It’s been 95 years since DeLand Elks Lodge opened their doors for the first time, but just as amazing is the lodge has been in the same location at 150 S. Clara Ave. in DeLand, Fla. The lodge has been serving the community, visiting and helping veterans every month at Emory Bennett Veterans Nursing Home in Daytona Beach, putting on events for children such as summer splash days, sharing food with the neighborhood center, volunteering, and sponsoring children to summer camp.
As of September, DeLand Lodge relocated to 614 S. Alabama Ave.a one-story building just a few blocks from its current location. The 95-year-old building was getting tired and the City of DeLand has offered to purchase the property.
The officers and the moving committee have been taking much of the historic memorabilia of the old lodge to the new location.
In celebration of their 95 years, the lodge held an Italian Night Saturday, July 28, with many members, family and friends from DeLand and other lodges and dignitaries attending.
Pictured at the front table are Tom Brand, PDD from Palm Coast and current District Deputy of the East Central District, Angelo Cretella.
Placing the lodge sign on the new building
When the BIG RED BUS shows up at your lodge, what do you do? GIVE! Edgewater-New Smyrna Beach Lodge members donated blood at the lodge Saturday, July 21. Along with the Elks, the Ponce Inlet Corvette Club also came to donate. Pictured is Lodge Chief and Trustee, Sondra Wagoner.
DeLand Elks Lodge #1463 celebrated all mothers in style May 13. A beautiful plant was given to the mother with the most children, the youngest mother, the oldest mother and the mother with most grandkids. Red and white carnations were given to all who attended and a lunch was served following the ceremony.
Pictured at DeLand Lodge’s Mother’s Day celebration were Rachel Sieg, PER; Tony Buckner, ER; Tom Hopp, PER; Anita Fritzer and Betty Sieg (seated).
Edgewater-New Smyrna Beach Elks Lodge #1557 hosted Cub Scout Pack 72 for their annual Pinewood Derby. Pictured are pack leader, John Krack; second-place winner, Jacob Herpstnet; Lecturing Knight, Denise Bell; first-place winner, Tyler Gladding; Trustee, Bill Bell; and third-place winner, William Bobbit.
Merritt Island Lodge sponsored David Von Steinmetz of Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School who won second-place in the 2017-2018 Americanism essay contest. The essay topic was “Why our Veterans are America’s Heroes.” David’s essay won first-place at the lodge level in Division II (seventh and eighth grades) and was then forwarded to the district level and later to the state level. This is truly an outstanding accomplishment for him. He and his parents were guests of the lodge June 15 where he was presented a check for $750. It was an exciting evening for David and his parents as well as the guests who were present to hear the 14-year-old read his essay. Not only is he a good writer but he is also a good speaker.