News Features
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
Share Your Story
We'd love to see & share your Lodge & District Events!
Let's promote what our Florida Elks are doing to support your community
Preserve any person, event, or memory with a personalized brick at your Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida.
Learn More
Southeast Central District
Two Food Pantries Receive Generous Donations from Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge
- Details
- Written by Bobbie Vance
On April 5, Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge #2387 donated $1,000 each to the Club Zion Community Church food pantry and the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, an outreach of Our Saviour Catholic Church. Both pantries are located in Cocoa Beach, Florida. An Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant was used to fund the donations, which now total $6,000 for this year. Pictured are the Club Zion Community Church food pantry and volunteers of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.
Two Food Pantries Receive Generous Donations from Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge
- Details
- Written by Bobbie Vance
On April 5, Cocoa Beach Elks Lodge #2387 donated $1,000 each to the Club Zion Community Church food pantry and the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, an outreach of Our Saviour Catholic Church. Both pantries are located in Cocoa Beach, Florida. An Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant was used to fund the donations, which now total $6,000 for this year. Pictured are the Club Zion Community Church food pantry and volunteers of St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.
Vero Beach Elks Host Easter Event for Students at Wabasso School
- Details
- Written by Carol and Joe Palowich
On April 6, Vero Beach Elks Lodge #1774 held its annual Easter egg event at Wabasso School in Wabasso, Florida. The school is a special education center serving students ages 5 to 22. Within a safe and supportive learning environment, the children develop their academic and independent living skills to meet post-secondary goals and successful community integration. As always, Elroy the Elk was the big hit of the day. All students received their own Easter basket with stuffed animals. After some time to find their hidden eggs, the children were treated to juice and cupcakes. funding for this event came from the Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant.
Pictured are lodge members Carol Palowich; Joe Palowich, PER; Rich Miller, PER; Kathi Miller, Secretary; Elroy the Elks (Ken Roberts); Bob Dowgiallo; Carol Trombley; Scott Hensel; and Jim Rannazzisi, PER.
Also pictured are two students with Elroy.
Vero Beach Elks Recognize Americanism Essay Contest Winners
- Details
- Written by Carol and Joe Palowich
Vero Beach Elks Lodge #1774 had 109 participants in the Americanism essay contest. Nine students, pictured April 18, were chosen as winners for the Southeast Central District. Four of these students placed in the top three of their age divisions for the state contest — Tripp Gunter, second place, eighth grade (second from left); Gabriel Escobar, third place, fifth grade (third from left); Abigail Dupay, first place, sixth grade (seventh from left); and Daniela Martinez, third place, seventh grade (eighth from left). Pictured in the back are Jane Ferguson, 2022-2023 Americanism Lodge Chair, and Joseph Palowich, PER, last year’s Exalted Ruler during the contest.
Port St. Lucie Elks Motorcycle Riders' Club Marches in St. Patrick's Day Parade
- Details
- Written by Pete Jordan
The Port St. Lucie Elks Lodge’s motorcycle riders’ club partnered with the local Vietnam veterans’ color guard to march in the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. The lodge riders were recognized as best dressed.
Sebastian Elks Award $5,000 in Scholarships to Local Students
- Details
- Written by Pauline Talbott
On April 18, Pam Saracene presented $5,000 in scholarships from Sebastian Lodge to five graduating seniors from Sebastian River High School. Each recipient was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
Sebastian Elks Participate in Community Easter Egg Hunt
- Details
- Written by Pauline Talbott
On April 8, Sebastian Elks Lodge #2714 supported a community Easter egg hunt at the South Mainland Community Center in Micco, Florida. The Drug Awareness trailer was on-site and children were able to take a break from the fun and color. Drug Awareness bags containing coloring books and red ribbons were given to approximately 50 children. The bags were also used in the Easter egg hunt. More than 500 plastic eggs filled with candy and prizes were donated by Dan Talbott, Exalted Ruler, and Michael Schodlbauer, PDD. Information was provided about the Florida Elks Youth Camp and Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services.
Pictured are guests coloring.
Under the Elks tent are Pauline Talbott, Lodge Drug Awareness Chair; Dan Talbott, Exalted Ruler; Mary Ducharme, Ladies Treasurer; and Michael Schodlbauer, PDD.
Elroy the Elk (Michael Schodlbauer) hunts for Easter eggs with the help of Mary Ducharme.
Viera Elks Lodge's Youth Antlers Group Assists Lodge and Installs Upcoming Year's Officers
- Details
- Written by Becky Wills & Jerry Harrington
On Feb. 11, Viera Elks Lodge #2817 held a steak dinner, at which the lodge’s Antlers members served and helped clean up. In addition, they gave each lady in attendance a red rose that they purchased from their own budget. On March 25, Viera Lodge held a joint installation ceremony for lodge officers, followed by Antlers lodge officers. “It was the most well-attended installation ceremony I have seen in 47 years of Elkdom. These youngsters are truly the future of our order,” said Jerry Harrington, Exalted Ruler.
Pictured are three of the members who helped serve the February dinner — Jake Vargas, Ronald Adlin and Janey Vargas. Also pictured are the 2023-2024 Viera Antlers new officers.
Sebastian Elks Lodge Hosts Fundraiser for Tunnels to Towers Foundation
- Details
- Written by Pauline Talbott
On Feb. 26, Sebastian Lodge held an event with more than 100 members in attendance for a presentation of $12,500 to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, a nonprofit charity committed to honoring the sacrifices made by first responders and military personnel who have been killed or injured in the line of duty. This donation was made possible by the dedication and hard work of lodge members for the lodge golf tournament and other fundraisers under the organization of co-chairs Benny and Susan Colson. Additional funds raised that day brought the total donation to $13,205.
Pictured are first responders from Indian River County Fire Rescue; Susan Colson, fundraising co-chair; Chuck Marchetti, Exalted Ruler; a representative from Tunnels to Towers; Benny Colson, fundraising co-chair; Fred Jones, Sebastian mayor; and Dan Acosta, police chief.
Ladies of Sebastian Elks Lodge Donate Funds for School Uniforms
- Details
- Written by Pauline Talbott
On Jan. 13, the El-Does, the ladies auxiliary of Sebastian Elks Lodge #2714, donated $1,200 to Sebastian Elementary to cover the cost of school uniforms for those in need. The money was raised over the course of the third quarter with a dance in October and a chance raffle.
Mary Ducharme, El-Does Treasurer, presented the check to the administrative assistant.
Sebastian Elks Lodge's Ladies Auxiliary Help Fund Shop With a Cop
- Details
- Written by Pauline Talbott
Sebastian Lodge’s ladies auxiliary, the El-Does, did a lottery board raffle of a $50 bill and $105 worth of scratch-off tickets to fund Sebastian Police Department’s Shop-with-a-Cop. The raffle generated $1,590 for the shopping trip held Dec. 14, where 150 children in Indian River County were given $100 to shop with a cop.
Pictured with the Sebastian Police Department COPE Unit are Diane Lemire, Elk and El-Doe; Pauline Talbott, Elk and El-Does co-director; and Mary Ducharme, El-Does Treasurer.
Sebastian Elks Lodge Participate in Toys for Tots Program
- Details
- Written by Pauline Talbott
On Nov. 1, Sebastian Lodge took part in Toys for Tots by placing collection boxes in the lodge social quarters and hall. The boxes had to be emptied several times. A dinner dance hosted by the El-Does Ladies auxiliary Dec. 10 brought in even more toys. On Dec. 15, all toys and bicycles valued at more than $7,500 and a monetary donation of $710 were delivered to Toys for Tots of Indian River County.
Pictured are Tony Vitale; Audrey Huddy, Elk and El-Doe; Debbie Lawerence; Pam Saracene, Elk and El-Does co-director; Dan Talbott, Leading Knight; Pauline Talbott, Elk and El-Does co-director; Mary Fox, El-Doe; Carol Vitale, Elk and El-Doe, seated; Mary Ducharme, El-Does Treasurer; and Michael Schodlbauer, PDD.