Development Director

Wow, it is hard to imagine that we are already halfway through a busy 2024. With the arrival of summer and the rising temperatures, it is that time of year again when staying hydrated becomes essential. While our lives are busy with work, Elks meetings or events, remember to always take time for your family! Below are exciting things that make the Florida State Elks Association proud of what we as Elks do!

The Unmasking Autism Gala, as you read in the last issue, was another success. We have started the next step for helping children with ASD. The Florida State Elks Association has partnered with Adult and Pediatric Institute for Health and Wellness and its team of CEO Nicole Clark, MSN, BA, PMH-RN and Dr. Mariel Paralitici-Morales, MD, to begin our new program — Florida Elks for Autism. This program is being offered one week per quarter, and like our therapy services, it is provided free of charge. We can evaluate 10 children per quarter. This testing is held at the beautiful Florida Elks Youth Camp and the families of those being evaluated are welcome to stay overnight at the camp with accommodations, if needed. With many testing facilities, there is a 1½ year waiting list, and many times insurance companies will not cover this costly testing process, which makes our program one of the only types in the country to offer such services. The first week of testing was done in early June and the families of the children scheduled to be evaluated during that week were overwhelmed with the accommodations offered during this testing period. Children who are being evaluated may not have a final diagnosis of ASD but will have been diagnosed with a different disability that Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services may be able to provide therapy services for. The wonderful team of Dr. Morales and Nicole Clark stated that being able to dine and speak with the families outside of the testing area has created a new level of trust with families of those children being evaluated and with the children. Again, the Florida Elks are stepping up to the plate to help children with ASD within our communities. The sooner that these children receive a diagnosis and the sooner they receive therapy, the better chance they have to reach their developmental goals, which are different for each child. Help us to help these children with your donations!

The Florida Elks state convention, held in Orlando in May, was a tremendous success! The convention provided a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends, forge new connections and exchange ideas with fellow members from across the state. Events like the state convention are not only enjoyable but also invaluable for gathering insights into successful fundraisers and strategies to keep our members engaged and motivated. It is inspiring to see how other lodges are making a difference in their communities and learning from their experiences.

The Elks national convention was held June 30 - July 3 in Austin, Texas. Florida was well represented and as in the words of Mike Smith, PNP, a prominent figure in our Florida Elks communities, the Florida Elks were Loud, Proud, and Visible. Florida always makes quite the impression! As always, it was inspiring to see our members along with members from other states come together with enthusiasm and passion for our organization! The convention provided a fantastic platform for networking, exchanging ideas, and sharing our commitment to community service and fraternal values. It is great to see friendships made among Elk members from across the country, all united in our mission to make a positive impact in our communities and our dedication to the Elks! I thank State President Russ Smith and his wife, Denise, for helping to unload the trailer. He sure wasn’t kidding at the state convention when he stated he would roll up his sleeves and be there to help!

Here are some upcoming events to mark on your calendars:

Elks Day at the Rays — Aug. 18, 2024

Reserve your seats at floridaelks.org/rays for a fun day at the Rays game!

61st Annual FLOE Conference — Sept. 19-21, 2024 at Shores Resort & Spa in Daytona Beach

Make your reservations now!

Elks Day at the Bucs — Oct. 27, 2024

Visit floridaelks.org/bucs/ for more information and a chance to meet with other Elks and cheer on our home team!

Midyear Convention — Nov. 14-16, 2024 at Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront

Meet up with other Florida Elks and learn about events and the latest information that is helpful to your lodge.

These events are through the end of 2024 and how quickly the year is passing when combined with our lodge events and personal lives.

Last but worth mentioning, let us all give a big thank you to Carl Seibert, COO/State Secretary, who oversees and plans the state events and makes sure every detail is covered during these events! It is not an easy task but he fulfills the job!

In closing, thank you to all members for your continued support and dedication to the Florida State Elks Association. God bless you all and stay safe and healthy.

Dan Masi

Development Director