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South Southeast District
Delray Beach Lodge Hosts Several Fundraisers
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Delray Beach Elks Lodge #1770 held their 13th annual chili cook-off Jan. 18 and raised $1,000 for the Harry-Anna Trust Fund. Pictured are the winning members: Lynn Lavenco, second place; Joe and Lisa Danciu, first place; Frank Barbieri accepting third place prize for Mike Cruz; and Mitch Katz, emcee.
Delray Beach Lodge also held their 59th annual country-western dinner dance Feb. 22. They hosted 250 people who raised $17,000 for Sunny Shores Sea Camp, a respite in Florida for children with cystic fibrosis and their families. On March 7, the lodge held their annual awards night where they honored the city’s finest police officer, firefighter and ocean rescuer.
Pompano Beach Elks Participate in Community Event
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Pompano Beach Elks Lodge #1898 participated in the ninth annual Unity in the Community event Jan. 25. It is a day for family fun promoted and coordinated by the City of Pompano Beach. The lodge sponsored a booth and passed out information about the Elks drug awareness program, Elks scholarships and Elks membership. Coincidentally, a performing clown at the event noticed the Elks booth and told them that her daughter had been treated at the Florida Elks’ Lower East Coast Clinic approximately 20 years ago and she let them know how much she appreciated what the Elks had done for her family. Pictured are Robin Haywood, Exalted Ruler, and Frank Sellers Jr., District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler.
Pompano Beach Elks Honor Eagle Scout
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On Oct. 24 at a ceremony at American Legion Post #142, Kenneth Jiampetti was presented with an American flag and a framed Eagle Scout award from Pompano Beach Elks Lodge #1898 by Exalted Ruler, Robin Haywood. His Eagle Scout project was the installation of a flagpole, decorative stonework, additional electrical wiring and lights, landscaping, and tree and vegetation maintenance for the back property of the American Legion. Pictured are scoutmaster, Scott Slinko of Oakland Park Lodge #2407; Haywood; Jiampetti; and scoutmasters Dorothy Pezzi and Jeff Early from Oakland Park Lodge #2407.
Boca Raton Lodge Donates Bicycles to Children in Need
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Boca Raton Lodge’s annual Christmas party was held Dec. 14. Raffles were held and $170 was used to purchase three new bicycles for children in need. Pictured are lodge members PER Ian MacDonald and Tito Young, Exalted Ruler.
Boca Raton Lodge Holds Hoop Shoot
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Boca Raton Lodge hosted its Hoop Shoot in November with 45 children participating in all age groups. The winners went on to the district Hoop Shoot Dec. 7. The five winners moved on to the regional contest held in February. Exalted Ruler, Tito Young, is pictured with district Hoop Shoot winners.
SSE District Holds Fundraiser for FSEA Employee
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- Written by Norm Mandel
The South Southeast District believes in taking care of its own. At their January District Past Exalted Rulers Association meeting, upon hearing the news FSEA employee Amanda Frosch’s vehicle accident, and at the suggestion of District Leader, PSP Vincent Como, the association decided to run a reverse draw raffle for her benefit. Sales began within the district and culminated at the February state quarterly meeting at the Florida Elks Youth Camp. The winning tickets were drawn and several winners, including State President, Frank Malatesta (first ticket drawn), donated their winnings. In total, $4,000 was raised to help Frosch through this trying time. The district wishes her a quick recovery.
Delray Beach Lodge Continues Community Involvement
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Delray Beach Elks Lodge’s 37th country and western dinner dance fundraiser was the most successful thus far, raising $16,000 for the Sunny Shores Sea Camp. The camp hosts a five-day camp for children, teens and adults with cystic fibrosis accompanied by up to three of their family members. This year, these campers will be going to Melbourne, Fla.
Delray Beach Lodge maintains community visibility in a variety of ways. At Delray Beach Lodge’s annual awards dinner, awards were presented to the Police Officer of the Year, Firefighter of the Year, Ocean Rescue of the Year, Elks Officer of the Year, Elk of the Year and Citizen of the Year. The lodge also participated once again in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Additionally, the lodge donated $1,000 to the Miracle League, $1,000 to the Sandoway Discovery Center and $500 to AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse).
Boca Raton Lodge Gains New Members and Supports Local Groups
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Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 held a chili cook-off to bring in new members. Lodge members and local firefighters, paramedics, and police officers brought their best dishes to be judged. Veterans from Palm Beach State College judged the chili dishes and named the first-place, second-place and third-place winners. The People’s Choice award was named by the members. The lodge gained two new members as a result of this event.
Using an Elks National Foundation Gratitude Grant, Boca Raton Lodge donated $500 to the Boca Raton High School marching band, $300 to Island Dolphin Care and $300 to the Florence Fuller Child Development Center.
Delray Beach Elks Support Delray Reads Day
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Delray Beach Lodge donated $1,000 to the Delray Beach Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Delray Reads Day is an annual community-wide event established in 2012 to support this campaign by bringing community leaders and residents into area schools to learn more about how they can help schools and students. The goal is to create long-term relationships between the schools and community members and show the community's commitment to improving students' third-grade reading scores by 50 percent before the end of 2020.
Delray Beach Lodge member Johnny Mackey reads to children during the Delray Reads event.
Happenings at Hollywood West Lodge
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On Nov. 7, Hollywood West Lodge hosted the local Hoop Shoot competition in Hollywood at the Boys and Girls Club of Broward County. Several lodge volunteers assisted Hoop Shoot Chairman and Exalted Ruler, Paul Houser in making this competition fun for all participating. Afterward, a ceremony was held awarding trophies and ribbons.
On Nov. 10, Hollywood West Lodge member Bennie Stravato coordinated a charity motorcycle ride to benefit the Harry-Anna Trust Fund. Over 20 bikers from the lodge and others from the community participated in the event which generated a large profit from the sale of 106 tickets. The ride commenced at the lodge followed by a visit to West Palm Beach Lodge and a stop at Oakland Park Lodge on the return trip. A barbecue was held at the lodge after the ride.
On Dec. 1, Hollywood West Lodge hosted their annual Dinty Moore dinner to raise money for their annual children’s Christmas party. Children from the local Hope Outreach Center were invited to the lodge where they greeted Santa who arrived on a local fire truck. The children were served a complimentary lunch, got to visit with Santa and received a goodie bag and a personal gift from Santa.
Boca Raton Lodge News
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Boca Raton Lodge held their annual Hoop Shoot Nov. 3 at a local church. Many of them moved on to compete in the district Hoop Shoot Dec. 1, and all the Boca Raton contestants moved on to the regional competition.
During December, Boca Raton Lodge collected new, unwrapped toys which were distributed to needy local families by the Boca Raton Firefighters’ Benevolent Association. A blood drive was also held.
Boca Raton Lodge holds Membership Drive
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On Oct. 20-21, Boca Raton Elks Lodge #2166 held a weekend-long membership drive within the community. Saturday featured an Oktoberfest with German beer, food and music. The weekend resulted in three membership applications.