Tallahassee Lodge participated in the annual visit from Santa at Gretchen Everhart School Dec. 17. Santa (chaplain, Danny McElroy) brought 150 presents for the children provided by Good Shepard Catholic Church. He was assisted by Tallahassee elves Christy Ervin and Ron Brown, PDD.
On Dec. 17, Perry Lodge gave an in-kind donation for the Special Olympics to hold their annual Christmas party. After enjoying a meal cooked and served by Elks volunteers, Santa came for a visit. There were over 100 in attendance.
Perry Lodge hosted its 16th annual breakfast with Santa Dec. 7. It took three evenings to transform the banquet room into Candy Cane Lane and Santa’s workshop and only two hours to clear it out after the event was over. This year the event was dedicated to the memory of PDD Lee Bennett. The lodge served over 500 parents and children breakfast, entertained with a few impromptu songs, danced around the room, and sent each child home with a present that they helped build in Santa’s workshop. The community supported this event and Michael Lynn Inc., contractor; Padgett Tree Service; Advanced Refrigeration; Foley Spotting Services; Impact Collision; Ragans Ace Hardware; and Bassett’s Dairy were sponsors.
Volunteers and Taylor County Middle School students pose at Perry Lodge’s breakfast with Santa Dec. 7.
On Oct. 26, the Florida Forest Festival was held and Elroy the Elk (lodge member Paul Miller Jr.) was in the parade, much to the delight of the kids in attendance. The lodge was also pleased to host the return of the Mr. & Mrs. Tourist for the Florida Forest Festival. Mr. & Mrs. Tourist were picked from the visiting RV campers for the past year. They attended the downtown events Friday night, rode in the parade Saturday morning, received the key to the city from the mayor, and were honored guests at the Florida Forest Festival Elks ball.
Thanksgiving food baskets were prepared by Perry Lodge and distributed by Taylor County United. Seven baskets were loaded with nonperishable items and each basket included a $50 gift card for purchase of additional food. The lodge also sent six gifts to the Lake City VA Domiciliary for Thanksgiving and bought clothes and toys for 16 children in Taylor County.
Perry Elks Lodge #1851 sponsored a Soccer Shoot Oct. 12 with eight kids from the community attending. First place winners and their parents traveled to Tavares, Fla., for the regional Soccer Shoot Dec. 14. All first place winners advanced to the state Soccer Shoot Jan. 4 at the Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Fla. Pictured are the regional Soccer Shoot winners.
For the holiday season, Live Oak Elks Lodge #1165 partnered with the Suwannee County Economic Council to assemble Christmas baskets and chose families to receive those baskets, this year going to more elders and veterans. Lodge members donated nonperishable items.
Lake City Elks Lodge’s Hoop Shoot was held Dec. 17. Trey Hosford and Jay Swisher helped to ensure the event’s success and involved the community to show they care about youth.
On Dec. 21, Lake City Lodge delivered Christmas food baskets to help community families in need. Donations of food, both nonperishable and uncooked turkeys from members, help fund this event as well as proceeds from the lodge’s Christmas raffle tickets. A silent auction was also conducted in early December. Santa visited the lodge Dec. 24 and gave presents to all the kids from the community who attended.
On Sept. 14, Perry Lodge hosted a biker bash and Jeep jam poker run that raised $607 for its youth activities program. Over 25 jeeps and motorcycles participated in the 100 mile run. The morning ride starting at the lodge and ended at Walter B’s, a favorite watering hole and tiki bar on Beach Road for a fun afternoon of fellowship and fundraising.
The Perry Lady Elks hosted a Christmas-in-July event where they prepared and sold barbecue lunches. Additional vendors set up as well for attendees to shop. Mr. and Mrs. Claus made an appearance as well. The event raised $807 for the Elks National Foundation.
During the summer, the Perry Lady Elks, Elk members and volunteers came together to help a local family battling leukemia. The family of four-year-old Marvin Overstreet was able to attend the lodge-sponsored brunch fundraiser, and he was definitely the star of the day! The Perry Lady Elks donated a check in the amount of $2,002.25 to the Overstreet family. The overwhelming love, relief and joy they were given during this event warmed the hearts of many and will help this family in covering the cost of travel for further treatments.
Perry Elks Lodge #1851 sent six youngsters this summer from the Perry, Fla., area to the Florida Elks Youth Camp – two kids going early in the camping season and four others going together later. Transportation to the camp was provided by six adults, including parents and lodge members, who carpooled to get the kids to camp and home again. Two of the campers were returning this year and have aspirations of becoming counselors-in-training next year.
Campers, parents and members make their way from Perry, Fla., to the Florida Elks Youth Camp for summer camp in Umatilla, Fla.
A back-to-school bash was held at Tallahassee Elks Lodge #937 in August and featured the movie Mary Poppins as well as hot dogs, mac and cheese, popcorn, lemonade, and ice cream sandwiches. A special visit by Elroy the Elk was a surprise for both parents and kids. School supplies and cash were collected by the lodge and totaled $1,000 and was donated to Leon County Astoria Park Elementary School.
From Sept. 12-15, Tallahassee Lodge sponsored its annual Gretchen Everhart School trip to the Florida Elks Youth Camp. With the help of an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant of $2,000, the lodge procured two buses to transport kids and their families to the camp.
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Louisiana State Legislature Increases New Orleans Hotel Occupancy Tax
The Legislature of the State of Louisiana has acted to increase the New Orleans Hotel Occupancy Tax from 13% to 14.75% effective April 1, 2014. This will affect our convention room rates and they will go from $128.56 to $130.52 per night.
Convention Attendees With ADA Transportation Needs Urged To Contact Grand Lodge
In order for the Grand Lodge to support the transportation needs of attendees with disabilities you are urged to contact the Grand Lodge if you require special assistance. Special coaches capable of kneeling to accommodate wheel chairs will be placed along the routes for those in need. If you require assistance please contact Tina or Jessica at the Grand Lodge as follows:
