There was a unique Sunday dinner – Wright’s Family Restaurant style – inside the Tri-City Elks nearly full downstairs dining room in Warwick.

For starters, it was the first-ever event by Lodge 14’s new Past Exalted Ruler’s Association (PER) that featured a specially baked chicken, penne pasta, French fries, salad and Mark Eaton’s extra-large homemade oatmeal-raisin cookies.

There was also a raffle for a blanket made by Inner Guard Ann Licciardi featuring the Elks’ cross/logo embroidered by Express Embroidery of Warwick.

     “We are absolutely thrilled with the turnout,” Robert “Bob” Hartington, current president of the all-volunteer PER group who also serves as Co-Chairman of the soon-to-be three-year old Albert “Cookie” DeLory Memorial Golf Tournament. The event has raised a combined total of $14,000 for four charities in two short seasons.

 Hartington, who has chaired other Lodge 14 successes most notably a Veterans Dinner, announced: “This is exactly the kind of family-and-friends event our PERs are hoping do to further benefit other programs here at the lodge.”

The First Annual Past Exalted Rulers Association Mid-Winter Get Together, the dinner was prepared and cooked by former PERs and brother Elks as people noted “made everyone feel as if they were at Wright’s Farm (in Burrillville).”.”

Bruce Caldwell, who puts together Tri-City’s informative monthly bulletin offered: “Everything is delicious. The (baked) chicken is falling off the bone; it’s so tender. You couldn’t get this sort of (served buffet) dinner like this anywhere for $15.”     A number of PERs, headed by Bill Woodcock, who has been around Lodge 14 for many moons and Eaton, who has worn many hats at the local, state and now national levels, headed the kitchen crew that included Eric Tellier, Mike Holton, current ER Jim Fletcher, Dave Remes and Bob Streeton.

     Likewise, PER Deb Mangina, who served three successful terms, manned the ticket check-in as Hartington welcomed a host people including former PER and popular Elk Paul Lima.

     “What a great day!” exclaimed PER Lori Eaton who joined her sister Elk Carol DeLory and helps Lodge 14 collect and make donations to the Veterans Home in Bristol and VA Hospital in Providence. “Good friends, good food and the start of another tradition for the lodge.”