News Features
The Front Page - State Sponsor's Message
- President's Message
- State Secretary's Message
- Development Director's Message
- Florida Ladies of Elks President’s Message
- Children’s Therapy Services Director’s Message
- Youth Camp Director’s Message
- Our Military & Veterans
- _______________
- DISTRICT NEWS
- Central
- East Central
- North
- North Central
- Northeast
- Northwest
- South
- Southeast
- Southeast Central
- South Southeast
- South Southwest
- Southwest
- Southwest Central
- West Central
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
West Central District
New Port Richey Elks Share Food with those in Need
- Details
- Written by New Port Richey Elks
On Nov. 10, members of New Port Richey Elks Lodge #2284 packed and distributed food for schoolchildren in need and for a veterans’ recovery home. The lodge purchased the food with its Elks National Foundation Freedom Grant.
Pictured are Becky Soto, Lodge Secretary; Bob Mohrle, Lecturing Knight; and Margaret Smith, Loyal Knight.
Tampa Lodge Helps Turns the Page for Holy Trinity Lutheran School Library
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith
On Dec. 9, Tampa Lodge donated $1,000 from its charity funds to Holy Trinity Lutheran School in south Tampa, Florida, to purchase library books for the fourth and fifth grade students. Presenting the check are Rita Smith, Leading Knight, and Suzanne Moore, Lecturing Knight. Moore brought this need to the lodge’s attention as she is a teacher's assistant at the school. Accepting the check are Sue McColgan, librarian and art instructor, and Kelly Reilly, principal.
Tampa Elks Participate in High School Career Day Event
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith
On Nov. 18, Tampa Lodge’s Club Chivalry sponsored an “on-campus” field trip in conjunction with the Great American Teach-In, previously known as Career Day. Every school in the district holds it on the same day and invites community members to discuss their careers with students. The club offered breakfast before students explored career opportunities by visiting booths in the gym. There were about 20 tables set up with various employees, including a barista, a lawyer, active-duty military, college recruiters, EMTs and more. Afterward, guests, mostly lodge members, spoke about their careers. Patty Volpe, Youth Activities Chair, discussed how she arrived at her career at CCS Medical, a diabetic supply company. Shelagh Gombarcik, PER talked about careers in the hospitality industry. Betty Orcutt, PLP told them about her route into nursing. Edie Hanley, Inner Guard, interested them in a career in the prison system, especially the possibility of early retirement. The group then had lunch followed by team-building activities. Pictured is Shelagh Gombarcik, PER.
Tampa Lodge Member is Guest Speaker at High School's Club Chivalry Meeting
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith
Tampa Lodge’s Elks National Foundation Impact Grant project, Club Chivalry, met Nov. 9; the guest speaker was lodge member Roshaun Gendrett, who was an educator in California and who is now running for school board. He spoke about what students need to succeed in school and he explained the role of the school board. He was well-received by the students. Club T-shirts were also given to the students at no charge to them. On Nov. 10, the club took a field trip to Kaiser University.
Tampa Elks Return to Robinson High School for Club Chivalry Meeting
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith
On Oct. 11, Tampa Lodge was welcomed back on the Robinson High School campus to assist with the lodge-sponsored Club Chivalry. There were 49 students in attendance despite a program rehearsal held at the same time. At the beginning of the meeting, students were called for refreshments by grade and they could sign up for their T-shirts. Then lodge member Rita Smith spoke about the Elks lodge and their history at Robinson and told the students about two great community service opportunities in the neighborhood. Club president, Andrea, then explained the rules of the team-building game, which involved popping balloons while wearing mittens (some participants pictured).
Pictured are the game’s winner receiving a $10 Dunkin gift card from Andrea, club president.
Also pictured is October’s $25 gift card drawing, George Daniel, along with Xavier Oliver.
Tampa Elks Pack and Deliver Drug Awareness Bags for Two Elementary Schools
- Details
- Written by Rita Smith
On Oct. 7, Tampa Lodge members sorted and stuffed drug awareness bags for the two elementary schools that agreed to distribute Elks Drug Awareness Program materials to their students. Drug Awareness Lodge Chair, Tommy Moore, delivered the supplies Oct. 18 to Westshore Elementary and Lanier Elementary. Both schools are Title 1 and were glad to have the supplies in advance of Red Ribbon Week.
Pictured packing bags are Lorraine Leung; Sharon Ford; Tristin Reiber; Joe LoCicero, Leading Knight; Bonnie Atwood, Melissa Bertoch, Esquire; and Tommy Moore, trustee and Drug Awareness Lodge Chair. Taking the picture is Rita Smith.
Also pictured are Katherine Patteson, Westshore Elementary secretary, and Kaydee Wurst, Lanier secretary, and Lisa Henry, the principal’s secretary, receiving the bags from Moore.