West Central District

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Written by Rita Smith

Tampa Lodge held its annual Flag Day ceremony June 14, with all the lodge Ritual officers participating. There were approximately 40 Elks, members of the community and scouts in attendance. Each received an American flag lapel pin. BSA Troop 53 assisted in the ceremony, showing up an hour early for a practice. The scouts did a great job presenting the flags at the proper time and in the proper order. Richard Florance, PER, Lodge Americanism Chair, read the mandatory Response. The ceremony was filmed and shown on Fox 13’s 11 p.m. news. Following the ceremony, lodge trustees served hot dogs, baked beans, macaroni salad, watermelon, cake, soft drinks and water, all at no cost to attendees.

Pictured are Rita Smith, Exalted Ruler, and scouts.

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Written by Rita Smith

Club Chivalry’s last event of the year was April 29. Member Tommy Moore and Rita Smith, Exalted Ruler, joined teacher/club sponsor Caroline Hand for the senior meal field trip to Fred’s in Riverview. They left the school at 9:30 a.m. with 13 seniors and arrived in time for the students to visit the breakfast buffet. When breakfast closed, they held a small ceremony to give out honor cords to the seniors who did four years of Avid classes, to the seniors who were Club Chivalry officers, and to the seniors who participated in Relay For Life and had $150 in fundraising. The students then went to the lunch buffet and were back at the school by 12:30.

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Written by Rita Smith

On April 22, Club Chivalry, the high school group sponsored by Tampa Elks Lodge #708, formed a team and participated in the Relay For Life of Tampa, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society which was held on the Robinson football field. The American Cancer Society’s director, Tammy Schoonermaker, spoke about the event at a club meeting and gave out a T-shirt to each student who signed up. Club Chivalry members walked the track and one sophomore worked in the booth. Lodge members participated in planning and handling the booth. This year the lodge was a Bronze Sponsor and sold about 40 luminaires at $10 each. During the event, they sold sandwiches, chips and soda. Nina Carrol provided the specialty sandwiches and donated soda. Chris Miles, Jimmy Dreby and Cole Miles set up the booth. Robert Bordonaro and his family and Patty Volpe and Dean Wilson assisted with sales. Christien Elkins showed up at 11 to break the booth down and pack everything into a vehicle.

Pictured are the luminaires; Patty Volpe, Robert Bordonaro, and Dean Wilson at the booth; and Principal Bhoolai; Rita Smith, team captain and Exalted Ruler; and senior Brianna Sterns.

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Written by Rita Smith

On May 5 during Youth Week, the lodge honored Ismeny Ramirez, a Club Chivalry student at Robinson High School, as Teenager of the Year. She is a junior who is dual enrolled at Hillsborough Community College, has a weighted grade-point average of 4.65, is president of the Spanish Club, and was just awarded Student of the Year in Business Technology.

Rita Smith, Exalted Ruler, is pictured presneting the award to Ismeny Ramirez.

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Written by Rita Smith

On April 26^th, Rita Smith, Exalted Ruler of Tampa Elks Lodge #708, attended an AFJROTC award night banquet for the Plant High School squadron. There were approximately 200 people in attendance, including cadets, parents and community leaders presenting awards. The cadet selected by the school to receive the Elks Award of JROTC Excellence was Cadet Sage Stark. Sage is a sophomore and has made significant contributions to the goals of the Plant High School AFJROTC by maintaining a 4.0 unweighted grade-point average while earning 65 service hours with the JROTC and 35 outside service hours. He is a member of five honor societies, including Kitty Hawk, and participates in multiple extracurricular activities. He is also an Eagle Scout from Troop 53 who held his Eagle ceremony at the lodge.

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Written by Rita Smith

Though several schools, scout troops and other youth groups were solicited, Tampa Lodge only received Drug Awareness poster contest entries from BridgePrep K-8 Academy. Seventeen posters were submitted from two grades. In lieu of participation certificates, Tommy Moore, Lodge Drug Awareness Chair, decided to treat the students to ice cream. They were released from class to have their snack outside. In addition, the lodge donated $100 to the school, which will be applied to their Black History Month budget shortfall.

Pictured March 24 is Tommy Moore delivering the ice cream and donation to Christine Harris, principal and lodge member. The students are pictured March 25 enjoying their reward.