New Mexico Elks Association
| HOME | NMEA HISTORY | NMEA STATE COMMITTEES | GRAND LODGE | GENERAL INFORMATION |
ELKS Veterans Service Commission
9-26-2008
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
August 2008 Veterans Message (07-24-2008)
Adopt-A-Vet gaining popularity
by Roger R. True, PGER Past chairman
In 1983 the Elks National Veterans Service Commission implemented the Adopt-A-Veteran program. With more than 124,000 veterans adopted last year, it has become one of our most popular programs. Every lodge should be participating in the program today. The question often arises, which veterans are adoptable?
1. Veterans in state or federal veterans hospitals.
2. Veterans in assisted-care facilities, nursing homes, convalescent homes and retirement and senior-living centers.
3. Any veteran with limited or no family contact who is lonely or shut in.
4. Veterans in homeless shelters.
More than one lodge can adopt veterans. Feel free to adopt from afar.
How does the program work?
1. The VAVS representative at a state facility secures the names of veterans without family or friends nearby from the hospital or facility and forwards the list to the state National Veterans Service chairman. Nursing homes, assisted-living facilities and some senior facilities have activities or social directors who can give you a list of veterans who reside there. It is often helpful to contact local churches, veteran groups, the American Legion, VFW posts or even your lodge secretary to get a list of veterans nearby who are lonely and unable to get around on their own.
IMPORTANT: Due to privacy laws, it is highly recommended that written permission is granted by the veteran, stating that he or she would like to receive cards, invitations and visits. Under no circumstances are names and birth dates of veterans to be published in lodge bulletins or Web sites. This information must be held in confidence and only given to those who will actually make contact with the veterans.
2. The state chairperson will divide the list among the lodges in close proximity to the facility and forward the names to the appropriate district chairperson.
3. The district chairman will determine how many veterans each lodge wishes to adopt and provide the lodge with their names. In addition to visits and greeting cards, gifts of personal-care items, reading material, games and similar items should be considered. Luncheons and dinners at a restaurant or the lodge are highly recommended.
Now is the time to make a difference. Now is the time to get active in your lodge’s program or help your lodge start an Adopt-A-Veteran program if it doesn’t already have one.
Submitted by: Grand Lodge Newsletter
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Our site features comprehensive content related to U.S. Veterans and mesothelioma. Veterans are often diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos while serving our nation, and there is an unfortunate lack of support for these men and women who are suffering from this disease.
I am contacting you today because you share our mission of support for veterans. I would like to inquire about posting a link to our homepage, www.maacenter.org, on your website as a means of providing an additional resource for your website visitors.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
GRAND LODGE ELKS VETERANS SERVICE 2-13-08
2-13-2008
 Click on picture to enlarge. |
ALBUQUERQUE LODGE 461 PRESENTED AN AMERICAN FLAG BLANKET TO A PATIENT IN THE SPINAL CORD UNIT AT THE ALBUQUERQUE VETERANS MEDICAL CENTER PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE PER WILLIAM D. MANN LODGE VETERAN CHAIRMAN, PSP T. J. WILLIAMS WHO DONATED IT TO THE VETERANS COMMITTEE, CHRIS MONTEZ WHO RECEIVED THE BLANKET MICHELLE MCKENZIE RECREATIONAL THERAPIST AND JOANNA MCKENNA VOLUNTARY SERVICE SPECIALIST BOTH FROM THE MEDICAL CENTER |
5-29-2007
Left click pictures to enlarge.
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
The Albuquerque Elks Lodge 461 VA, did a cookout at the VA Medical Center
on Memorial Day. The 9 Elks and 6 Ladies volunteers fed 50 patients and
staff , went thru 120 hot dogs and buns 15 pounds of potato salad 3 pounds
of green chili 3 pounds of onions and 4 bags of chips everyone had a great
time and the patients and staff were well fed.
The volunteers who gave up their holiday were PER. Bill Mann and wife
Anne, PER Gene Crook, PER Joe Mazuranich and wife Erlene, PSP Frank Love
and wife Judy, PSP Harold Newlander and wife Betty, PER Bud Warren, Pete
DeWolf and wife Jean, Phil Vitale and Elfriede Blakeslee,
|
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
05-01-2007
 |
Re-Creations will be at the Albuquerque V. A Medical Center at 2:00pm on
Monday the 14th of May. Re-Creations consists of 10 young entertainers who
visit over 150 V.A. Hospitals, Retirement homes and
Medical Centers across the united States to entertain our Veterans.
The group dedicates one year for this worth wile endeavor, they receive no pay
for the year just support from their sponsors. The Elks are one of their major
sponsors.
Anyone wishing to attend should be at the Elks Lodge at 1:00pm as parking is
at a premium we will try to car pool and go from the lodge.
|
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
4-17-2007
| Veterans of the year service award to
Chairman Bill Mann, and wife Anne, from Albuquerque Lodge # 461. Presented at State Convention in Santa Fe. |
 |
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
12-08-2006
|
William D. Mann, Chairman of Albuquerque Lodge 461 Veterans Affairs Committee, presents a check from the New Mexico Elks Association in the amount of $10,000.00 to George Marnell, Director of the Albuquerque Veterans Medical Center, while Dr. Megan Gerety, Chief of Staff looks on. The money is to be used to begin the building of a Serenity Garden where the veterans can go either alone or with their families for some relaxation. The garden will have 2 or 3 gazebos, a Zen garden, some fountains, and garden containers so the veterans can raise tomatoes and other vegetables. In addition the 461 Veterans Committee does bingo at the Medical Center twice a month, does pizza party’s in February and November, have furnished 48 fingerless gloves to the spinal cord unit, has a cookout on Memorial Day, and a Christmas Party.
|
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Veterans Day November 11, we pause to remember our Past and Present Veterans
who have or are giving their Service to Our Great Country, "God Bless America"
click here for Veterans Memorial
