News Features
P.O. Box 49
Umatilla, FL 32784-0049
Share Your Story
We'd love to see & share your Lodge & District Events!
Let's promote what our Florida Elks are doing to support your community
Preserve any person, event, or memory with a personalized brick at your Florida Elks Youth Camp in Umatilla, Florida.
Learn More
Southwest District
Sarasota South Elks Lodge Donates Grant to St. Mary Academy for School Lunches
- Details
- Written by Cindy Vaillancourt
On May 15, Sarasota South Lodge provided its $2,000 Elks National Foundation Spotlight Grant to St. Mary Academy in Sarasota, Florida, for students who qualify for free lunches and snacks. The mission of St. Mary Academy is to provide an exceptional school for diverse learners. Member Lisa Frick completed the grant application.
Sarasota South Elks Lodge Recognizes JROTC Cadets
- Details
- Written by Cindy Vaillancourt
Sarasota South Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler, Su Harley, awarded six Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps medals and certificates to deserving cadet students at three Sarasota schools. Riverview High School (May 3), Booker High School (May 10) and Sarasota Military Academy (May 12) each selected two distinguished cadets in their respective programs to receive the awards.
Palmetto Elks Lodge Hosts Flag Day Observance
- Details
- Written by Palmetto Elks
Palmetto Lodge held its annual Flag Day observance June 11, with the public invited to attend. The Stars and Stripes flag was adopted as the official U.S. flag June 14, 1777 and in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson established June 14 as Flag Day.
Pictured displaying the flags are members Lorraine Baker and Kitty Flournoy.
Girl Scout Troop 33322 Joins South Hillsborough Elks Lodge for Flag Day Salute
- Details
- Written by South Hillsborough Elks
South Hillsborough Elks Lodge #2672 held its annual Flag Day salute June 17. The flags were presented by Girl Scout Troop 33322 and honored the flag from 1775 to the present time.
Pictured are Anniah Wanless, Quarje Moore, Gabbie McGlinsey, Vivian Abston, Bella Vielledent and Isabella Correa.
Manasota Elks Lodge Awards Americanism Essay Contest Winners
- Details
- Written by Manasota Elks
Manasota Elks Lodge #2734 received more than 25 Americanism essays from the three Abel Elementary School fifth grade classes. The Lodge Americanism Chair, Ken Davis, PDD, awarded the three contest winners with a certificates of appreciation and $35 Target gift cards.
Pictured are Mrs. Reeder, fifth grade teacher; Ken Davis, PDD, Americanism Lodge Chair; students Eshana M., Gwen M. and Jaydyn R.; Diane Davis, lodge trustee; and Mrs. Goodwin, fifth grade teacher.
Bradenton Elks Lodge Hosts District Blood Drive in Honor of State President Dan Tabor
- Details
- Written by Bradenton Elks
Bradenton Lodge hosted a Southwest District blood drive May 13 in honor of State President Dan Tabor. The lodge coordinated with Life South Community Blood Center and Moffitt Cancer Center. There were 14 pints of whole blood and 1 pint of plasma collected.
Pictured are Becky Wright, Life South supervisor; Dave Gillum, District Vice President; Rachel Tabor, Dan Tabor’s wife; and Sherie Gillum, Venice-Nokomis Lodge Exalted Ruler.
Palmetto Elks Lodge Supports One Child More to Help Foster Families and Children
- Details
- Written by Lorraine Baker
Palmetto Elks Lodge #2449 donated $6,000 from its Elks National Foundation Beacon and Spotlight grants to One Child More, an organization that helps feed, clothe and house foster children and foster families at no cost to the families. This organization has built six homes for individual families in the past two years and is in the process of building two more to house foster families. One Child More has literacy programs to help children read and they send COVID-19 medications where needed.
Pictured are Linda Beck, Lecturing Knight; Tom Gafner, trustee; Helen Sexton, Secretary; Steve Baker, Exalted Ruler; Kitty Flournoy, Inner Guard; Kenneth Beery, Tiler; Tim Boyd, One Child More director; Len Meade, PER; Lorraine Baker, grants coordinator; and Lorraine McGee, chaplain.
Derby Day at Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge Raises Funds for Elks National Foundation
- Details
- Written by JoAnn Reddy
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge held a Kentucky Derby fundraiser May 6 for the Elks National Foundation, collecting $1,262. The event consisted of bar horse racing games, appetizers, a food buffet, best hat competitions and the live derby race.
Pictured are a few members displaying their hats.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge Hosts Community Car Show and Luncheon and Gains New Members
- Details
- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On April 16, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge sponsored a car show and luncheon and invited community members to attend. In addition to raising more than $4,800 for the general lodge fund by selling food, 50/50 tickets and gift bag raffles, they gained two new members.
Pictured are Faith Frost, Exalted Ruler; Frank Farino, best original winner; and Dave Freeman, lodge member and car show emcee.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge Hosts Golf Tournament for Charity Fund
- Details
- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On April 15, Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Lodge hosted a golf tournament at Tara Preserve in Bradenton, Florida, which is down the road from the lodge, for members and their friends. The event featured a day of golfing, including a money hole, as well as a luncheon at the lodge, an auction, a 50/50 drawing and a gift bag raffle. A total of $5,821.22 was raised for the lodge’s charity funds.
Pictured are the golf tournament committee team — Mike Lindhardt, Kevin and Marge Burke, and Ron and Lori Webber.
Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Hold Stuff-the-Truck Fundraiser for EFELT
- Details
- Written by JoAnn Reddy
On April 16 during a car show held at Lakewood Ranch-Sarasota Elks Lodge #2855, members held a stuff-the-truck fundraiser for Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies. They received $1,000 worth of much-needed food for children and $600 in monetary donations from visitors to the show.
Pictured are EFELT volunteers and lodge members Paul Reddy, Brian Dunne and Jack Jernigan.
Manasota Elks Raise Funds for Hooves with H.E.A.R.T.
- Details
- Written by Manasota Elks
On March 11, Manasota Elks Past Exalted Rulers held a fundraiser for Hooves with H.E.A.R.T. (Horse Education and Riding Therapy). Their mission is to provide support and hope to individuals with special needs through equine-assisted activities and riding. The lodge raised $2,405 for their programs.
Pictured at the donation presentation are (front row) Carol Sirianni, PDD; Pam McDowell, PER, president of Manasota PER Association; Danielle Curtis, president of Hooves with H.E.A.R.T.; and Doris Waddell, PDD. In the second row are Ken Davis, PDD; Jim Klocke, PER; and Dale Steinke, PER.