PENNSYLVANIA

PENNSYLVANIA - A "Keystone" Visit, October 12-13

 

After leaving San Jose at 5:30 in the morning, we landed in Pittsburgh for our Pennsylvania visitation and were greeted at the airport by PGER and State Sponsor Carlin O’Malley, Grand Trustee Vic Cid, State President Kevin Brouse and First Lady Margie, and Vice President Terry Liersaph and Pat.  Upon arriving at the convention site in Cranberry, a suburb of Pittsburg we were greeted by Donna Cid as well as several of the Past State Presidents and First Ladies of the Pennsylvania Elks and SDGER/Convention Coordinator Paul Lafayette.

 
After settling into our beautiful suite, we joined everyone in the hotel restaurant for dinner.  The hotel was featuring a wonderful seafood buffet and we indulged ourselves in clam chowder, Atlantic salmon and wonderful desserts.  After dinner, we visited with everyone for a bit and then adjourned to our room for the night. 
 
The next morning, Tom joined Carlin and Kevin for breakfast and then attended the meetings of the Advisory Council for the Association.  Venita had a leisurely morning visiting with Margie and was then honored at a luncheon hosted by the Past State Presidents’ wives.  Venita was presented with a beautiful silver Brighton cuff bracelet, which she promptly put on and wore throughout the weekend.  After lunch, Margie took Venita to a quilt shop housed in an old historic farm house. 
 
Later that afternoon, we visited several of the District hospitality suites to talk with the Pennsylvania Elks.  One district had brought a “doo rag” for Tom to autograph and it was raffled off for their major project, Pennsylvania Elks Home Service.  Home Service is an program of nurses who provide in-home advocacy services for individuals with developmental disabilities.  A very solid program, they spent $1.2 million last year in home services and have a multi-million dollar legacy trust fund to support the program. During the weekend, the Committee also held a raffle for items donated from various district and individuals ranging from baskets to lottery ticket money trees to pots and pans!  A great time was had by all when the final drawing took place.  Throughout the weekend, these dedicated Elks raised over $2,600 for their major project. 
 

Saturday morning, Tom attended the opening business session for the Association.  Venita went out to lunch with the Past State Presidents’ wives followed by a trip to Volant and New Wilmington with First Lady Margie and Past First Lady Jean Kanouff.  These two towns are located in the Amish country of western Pennsylvania and Jean’s and her husband, Denny’s family had lived in this area for a number of years.  Volant was having its Pumpkin Festival and we enjoyed the beautiful fall weather as we wandered through several of the quaint shops.  On our way to New Wilmington, we stopped at Tena’s Quilt Shop located in one of the buildings of an Amish farm.  The work done by the ladies of the community was beautiful and we spent some time browsing through the quilts that were stacked on the bed.

 

Saturday evening we attended the final dinner where Tom talked with the group about the state of our Order and how we might grow our membership.  The Pennsylvania Elks presented us with a letter indicating they had made a donation to ENF in our name as well as a beautiful framed painting of a winter forest scene.  Margie presented Venita with a lovely pair of pearl earrings.
 
We spent the rest of the evening talking with the Pennsylvania Elks in their hospitality suites.  At eleven o’clock, Venita had the privilege of giving the Eleven O’clock Toast to close out our time with these wonderful people.  We had a very special weekend in Pennsylvania and we thank Carlin, Kevin, Margie, Vic, Donna, Terry, Pat, Walt and Paul for making our stay one we will treasure.  Our best wishes to the continuing success of this great State Association.