veterans dinner november 9th, 2024
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.
busy november month
DD/SVP Visit November 7th
On November 7th, we had our District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler and District State Vice President's visit to our Lodge along with several members from NINE other Lodges in our district visiting. Our volunteers cooking and serving meals as well as cleaning up after were HUGE!!! Thank You, Volunteers!!!
Veterans Dinner Nov 9th
This Dinner turned out to be another huge success (see story below). Again, so many volunteers came out and helped make this event go smoothly.
The $1,000 donation to Joseph P Dwyer Peer Outreach Center was made possible by Freedom Grant.
125th Anniversary / State President's Visit
Saturday, November 19th was our 125th Anniversary celebration along with State President's Visit. What a night! We had about 100 people from several different Lodge come and help us celebrate and to meet with the NYSEA State President Tania DeFrank. Assemblyman Scott Gray was also present.
Again, a ton of volunteers came out and were HUGE!!! We can never thank the volunteers enough!
Harvest Dinner November 24th
At least 35 volunteers came out to help with cooking, serving and delivering over 600 meals!!! 390 meals were delivered to area Senior Citizens apartments in Watertown and over 200 meals were handed out in our drive-thru event.
Dictionary Project & Backpack Program
The Dictionary Project is ongoing and hoping to be completed by Christmas. Dictionaries have been delivered to nine schools so far and third graders are loving their new book. This was made possible by $2,500 from Gratitude Grant.
The Backpack program was another success with Watertown Lodge. Checks were delivered to nine school districts that our Lodge serves. Total amount of $6,000 that was received from the Beacon Grant for the Back Program ended up going to 28 different schools. All schools were thrilled with our Lodge’s contribution.
Warm hands warm feet
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.
