2007 “Year in review”
The National Veterans Service
Committee (NVSC)
– During the 2007 hunting season, our committee
turned in over 15 donated deer hides to be shipped to a tannery for
processing. The finished leather is made available to Veteran Medical
facilities for recreational and occupational therapy throughout Veteran
health care systems. The leather is used to make gloves, wallets,
belts, vests and other products by and for the Veterans.
- Along with all the other committees we had our turns cooking for Friday Night Dinners.
- We had applicants for the annual Jim Goddard Essay
contest. High school students who are relatives of Elks in good
standing were invited to enter an essay on the subject ”WHAT A
VETERAN MEANS TO ME”
- We attend the South East District (SED) meetings
the first Monday of each month to discuss and plan many of the projects
and programs provide for our Veterans throughout the year.
- Members of our committee were invited to attend a
‘Valentines Dinner/Date Dance’ February 7th at the Burnt
Tavern Rehabilitation Center. At this dinner we had a
‘date’ with one of the residents at the center, had dinner
and fun. It was a pleasure to volunteer the time to hopefully
bring happiness to someone.
- Don McIntyre was named Lodge Veteran Committee
Volunteer of the Year 2006. He was presented with a plaque to
honor his contributions.
Thank You Don!
- A Veterans Committee Fund raiser Veterans
Dinner/Dance coordinated by Nancy DeVito and her committee was held
November 10th. It was a tremendous success, 110 attended,
everyone had a great time, great food, great turnout. During
November, Veteran’s month this was our opportunity salute and
thank all America’s Veterans. Thanks everyone, Thanks Nancy!
- The Veterans Committee assisted in the first annual
Ted Holmgren Bowling Tournament, held at Ocean Lanes Lakewood.
The proceeds are to support the Army of Hope. We
didn’t have a great turnout but anticipate a larger one in 08.
- April 22nd was Elks day at the Battleship New
Jersey. This year again we attempted to coordinate a trip to the
ship but unfortunately no one volunteered to attend, hopefully we can
gather a group for the 2008 year.
- This was the Veterans Committee second year to have
the great privilege opportunity to run the 50-50 raffle fund raiser at
the Fluke Tournament. The committee members shared in the various
duties of obtaining the raffle license and tickets, stuffing envelopes
for mailing, etc. Again we mailed out raffle ticket books, but
this year they were mailed to each Lodge member.
Again we requested a chance to sell the raffle tickets at the Point
Pleasant Boardwalk. Mr. Dan DiCorsia made arrangements with the
boardwalk ownership and the plans fell into place, Dan also helped by
making arrangements for parking nearby! Boardwalk sales shared
about 30% of our overall ticket sales. It took a great deal of
work and coordination by this great committee to pull off such a
successful raffle. (The results were EXTREMELY
SUCESSFUL) Thank You Committee!! Thank
You Dan!!
- Sunday June 24th was Elks day at the Blue Claws
baseball game. We had a good turnout, Burnt Tavern, Claremont and
Old Bridge Care Center’s attended and every one enjoyed
themselves and the game (Blue Claws won!).
- Mr. Gus Adamo was submitted as our Lodge
representative for the New Jersey State Veterans Volunteer of the
Year. Unfortunately Gus was not selected as our Volunteer of the
year. I personally felt there is no one more worthy and who
deserves it more. We have the opportunity and will try again this
year.
- We received another invitation to the Burnt Tavern
Rehab Center to attend a ‘Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon’
held in our honor. To be recognized and appreciated again this
past year for our efforts in helping people is the essence of what the
Veterans committee and other committees strive for.
- Our Lodge was invited to march in the Memorial Day
Parade Celebration in Point Pleasant Borough, We had a excellent
turnout to march, thanks to all the members that attended to show our appreciation to our Nations Veterans.
- During our first work detail in the park Boy Scouts
from Elks Troop#3 were very helpful, and we thank them for that. (we
will be asking for help in the future as well.) It will be an ongoing,
continuous effort to make and keep the Park looking neat and clean.
- Well as you have been reading and heard, we have
come a long way since last year in as much as the planning stages of
the improvements to Veterans Memorial Park is concerned. As
another fund raiser as well of beautifying the park we have gone
ahead and placed the engraved pavers on sale for $100.00 each.
Sales are going slow but are going, we hope for the new year we sell
enough pavers to start construction. A before and after rendering
is on the bulletin board in the Grille Room.
- The Committee again had three fishing trips for the
months of June, July and August. Each of the Veteran Care
Centers, Burnt Tavern Rehab, Veterans Haven and Navesink Harbor Rehab
attended. After each fishing trip the Veterans were treated to a
specially prepared and cooked fish dinner. They also receive
prizes for the first and the biggest fish caught, they loved it!
- We started a ‘Care Packages from the
Heart’ campaign where we have requested donations of food,
snacks, certain type clothing, and shipped over 50 boxes by the end of
the year. The campaign is being spearheaded by Nancy DeVito with
the help of the committee members.
- Flag Day ceremony, June 16th, was held at the
Lodge. The Boy Scouts Troop#3 assisted in the tribute to the flags by
marching them to the flag stand. The Medals of Valor was
presented to three families who had a family member that made the
extreme sacrifice.
- We delivered our worn and tattered flags to the
annual American Flag retirement ceremony was held at Lacey Lodge. After
collecting old, worn and torn flags, each Elks Lodge attends the
ceremony and retires the flags by burning them.
- It is with the GREATEST deal of pleasure to
announce that the NVSC, Point Pleasant Lodge #1698 was presented a
plaque for placing first in the entire Nation for their Remembrance
Report for Lodges with a membership of 701-1100 for the second straight
year. The Remembrance Report demonstrates the effort and the
amount of hours volunteered by our Veterans committee helping
America’s Veterans.
- Received also was a great plaque and friendship
coins from the McGuire Air Force Base military officers for the
volunteer work for them in assisting at their children’s
Christmas party where we brought gifts donated by the Burnt Tavern Care
Center and running the party. We cooked and ran their entire
family picnic so that the military that are returning and deploying to
military duty.
- September 19th, the Veterans Committee attended a
Sunset fishing cruise on the ‘Ideal’ hosted by the Point
Pleasant Fishing Club.
- The annual MASH Picnic was held in September at the
National Training Center in Sea Girt. Our Lodge had a good
turnout and everyone enjoyed the day.
- Veterans from the Rehab and Care Centers were
invited by the Veterans Committee to our Lodge for a picnic September
18th and a Spaghetti dinner November 13th in their honor.
All that attended enjoyed themselves, the food was
great! Thanks Dino!!
- Veterans Day Ceremony was held November 9th at the
Brick Lodge. 106 Veterans attended from various Veteran Homes,
hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers. The Ceremony was very
moving, the Boy Scouts from Elks Troop #3, Point Pleasant assisted.
- On December 15th , we participated in a
Children’s Christmas party at McGuire AFB. We brought many
gifts with us that were donated for the children by the Burnt Tavern
Rehab Center. Nancy clowned for the children and they loved it!
- We visited the Burnt Tavern Rehab Center December
15th and presented the Veterans with lap blankets as a Christmas gift
from us and an Adopt-a-Vet certificate.
- That is our year
in review. We were very active in 2007, we intend to be much
busier this coming year. We intend to achieve our main goal and that is
to make all the Veterans we meet who gave so much for us, a little
happier, more comfortable and put some fun in their lives.
- I
cannot emphasize enough the appreciation I have for the Veterans
committee who stepped up to the plate when called upon and continued to
do a great job throughout the year!
The valiant effort they all displayed in preparing for and pulling
off such a successful 50-50 raffle for the Fluke Tournament and
the Octoberfest was greatly appreciated.
‘When I had doubt they pulled it out”
- I would
like to also thank members of the House committee and other committees
who chipped in and helped us many times.
Thank You,
Mike Travisano
Chairman, National Veterans
Service Committee Lodge #1698