Watchung Hills Elks Lodge 2252 Echoes Bulletin August 2014 Volume 50, Issue 5 Lodge 2252 Officers EXALTED RULER William Seavey PER ESTEEMED LEADING KNIGHT Guy Treppiccione ESTEEMED LOYAL KNIGHT Debra Case ESTEEMED LECTURING KNIGHT Elizabeth Egan SECRETARY Paul Lowell Sr. PER TREASURER Donna Lowell, PER ESQUIRE (open) CHAPLAIN Lynn Spurrier INNER GUARD Barbara Verdic TILER Andrew Forbes 1 YEAR TRUSTEE Betty A. Volker, PDD 2 YEAR TRUSTEE Dan Larsen 3 YEAR TRUSTEE Kathleen Olesen 4 YEAR TRUSTEE Paul Lowell Jr. PER 5 YEAR TRUSTEE Francis Bellew PER JUSTICE (open) ORGANIST John Wienecke, Jr. Watchung Hills Elks Lodge 2252 1 Elks Trail Warren, NJ 07059 908-668-9727 [email protected]Bulletin Editor MARTIE REEDER [email protected]As I write this ER Message, I’m just back from the Grand Lodge Convention, which was held in New Orleans. It was my pleasure and privilege to represent our lodge for the third time. Some of these writings may seem familiar to last year’s August message, but my impressions of the convention were the same as last year. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks are a great organization and we should all be proud of ourselves for supporting the order. Some of the business meetings highlights that I enjoyed were: The report from New Jersey’s own Rick Gathen, the Grand Lodge Membership and Public Relations Manager, he has some great ideas on how to maintain and grow our membership. You can read about it in the Thursday’s Conventions Newsletter, which can be downloaded from the Elks.org website. The boy and girl Hoop Shoot winners were great to hear from, but the best were the two 50K scholarship winners – Eric Kim and Autumn Pack. Both gave excellent and moving speeches, especially Autumn, she has had to overcome much hardship and adversity in her life, however to hear her optimism of her future, it was worth the price of admission. The Saturday Vicki and I got back, we went right to a friend’s daughter’s high school graduation party. I was talking to a friend I hadn’t seen in years and in the course of conversation, I mentioned that I just got back from the Elks National Convention. She kind of snickered and said “what was that like a drinking convention”. I then proceeded to tell her all about the Elks and what we are all about. She said she had no idea that we were so philanthropic. The point being here is that Grand Lodge is concerned that we are losing membership and we aren’t growing as an organization. I don’t know why we don’t advertise ourselves through at least a Public Service Announcement, to get out the message on what we do. Upcoming events for September: We will be holding our ANNUAL LODGE SOCCER SHOOT in September. Look for date & time in Fran Bellew’s article next month. The PIG ROAST will be held on September the 13 th from 1-6pm. Volunteers are needed to help make this a successful event. Anyone interested in helping please contact me at 908.884.5547. And the GOLF OUTING will be held on the 20 th . This is the first year it will be held on a Saturday in September. I think this will increase our overall participation this year. The Golf Outing has always been a successful fundraiser, but I hope this year tops them all. If you are planning on playing, please get your money in. Yours in Elkdom, William Seavey, PER Exalted Ruler's Message Quote of the Month "Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back." --- Thomas Sowell
As I write this ER Message, I’m just back from the Grand Lodge Convention, which was held in New Orleans. It was my pleasure and privilege to represent our lodge for the third time. Some of these writings may seem familiar to last year’s August message, but my impressions of the convention were the same as last year. The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks are a great organization and we should all be proud of ourselves for supporting the order. Some of the business meetings highlights that I enjoyed were: The report from New Jersey’s own Rick Gathen, the Grand Lodge Membership and Public Relations Manager, he has some great ideas on how to maintain and grow our membership. You can read about it in the Thursday’s Conventions Newsletter, which can be downloaded from the Elks.org website. The boy and girl Hoop Shoot winners were great to hear from, but the best were the two 50K scholarship winners – Eric Kim and Autumn Pack. Both gave excellent and moving speeches, especially Autumn, she has had to overcome much hardship and adversity in her life, however to hear her optimism of her future, it was worth the price of admission. The Saturday Vicki and I got back, we went right to a friend’s daughter’s high school graduation party. I was talking to a friend I hadn’t seen in years and in the course of conversation, I mentioned that I just got back from the Elks National Convention. She kind of snickered and said “what was that like a drinking convention”. I then proceeded to tell her all about the Elks and what we are all about. She said she had no idea that we were so philanthropic. The point being here is that Grand Lodge is concerned that we are losing membership and we aren’t growing as an organization. I don’t know why we don’t advertise ourselves through at least a Public Service Announcement, to get out the message on what we do. Upcoming events for September: We will be holding our ANNUAL LODGE SOCCER SHOOT in September. Look for date & time in Fran Bellew’s article next month. The PIG ROAST will be held on September the 13th from 1-6pm. Volunteers are needed to help make this a successful event. Anyone interested in helping please contact me at 908.884.5547. And the GOLF OUTING will be held on the 20th. This is the first year it will be held on a Saturday in September. I think this will increase our overall participation this year. The Golf Outing has always been a successful fundraiser, but I hope this year tops them all. If you are planning on playing, please get your money in. Yours in Elkdom, William Seavey, PER
Exalted Ruler's
M e s s a g e
Quote of the Month "Politeness and consideration for others is like investing pennies and getting dollars back." --- Thomas Sowell
Non-Profit Organization
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Union, NJ 07083
Permit No. 492
Address Service Requested
AMERICANISM
The Central District will be having their flag retirement ceremony on
Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Menlo Park Soldiers
Home. Please remember our mailbox out front of the lodge for retired
flags. We have been receiving a lot of them.
Please fly your flags proudly and have safe summer.
God Bless America.
Yours in Elkdom, Lynn Spurrier, Chair
For $10.00 a year, you too can be an
Echoes Booster.
All proceeds will offset the cost of
printing and mailing the Bulletin.
Thanks to those who have already
pledged their support.
08/2014
Stephen Terrible PSP
11/2014
Barney Coughlin PER
Doug Reeder
02/2015
Ken Burd
Sandra Burd PER
Tony Ciufo
George Dealaman
William Heilman
Arthur Lewis
Ken Pawelek
Laura Pawelek
Vincent Oliva
Melanie Savulich
Edward Staeger
Thomas Mac Stoker
Betty A. Volker, PDD
John Volker PER
03/2015
John Balog
Edward Fehn PER
Donna Lowell PER
Paul Lowell Sr. PER
Alfred Meissner
William Seavey PER
Robert Venitelli
04/2015
Jim Devizio
Kim Devizio
J.E.B. Irvine PER
Thomas Keller Jr.
Mike Killeya PER
Guy Treppiccione
06/2015
Stanley Autocunas PER
Gerry Del Piano PER
Andy Kavanaugh
Barbara Verdic
09/2015
Fran Bellew PER
AUGUST
B I R T HD A YS
6 Anthony Ciufo
Glen Kusmick
Lillian Obzanski
8 Mark Emilianow
9 James Kerr PER
Rose Roy
11 William Springer
12 Andrew VanJura
14 Kelly Lowell
15 Richard Van Jaeckal
17 Barney Coughlin PER
Richard Pasquarella
21 Karen Debisco
Richard Stites
22 Michael McNicholl
24 Sinead Conlon
28 Wayne Sockwell
30 Melodie Doremus
If your birthday does not appear correctly on the monthly birthday list, please contact our Lodge Secretary to have the information corrected in the Members Database.
SICKNESS & DISTRESS
It is with sadness that our Lodge marks
the loss of member Walter "Skip" Lyne
and Life member Anthony Bavosa of
North Plainfield.
A reminder on Fees and Dues: New Member, Demitting in Fee and Members wishing to be
reinstated is $50.00. Regular membership dues are $50 per year plus Grand Lodge and New Jersey
State Elks Association fees. Life and Honorary Life Membership is $25.00 per year plus Grand Lodge
and New Jersey State Elk Association fees. The last
two years this has been $16.00 to Grand Lodge and $2.00 to NJSEA.
Life membership is not automatic. A member with no less than 30 years as an Elk, no less than 10
years with this lodge, and has attained the age of
65. A member has to propose you in writing as set forth in the By-Laws.
Nominations for Life Membership must be in writing and the nomination for Honorary Life Membership
must set forth the distinguished services rendered in detail. The letter is read across the floor by the
Secretary. The Exalted Ruler then sets the date for
For up to date information check out: http://www.njelks.org/ and click on NJ District Activities then Central
District
ASKING FOR YOUR HELP Members all, the Menlo Park Veterans Nursing Home is in dire need of help with replenishing the clothing room for their residents. At this time I am asking for your help. Anyone who can donate new garments would be greatly appreciated.
The following is a list of their requests. Ladies knit slacks, elastic waist, Waist sizes 30" - 54"; Ladies summer shirts - NOT sleeveless large thru 2XL; Men’s sweatpants, sweatshirts, and tee-shirts sizes large thru 4XL. I will also be hanging up their wish list consisting mainly of toiletries items. Any contributions will be greatly appreciated. Please drop off your contributions in the box I have provided at the Lodge.
Remember to thank anyone you may see that are in our armed services, for without them we may not be enjoying the freedoms we have today. Elks Care, Elks Share
Fran Bellew, PER - Chairperson Veterans National Services Cell: (908) 405-2922 / [email protected]
VETERANS COMMITTEE
The Lyons Hospital picnic will be held on Saturday August 9th. Volunteers should arrive at 11:15. The Menlo Park Veterans Home picnic will be held on Sunday August 17th. Volunteers should arrive at 11:15. Our lodge will be donating the soda this year.
Fran Bellew, PER - Chairperson Veterans National Services Cell: (908) 405-2922 / [email protected]
