Capturing moments at Watertown Elks Lodge 496 veterans dinner

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Watertown Elks # 496 hosted an amazing Veterans Dinner on the evening of Saturday, November 9th, 2024.  Nearly 100 people attended the Turkey dinner.  Dinner included: turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetables, salad, dinner rolls, and desserts.  Meals were all donated and prepared by amazing volunteers.

Evening included our honored guest speaker; Eric B. Soluri, Retired United States Air Force Chief Master Sergeant.  The evening was introduced by our Veterans Committee chairman Past Exalted Ruler Ed Massa.  Exalted Ruler Mike opened the evening and introduced Reverend Linda Taber for invocation.  Star Spangled Banner was performed by a singer from Fort Drum.  Esquire Karen Miller and the Boys Scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance.  Before close of the evening, the Veterans Committee presented a check for $1,000 to Joseph P Dwyer Veteran Peer Support Center in Jefferson County.  The $1,000 was received from Freedom Grant from the Grand Lodge.  A lot of money was raised by the Veterans Committee's fund-raising events held over the summer with a lot of donations being made to the Feed Our Vets program, Camp Bristol Veterans Program, Welcome Home Kits done by the committee (all monies were reimbursed by the Elks National Veterans Service Commission), the USO, etc.

Reverend Linda Taber and her husband also presented a check to the Veterans Committee in gratitude of the committee's commitment and support to the local veterans' programs.

Veterans Committee Chairman PER Ed Massa would like to thank all the committee members and volunteers for their hard work and dedication to the Vets.  He would like to thank the committee members Fran Alberry, Sheri Doroha, Renee Cook, Karen Miller, Jay Miller, PER Dennis Brady, Linda Lepper.  He would also like to thank the supporters and volunteers PER Anne Fleming, PSP Tim Kelly, PDDGER Jill Bruce Wiley, Korey Phelps, Lisa Cooley, Lisa Margaret Greene, Linda Cantwell.  Special thanks to Chris "Mongo" McCauley, Geoff Mattraw, Robin Riley and the Boy Scouts for preparing and serving us meals.  Thanks to the several members of Watertown Lodge for their continuous support to the Veterans Committee (too many to name).
Last, but not in the least, thank you to those that attended the dinner.  Thank you to the Veterans for their service in defending and maintaining the freedom of our Country!

See below for pictures from the Veterans Dinner.

On Wednesday afternoon, December 4th, 2024, the Watertown Elks Lodge # 496 presented a check for $1,808.17 to CAPC of Jefferson County at Davidson Street, Watertown, NY for the Warm Hands, Warm Feet project.  The Community Action Planning Council purchased several boots and mittens for the Head Start children at CAPC.  The money was raised by members of Lodge # 496 with such giving hearts.

Each year, members of Watertown Elks Lodge # 496 send monetary donations towards Harvest Dinner for Senior Citizens, Warm Hands Warm Feet project and Children's Christmas Party as part of the Lodge's Magical Holiday giving (November through December).

PSP Tim Kelly, PSVP Joan Carlo and Lodge Secretary PER Dennis Brady was on hand to present the check to Caroline Feasler, Family Center Director of Community Action Planning Council.

Past State President Tim Kelly led the Installation of Officers on this Saturday evening, March 29, 2025. He has declared these officers duly installed!

Congrats to all installed officers and may you guide our Lodge with the respect we have gained from the community in northern New York!

ER Phil Nuffer, Leading Knight Anthony DeMiceli, Loyal Knight Karen Miller, Lecturing Knight Thomas Lynch, Secretary PER Dennis Brady, Treasurer Beth Bennett, Chaplain Margaret Bootie, Esquire Suzanne Renzi-Falge, Inner Guard Sheri Doroha, Tiler David Clement, Trustees Beth Cassada, Trustee Jay Miller, Trustee PSVP Joan Carlo, Trustee PER Anne Fleming and Trustee Linnie Clark.

PSVP Joan Carlo, Dictionary Project Chair, has been going to schools to hand out dictionaries to third graders. The back 1/3 of the dictionary is filled with lots of interesting facts. The students’ excitement when they get the dictionaries is wonderful to see. Teachers are always appreciative also. There are 22 classrooms that will be visited. We are able to do this through Gratitude grant from the Grand Lodge. This is a picture of Mrs. Brennen’s third graders from Lyme Central School.