in the 916 Bulletin mailbox at the Lodge
front entranceway.
• Mailing it to the Lodge to the attention of the 916 Bulletin.
LODGE TRUSTEES 2007-2008
Trustee Chairman:
Trustee:
Trustee:
Trustee:
Trustee:
Chris Bissonette
Fred Dusablon, PER
Ron LaRose, PER, PSP
Jim Procopio
Gary Little, PER
HOW TO CONTACT THE LODGE
General Information [email protected]
Exalted Ruler..........................................bpoe916er@comcast.net
Lodge Secretary.......................... [email protected]
Lodge Treasurer [email protected]
Trustees .........................................bpoe916trustees@comcast.net
Event Bookings [email protected]
Bulletin Editor [email protected]
We do our best to include all pertinent information that our
members would find interesting, however if the materials are not
received by the Editor on or before the 15th of the month, there is a
chance that they may not be included in the next issue due to the
time needed to produce, print and mail the Bulletin. Our goal is to
have it delivered to our members by the 1st of the following month.
We reserve the right to edit submitted items for brevity and
appropriateness. The Exalted Ruler has the final responsibility for
the Bulletin content.
Editor - John Hill
Photography - Wayne LaBonte
MEMBERSHIP
DRIVE
Friday, April 20th z 5pm-8pm
Join your fellow Elks and welcome guests to tour our Lodge Banquet Facilities. “Past the Point” will be
playing compliments of Gary and Martha Gile. They are a 5-piece multi-instrumental band composed of
Vermont musicians and play country, blues and swing music as well as original material!
2
Vermont State Elks
Convention
May 18, 19 & 20
Shelburne, New Hampshire
Congratulations to our big
2006-2007 ‘350’ Club Winner
Please plan on coming. You can pick up
registration forms at the Lodge bar.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
Don Clayton accepts the $10,000 Grand Prize from Treasurer Brian Bouchard
This is the 3rd year that the
Elks have assisted the Vermont
Special Olympics Winter Games
and we would not be able to do it
without the many hours given by
our volunteers.
This is no small undertaking
as we needed to make 950 bagged
lunches for the particpants and
volunteers at the Bolton Valley
Ski Resort.
A big thank you to Dave Ploesser for bringing everyone back
this year to help out. It ran very smoothly because of his organization and commitment to Elkdom.
Thank you to all the volunteers for March: Lucille Sweet,
Hazen and Shirley Cross, Rick Boucher, Mary and Dave Blankemeyer, Jim and Judy Mailhott, Don Trombley, Michelle Bullis,
Cookie Manning, Donna Wheelock, PER Gary Little and Mary
Paule Hill.
I want to thank everyone for the great turnout for our monthly
meals. Thank you to all the Chairmen and to our valuable volunteers all year long for a successful season.
The waiting list for the 2007-2008 ‘350’ Club is posted on the
bulletin board in the front hallway near the men’s restroom. Please
include your name and phone number. If you have any questions,
contact David Blankemeyer
Fraternally yours,
Diane Hazen
Exalted Ruler, 2006-2007 Chairman
Volunteers (not all pictured) include: Dan and Sandy Venbitti, Ollie and Marion Howard, Walt and Carol Mrianowiz, Phil
and Linda DeLaricheliere, Dave and Marie Ploesser, Laurette
Atkins, Sally Vachereau, Glenn O’Brien, Gail LaValley, Pat Desilets, Armande Thibault, Maurice Eustace, Larry Snow, Don
Trombley, Rick Boucher, Bobby Sweeney and Zeb Snow.
Diane Hazen, Chairman, Exalted Ruler
3
TEXAS SIZE
THANK YOU!
On February 18th, we held a Texas
Holdem Tournament at the Lodge. We
would like to take this opportunity to
thank all of the volunteers that made this
possible: Ed Goddard lined up the dealers
for us and ran the Tournament floor. Dealers were Art Balfe, George Blow, Mike
Evarts, Gary Little PER, Hank Meteivier
and Bob Sweeney. Dave Smail assisted us
on the floor. A special thanks to John
Crabbe who provided us with guidance
and lent us his tournament clock.
Barney Little, Co-Chair, PER
Glenn O’Brien, Co-Chair
WE WON!!!
WE WON!!!
WE WON!!!
BITS & PIECES
My wife met Charlie Auer,
She thought him to be a stitch.
Charlie ain’t no wallflower,
I wish he had a mute switch!
Ever wonder how many members we really have? I do. Let’s ask Mary Blinky. She threw
all the little numbers for the quarter book into the air and onto the floor. I hope you counted
them Mary, to make sure you picked up every one.
I put a six pack on the counter at the store, and my favorite nighttime cashier was working. (Laypon). I told her that I didn’t really drink, but I stopped and bought beer every night
just to see her. She said I could get a bag of chips for 99 cents, and accomplish the same
thing. I couldn’t believe she said that. Doesn’t she know chips are bad for your figure?!
This same cashier (mid twenties I’d guess) was working and the rock music was blasting
in the store. I asked her if she put it on and she said yes. It was music from the eighties. I
innocently replied I preferred the sixties. She said “Oh, that’s what the old guy that works
mornings like too.” I hate it when they turn mean.
Congratulations to the 916 Shuffleboard Team on their victory as State Champions in the
Inter-Lodge competition. They didn’t lose a single game. Benny (Gary Benway) says they
were “unfourbeatable.”
Speaking of Benny, has anyone else noticed there is something different about Janet Benway? I don’t know what it is, I just can’t seem to get a grasp on what’s changed.
NEWS FLASH...MAD SQUIRREL ON THE LOOSE!
Dateline Burlington…
Recently a deranged squirrel chewed through the walls of the home on Woodbury
Drive of Wayne and Donna LaBonte. The very naked Wayne screamed for his wife Donna,
who reportedly came running with her trusty squirrel broom (always good to have on hand).
Donna bravely chased the would be thief out of her home. She is reported to have been overheard saying “Those are my acorns, and nobody is going to steal them from me!”
Congratulations to the #916 shuffleboard
team for placing 1st in the State Inter-Lodge
Activities with a perfect UNDEFEATED
RECORD!
Pat Brennan, Larry Snow, Wayne LaBonte and Gary Benway brought the award
to us. As Gary put it, “we were unfourbeatable!” (a new word in the Websters Dictionary I guess).
A big thank you to all the pool and
bowling players for participating and representing the Lodge. Everyone enjoyed a fun
filled day on the bus with the St. Albans
crowd. What a way to bond in Elkdom!
Yes, that was my car that was run over by that backhoe. I’m fine, thanks for asking. The
car will be repaired soon.
Diane Hazen, Exalted Ruler
John Plunkett
Last week Jo Campbell took a terrible fall on the ice, breaking her nose. We all hope you
are back among us soon, Jo. (By the way...you looked “plum awful!”)
Larry Snow, Eddie and Pauline Sliker have all quit smoking. Congratulations to them all!
If you are a patient at Dr. Rubman & Siegal’s office you may have noticed the flaming
red hair Jennifer, their receptionist is sporting. She has the lead role in Lyric Theater’s “Guys
and Dolls” April 12-15th. Go and support her while she is still talking to the little people.
Finally...why couldn’t the Teddy Bear finish his dinner? He was stuffed!
4
Children’s Ritual Team
Easter
Party
The B.P.O.E. #916 Ritual Team attended the State Competition
at the Barre Lodge on Sunday, March 11th. The Officers were
represented by the following:
Exalted Ruler:
Esteemed Leading Knight:
Esteemed Loyal Knight:
Esteemed Lecturing Knight:
Esquire:
Chaplain:
Inner Guard:
Saturday - April 7th
11am - 1pm
Andy Demers, PER
Fred Dusablon, PER
Moe Descelles, PER
Mary Paule Hill
Bob Brown
Hank Metevier
Steve Schifilliti
We placed 4th in the State as a group, with Mary Paule Hill
placing 3rd as an individual. Thank you for representing the
Lodge!
(Ages newborn to 11 years old)
Diane Hazen, Exalted Ruler
G!
TIN
N
I
PA S!
E
CE
FA GAM
HOT DOGS
& SODA
If you haven’t signed up your child yet,
please call ahead to make certain
there is still room.
Birthday this month? Bring
your driver’s license to
Steak Night and get $5 off !
2 John Hebert, Sr.
Arnold Sharp
Joe Wright
3 Jed Marcelino
Sharron Minahan
George Mongeon
Anthony Reposa
Mark Schroeter
4 George Blow
Donald Clayton
Melissa Gonyon
Carlos Newsome, Jr.
5 John Blondin
William Davignon
Chris Demaggio
6
7
8
9
A big congratulations to our
Volunteer of the Month:
EAST
ER EG
HUNT G
Peggy Langlais
Frederick Loyer
Patricia Martines
Paulette Thabault
Richard Alarie
Frank Bernardini
Maitland Daniels
Thomas McCoy
Richard Bowler, Jr.
James Lefebvre
Dennis Rouille
Everett Curavoo
Edward Desautels
Mike Gilligan
Gary Moreau
10
12
13
14
15
17
Mary Blankemeyer
If you volunteer for an event, remember to put
your name in the volunteer bucket!
Who were the kids in last month’s This ‘n That? It’s the Schmitt
family! Pictured from left: Neale, Bill, Karen, Susan and Richard.
John Plunkett
Gary Russ
Joseph Noto
Stephen Richer
Stanley Roberts
Eugene Ward III
Timothy Audette
James Fayette
John Truax
Charles Blow
Jack Curry
Karyl Snow Sweeney
Leonard Branch
Larry Coletti
John O’Donnell
John Rutkowski
Ronald Wilkinson
Edward Bowery
Hank Metevier
Rodney Myers
18 William Benoit, LM
John McDonald
Tammi Holden
Paul Thibault
19 Robert Beauvais
Robert Brown
20 Rodman Barlow
Frank Bullis
Rick Davis, Jr.
Paul Landry
Kenneth Rock
21 Al Jewell
22 Theodore Arel
Kevin Carney
Frederick Hannon
23 Charles Allard
Chris Bissonette
John Fox
24
25
26
27
28
29
Robert Letzelter
Steven Line
David McGinnis
Edward McGrath
Kevin Bannister
Brian Bernadet
Al LaFrance
John Pijanowski
Robert Clark
Mark Guyette
Robert Vance
Mark Ciardelli
Timothy Lavery
Michelle Bullis
Douglas Dubie
Dillon Willette
Peter Navari
Millie Palmer
[email protected]
5
THREE CORKS
by Brother Matthew Engels
After a dozen green beers, do you really
think either one can read the lyrics???
BLOOD DRIVE
Once again we needed to
have a big day and that’s what
we got on our February 23rd
Blood Drive here at the Lodge!
A total of 28 productive units
of blood were collected, easily
surpassing our 25 unit goal.
Only the high number of health
deferrals (10...about twice the normal number) kept our drive
from being even more successful. The Elks Blood Drive is one of
the few that achieved their goal in the days since the big storm.
We couldn’t have done it without our volunteers: Linda DeLaricheliere, Ann Irish, Doris Pepin, Barb Coon and Bea Sylvia.
A special thanks to Dave Ploesser for his time getting Blood
Drive posters throughout town and for setting up the canteen
area. Also a big thanks to the Eldoes for all of their time at each
and every drive. You truly make our Blood Drives very successful!
With sincerest appreciation,
Wilfred “Dizzy” Desilets, Chairperson, PER
Tuesday nights are Darts Night at the Lodge. Not a formal occasion, but a chance for a few people, “Tuesday Night Warriors” as it
were, to get together and play that most revered of tavern game,
darts. An ancient game, darts, one supposedly played on the Mayflower as the Pilgrims made their way to America. Not so, says Great
Britain’s Patrick Chaplain, the so-called “Doctor of Darts.” Chaplain
states that there is evidence to suggest that the American Indians actually played a form of darts previous to the pilgrims’ arrival in their
country. While it is generally assumed that perhaps the major influx
of Irish immigrants at the turn of the century brought the game to
America, the game itself garned the most popularity after American
servicemen returned home after World War II, having been stationed
in England among other places. It was then that darts took their place
beside billiards, shuffleboard and pinball as an American tavern standard. But like these other games, darts provides much more than just
a game. It awakens in its participants an often previously unrecognized sense of competitiveness and sportsmanship that has never
been tapped into before. Sometimes it can be quite frightening to
watch.
Different “themes” seem to emerge during these Tuesday night
contests; one recent outing involved a “Exotic Cocktail Night”,
where Kerry Plunkett, the bartender was set to busily concocting
some bizarre combinations consisting of various mixtures of tequila,
rum and different fruit juices. In my opinion, tequila and rum in the
same cocktail is not exactly the mix to serve someone hurling sharp,
steel-pointed objects at a board from five feet away.
Another theme or rule of the nights is the “Sue Rule”. Although
she is a fine player, no evening is complete without people arguing
about who “has” to be her partner. Sue eventually gets her payback
on her worst detractors by hitting multiple bull's-eyes. Thus the “Sue
Rule”: never give her a hard time when the game is on the line.
One rule of these nights is consistent - an unrelenting harassment
of anyone shooting poorly or too slowly. This rule is constantly invoked, and the beauty of it is that the rule usually ends up being applied to the most notorious abusers of it.
The Tuesday evenings are confusing sometimes - it has yet to be
determined whether people get called to let them know that others are
going to show up or whether they’re not showing up - this often results in confusion until Randy Lopes lays down the law: only if
they’re not coming (of course the very next week, they didn’t come
AND didn’t call either. Ahem.).
Of course, no Darts Night would be complete without Gary Little
shouting disparaging remarks at the players from his corner of the
bar. Gary talks the talk, but does he walk the walk? Someday, I’ll get
him up to the shooting line.
The beauty of these Tuesday nights is that for me, it really summarizes what the Elks Lodge is all about - a gathering of friends and
strangers who soon become friends joining together in a social activity that at the end of evening was simply enjoyable. That’s it. Nothing profound here, just a gathering of fellow Elks and spouses and
girlfriends to play a simple game. What a great thing that is.
6
ELDOES UPDATE
“Be the Best of
Whoever You Are!”
The “Coin Bandits” to benefit
the Vermont Children’s Hospital
hit the Lodge with a fund raising
raffle and coin drop box during
the month of February. Here we
are presenting a check for $425.00
from our Lodge members. Thank
you Dave Blankemeyer for all
your help in another great project!
As an addendum to last month’s column, I want to thank Pat
Clayton for assisting with the Partners in Adventure social outing
on February 4th. Sorry Pat – you certainly did your share that day
and I did not mean to omit you from the list.
April birthday:
Diane Hazen, Exalted Ruler
Ruth Martel
Happy Birthday!
Remember, if you come to a steak night during the month of
your birthday, you will receive $5.00 off of your meal..
Our February fun-nite at the races was a very enjoyable evening. A big thank you to Elaine Neary (who always does a wonderful job) and her assistant Janet Bossi. We had a lot of fun and
those who had the high-legged horse –FINALLY WON A
RACE!!!!!
On March 20th, we had our first fundraising function at
Friendly’s in Colchester. 10% of the meal receipts between the
hours 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. that evening were turned over to us
in support of our charitable efforts in Chittenden County.
The nomination of officers got underway at our March meeting to be followed by the election in April and installation ceremony in May.
Please remember our ongoing bottle drive at Merola’s. We
are getting closer to making our group outing a reality. Thanks to
all who have turned in their bottles and cans.
Flag Day Ceremony
The Flag Day Ceremony is June 10th at 1pm. Please mark that
date on your calendar and plan to be here. Once again, we are
looking for names of POW’s (name, address and phone #). You
can leave it at the Lodge bar to my attention or call 862-6108
and leave a message.
Carl Lozon III, Co-Chairperson
Happy Mother’s Day to all!
Upcoming events:
April 17, 2007 Regular meeting 7:00 p.m.
Election of officers
May 6, 2007
Partners in Adventure Luau Social
2:00 p.m – 4:00 p.m.
May 15, 2007
Installation of Officers Dinner 6:30 p.m.
Sincerely,
Linda DeLaricheliere, President
SOOOO-WEEEEE!
PI G R OA S T
Saturday, May 12th
Cocktails 6:30pm / Pigout 7:00pm
Music by DJ Squealer Hill
Tickets are $12.00pp
Last year tickets sold out early! Get yours now on sale at the
Lodge bar. And be sure to wear your country stuff!
7
Presorted STD.
BURLINGTON LODGE #916
Benevolent and Protective Order of ELKS
925 North Avenue
Burlington, VT 05408
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
BURLINGTON, VT
PERMIT # 15
The Key Card for the front door was changed on
April 1st. If you didn't receive your membership
renewal, contact Lodge Secretary Chuck Munson.
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
Bingo
3
Private Function
4
5
Meeting Night 7pm
6
7
Children’s Easter
Egg Hunt 11a-1p
8
Easter Open
4-8pm
9
Bingo
10
Private Function
11
Private Function
12
13
Private Function
14
Private Function
19
Private Function
20
Banquet Facility
Open House &
Frozen Drink Night
5-8pm
21
Private Function
27
Blood Drive
28
4
Private Function
5
Private Function
11
12
Pig Roast 6:30pm
Governing Board 6pm Steak Night 6:30pm
15
16
Private Function Bingo
17
Eldoes Meeting
18
Meeting Night 7pm
22
District Deputy
Clinic
23
Bingo
24
25
26
Steak Night 6:30pm
29
30
Bingo
1
2
6
Partners In
Adventure
7
Bingo
8
Private Function
9
10
Steak Night 6:30pm
3
Meeting Night 7pm
Governing Board 6pm
8