Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge #2781 5630 Pine Island Road

Bokeelia, FL 33922

The Elkhorne

VOLUME 24 NUMBER 8 LODGE 239-283-4388 OCTOBER 2017

JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF FELLOWSHIP AND SMOKE FREE AIR

EXALTED RULER’S CORNER Hurricane Irma is our in rear-view mirror. Hopefully, all of your properties are ok. From what I hear, Irma left a hot mess in Southwest Florida with trees toppled, bushes uprooted, leaves stripped and branches strewn hither and to, and crews are out there working tirelessly to get it cleaned up. The only damage that the

Lodge sustained were some lost shingles. Many thanks to George Yorkston and RL Rudd who donated their time to repair the roof. Once again, this Lodge is so successful because of our dedicated members.

We had to cancel the VP Dinner, due to Irma, and it is now scheduled to take place on November 4. Be reminded of the DD Visit on October 24. Please try to make a point of attending, as this is an important function for the Lodge.

Our biggest fundraiser of the year is also coming up - Golf Tour-nament at the Alden Pines Golf Course. The date now has been set for November 18. If you wish to play, registration forms are available at the lodge. We are looking for sponsors and we are in need of a chairperson and volunteers to make this event a success. Please contact our Secretary, Judy Hopkins, or myself if you are interested in helping with this event.

Welcome back to all. Hope you had a good summer and are geared up for a busy Elks season. Let’s make this season even better than the last. Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Fraternally yours,

George H. Smith, PER, Exalted Ruler

MEMBERSHIP

The following candidates have been proposed for membership: Candidate Proposer

John Grove Robert Solomon

Jim Chipman Lee Wilbur PER (for reinstatement)

Jeff Hodgkin by demit from Lodge 844 in CT Congratulations to our newest member, John Allman (wife Marie)

Message from Len Wenzel, PER, District VP

(Revised VP Dinner Schedule)

Do to hurricane Irma I had to cancel two of my visitations. After getting the approval of Dis-trict Advisor David Lake, P.S.P. and the Exalt-ed Rulers of the affected lodges, this is the new schedule for the remainder of my visitations. September 30 Port Charlotte 2153 October 7 Fort Myers 1288 October 14 North Cape Coral 2874 and

Cape Coral 2596 will be held at the DEEP CREEK ELKS 2763. Please make all reser-vations to Deep Creek 2763 by calling 941-764-6925.

October 21 Punta Gorda 2606 October 28 North Fort Myers 2742 November 4 Greater Pine Island 2781 November 18 Deep Creek 2763 ( Final

Visitation)

HOUSE COMMITTEE

Bob Gordon 712-578-8747 Marilyn Grossmueller 908-403-4272 Beverly Henderson 283-1983 Denise Hoogstra 517-819-0339 Judy Hopkins 425-346-7226 Deanna Martell 822-5634 Ron Oja, Chairman 978-660-2997 Lee Wilbur, PER 940-4341 Donna Yorkston 443-562-8501

LODGE OFFICERS 2017-2018 Board of Directors:

Exalted Ruler George Smith, PER 312-531-5149 Leading Knight Ed Wisniefski 443-8674 Loyal Knight Robert Solomon 470-2759 Lecturing Knight Doug Betterley 732-740-5287 1 Yr. Trustee Lee Wilbur, PER 940-4341 2 Yr. Trustee Lee Lemay 603-479-2717 3 Yr. Trustee Keith McGovern 938-4809 4 Yr. Trustee George Yorkston 443-504-2251 5 Yr. Trustee Charlie Stinson 352-455-2502

Other Officers:

Secretary Judy Hopkins, 425-346-7226 Treasurer Bob Hoogstra, PER 989-1084 Esquire Debbie Stinson 352-455-2502 Chaplain John Hoos 283-3477 Inner Guard Jay Lingwall 573-239-0560 Tiler Mark Sheldon 518-742-6445 Organist Vacant Mediator Leroy Lippmann, PDD 283-8848 Lodge Advisor Leroy Lippmann, PDD 283-8848 Presiding Justice Vacant

The Elkhorne is published monthly by

Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge #2781 239-283-4388

Exalted Ruler George Smith, PER 312-531-5149 Membership Robert Solomon 470-2759 Editor Heike Wilbur 319-7758 Publicity Judy Hopkins 425-346-7226

All articles must be submitted as attachments to the Editor via e-mail prior to the 15th of each month:

heikewilbur1@gmail.com

All articles are subject to editing.

If you want to receive only the

electronic copy of the

Elkhorne please send an

email to

pineislandelks@gmail.com, stating “Go Green” in

the subject line.

COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

Accident Prevention Charlie Stinson Americanism Auditing Don Ware/Mike Wilson Community Activities Drug Awareness Carol Nelson Flag Day Jack Rovaldi, PER Government Relations Harry-Anna Donna Yorkston Hoop Shoot Liz Duchaine, PER Investigating Denise Hoogstra Lapsation/Membership Robert Solomon Lodge Activities Major Projects (State) Jack Rovaldi Memorial Day National Foundation Lee Wilbur, PER Orientation Mike Chura PER Association Leroy Lippmann, PDD Public Relations Judy Hopkins Relief Chair Officers Scholarships Judy Hopkins Veterans Services Jack Rovaldi, PER Visiting Youth Activities

FROM THE SECRETARY’S DESK

It is good to be back in Florida after a much-needed vacation in Port Townsend Washington. Our flight back was cancelled several times due to Hurricane Irma. But we made it back safely to find minor damage to our home. Fred and I are grateful to many of our Elk friends and neighbours who looked out for our property in our absence.

We were able to keep track of what was happening on the island through posts on Pine Is-land Prospect and communications to and from lodge members. This helped to alleviate some of the anxiety we were feeling as we were unable to get back on the island. We hope everyone else survived with minor damage. Did everyone take time to check on their neighbours and friends to make ensure they were doing OK? Did you lend a hand where you could? Remember Elks Care - Elks Share.

Ole hurricane Irma is gone and we sure don't want another one!

I will have regular office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10Am to 2PM drop in or call if you have questions or concerns. juhopkins@msn.com.

Fraternally yours, Judy Hopkins, Secretary

QUARTER TUBES UPDATE

Tubes completed 8/28/17:

10$ each for the RV fund: Judy Hopkins, Elks cashiers

10$ each for ALSF: Carol Neilson

RIDING OUT IRMA IN A SHELTER

Husband Lee flew in from Connecticut Thursday night to find out that we were to evacuate the next day. We

had given it a little thought beforehand, but not seriously, what we would do if there was to be a mandatory

evacuation. The only place we knew about that officially would take pets was the South Fort Myers High School

shelter. With no other plan thought out, this is where we went Friday morning after packing up the house.

We like to arrive early to be sure to have a space, especially when you bring a dog in a big crate. Registration

was easy being among the first ones to arrive, and we were assigned a 20’ x 20’space in the gym, which was

already crowded. We put our things down thinking, this is tight, what are we going to do the next 3 days. Back

to the front desk we went and asked whether we could volunteer. Immediately, we were swept off to a room,

which was to house people with special needs. Our job for the next 3 days would be to monitor this room and to

assist our charges. This regular classroom ended up being filled with 30 people - also tight, but much quieter

than the gym or the school’s aisles, where people also had been assigned spaces.

The total count of Irma refugees in the building was 3600. Despite that high a number the atmosphere was se-

rene and people were very civil with each other. The bathroom situation was a bit disgusting, but custodial staff

and volunteers did their best to keep up with the cleaning.

3 days and nights just flew by for us, never a dull moment. There were elderly people, which had been taken to

a safe place with no time to plan. Some slept in chairs, because they could not get down to the floor. We also

had several COPD and Alzheimer patients. No one was comfortable, but we all knew we had to ride it out. Lee

had to use his CPR knowledge and helped to keep alive a person who had gone into cardiac arrest till EMS,

which I immediately alerted, arrived. Later his daughters thanked us for the quick action, saying that fate had

put us in this place at this point of time.

When Irma finally hit, I had collapsed on my make shift bed and was fast asleep. The principal’s announce-

ment, that the hurricane had passed, woke me up. We stayed one more night till it was safe to return to the is-

land. Some of our charges could not yet return home. It was heart breaking to leave them behind, but we knew

they would be cared for. Back on the island we found our house intact and I was ready to return to the shelter to

see how our charges were faring. Well, not quite; so glad that it was over and to be home safely!

I am very grateful for this experience; it was very humbling to see so many others in much greater need in this

time of distress. For me volunteering turned a bad situation into a gratifying lesson for life.

Heike Wilbur, Editor

Margorie Van Patten had surgery to insert 3 stints she is home and doing very well. We hope to see her and Larry after Christmas. Beverly Henderson had surgery on her right carotid artery in Syracuse on august 15, she came through the surgery well and is recuperating at home. We look forward to seeing her at the lodge soon. Please keep all our sick and bereaved in your thoughts and prayers. If you are aware of any member that is sick or in distress, please notify the Secretary at 425-346-7226.

BIRTHDAYS IN OCTOBER 01 Joseph Minnella

03 Carney Bednared, Frank Taugner

05 Patricia Dorsey, Kenneth Sippola

09 Margaret Crane, Marjorie Van Patten, Allan Kuehnemund

11 Judy Hopkins

13 Steve Kelly

14 John Granito

20 Thomas Steverman, Ross Stornello

21 Ralph Manley

22 Jack Frost, Harold Harms, Joseph Wipperfurth

24 Mary Kushnir, Henry McDonald

25 Edward Brenner, Ron Wesorick

26 Raymond Desmarais, Charles Stinson

27 Patricia Case-Standing, Frederick Kukla, Craig Montgomery

30 George Spyrnal

31 Melady Kehm

YOU WOULD LIKE TO

VOLUNTEER?

Please check if you can help us with any of the following:

Greeter and card checker (for events) Selling tickets/taking reservations Taking meal orders (cashier) Tending the bar Team leader for meal preparation Working on a meal team Kitchen help (set up) Serving food Planning special events (e.g. Western Night) Helping with special events Decorating/Un-decorating

Our objective is to have a pool of volunteers to draw from. We won’t ask you to volunteer at eve-ry event, and we will ask you well in advance to be part of a team for a specific event.

Right now we have an urgent need for addi-tional bar tenders. Interested? Please contact members of the house committee or use the sign up sheet, which is avail-able at the register near the entrance.

Clip and bring your box tops found on common grocery items to the lodge and we will make sure that Pine Island Elementary School gets them for their Box Tops for Education fall drive, a national

program for school funds.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT ELKHORNE BOOSTER SUBSCRIPTION FORM

I wish to subscribe to the Elkhorne Boosters for 1 year for a $12 (or more) donation.

Name:__________________________________ Phone:_______________________ Amount enclosed:___________

Address:________________________________ City:__________________________ State:____ Zip:_____________

Please mail your subscription to:

GREATER PINE ISLAND ELKS LODGE # 2781, PO BOX 248, ST. JAMES CITY, FL 33956

HOUSE COMMITTEE MESSAGES Going into the fall season Lodge activities are pick-ing up again. Besides our regular hours Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we are now open for Sun-day night football, 1PM to 5PM. Snacks are served. Special events will take place on Saturday nights. Please check the calendar.

On Saturday, November 4 the Greater Pine Island Lodge will honor our new district Vice President, Len Wenzel PER from the Deep Creek Lodge at the an-nual Vice President’s Dinner. The House Committee is planning a fabulous Dinner at a cost of $15 per person. Dress code is business formal, ties optional.

Save the Date: Annual Golf Tournament, Saturday November 18 at the Alden Pines Golf Course. We are looking for sponsors, helpers and players.

Remember that the House Committee takes care of all things related to running the lodge and conducting business in the lounge. Please contact the House Committee Chairman: Ron Oja at ronoja@verizon.net if you want to volunteer or have suggestions.

Elkhorne Booster

CORNER OF THANKS Heavy rains end of August caused a flood in the lodge building, water was standing 2 to 3 inches high throughout. A bailing crew was quickly orga-nized. Thank you: Ron Oja, Debbie and Charlie Stinson, RL Rudd, George Yorkston, Lee and Heike Wilbur and Jerry (you know who you are).

This is a good place to briefly, but effectively, describe your product or services.

Business card size, $100 for one year

(10 issues).

ADVERTISE HERE

LEE’S ENF CORNER

If you remember this past May we received an ENF Gratitude Grant for $2000 which

we used to support the Beacon Bites program run by the Beacon of Hope here on the

Island. This program provides “meals on wheels” to home bound individuals on the

Island as well as giving them a daily contact to insure their basic needs are being

met. Lodges that meet the ENF donations goal are eligible to apply for these grants.

The goal for this year is $4.75 per member so with a membership of 359 our Lodge goal is $1705. To

date we have received less than $300 in ENF donations. Last year at this time, due to the generosity

of a couple of members, we had already exceeded last year’s goal. I am asking each of you to please

make a donation to the Elks National Foundation. The donation doesn’t have to be large; every amount

counts. The payback is very attractive when you consider the opportunity to receive a $2000 grant to

further our charity mission for an “investment” of $1705. We are counting on you to substantially ex-

ceed this year’s goal and once again be eligible for a Gratitude Grant.

Lee Wilbur, PER, ENF Chair

Lodge Events

JOIN US FOR SUNDAY FOOTBALL GAMES

LODGE WILL OPEN 1PM - 5PM

EAT, DRINK AND WATCH FOOTBALL

The Pine Island Elks Lodge hosts the 2nd Annual Pine Island Kiwanis Sock Hop!

Saturday, Oct. 14, 6PM - 10PM

$25 each includes Tonya's world famous hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries and

homemade cookies.

ON OCTOBER 24,

THERON

HELDEBRANDT

DISTRICT DEPUTY

WILL VISIT OUR

LODGE FOR OUR

REGULAR MEET-

ING. PLEASE JOIN

US AT 7PM.

2017 - 2018 CHARITABLE TRUST FUND DRIVE

Through our donors, past and present, Lodge 2781 is able to meet the Lodge's community charitable activities commit-ment. As we all know, giving a helping hand is what the Elks are all about!

We are waiting to fill this list with the names of generous donors in our fiscal year 2017/2018. We appreciate your sup-port.

Patron Loyal Elks Patron

Richard Thomas, Elsa DeWilde

Elks Patron Exhalted Ruler Circle

Please find more information on how to give to the Charitable Trust Fund on the coupon below. Your donation is 100% tax deductible.

____Patron Less than $100 ____Loyal Elks Patron $500 - $999 ____Elks Patron $100 - $499 ____Exalted Rulers Circle $1,000 or more Make check payable to: GREATER PINE ISLAND ELKS CHARITABLE TRUST, INC. Please print your name (s) as you would like it to appear in all correspondence. NAME____________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS_________________________________________________________________ CITY______________________________STATE_________________ZIP_____________ PHONE________________________E-MAIL_____________________________________ ________I would like my gift to remain anonymous. Send your donation to GREATER PINE ISLAND ELKS CHARITABLE TRUST, INC., PO BOX 248, ST. JAMES CITY, FL 33956 or call us at 239-283-4388.

ELKS NATIONAL FOUNDATION

Donate to ENF There are several ways to make donations. Contact our Chairman, Lee Wilbur, PER for more details at 239-940-4341 or lcwilbur@t-online.de. Pick-up a brochure, which explains more about this program, at the lodge or use this form to donate. You can also donate online: https://enf.elks.org/donate

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PO BOX 248 ST JAMES CITY FL 33956 PHONE: 239-283-4388

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

US POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT #22 PINELAND FL

33945

OR CURRENT RESIDENT

Events planned at the Elks. Put them on your calendar so you don’t miss!

Oct. 14 Kiwanis Sock Hop Oct. 24 DD Visit Oct. 28 Halloween Party Nov. 4 VP Visit Nov. 18 Annual Golf Tournament at the Alden Pines Golf Course

As more events are scheduled, listings will be up-dated.

ELKHORNE BOOSTERS

The Boosters support the Elkhorne publication at $12 per person per year. If there is an asterix next to your name, it is time to renew. If you wish to mail your donation please use the form provided in this publica-tion. Your support is genuinely appreciated.

*Last Month on List

James Dolph 11/17 Delmar & Margaret Crane 4/18

Bobbi Reichle 2/18 Elaine Doherty 4/18

Ben & Sandra Madey 5/18 Paul & Mary Higgins 5/18

Terry & Bonnie Kozanecki 7/18 Leroy & Lene Lippmann 5/18

Thomas White 11/18 George & Cindy Spyrnal 5/18

Dick & Marcia Foley 4/18 Ed Snyder 8/18

Marjorie & Larry Johnson 4/18

Follow the Florida State Elks Association on Facebook to see what is going on in other lodges across the state:

https://www.facebook.com/floridaelks