2008 “Year in review”
The National Veterans Service
Committee (NVSC)
- It is our honor that we announce
the big news for the Veterans Committee and the Point Pleasant Lodge
was that Nancy DeVito was selected as the New Jersey State Veterans
Volunteer of the year 2008. Nancy was presented with
a Plaque at the Elks Convention in Wildwood. Prior to that award, Nancy was selected as the Point Pleasant Lodge #1698 Veteran Volunteer of the year.
- Our committee turned in 56 donated deer hides, that were shipped
to the tannery in Tennessee for processing into leather. 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.
- The Veterans Memorial Park at our Lodge is for the most part
completed, we will be improving on the lighting for the flags and the
signs. We have sold a total of 115 Pavers, and still wish to sell
more.
- 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.
- Another successful Veterans Committee Fund raiser Veterans
Dinner/Dance coordinated by Nancy DeVito and her committee was held
November 15th., 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!
- This was the Veterans Committee third year to have the privilege
and 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 each Lodge
member.
Again we had the opportunity to sell the raffle tickets at the Point
Pleasant Boardwalk. 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!!
- Sunday June 29th 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!).
- 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 marched in the Memorial Day Parade Celebration in Point Pleasant Borough. Our Lodge was privileged to have our own Mr. John Kaufman named as one of the Grand Marshall’s of the parade.
We had an excellent turnout to march, thanks to all the members that
attended to show our appreciation to our Nations Veterans.
Menlo Park Care and Rehab Center attended as well and marched (in their
bus!)
- 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 each year to make and keep the Park looking neat and
clean.
- 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!
- Our ‘Care Packages from the Heart’ campaign continues
we are still requesting donations of food,
snacks, certain type clothing, to be shipped to Iraq and
Afghanistan. The campaign is being spearheaded by Nancy DeVito
and Veteran Committee members.
- Flag Day ceremony, June 14th, was held at the Lodge. The
Boy Scouts Troop#3 assisted in the tribute to the flags by marching
them to the flag stand.
- 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 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 third straight year.
The Remembrance Report demonstrates the effort and the amount of hours
volunteered by our Veterans committee helping America’s Veterans.
- 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 17th
- A Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by Sue Gajewski was held at our
Lodge November 11th, in honor of all Veterans. A great
‘Dino’Spaghetti luncheon was provided to all the
Verteans. We had a great turnout, Menlo Park, Vets Haven Old
Bridge attended, they all enjoyed themselves, the food was
great! Thanks Dino!!
- The SED Veterans Day Ceremony was held November 8th at the Brick
Lodge. 116 Veterans attended from various Veteran Homes,
hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers.
- On December 20th, 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 in December and
presented the Veterans with hooded sweat shirts as a Christmas gift
from us and an Adopt-a-Vet certificate.
- That is our year in
review. We were very active in 2008, each year we intend to be
much busier than the last 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
