National and Local Awards
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Charleste “Puddy” Gondrella
2022-2023 Louisiana Elks Association Elk of the Year
I nominate Charleste “Puddy” Gondrella for the Steven G. Jenkenson, Louisiana Elk of the Year award.
I don’t know of anyone who has devoted more time or themselves than this woman to our organization. She lives and breaths Elkdom. She has visited other Lodges in our state to promote our Lodge and enjoy camaraderie between lodges.
I can’t say enough about what she has done for our Lodge, she wears many hats and never complains about the workload. She never looks for a thank you and she continues to do whatever it takes to keep our Lodge going.
Puddy has been elected to serve as DDGER for the 2023 -2024 session, she has tried to contain her excitement about working with all the Lodges and hopes she will make a difference because I know she will give her 110% and more.
Puddy has also earned recognition through the years by being selected Elk of the Year and Officer of the year (twice). National Commendation by the Grand Exalted Ruler for donating over $1000.00 to the ENF. She has also received the Grand Exalted Ruler award for Top Proposer, as well as other awards.
I could go on and on about her for what she does for Elkdom but I think you have the idea that she is the perfect candidate for this award.
Fraternally,
Barbara Gregoire,
Exalted Ruler
2022/2023
Veteran Volunteer of The Year
Ernest Babin Jr, Houma Lodge #1193
The nominee to spite natural disaster and viruses, has continued to find ways to support and help our veterans. He has continued the lodges veteran’s programs over the past year despite the extensive damage to his lodge from hurricane Ida. After hurricane Katrina, he provided meals for veterans who came to the community to help restore area homes. He also revived veteran’s programs that had been canceled due to the COVID pandemic. He organized a veteran breakfast for the community and is planning to make it an annual event. The nominee is also creating a program that will honor their deceased members who were veterans on the lodge’s website.
By providing hot meals to the individuals who helped rebuild after the hurricane, it showed them how much we appreciated what they were doing and made them want to stay longer and help more individuals rebuild. All veterans in the community whose roof was destroyed, had their roof secured with a tarped roof. For Flag Day celebration the Elks partner with the local Woodman of the world to honor our veterans. For the first time since COVID the veterans at the local Health care facility were given a Veterans Day Celebration.
No matter what diversity falls upon this individual or his lodge, he continues to put veterans first, he works with one of the local universities veteran’s association fundraisers. He always tries to make sure that all homeless veterans have at least one meal a day and if possible, a place to sleep out of the weather. This individual is a living example that “So long as there are veterans, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks will never forget them.
"SO LONG AS THERE ARE VETERANS, THE BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS WILL NEVER FORGET THEM."
