Southeast District

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Written by Clewiston Elks

Clewiston Elks Lodge #1853 continued its long-standing tradition of hosting a community-wide barbecue benefit to raise funds to send scouts from Clewiston Boy Scout Troop 619 to summer camp. The Elks worked closely with the scouts to plan a successful event and the scouts blanketed the community to advertise the event. Together the Elks and scouts raised over $4,000 that will go directly to the troop.

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Written by Clewiston Elks

Clewiston Lodge hosted their annual community and Elks awards ceremony; this year’s Citizen of the Year was awarded to member Marty Espinoza who has been actively involved with various youth groups for over 30 years. His first project was building a reputable wrestling program in the community. Along the way he has helped mentor youth in baseball and basketball, and this year he helped run the local Hoop Shoot. His latest passion is soccer; he helps prepare the children for the local, district, state and tri-state regional shoots. Clewiston has more than a dozen state champions, and when the kids make these trips, he is usually traveling with them, often at his own expense, making the kids feel more secure and confident.

Clewiston Lodge member Marty Espinoza receives the Citizen of the Year award from Linda Allen, Exalted Ruler.

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Written by Lake Okeechobee Elks

Lake Okeechobee Elks Lodge #2871 utilized an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant to purchase new equipment for the Brahman Battalion JROTC including mannequins to display proper attire and decorations of a cadet, new flag equipment for the Honor Guard, a new canopy for shade, a new ruck sack and a length of special rope called a kernmantle.

Using the Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant, Lake Okeechobee Lodge provided each student in second grade at all five elementary schools in the district the beautifully illustrated book “B is for Buckaroo.” Each letter of the alphabet portrays an informational subject about cowboys and the western way of life. The Elks attended the presentation with the court of the Miss Rodeo Okeechobee queens. This ties into the 78th annual speckled perch festival and spring rodeo. The Elks returned in a few weeks and rewarded each child who read the book and took the accelerated reader quiz with an ice cream social and talked about the book.

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Written by Jupiter Elks

Katheryn Rodriguez from Tequesta, Fla., represented Jupiter Elks Lodge #2469 in this year's Elks Soccer Shoot. She won the local contest at Jupiter Farms Park, the district and regional contests at Sugarland Park in Clewiston, and the state championship held at the Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla. She then moved on to the southeast regional contest, also held at the Florida Elks Youth Camp, Jan. 20.

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Written by Jupiter Elks

Jupiter Lodge made 75 children’s Christmases a little extra special with their annual Angel Tree project. From the tremendous support and generosity of members and the community, children received gifts such as bicycles, scooters, roller skates, fishing poles, dolls, remote-control cars and so much more. Pictured is Jerry Thomas Elementary School principal Jeff Eassa with the gift recipients.