DeLory, Walaska honored at Elks appreciation awards dinner

By Pete Fontaine
Posted 8/4/16

Tri-City Elks Lodge No. 14 issued a rather unique thank you Saturday night.

“We couldn’t afford to do this three years ago because the lodge had financial difficulties,” Mark Eaton, Lodge …

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DeLory, Walaska honored at Elks appreciation awards dinner

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Tri-City Elks Lodge No. 14 issued a rather unique thank you Saturday night.

“We couldn’t afford to do this three years ago because the lodge had financial difficulties,” Mark Eaton, Lodge 14’s former Exalted Ruler and current Rhode Island Elks District Deputy, said. “Now, it’s something we can’t afford not to do.”

Eaton, along with “Team Tri-City” that includes a half-dozen or so people who volunteer year around in a number of capacities at the Warwick-based lodge, hosted a Members Appreciation Awards Dinner that attracted nearly 200 the West Shore Road lodge.

The unique event, which transformed Rossi Park into an outdoor dining room where members and guests enjoyed a smorgasbord that was prepared, cooked and served by Tri-City’s closely-knit band of volunteers, featured everything from corn-on-the-cob from nearby Morris Farms to Eaton’s famous Buffalo chicken macaroni.

“This is the lodge’s way of saying thank you to everybody who belongs to this great lodge,” Eaton said prior his role of emcee for the night’s special awards presentations. “We’re going to honor a number of people who have contributed to the success of our lodge during a dramatic financial turnaround.”

In the center of it all were two men – Albert “Cookie” DeLory and William “Bill” Walaska – who Eaton said have made “many, many valuable contributions to this lodge in so many different ways.”

DeLory, who is known around Tri-City land, is Lodge 14’s “Man for all-seasons and reasons” as Eaton noted prior to presenting the beloved long-serving volunteer with the prestigious “Elk of the Year” award.

“Cookie does so much, we couldn’t put all his duties on this certificate,” Eaton saod as past exalted ruler and Bay Marine owner Charles Graves presented DeLory the award. “If it has to do with electrical, you’ll find Cookie…I could go on and on, but because he’s being honored with his award we only have to put the worlds “Elk of the Year” on his special parking space.”

While there were a number of other awards given out Saturday night, most of which were special Lodge 14 embroidered polo shirts, Eaton said, “I’m absolutely thrilled and honored to present the Elks Citizen of the Year Award to Senator William Walaska who, in case you don’t know, is a member of this lodge.”

As Greaves presented Walaska with the special certificate, Eaton said, “Bill and his wife Marsha have been great members of this lodge for a number of years. They have done so, so much in a number of ways that have directly benefited Lodge 14 and each and every member.”

Eaton noted that Walaska, who represents State Senate District 320 in Warwick and is vice chairman of the Senate committee on Commerce and a member of the Senator Committee on Environment and Agriculture, “has secured valuable [state] legislative grants that have resulted in much-needed repairs this building.”

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  • richardcorrente

    The Elks could not have chosen better! Bill Walaska has been a great source of information to me on my Mayoral campaign. I showed him an ad asking for donations. He shook his head and said "No address?" I responded with "oops!" He is a great friend, a great Democrat and a great adviser.

    Congratulations Senator Bill.

    You will receive a greater number of votes, I predict, than anyone else in the primary. It wouldn't surprise me if your opponent voted for you. (OK, maybe that one is a stretch...)

    Thank you for your continued and unselfish advice.

    Richard Corrente

    Endorsed Democrat for Mayor

    Thursday, August 4, 2016 Report this