Florida Elks Support Hurricane Ian Relief Efforts
Recently our state was hit hard by Hurricane Ian. We lost lodge facilities, many of our members were affected by the hurricane, and the toll of destruction continues to rise. True to form, the Elks were on the ground and providing relief almost as quickly as the storm passed. Two days post-Ian’s landfall in Florida, Bill Dryburgh in southwest Florida and Russ Smith in central Florida had been deputized by the Florida Elks Disaster Relief Committee as relief coordinators and already had funds in hand from the Grand Lodge Disaster Relief Fund to begin distributing to Elks in the affected areas. Also that day, Elks in Florida began receiving an email from the Florida Elks soliciting their donations to the relief efforts and informing those affected how to file an application for relief. At this writing, donations continue to flow in, and the response has been heartwarming, to say the least.
We are receiving support from Elks across the country, state associations, districts, lodges and individuals. Many lodges are holding benefits and amassing supplies to ship to the affected areas. In 2004 when Hurricane Charley hit Florida, Elks everywhere stepped up to the tune of over $250,000 in relief. All guesses are that that number will be paled by the destruction wreaked by Hurricane Ian. Thank you, everyone, who has already responded with assistance, and thank you, everyone, who will respond in the coming weeks and months. You have truly demonstrated once again that Elks Care — Elks Share!
I want to also let you know that the midyear convention in St. Petersburg in November will go on as planned. Fortunately, the Tampa/St. Petersburg area was, for the most part, spared by Hurricane Ian, so there are no issues associated with access to the hotel or damage. Our boards and committees have not met since May, so it is important for us to meet and conduct our statewide business, including our disaster relief efforts! We certainly understand that some of our members will be unable to attend, and we will miss them, but, in true Elks form, or maybe Jolly Cork form, the show must go on! I hope to see many of you at our midyear convention, and we will continue to pray for a speedy recovery for those affected by Hurricane Ian!
State Secretary