South Southwest District

Details

Written by Teresa Bird

In May, the Punta Gorda Elks and Elkettes presented a total of 23 scholarships totaling $26,000 to students from two local high schools. The lodge presented 15 $1,000 scholarships, the Past Exalted Rulers Association presented two $1,000 scholarships, and the Elkettes presented six $1,500 scholarships. On May 14, the lodge held a luncheon to honor their Top Student of the Year, Lucia Rivadeneira, who received a scholarship from the Elkettes. The lodge had three scholarship winners from the Elks National Foundation as well. Shea Cencula and Summer Peterson each won a Legacy Scholarship which will give them $1,000 per year for four years. Erik Courtney won a Most Valuable Student Scholarship which will also give him $1,000 a year for four years.

Erik Courtney is pictured receiving his $4,000 Legacy Scholarship from Bud Bell, Elks National Foundation Scholarship Lodge Chair, Bud Bell, and Tom Shoecraft, Exalted Ruler. Lucia Rivadeneria is pictured receiving her $1,500 scholarship from Judy Schall, representing the Elkettes.

Details

Written by Cathy Redman

On May 18, Rotonda Elks Lodge #2710 provided 30 lunches to the sheriff and deputies’ office on Wilmington Blvd. in Englewood, Florida, to thank them for a job well done.

Pictured are Kathy Dardis, Lecturing Knight; Dominick Ierpino; Melissa Jones; Sgt. Kaufman; John Blanchette, Loyal Knight; and RaeLynn Stevenson. Not pictured is Dianne Johnston.

Details

Written by Teresa Bird

Punta Gorda Lodge hosted a blood drive with OneBlood May 19. It was organized by Ambrose Yelovich, PER, who has donated 25 gallons and 5 pints himself. This event had 28 donors — 18 lodge members and 10 members of the public. One pint saves three lives, so this day equated to 84 lives saved. Pictured is Ambrose Yelovich, PER, blood drive chair.

Details

Written by Teresa Bird

On May 18, Punta Gorda Lodge hosted 120 fourth graders from Sallie Jones Elementary School at the lodge. They participated in a Drug Awareness presentation by the Elkettes and then decorated their own ball cap and participated in various bounce houses, putting golf, the football toss and bocce. They were given a lunch of hot dogs or hamburgers with chips and ice cream. Awards were presented by Tom Shoecraft, Exalted Ruler, to the top three poster winners depicting why they should just say no to drugs. Many volunteers helped at this event, including three who had just been initiated the night before.

Pictured are students learning to play bocce, participating in the football toss and viewing a video about drug awareness.

Details

Written by Linda Killian

On April 21, the Deep Creek Ladies of Elks awarded a $500 check to the Charlotte High School wrestling team to help offset their travel expenses. Eric Clary, their busboy, ranks very high on the team, so it was a double pleasure for the ladies to help both the school and one of their own. The Board of Directors also donated a check for $675. The two checks helped the team reach their goal for their expenses.

Pictured with Eric are his coach and Sue Crady, Ladies of Elks President. Also pictured with Eric are Bill Flecken, chair of the Board of Directors; Eric’s coach; and Scott Phillips, Exalted Ruler.