Frackville Elks News April 2017

Lodge Business Hours MON, TUES, WED- CLOSED THURSDAY- OPEN 6:00 P.M.

FRIDAY- OPEN 6:00 P.M. SATURDAY- OPEN 12:00 P.M.

SUNDAY- OPEN 3:00 to 8:00 P.M.

Elk of the Year and Other Award Recipients Honored at Installation of Officers Ceremony

Above: Newly installed Lodge Officers for the 2017-18 Lodge year include (from left to right) back: William Mack, PER, Lodge Secretary, Michael Carney, Inner Guard, Lance Nelson, PDDGER, PER, Esquire, Michael Krevinas, Esteemed Lecturing Knight, Albert Gricoski, PER, Grand Exalted Ruler for the Installation. Front: Linda Jaskierski, Tiler, Mikki Kaufman-Burns, PER, Esteemed Leading Knight, Robert Yutko, PER (outgoing Exalted Ruler), Mike Tomko, Exalted Ruler, Mary Anne Pautienus, Esteemed Loyal Knight, Marianne Yanchulis, Chaplain. Not pictured: James Rovito, Treasurer and Larry Trakes, PER, 5-Year Trustee.

On Sunday March 19th, the Frackville Elks Lodge hosted its annual Installation of Officers Ceremony at 5:00 P.M. Members of the community, Elks members, Past Exalted Rulers, incoming Officers, and award recipients were in attendance for this special evening. The start of the ceremony was led by outgoing Exalted Ruler Bob Yutko, who thanked the Lodge officers and members for their hard work and dedication throughout the last year for his term as ER. He then presented awards for the 2016-17 Lodge year, which included two Grand Exalted Ruler commendations, Elk of the Year, Officer of the Year and Citizen of the Year.

Following the awards part of the ceremony, Albert Gricoski, PER, who was appointed the Grand Exalted Ruler for the purposes of the Installation of new Officers, stepped up to the podium and asked for everyone’s attention and upmost decorum throughout the ritual. Incoming Officers were given the Oath of Office by PER Gricoski and then assigned to their proper stations by the Grand Esquire. Installing Grand Officer PERs Mikki Kaufman-Burns, Lance Nelson, Robert Yutko, and Bill Mack installed the incoming officers before, GER Gricoski officially installed Exalted Ruler Tomko.

After the awards and installation concluded, guests were treated to a buffet-style meal by Roman’s Lounge and Catering followed by musical entertainment by Blind Pigeon Records artists. [Story continued on page 6]

Membership Meetings

Our Lodge meets on the first

and third Monday of each month at 8:00 P.M.

Open to all members of Frackville Elks Lodge No. 1533

The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America Lodge No. 1533 Established: 1927

bpoe1533@ptd.net 307 S. 3rd Street Frackville, PA 17931 (570) 874-2500

Exalted Ruler Michael Tomko

Leading Knight Mikki Kaufman-

Burns, P.E.R.

Loyal Knight Mary Anne Pautienus

Lecturing Knight Michael Krevinas

Lodge Secretary Bill Mack,

D.S.V.P., P.E.R.

Treasurer Jim Rovito

Lodge Officers 2017-18

Esquire Lance Nelson

P.D.D.G.E.R., P.E.R.

Chaplain

Marianne Yanchulis

Inner Guard

Michael Carney

Tiler

Linda Jaskierski

Lodge Trustees

Larry Trakes, PER Doc Thomas Joe Beecroft

Bill Morgan, PER Jack Kilker

www.facebook.com/bpoe1533

Message from the Lodge Secretary

With the arrival of April 1st each calendar year, a new Lodge year begins.

The new Exalted Ruler, Officers, and 5-Year Trustee of the Lodge begins

their new term in office. Our new or returning committee chairpersons are

selecting members for their respective committees. There’s still time to sign

up for various Lodge programs and activities. Come to a meeting and

starting lending a hand.

For the 2017-18 Lodge year, Frackville Elks Lodge dues remain $65 for

general membership and $40 for life members. Dues notices and

“information update sheets” were mailed out back in January. Please mail

them back with payment as soon as possible. All dues were due April 1st and

don’t forget your annual donation to Elks National Foundation, PA Elks

Home Service Program, and our Veterans Service Fund when you mail in

your dues! Many of our programs depend on these yearly donations by

membership to succeed and be productive. You may pay cash, check, or now

through PayPal online.

Our Lodge has become really active in the community, which is a good

thing, but, for this to continue, we need some members to volunteer their

time and ideas going forward. If you have any further questions, feel free to

email me billmack04@hotmail.com. -Bill Mack, P.E.R., Lodge Secretary

Welcome New Members!

Recently Initiated

Christina Hale, Leonard Lukow, Amy Yutko

Reinstatements/Transfers John W. Dimmick (reinstated)

Awaiting Initiation Amber Maurer

Balloting on Candidates James Eisenhard, Sara Lynn McDonald

Lodge of Sorrow

(January 2017-present)

In Memoriam of our Frackville Elks members: 2/4/2017 William R. McLaren (initiated 2/3/1975) 2/27/2017 Richard C. Zimmerman (initiated 8/20/1991)

The faults of our members we write on the sands of

time; their virtues, upon the tablets of love and

memory…

“…to our absent members.”

Frackville Elks Lodge Officers will perform rituals at

viewings for our departed members. Be sure to talk to

your family about this respectful ceremony. Contact us

if you have any questions.

Top Recruiters in 2016-17 5 Larry Trakes 4 Bob Yutko 2 Bill Mack 2 Mike Tomko 1 Mark Barnett 1 Drew Yeselski 1 Bill Weist 1 Dave Fennelly 1 John Chuma, Jr. 1 Andy Hitzel 1 Dave Mengel 1 Bill Morgan 1 Jim Rovito 1 Pete Zuber

Step up and ask a friend or family

member to join our Lodge today!

Top Recruiters in Previous Years: 2015-16 Bill Mack (4) 2014-15 Bill Mack (7) 2013-14 Ashley Morgan (6) 2012-13 Paul Hutira (3) 2011-12 Jeannie Tyrrell (2)

At its February meeting in Savannah, Georgia, the Elks National Foundation Board

of Trustees approved appropriations and distributions for the 2017-18 fiscal year

totaling $33.14 million. Program-Related Grants and Appropriations include:

1. Community Investments Program- Appropriated $12.53 million to invest directly in Lodge

communities. This includes funding for a special $1,500 Anniversary Grant available to every Lodge in

honor of the Order’s 150th anniversary. Community Investments Program grant projects improve the

areas where Elks work and live.

2. State Grants- Granted $9.35 million to the state Elks associations through State Charities Grants,

Special Project Grants and Bonus Grants, which help fund each state’s major charitable projects.

3. College Scholarships- Today’s Elks scholars can be tomorrow’s Elks, but we have to make that

happen by engaging them and welcoming them to the #ElksFamily. We will again fund three Elks

Scholar Service Trips for up to 20 scholars each. The trips will take place in Chicago, Los Angeles and

Asheville, N.C., where the scholars will serve in the name of the Elks, forge bonds with one another,

and connect with local Elks.

3A. Most Valuable Student Scholarship Competition- Designated $2.89 million to fund the Most

Valuable Student scholarship program, which includes 500 four-year scholarships of at least $4,000.

The contest features 20 top awards—10 for males, 10 for females—of at least $20,000. These 20 finalists

will attend the MVS Leadership Weekend in Chicago, where they will interview for the six top

scholarships of $30,000, $40,000 and $50,000.

3B. ENF Legacy Awards- Designated $1.34 million for the Legacy Awards scholarship program. This

includes an additional 50 scholarships for a total of 300 four-year, $4,000 scholarships for children and

grandchildren of Elks.

3C. Emergency Educational Fund Grants- Reserved $323,890 for the Emergency Educational Grants

program. Emergency Educational Grants are one-year educational grants to the children of deceased or

totally disabled Elks.

4. Elks National Hoop Shoot Free Throw Program- Allocated $974,880 to fund the Hoop Shoot,

helping young people develop grit, the ability to persevere when the odds are stacked against them.

5. Elks Drug Awareness Program- Allocated $729,340 to completely fund the Elks Drug Awareness

Program, which promotes constructive and collaborative solutions to youth substance abuse.

6. Elks National Veterans Service Commission- Granted $1.5 million to the Order’s Veterans Service

Program, which provides aid and comfort for America’s veterans in need; the Elks’ efforts help

veterans exit homelessness.

7. Elks Veterans Memorial Maintenance- Granted $750,950 to maintain the Elks Veterans Memorial in

Chicago.

8. Miscellaneous Grants- Reserved $425,000 for miscellaneous grants, including the Gunther & Lee

Weigel Medical School Scholarship.

9. Fundamental Appropriations- Appropriated $2.32 million to fund the Foundation’s administrative

and fundraising expenses. At 7 percent, our fundamental expenses are far below the Better Business

Bureau’s standard for charities of no more than 35 percent of total spending.

Helping Elks Build Stronger Communities… www.elks.org/ENF

Where Does Frackville Lodge

Rank in ENF donations?

As of March 5, 2017

our Lodge ranks 16th out of 92 PA Lodges

in ENF donations per

member with a $7.920 per capita. Thank you for your online or mail-in donations, our Lodge is now grant eligible for this year!

2016-17 ENF Donations

Diana Hummel- Andrewcavage Mark Andrewcavage Robert Madara Russell Madara William J Mack Mikki Kaufman Jeannie Tyrrell Frederick Boychak Lester A Wright Joseph M Paulonis Thomas S Lowe Richard J Thomas Ronald J Whalen Charles Blackwell Jr. Theodore M Chabon John Malinchok Lawrence Trakes George H Wolfe Albert G Gricoski Michael Mochnoc Edward Chizauskie William Cickavage Thomas V Nawrocki Mark Semanchick Lee Felsburg Patrick Kleman James P Langon Louis R Onorosky Ronald J Plaxa James Rovito Dale C Schimpf Raymond J Wolfe Lance Nelson Bernard Karpovich Edward J Sklaris Richard W Grabosky

Why should Elks members

donate money to the ENF?

Find out where your money goes!

Now Booking 2017 Hall Rentals

Hall Rentals at the Frackville Elks Lodge are available for the spring and

summer but are booking fast! Call to rent our facility for a graduation party,

birthday party, wedding ceremony and/or reception, baptism, Sweet 16 party,

baby or wedding shower, class/family reunion, business/social meeting,

seminars, training sessions, fundraising event, sports banquet, holiday party,

dances, bachelor/bachelorette parties, retirement dinner, bingo, etc.

Contact us now to reserve your date today! Call or text Mikki at (570) 590-5015.

Pork Chop Suppers

Our Monthly Pork Chop Supper

includes two breaded pork chops,

potato, vegetable, coleslaw, bread roll

w/ butter, and dessert, all for only $9.

Eat in or take out. Hours are 4:00 till

sellout. A reminder that our monthly

suppers are always the 3rd Wednesday

of each month.

Monthly Elks Breakfast

Please join us for a delicious

breakfast from 8 to 11:00 A.M. on

the first Sunday of each month. Our

menu includes: Eggs, Toast, Home

fries, Mackerel, Pancakes, French

Toast, and Cream Chipped Beef

Over Toast. Choice of meat side

dish: Sausage, Scrapple, Ham. We

will have fresh Coffee, Orange

Juice, Grape Juice, or Tomato Juice

for beverages. Cost is only $8 for

an All-You-Can-Eat meal. Children

eat at a reduced price! Dine in or

ask for a “to-go” container and take

it home.

Annual PER Night Held in February

PERs who attended the meeting include (from left to right): Bill Mack, Lance Nelson (PDDGER), Larry Trakes, Bill Morgan, Tom Lowe, Mikki Kaufman-Burns, Richie Hopkins, and Mark Andrewcavage.

On Monday February 6th, many Past Exalted Rulers of the Lodge attended the regularly scheduled meeting and occupied the officer stations, giving our regular officers an evening off. Before the meeting, a sit-down meal was prepared and served by Mikki Kaufman-Burns. The PERs performed the initiation ritual for new member Christina Hale and ran the regular order of business afterward. PER Lowe stated that this was the first meeting he attended in, “many, many years.” We look forward to seeing some of our other PERs back down at the Lodge in the coming months. Exalted Ruler Bob Yutko plans on restarting our PER Association after his term in office expires. He will be contacting all PERs in the near future.

April 04 Wabby, John P 06 Dudash, Donald 06 Trakes, Lawrence J 07 Lawson, David C 08 Domalakes, Karen L 08 Souchuck, Glenn 09 Kufro, Scott 11 Susan, Frank 13 Felsburg, J Lee 13 Kreitzer, Jesse 13 Wagner, Brian R 15 Begis, Ann Ray M 15 Yanchulis, Marianne 23 Mason, James B 24 Kergick, Dennis 26 Weist, William D 27 Sborz, Ronald 29 Caldonetti, Anthony S

If your birth date is wrong, your information has to be

corrected in the CLMS computer system. Contact us

and let us know today!

May 03 Melnic, Michael B 04 Zuber, Peter 06 Mack, William J 07 Santangelo, Robert M 08 Rogers, William M 09 Miller, Troy K 10 Krolick, Jonathan J 11 Stencovage, Joseph 14 McDonald, Robert 15 Kovach, Joseph C 17 Shire, Kathleen 19 Karpovich, Bernard M 20 Madara, Robert J 22 Plaxa, John C 23 Mack, Holly N 23 Sweador, Michael 24 Kaufman, Matthew L 27 Anthony, Paul 27 Domalakes, John E 27 Rovito, James J 28 Pautienus, Mary Anne 30 McDonald, Maria 30 Moser, William 31 Marshall, Eric C

June 02 Jones, William B 04 Arch, Nicholas 04 Mistishen, Michael J 04 Ziegmont, Carl J 06 Marshall, Louis J 06 Nelson, E Lance 07 Harhigh, Harry 07 Kline, Kenneth H 07 Thomas, Richard J 12 Davis, Earl F 13 Woodward, Mary Anne 14 Begis, William A 14 Rau, Joel H 15 Derr, Ronald 15 Griffiths, Mikki 15 Moran, Christine 16 Peleschak, Andrew J 17 Conti, Dennis 17 Gursky, Adolph C 17 Jaskierski, Dorothy 18 Plaxa, Ronald J 19 Pascavage, Albert J 20 Bitting, Bruce L 20 Miller, Thomas S 21 Mengel, Walter W 22 Bruni, Bernard A 22 Gricoski, Albert L 23 Willingham, Timothy C 25 Wright, John P 26 Jaskierski, Linda M 26 Seasock, John F 28 Caruso, Leonard W 29 Miller, Charles M 30 Antalosky, Russell

Happy Birthday and many

happy, healthy years

ahead!

Frackville Elks Member Birthdays

MEAL COUPON

$2 OFF Monthly Mackerel Breakfast or

Pork Chop Supper at the Frackville Elks Lodge No. 1533

Expires June 30, 2017

You must be an Elk with a birthday in April, May, or June.

Present coupon with Driver’s License or State Issued I.D. to receive discount.

Memorial Building

A monument in the truest sense, the Elks National Memorial was built in 1926 to honor Americans whose profound sacrifices for the nation can never be recognized by mere words. With its massive dome, heroic sculptures and intricately detailed friezes, the Memorial is a distinctively American interpretation of classical greatness.

www.elks.org/memorial

Many Lodge Events Make for a Busy New Year at the Frackville Elks! Following a wall to wall, packed Lodge for New Year’s Eve, the Frackville Elks hosted a variety of events throughout the winter. On Groundhog Day, Thursday Feb. 2nd, our Lodge held “Open Mic Night” where bands and singers could set up their musical instruments and play some free music for the evening (pictured below).

PER Night was held on Monday February 6th, followed that weekend by our Annual Valentine’s Dance. This year’s musical guest was Gene Morrison, Tamaqua. He brought some guests with him and played music throughout the evening. Guests were treated to a salad, a Spaghetti dinner with meatballs and sausage, garlic bread, and dessert. On Wednesday March 1st, the Lodge hosted 108 guests for the Ash Wednesday Fish and Crab Cake Meal. That following weekend, the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians of Girardville sponsored a dance with the Irish Lads band at our Lodge. Guests danced throughout the night to some great Irish tunes and other classics. The remainder of March saw our Lodge host breakfast/supper events along with some youth and fraternal activities. These activities included the Cub Scout/Boy Scout Blue and Gold Banquet and the Installation of Officers Ceremony, which also included the Citizen of the Year, Elk of the Year, and Officer of the Year awards presentations. The remainder of 2017 looks to be just as busy, if not more!

PA Elks Northeast District News

The Frackville Elks Lodge will host the District Dinner Dance on Saturday night, April 22nd and also the next district meeting will take place at our Lodge on Sunday April 23rd. Members of the Frackville Elks are encouraged to attend both events, since we are the host Lodge this year. The Dinner Dance will start at 5pm with cocktail hour, followed by a buffet style dinner and dessert at 6pm, program and remarks at 7pm. Senator David Argall will be the Keynote Speaker and Sheriff Joe Groody will be Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Musical entertainment begins at 8pm with Chuck Cahoe providing a variety of great music. Tickets are only $25 per person and can be purchased at the Lodge. On the following day, all Frackville Elks Lodge members are invited to attend the District Meeting. Raffles and other prize opportunities will be available if you attend the meeting.

New Exalted Ruler Installed

Exalted Ruler Michael Tomko 2017-18

[Continued from page 1] Going forward, the newly installed Exalted Ruler Mike Tomko looks to tackle the many demands of the job right away. He will be taking a close look at the social aspect of the club, our bar. Key focus will be given to inventory, supplies, payroll hours, bartender availability, RAMP training, and marketing of our drink specials and special bar events. On the Lodge side of things, Tomko hopes to continue many of the rituals, ceremonies, programs, and activities that our Lodge has performed quite well in the past few years, but expand the role of the individual Lodge committees and strengthen the decision-making powers of the chairpersons of each committee. Exalted Ruler Tomko looks forward to personally meeting many of you at the Lodge during business hours or at our many programs and events. He also will be personally addressing you in the July edition of the Frackville Elks News quarterly bulletin. Stay tuned!

Above: 2016-17 Award Winners (from left to right): Mayor Kim Phillips (Citizen of the Year), Mary Anne Pautienus (GER Outstanding Service Award), Robert Yutko, PER (Outgoing ER), Mike Tomko (Incoming ER), Ann Ray Begis (Elk of the Year), William Mack, PER (GER Outstanding Service Award). Not pictured: James Rovito (Officer of the Year-Treasurer)

www.paelkshomeservice.org

Since 1963, the PA Elks Home Service

Program has been helping to improve the quality of life for thousands of children and adults throughout Pennsylvania. We provide support and advocacy services to individuals of any age who have a developmental disability.

Last year, the Elks Home Service staff drove 251,858 miles and made 11,976 home service visits, helping families in every county in Pennsylvania.

Services are provided: -by a Nurse and/or Medical Care

Coordinator -to Pennsylvania residents

-in the person's home environment without discrimination

-at NO CHARGE

Mission of Home Service

“To support and promote the

independence of individuals with

developmental disabilities, by

providing advocacy services in

their home environment.”

Nurse Spotlight

Denise Grajewski, LPN (Unit 2)

Avenues - Agricultural Park

2 Park Street - Pottsville, PA 17901

570-622-7920, ext. 14 For referrals or for more information about this great program, please visit:

www.paelkshomeservice.org

PA Elks Legacy Trust Fund

Just what could Pennsylvania youngsters, developmental disabilities, and the equation "20 for 5 = 100" possibly have in common? The answer is easy because it's a human equation, and the children mentioned are our Pennsylvania Elks Home Service clients, while the "20" is $20.00, the size of the annual individual donation that will insure the future of our unique program. The "for 5" is for the five years it takes to complete the $100.00 Pledge. And the "100" stands for 100%. EVERY PENNY is deposited in the Pennsylvania Elks Legacy Trust Fund, where every one of your hard-earned dollars, again that's 100%, will still be working to help one of your neighbors long after the donor is gone! The "20 for 5" donation program is an integral part of the Legacy Trust Fund, and the Legacy Trust Fund is vital to the continued operation of the Pennsylvania Elks Home Service Nurse Program by creating a permanent source of operating capital. For a donation form, contact our Lodge Secretary Bill Mack.

YOU CAN PROVIDE A LASTING GIFT OF HOPE AND INDEPENDENCE TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES! HERE'S HOW.....

DIRECT GIFTS- Cash gifts are probably the simplest and most common method of supporting the Legacy Trust Fund. These gifts may be given by individuals, Past Exalted Rulers Associations, Past District Deputies Associations, Elks Auxiliaries, or any other organization. HONOR OR MEMORIAL GIFTS- One special way to honor a family member, a friend or an Elk, is to make a gift in honor of him or her. Memorial gifts can be given as a lasting remembrance of those loved ones no longer with us. A gift can be given in any amount. GIFTS OF PROPERTY OR STOCKS- Appreciated stocks is an excellent way to support the Legacy Trust Fund. You can gain maximum tax benefits, deduct full market value and also avoid Capital Gains tax. Personal property or real estate are personal possessions that can provide an increase to the Legacy Trust Fund. Tax deductions vary on how the gift is made. Legal advice may be required on real estate property. An appraisal on personal property is required. GIFTS BY BEQUEST- Bequests, frequently referred to as legacies, provide substantial estate tax benefits. This is an important way to support the Legacy Trust Fund. The bequest in a will can be expressed in terms of either a specific amount or a percentage of the residual. Bequests in any amount are acceptable from any source. One of the goals of the Legacy Trust Fund is to have every Pennsylvania Elk include in his will a bequest to the Legacy Trust Fund as a beneficiary. It should be remembered that this bequest costs the individual nothing and it provides a continuous donation to the Home Service Program. INSURANCE- Insurance policies no longer needed can be transferred to the Legacy Trust Fund and named as irrevocable owner or beneficiary. The cash surrender value provides an immediate tax deduction.

Visit the Elks History Page

The Elks History Project is a collection of historical stories, photos, and media that date all the way back to the founding. This project is an ongoing effort.

www.elks.org/history

Frackville Elks Lodge No. 1533 Membership Report MEMBERSHIP 4/1/2016: 298 INITIATED: 16 TRANSFERS IN: 4 REINSTATEMENTS: 7 TRANSFERS OUT: 1 DROPPED: 0 DECEASED: 6 LIFE MEMBERS: 101 REGULAR MEMBERS: 217 TOTAL MEMBERSHIP: 318 AVERAGE AGE: 62.31

as of 3/20/17

www.elks.org www.paelks.com

Save the Date! Check our Facebook page for a complete listing of our Lodge events, activities, and programs for Apr/May/June.

4/1 Bus Trip to Sand’s Casino 4/2 Mackerel Breakfast 4/3 Lodge Meeting 4/8 Dance (Richie Molinaro/Mr. Lou)

4/9 Children’s Easter Egg Hunt 4/17 Lodge Meeting 4/19 Pork Chop Supper 4/22 Dinner/Dance (Chuck Cahoe) 4/23 PA Elks Northeast District Meeting 5/1 Lodge Meeting 5/5 Raymond the Amish Comedian 5/7 Mackerel Breakfast 5/14 Mother’s Day Luncheon/Ceremony

5/15 Lodge Meeting 5/17 Pork Chop Supper 5/20 Schuylkill County BrewFest 5/29 Memorial Day Grillin’ Event

Future Events of Importance 6/4 Autism Awareness Carnival 6/11 Flag Day Ritual Ceremony 7/15 10th Annual Poker Run 8/12 3rd Annual Charity Purse Bingo

Events are being added weekly and are subject to change. Please refer to your email or the Facebook page for updates and important details.

Anotherside Brings in the New Year

Top: Members and guests dance to the music of Anotherside and special guest Joe Jordan of the Jordan Brothers. Bottom left: Joe Jordan singing lead vocals on a few songs. Bottom Right: The entire band, with Jordan, on stage rocking in the New Year at the Lodge. More pictures can be found on Anotherside’s Facebook page.

Supporting Our Veterans

The Elks are committed to their

mission, “So long as there are Veterans,

the Benevolent and Protective Order of

Elks will never forget them.” This rings

true at the Frackville Elks Lodge. We

have recently held fundraisers, supply

drives, and other support events for

our Veterans. Stay tuned for reports on

these events in the next newsletter!

Until then, go online and check out the

great things Elks are doing for our

Veterans all across the United States.

www.elks.org/vets