No. 997 ELKS MONTHLY BULLETIN

Transcription

1 ELKS MONTHLY BULLETIN December 2017 Vol. CXI No. 9 Northampton Lodge No. 997 Non-Profit Organization United States Postage PAID Northampton MA PERMIT NO. 391 Northampton Elks Lodge Monthly Bulletin Published Monthly by: BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS 17 Spring Street Florence, MA Phone: INSTITUTED SEPTEMBER 25, No. 997 ELKS MONTHLY BULLETIN The Northampton Lodge of Elks No. 997 wishes everyone a very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON Christmas is rapidly approaching. December 25, 2017 will be here before you know it! The Northampton Lodge of Elks No. 997 wants to wish all it s members a safe and merry Christmas and a very happy Holiday Season. On December 16, 2017 Lodge No. 997 will be holding a Christmas Party for children. Bring your children and grandchildren under the age of 10 for lots of fun and merry making! Fill in the reservation form included in this bulletin and return it to the mailbox of the Exalted Ruler no later than December 8, The Lodge will hold it s annual Turkey Dinner on Tuesday, December 12, Lodge 997 will also host Old Timers and their Guests at this dinner. An Old Timer is a Life Member of the Elks. To be a Life Member an Elk must have 30 years of service and be at least 65 years of age. Turkey Raffle Tickets were enclosed with November s bulletin. They can also be purchased in the lounge. Don t forget to turn yours in! Check out the Calendar of Events on Page 3 of the Bulletin for a list of all the events coming up for the month of December.

2 Exalted Ruler s Message for December 2017: As Elks from Lodge 997 roam across this grand country I hear reports about the positive experiences these members have had in other Lodges. At the beginning of the summer hardworking new members Carolyn Schreiner and Meg Carra kept the Lodge posted on their cross-country trip, including the warm receptions they received at two Elk Lodges out west. Later that summer Justin Vezina and his lovely wife Megan reported very welcoming experiences when they visited a couple of Lodges while vacationing in Maine. And Trustee Tim Daley and Chaplain John Cotton have wonderful stories about their yearly pilgrimage to the friendly Lodges down on the Cape. Now that the seasons have changed our snow birds, including the vivacious Shirley Slahetka and the loyal and dedicated Bill Jones, periodically remind us of the warm hospitality served up in various Florida Lodges. The most recent wandering Elk messages have come from vagabond newbie s Annie and Jack Warner. In their most recent text to me they were singing the praises of the Savannah, GA Lodge and how members there made them feel so very much at home. I have responded to all these fine folks by stating that they have experienced Elkdom fellowship, the virtue of brotherly love that is embraced in the mission of the BPOE. I find it very heartening to know that there is a network of Lodges that live up to the spirit of this order spread across this fine country and have given members from our Lodge such warm welcomes. Conversely, it is up to each of us to make certain that visiting members to Northampton Lodge 997 have similar friendly experiences. After all, that is what being an Elk is all about. There are several important Elk events scheduled for December. First and foremost is Elks Memorial Sunday, which is mandated by Grand Lodge Statute to be the first Sunday in December (12/3/2017.) The Lodge Officers, performing a very heartfelt ritual, honor those members who have passed away since last December. The families of these members are invited to attend this memorial ceremony; a light repast (traditionally beef stew) is served. All BPOE 997 members are also welcome to attend. On Tuesday, December 12, the Lodge will host its annual Holiday Turkey Dinner. It has become the December version of a Nationality Night. Tickets will be sold at the bar. That night we will also honor our longtime members with what has become known as Old Timers Night. Lodge elders and their wives or significant others, are invited to attend the Holiday Turkey Dinner free of charge. There will be a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board. And on Saturday, December 16 the Lodge will host its annual Children s Christmas Party for the children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren of members of Lodge 997. Members wanting a gift for their child should fill out and return to the MAIL BOX OF THE EXALTED RULER the children s sign-up sheet enclosed in this bulletin. Also, this event is labor intensive, so I would encourage members to volunteer for some aspect of preparation, staffing or cleanup. Volunteer sign-up sheets will be posted by the beginning of December. And speaking of volunteering, the Elk of the Month for December is Jane Kabat. Any member involved in our Lodge to the slightest degree knows why this is a well-deserved award for Jane. I am hard pressed to think of a committee or event in which Jane has not been involved. She has served as a Trustee and is currently our Tiler She is a dependable member of both the Cruise Night Committee and the Bingo Committee, community events which also serve as important revenue streams for the Lodge. She has regularly attended our Nationality Nights and volunteers every year for the Children s Christmas. This year she served food at the Senior Center Anniversary Cookout as well as at the fundraiser the Lodge held at the V.A. Center, Cruising for Cats. The list goes on and on. Her dedicated service and commitment to the principals of the BPOE had served this Lodge very well. From the bottom of my heart Jane, thank you and congratulations. Wishing all of you a warm and wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Michael Bardsley, ER PER Northampton Lodge of Elks No. 997 Veterans Group Needs Your Help John Kingsley is asking for help with the Adopt-A-Vet program. Volunteers are needed who are willing to assume the privilege of spending a few hours with Veterans from the VA Medical Center in Leeds, MA. Donations of Guitars are also needed. Lessons have been arranged for the Veterans, but without guitars there is nothing to learn on. Please contact John Kingsley or ER Michael Bardsley if you can help! Buck-A-Week Dinner On October 26, 2017 The Northampton Lodge of Elks No. 997 held it s final Buck-A-Week Dinner for the year. Great Food, lots of fun and prizes were the hit of the night. To participate in Buck-A-Week for next year contact Joe Grabon.

3 Secretary's Message for December 2017 Whatever holiday you celebrate, my wish for all is peace on earth. It seems that every time you read or watch the news, another tragedy has occurred. It is time to love one another. The Lodge has had several very successful Nationality nights and will have another in December. Due to an extremely busy November, our turkey dinner will be the 2nd Tuesday of December. Look forward to the children s Christmas Party on the 16th. Memorial Sunday is the first Sunday of December where we remember all our members that have passed since our last Memorial. It s hard to believe 2017 is almost over, and we still have members that have not paid their dues. If you have not yet paid, why not? Please submit as soon as possible. I do not want to drop you from our rolls. Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season. Fraternally, Sherry Grabon, Secretary Sickness & Distress Bobbi Joe Wood Dora Onhilevich Rusty Wilkinson Donna Labeau LODGE OFFICERS Michael Bardsley, PER Exalted Ruler Jim Butcher E. Leading Knight Jim Spencer E. Loyal Knight Cyndi Mazzolini E. Lecturing Knight Sherry Grabon Secretary Michael Marley Treasurer Jane Kabat Tiler Michael Mikaelian Esquire Michael Kolemba Inner Guard John E. Cotton, PER Chaplain Trustees Richard Bart, PER John Kingsley Joe Grabon Tim Daley Vic Zumbruski, PER Lodge Hours Bonnie Kingsley Joe Kozash Wayne LaPlante Monday - Friday 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday 3 p.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday 1 p.m. - 7 p.m. Thurs. Nov 16 Calendar of Events November 2017 Sat. Nov 18 Turkey Raffle Veterans Meatloaf Dinner * 5:00 p.m. Mon. Nov. 20 Pitch League 7:00 p.m. Tues. Nov 21 Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m.; Board of Directors Meeting 6 p.m. Wed. Nov 22 Bingo 5:30-9:00 p.m. Thurs. Nov 23 Thanksgiving Day - Lodge Closed Mon. Nov. 28 Pitch League 7:00 p.m. Wed. Nov 29 Bingo 5:30-9:00 p.m. Sun. Dec. 3 Memorial Sunday * Mon. Dec. 4 Pitch League 7:00 p.m. Tues. Dec. 5 Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m.; House Committee Meeting 6 p.m. Wed. Dec. 6 Bingo 5:30-9:00 p.m. Mon. Dec. 11 Pitch League 7:00 p.m. Tues. Dec. 12 Turkey/Old Timer s Dinner Wed. Dec. 13 Bingo 5:30-9:00 p.m. Sat. Dec 16 Children s Christmas Party 1:00 p.m. Mon. Dec. 18 Pitch League 7:00 p.m. Tues. Dec. 19 Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m.; Board of Directors Meeting 6 p.m. Wed. Mon. Wed. Dec. 20 Bingo 5:30-9:00 p.m. Dec. 25 Christmas Day, Lodge Closed Dec. 27 Bingo 5:30-9:00 p.m. Tables to be sold to Members of Lodge No. 997 Lodge No. 997 has replaced approximately 40 tables. The tables that have been replaced are available to members, $10.00 for the better tables and $5.00 for the tables that need work. The tables will be available on a cash and carry basis, starting on November 17, SESSION OF SORROW A Session of Sorrow was held at the November 7th meeting for: Sandi Brown The monthly Elks Bulletin depends upon input each month from its members for the news. Production Deadline: 20th of prior month. To submit articles use the Bulletin Mailbox, call or Co-Editors Vic Zumbruski Ruth McGrath AliceVic@AOL.com ruth4now@comcast.net

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5 Tiler Jane Kabat is December Elk of the Month Veterans Council Breakfast Tiler Jane Kabat is the December Elk of the Month. We see Jane as Tiler in every regular meeting but did you know Jane also volunteers for many Elks events as well? On November 4th The Northampton Lodge of Elks No. 997 was the host for a Veterans Council Breakfast. Veterans and their families as well as Lodge members enjoyed this most worthy event. Jane was a Trustee for 5 years, volunteers for the Cruise Night Committee, the Bingo Committee, and the Children s Christmas Party. This year she served food at the Senior Center Anniversary Cookout as well as at the fundraiser the Lodge held at the V.A. Center, Cruising for Cats. Boy Scout Troop 109 Update Thank you for everyone helping and/or supporting the Troop 109 at the spaghetti dinner fundraiser held When asked why she became an Elk, Jane replied on Nov. 2, We had a very successful cam Because I could. Women were just being allowed to paign raising over $3100. Please be on the lookout join. I like to volunteer. for our next fundraiser (a pancake breakfast) to be Jane lives in Florence, MA and has been an Elk for 22 held in the early part of November is a busy years. She loves to read, was a bowler and she likes month for the troop with us participating in great to travel. Her favorite trip would be to the Badlands of events like the spaghetti dinner, veteran's parade, the Dakotas. nationality night, and the veteran's dinner. The troop Jane says she likes the camaraderie with all the other is working with 2 local Cub Scout packs and people. She would like to tell people to Get more in- we believe we may have up to 13 Webelos joining volved in the Club. Volunteer whenever you can, you ll our troop in the spring, which could triple our current size. be rewarded for it. Congratulations, Jane, on being recognized as the De- Thanks, cember Elk of the Month for Lodge No. 997! Jim (Mr. B.) Troop 109 Scoutmaster HOME PLUMBING HEATING AIR CONDITIONING RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL REPAIRS & INSTALLATION Hodge City Plumbing, Inc. 123 Hawley St. Northampton, MA Lic. # scott@hodgecity.net RICH STRONG AC HEATING VENTILATION PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL SERVICE rich@richstrongac.com Office Mgr: sheena@richstrongac.com 166 MAIN STREET HATFIELD, MA PHONE FAX The best place downtown to catch a game. 21 Main Street Downtown Northampton

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