On Sept. 18, Craig Abbott, PER of Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 presented Marie Mueller, N.U.B.S. community service co-advisor of Oneco Elementary School, the Elks distinguished citizenship award for her outstanding leadership and dedication to N.U.B.S. (Never Underestimate Brave Students), a community service group of students who volunteer their time to help their school, community and country. The lodge has been supporting the program since the 2014-2015 school year. Years ago, lodge member Pat Gallagher went to Marie Mueller with his vision and she and the students jumped right on the idea. As they were too young to join the Antlers junior Elks program, they put on their thinking caps and started their research. They soon learned that antlers start from a pair of nubs on a buck’s head. This was it – the group had a name and their amazing journey began. Their mission statement is, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Manasota Lodge supports N.U.B.S. throughout the school year. They donated vests for each member to wear during their activities, they donated to rebuild their vegetable garden, they promote the Red Ribbon poster contest, they collect and donate box tops for their playground equipment, they sponsor breakfast with Santa, they read at the school on Literacy Day, and they donated 528 pencils to their school supplies.
Craig Abbott, PER of Manasota Lodge presents Marie Mueller with a distinguished citizenship award Sept. 18. Also pictured is Pam McDowell, Exalted Ruler.