With one month under our belt, in our new lodge year, we’ve been very fortunate to achieve Non Cash donations of $17,900 and Cash donations of $1,192 bringing our total Veteran donations to $19,032. We held our 3rd Annual dart tournament on April 12th and the numbers are looking great! A big thank you to our lodge Veterans Committee members. These people spent many hours soliciting for prizes, collecting same, then packaging, marketing and selling tickets for our 30+ raffle items. As well as serving food, playing darts and calling out our raffle winners. Not to mention the many times we had to take down and reset up our displays as well as cleanup after everything was completed. Thank you also to all our members who sought out donations for us, or personally made donations for our event! So how did we do? We put slightly over $6,400 in the veterans savings account! Thank you to all our members and friends who showed up to play and party with us in this terrific veteran event! One way this committee has had success in raising funds for our veterans is through raffling off guns. A number of members have donated shotguns, rifles and pistols to the committee to help in our fund raising. I would like to ask if any of our members or your friends have guns you’re willing to donate to the committee? It is protocol for the committee to pay for the legal transfer of all guns we raffle off. If you have a desire to donate please give me a call at 651-262-9508. I would be happy to answer any questions. As always, you can help our homeless veterans by contributing new Undershorts and T-shirts (Med, Lg, XL), Jeans ( W 33, 34, 36) Socks. Please place any NEW items in the green barrel in the lounge and USED items in the Pod in the front of the lodge.

As always, a big thank you for your continued support for our veterans! And to our Snow Birds heading for their other home, safe travels and see you in the Fall.

Bob

The Veterans Committee has established a Memorial to Honor our Veterans, First Responders, Fire and Police. Immediately outside our front door there are four enclosed cases that will hold 200 plaques where a veterans name, rank, years of service and military branch may be inscribed. This is a very visual way to honor our veteran and first responders, and is a fund raiser for our committee. Glass plaques will be sold for $75 for any member who wishes one for their service, for a friend or family members. We have one member who plans to obtain a plaque for his father, father-in-law and himself. Signup sheets are at the bar or can be obtained by emailing bobkielsa@gmail.com, lisahensley88@gmail.com or kayleenborah@gmail.com for application forms. An application is also included as an insert in the Bugle. All plaques will be placed on the wall in the order the application and payment are received.

Sponsored by Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge #2815

By Bob Kielsa

I’m excited to announce that our lodge has two more programs designed to support our military and veterans.

The first program is Recycle Cell Phones for our troops. Since 2004 this organization has recycled over 30 million devices, and have provided over 400 million free minutes by sending more than 5 million

calling cards to our service personnel overseas.

You can donate by dropping your used cell phones at the lodge or providing cash or a check (made out to Catalina Mountain Elks Lodge #2815) in an envelope marked for veterans committee in the Cell

Phone box in the lounge.

Our second program is through an organization called Intrepid Hospice. They are looking for volunteers willing to spend 30 to 45 minutes with those who have a short time left here on earth. One of the worst fears everyone experiences during this dying process is dying alone. You can make a difference.

Veterans are welcome! You know what’s in the heart of those who have served our country and seen others give their lives in this service. If you would like more information, or to sign up, please give

Lee Swengel, Intrepid House Chaplain a call at 682-777-5559.

My name is David Sides and I'm a member of the Outreach Department for The Pleural Mesothelioma Center.

Countless veterans are currently suffering from life-threatening illnesses that are a result of exposure to asbestos, a material that was commonly used in hundreds of military applications, products, and ships because of its resistance to fire. Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma even qualify for special benefits from the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs.

We recently published an educational guide about pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of mesothelioma.

For More Information, Click  Here