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Written by South Miami/Coral Gables Elks

On June 15, South Miami/Coral Gables Lodge held the second of four quarterly events for autism awareness. This event is funded by an Elks National Foundation Impact Grant. The event was a bingo game, hosted by the lodge in association with the University of Miami and the Nova Southeastern University CARD program (Center for Autism & Related Disabilities). The 85 attendees enjoyed two hours of bingo. Member Marty Furgang called the games and was assisted by volunteer Mike Chavez. Approximately 13 members volunteered to help at the event. Barry Wake, PDD, Esquire, arranged for his daughter, Nikki, a Miami-Dade police officer, to deliver the police autism awareness vehicle, which was displayed at the lodge entrance. After the game, everyone received complimentary pizza and soft drinks and was invited to the lounge for the third TOTS night (Talent of the Spectrum). As part of the Impact Grant, every third Saturday, the lodge holds an open mic talent show for CARD members, family members, caregivers and Elks. It gives CARD clients an opportunity to showcase their talents and to interact with Elks members. This also gives Elks a better understanding of autism and helps CARD members socialize.

Pictured are Marty Furgang and the Miami-Dade autism awareness police car.

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Written by Kathy Traina

On June 11, Largo Elks Lodge #2159 members Marcia Lowe, bar manager, and Jeanette Hammel, bartender, attended the Florida Police Chief Association awards banquet in Ponte Vedra Beach, where they, as representatives of Largo Lodge, along with Largo Police Officer Joel Quattlebaum, were the recipients of the State FPCA Operation Cooperation Award from the Police Association. Each year, the bartenders hold a blind auction in November, and all the proceeds go to the Largo Police. This partnership of the Largo Police Senior Services and the lodge has served to create an emergency assistance program fund that helps safeguard Largo seniors in need of assistance during calls for service. They have helped an elderly man who had Alzheimer’s by providing a new GPS bracelet so that he can be found quickly if he wanders. They have re-sided homes, bought groceries and medications, and paid deposits for seniors experiencing homelessness so they could get into an apartment and have a place to live. Officer Quattlebaum acts as auctioneer and lodge members bid on wrapped items without knowing what is in them to raise money for this partnership. The auctions have raised $5,000 each year for the past two years. Largo is the only police force in the state that has this Senior Citizens Department. The police chief was so proud of Officer Quattlebaum for receiving this unique award and said that he wants to see this become a statewide program where every department has a Senior Citizens Department. He also said his hometown will be starting this program.

Pictured are Marcia Lowe, Largo Elks bar manager; Officer Joel Quattlebaum, Largo Police; and Jeanette Hammel, bartender.

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Written by Jerry Harrington, PER

On June 12, Viera Elks Lodge #2817 held an Antlers graduation banquet for their senior Antlers graduating high school. The lodge provided and served an Italian dinner and presented seven graduating seniors with $500 each to be used as they wish. Jerry Harrington commented, “This group of kids were awesome ambassadors for our lodge over the last three years. They helped us leave a bigger footprint in our community.”

Pictured are the seniors as well as other Antlers and parents; Eric Enrique, right, Antlers sponsor; and Heidi Vargas, middle of middle row, Antlers sponsor.

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Written by Rotonda Elks

Rotonda Lodge donated $2,180 to Wreaths Across America. The funds came from members who purchased 80 small American flags, which were installed on the roadside at the lodge May 31 and will fly until July 4. The flags included tags to honor a veteran and include the name of the person who purchased the flag. This event was led by member Brad Fitzgerald and 15 volunteers. 

Pictured are the flags outside the lodge.

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Written by Anthony D'Abbraccio & Linda Smiley

On May 27, Parrish Elks Lodge #2889 held its first Memorial Day ceremony at the Parrish Cemetery. There were 79 people in attendance, including 29 lodge members and family members, four members of the Parrish Cemetery Association Board of Directors, and family members and friends of veterans buried at the cemetery. There was a workday in April where the veterans' graves were identified and prepared for this event. Lodge members bought, cut, painted and installed 100 PVC pipes for each of the veterans buried at the cemetery to hold the Memorial Day flags steady. The Elks also donated and installed a collapsible flagpole for a large American flag to wave above the cemetery near the message board. Bill Tetrault, Esquire, installed the pole into the ground. During the ceremony, welcome remarks were made by Ken Knight, trustee, Army of Hope Chair and Veterans Committee member. Army Chaplain, Alan Brown, gave the invocation and benediction. The flag dedication was done by Mary McQuoid, Lecturing Knight and Americanism Chair. Richard Tatem, retired Air Force Colonel, was the guest speaker. Veterans Committee member Kim Panza recited the war poem “In Flanders Field.” Taps was played as well. Finally, family members of veterans buried at the cemetery placed small flags into the 100 PVC pipes. Afterward, other attendees placed flags at the remaining veterans’ graves.

Pictured raising the flag are members Frank Loviglio, Keith Parsons, Clark Christensen and Joe Kline. Also pictured are attendees and a flag at a grave.

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Written by Erika Barger, PDD

Ormond Beach Elks Lodge #2193 held its annual scholarship banquet May 3, honoring high school seniors from four schools and their families with a certificate of recognition and dinner. The lodge awarded a total of $38,500, which included $3,000 in lodge scholarships, $31,500 on behalf of the Florida State Elks Association, and $4,000 on behalf of the Elks National Foundation. Banquet guests included student recipients; parents, grandparents and family members; principals and administrators; Paul Leonard, East Central District ENF Scholarship Chair; and Harold Briley, Vice Mayor of Ormond Beach.

Receiving $1,000 scholarships from the lodge were Tiden Burch and Kaiden Kolis, of Spruce Creek High School, and Xaria McCoy, of Mainland High School. Tiden Burch was also awarded an additional $4,000 Most Valuable Student scholarship from the Elks National Foundation.

Ormond Beach Lodge presented six C. Valentine Bates Memorial HOPE Scholarships on behalf of the Florida State Elks Association. Wyatt Kent and Luke Womack, of Seabreeze High School, and Xaria McCoy each received $7,500. Cole Brown and Kylee Robertson, of Seabreeze High School, and Kaila Bellamy, of Atlantic High School, received $3,000 each. Local students garnered 30% of the Florida State Elks Association’s 21 HOPE scholarships statewide. The HOPE Scholarship is awarded to seniors with an unweighted GPA between 2.3 and 3.59 who have demonstrated leadership in school activities, community service, and citizenship and who have born additional responsibility throughout their high school careers to provide support to siblings or family.

Scholarship recipients pictured with a cake are Xaria McCoy, Wyatt Kent, Tiden Burch, Luke Womack, Kaiden Kolis, Cole Brown and Kaila Bellamy.

Also pictured are Dean Yeager, PDD, East Central District HOPE Scholarship Chair; Joe Pepe, HOPE Scholarship State Chair; Erika Barger, PDD, Lodge Scholarship Chair; HOPE Scholarship recipients, Kaila Bellamy, Xaria McCoy, Cole Brown, Luke Womack, and Wyatt Kent; Joseph Brozyna, Exalted Ruler; and Carl Seibert, PDD, FSEA COO/State Secretary.