Florida Keys Lodge collected donations during January for the Coral Shores High School food pantry. Pictured are Ruth and Lee Huenniger, Shirley and Carl Mikuletzky, Hollis Krutulis, and senior students Shane Dunleavy and Tara Amador.
Denny Tarbell, on behalf of Florida Keys Lodge, presented a check for $2,000 to Coral Shores High School vice principal, Anna Alvaro; student government president, Katie Robinson; and vice president, Billy Butler. The donation is for the needy kids fund which helps purchase items such as graduation caps and gowns plus many other essentials needed for students attending high school. The donation was made possible through the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant. The lodge also collected donations during January for the Coral Shores food pantry as well.
Child Safety Day was held at Florida Keys Elks Lodge #1872 Jan. 12. The Masons prepared child ID kits to take home which included fingerprint, DNA and additional information about each child. Free bicycles were given along with fitted helmets and drug awareness pamphlets. There was an educational display about various drugs for parents. Free hot dogs, chips and cookies were enjoyed by all. Pictured are Allyson and her brother Matthew with their bikes and helmets.
Key West Lodge members promoted the Hoop Shoot and drug awareness programs Oct. 28 at Children's Day held at Key West Park. Filled with bounce houses, rides, snacks and more, The annual event raises money for local children’s organizations and every penny raised goes to the organizations.
Florida Keys Lodge held their annual children’s Christmas party Dec. 8 for 92 children. Along with visiting and taking pictures with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and their elf, the kids decorated cookies, saw the fantastic magic of Michael Trixx, enjoyed lunch, made Christmas crafts, and went home with a goodie bag. This annual event is put on using an Elks National Foundation grant.
Landon and Coral have their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus (Tim and Patty Hartnett) and Santa’s elf, Hollis Krutulis.
On Oct. 18, Miami Elks Lodge #948 held a presentation for Wheelchairs 4 Kids. Lonnie and Madeline Robinson, the founders of this organization, work in conjunction with Florida Elks Children's Therapy Services therapists who visit children in their homes and administer treatment. They are aware of kids who are in need of wheelchairs and ask for the lodge's help in securing them because their parents cannot afford them. The Elks presented a wheelchair to 15-year-old Julian who has cerebral palsy with spastic diplegia and a gait trainer to 15-year-old Jose who has cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia. Their faces and their parents' faces lit up at the presentation. Julian immediately looked comfortable in his up-to-date custom-made wheelchair. Jose, who can only stand with support on both sides, has been wheelchair-bound. The gait trainer enabled him to move his legs and walk with the support of his new apparatus. He smiled and moved around the lodge dining room with ease, and when asked if he was happy, he said "yes, now I can walk with my friends at school." Through members' time and effort volunteering at lodge charity events, members are able to change people's lives for the better.
Pictured at Miami Lodge’s Wheelchairs 4 Kids presentation Oct. 18 are Scott McGowan, Custom Mobility rep; Jose Ricardo Sanchez in his new gait trainer; Patricia Avila; Julian Lopez in his new wheelchair; Daniel Heidenreich, Julian's father; Mallerly Romero, Julian's mother; and Lonnie Robinson, Wheelchairs 4 Kids board member. Lodge officers Will Garzitz, Nancy Carr, Al Reker, Kathy Held and Frank Reynolds are pictured in the back row.
Florida Keys Elks Lodge #1872 held their soccer shoot Nov. 10. First-place winners were Chloe Kessler, U-8 girls; Wyatt Meyers, U-8 boys; Sophia Barry, U-10 girls; Jacob Pickering, U-10 boys; Xol Placencia, U-12 boys; and Jackson Harrington, U-14 boys. These six winners advanced to the regional soccer shoot.
At their general meeting Wednesday, Sept. 5, Miami Elks Lodge #948 honored Hunter Reker as its Student of the Month for September. He is currently a junior at Terra Environmental High School in Miami. TERRA Environmental Research Institute is a secondary public school and is a LEED certified high school. The school has three magnet academies: Biomedical Research, Robotics & Engineering, and Environmental Research. Hunter’s field of study is Engineering. This past summer he worked at the Florida Elks Youth Camp as a counselor-in-training after attending many previous summers as a camper. Hunter’s grandfather is Albert Reker, PDD, Lodge Advisor.
Miami Lodge’s Student of the Month, Hunter Reker, is pictured with PDD Al Reker, Tim Reker, Barbara Reker and Kelly Reker.
Florida Keys Lodge had a good crowd at their Flag Day ceremony with Boy Scout Troop 912, the Tavernier Fire Department, members and friends. After the ceremony and flag retirements, members and guests dined on hot dogs and hamburgers on the patio.
Florida Keys Elks Lodge #1872 awarded $7,000 for 2018 scholarships. U.S. Navy Master-at-Arms Stephen Dombroski Ferguson presented the awards to Lorena Perez, Angelle Kelly, Julie Prieto and Jeffrey King. Ferguson previously attended Coral Shores High School and is the grandson of members Dan and Jane Ferguson.
Florida Keys Lodge recently held the sixth annual Ladies Dolphin Tournament with 44 boats and 113 anglers. It was a great day on the water. Each year, this event proves to be the best charity fundraiser for the lodge. The combined weight of three fish determines the winners.
Rebecca Brito, Michala Laufle and Brittany Block, all from Tavernier, won the Florida Keys Lodge’s Ladies Dolphin Tournament. Abigale Varela, fishing with her cousin, was the top junior angler.
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:
