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.
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.
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.
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.
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.