Florida Elks News

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Written by: Ronna Mason, PER

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On May 13, Sebring Lodge held its third annual fishing tournament on Lake Jackson behind the lodge. The Sebring Fire Department assisted in the event, as they do with many lodge events in the community. Twenty-five boats, at an entry fee of $135 per boat, left at sunrise and returned for the 1 p.m. weigh-in. There was a five-bass limit and Allison Rapp, lodge member, and her husband, Brian, did a very professional job sending the boats out in an orderly fashion and overseeing the weigh-in. The team of Virgil Lindsey and Dave Kisner won first place with 9.87 lbs. and received $1,000; the team of Zack Marine and Zack Taylor won second place with 9.67 lbs. and received $750; and Nicholas Gribbin and Ronnie and Michael Westcott won third place with 8.13 lbs. and received $500. The second place team also won $500 for the largest bass, 5.65 lbs. While the teams were fishing, guests at the lodge participated in a bake sale, enjoyed lunch, and were entertained by local artists Shannon Reed and Earl Mandrell. The event had many sponsors, including platinum level sponsors, Bowman Steel and Florida Lake Spa. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds were deposited in the lodge’s charity account and 75% will be used toward needed repairs and upgrades for the lodge. While many of the volunteers who helped put on this tournament are not lodge members, it is a wonderful example of how Sebring Lodge partners with their community. The lodge also gained several new members from this event. 

Pictured from the Sebring Fire Department are Eric Thompson, Steven Dunn, Nicole Beard and Captain Chad Marley.

Also pictured are some of the boats in Lake Jackson.

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Written by: Linda Killian

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On May 11, during National Nurses Week, the Deep Creek Ladies of Elks presented Cynthia Mezius and Kasia Bundz, each pursuing a career in nursing at the Charlotte Technical College, with a $3,000 scholarship. Both of these young women will graduate in June with their LPN licenses and are going on to further their education to become registered nurses. Every Monday the Ladies of Elks sponsors a game called Show Me the Money, of which the entire proceeds are used for granting scholarships. To date, they have granted 12 scholarships to students from CTC for a total of $27,500 to assist students in furthering their educations and careers.

Pictured are Sue Crady, Ladies of Elks President; Kasia Bundtz; Cynthia Mezius; and Kathie Flecken, Inner Guard.

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Written by: Carol Lee Spages

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On May 6, New Port Richey Lodge participated in the Pasco Alliance of Substance Addiction Prevention's Pedal for Prevention event to kick off National Prevention Week. The event was held in New Port Richey, Florida. Using their Drug Busters goggles, lodge members invited participants to try them on to experience the effects of being under the influence. People tried catching a ball, walking heel to toe and picking something off the ground. When they failed, they were given a red ribbon to remind them to say no to drugs. Elks Drug Awareness mascot, Elroy, visited, and lodge members handed out more than 500 pieces of Elks drug awareness information.

Pictured are Elroy the Elk (lodge member Elizabeth Groves) and event participant Katheleen Tsalopoulos.

Wearing the goggles is Bonnie Snider, Pasco Alliance of Substance Addiction Prevention coordinator.

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Written by: Frank Kuczkowski & Gary VanOpdorp, PER

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On April 1, Port Orange Lodge honored Steve Parker with an Elks Distinguished Citizen Award for his outstanding efforts in assisting veterans with returning to their homes after they were displaced by Hurricane Ian. Following the historic flooding in the Port Orange area last year from the hurricane, Parker became aware of local veterans who were displaced. He owns his own construction firm and used his resources, including a considerable amount of his own money, to make the repairs necessary to make the homes habitable. Before the award, Parker had never heard of the Elks, but he has since become a very enthusiastic lodge member.

Pictured are Gary VanOpdorp, PER and Steve Parker.

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Written by: Ken Fabiani, PER

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On April 26, Keith Guzman and his family moved in to their new home in Tampa, Florida. He is the 247th veteran to have their home furnished by the Zephyrhills Lodge Veterans Committee and the Elks Welcome Home Kits. The committee also provided a 45-inch flat-screen television.

Pictured are the Guzman family with lodge member Jim Cross and volunteer Howard Lundsford. Also assisting was Ken Fabiani, PER.

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Written by: JoAnn Reddy

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Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies volunteers of Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota and Bradenton lodges had another successful school year, packing and sending home 600 meals each weekend with students from 10 schools. For approximately 30 weeks from September to May, this amounts to nearly 18,000 meals. Food was purchased using funds from the Elks National Foundation Gratitude and Beacon grants as well as from lodge fundraisers and community donations.

Pictured April 14 at Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge are members from both lodges coming together to celebrate their success and plan for next year.

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Written by: Ronna Mason, PER

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Using the Elks National Foundation Beacon and Spotlight grants as well as the state association matching grant, Sebring Lodge helped sponsor the purchase of a used truck for Hands for Homeless in Avon Park, Florida. This truck will be seen around Hardee, Polk and Highlands counties and will be hauling fresh and dried foods to be distributed to those in need from the Avon Park location. The truck is also being used to pick up used furniture for the Hands for Homeless thrift store. Foods are continually collected by the Monday night charity bingo as well as Elk members. 

Pictured April 12 are lodge members Joe Stockenberg, Ken Wheeler, Darlene Quel, Ron Schilffarth, Bob Lewis, Jonathan Spiegel, Mark Richards and Jim Mason in front of the newly painted truck, spotlighting the Elks logo. 

Jonathan Speigel, Exalted Ruler; Joe Stockenberg, Leading Knight; and Jim Mason, PDD, are pictured loading the truck.

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Written by: Mary Lou Scribner, PER

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For many years, Brandon Elks Lodge #2383 put on a prom at the lodge for Willis Peters Exceptional Center, a school in Dover, Florida, for students with a wide range of disabilities. For the past few years, the prom had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. This year, Nickie Wells, PER contacted the school about holding a prom again, which they did April 13 with help from the school and lodge volunteers (Ed Ciesla, Exalted Ruler; Donald Harrison, Leading Knight; Sharon Hammersla, PDD, trustee; Nancy Price, Treasurer; Lou Valencia, Loyal Knight; and Nickie Wells, PER). The theme was “Fire and Ice” and to better accommodate the students, the prom was held at the school. Elroy the Elk (Ed Ciesla) mingled with the students. Lodge members cooked and served chicken nuggets, French fries, pizza squares and themed cupcakes, all paid for by the lodge. Wells has pledged to work with the school each year to ensure the prom continues to be an annual event supported by the lodge.

Pictured are Donald Harrison and Elroy (Ed Ciesla) with the students; PER Nickie Wells, Lou Valencia and Nancy Price; and the themed cupcake table.