Northeast District

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Written by Gene Rittenhouse & Tracy Carroll

On June 5, Green Cove Springs Lodge used an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant to promote the Green Cove Springs Public Library’s opening of the summer children’s program. This was the lodge’s third year of promoting this program. The event’s purpose was to encourage children to sign up for the special library programs for children of all ages.

There were 119 children accompanied by 49 adults in attendance and 25 volunteers. After registering, each child went through the following stations: registration for summer programs, a book station where they received a free age-specific book, an ice cream station, a craft station, a balloon toy maker’s station, a face-painting station and a corn hole game area.

Green Cove Springs Lodge members Karen Pitts, Willie Pitts and Joe Boyd give out age-specific books to each attendee at the opening of the local library’s summer children’s program.

Green Cove Springs Library began their MeeperBot Training Program using MeeperBot robots provided by Green Cove Springs Lodge through ENF Beacon Grant matching funds from the Florida State Elks Association. The first training session included building Lego block tops for the robotic platforms, instruction on controlling the platforms with Kindle Fires and driving their bots down a table to knock down bowling pins. The next sessions included learning to program the platforms to perform different tasks automatically. Librarian and lodge member, Jennifer Parker, was the main instructor of the 26 attendees while parents and siblings observed.

An attendee drives her MeeperBot down the course using a Kindle Fire to control it at a Green Cove Springs Library class. The robots were provided by Green Cove Springs Lodge.

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Written by Green Cove Springs Elks

Green Cove Springs Lodge’s charity bingo donated $300 to the Green Cove Springs Baseball/Softball Association to aid the 8U T-Ball team going to the Florida state championship tournament. The team won third place.

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Written by Green Cove Springs Elks

The second annual Charles E. Bennett Elementary School sixth-grade classes’ luncheon was hosted by the Green Cove Springs PERs’ Elks charity bingo June 1. Ninety-seven students and school personnel were present. The luncheon concluded with the presentation of two lodge citizenship awards to Celia Lombardi and Devan Carney. They were selected by their teachers for the award based on their behavior, ability to work well with others, grades and helpfulness. A highlight of the luncheon was Tatyana Floyd singing a song she wrote. The luncheon chairman was PER Gene Rittenhouse, Bingo Vice Chairman. The luncheon was served by 14 lodge members and helpers.

Green Cove Springs Lodge Exalted Ruler, Lucie Barnette; Devan Carney’s grandmother; Devan Carney; Celia Lomardi; Celia Lombardi’s parents; and PER Gene Rittenhouse are pictured at the luncheon for sixth-graders.

Tatyana Floyd sings a song she wrote for the sixth-grade class during Green Cove Spring Lodge’s celebration luncheon.

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Written by Gene Rittenhouse

FLOE Junior Delegate Linda Rittenhouse of Green Cove Springs Lodge #1892 with the help of FLOE Senior Delegate and Past Lady President Judy Reyes of St. Augustine Lodge #829 combined talents for a second year to raise money for Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services and the Florida Elks Youth Camp. Green Cove Springs Lodge hosted the show June 4. Tiffany Ruff of Resort Fashions presented the fashions for sale. She was assisted by six Green Cove Springs ladies who modeled the casualwear. The setup and decoration of the lodge, meal preparation and serving of attendees was accomplished by 14 volunteers. There were 88 lodge ladies and guests from both lodges present. The event raised $1,538.83 for the two major projects.

Barbara Giansanti, Joi Thomas, Kathy Baraging, Joy Elrod, Nancy Klopfenstein and Deb Langeluttig modeled the fashions during the Northeast District FLOE fashion show.