Veterans Memorial Park Signage Donation

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Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 Becomes Major Donor to Veteran’s Memorial Park Sign

On December 1st, The Polk County  Veterans Council unveiled a new granite sign at Veteran’s Memorial Park that reflects the significance and dignity of this important Lakeland park. Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 made a $5,000 contribution to the Polk County Veterans Council to help spearhead the new and improved signage. Elk member and Polk County Veterans Council Vice-Chairman Don Selvage said, “I wish to express our sincere appreciation to Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 for their assistance in funding the cost of designing and constructing  the new Veteran/s Memorial Park sign.

Over 20 years ago the Polk County Veterans Council, in collaboration with the City of Lakeland, crafted a vision for a truly unique urban park, a venue paying tribute to Veterans, Law Enforcement, and Firefighter/Fire Rescue personnel. In the ensuing years, a Firefighter/Fire Rescue Memorial was placed  near the existing Law Enforcement Memorial.  Further, seventeen monuments to Veterans have been erected, commemorating those who served in America’s conflicts since Polk County was founded in 1861. The result is a stunning destination park overlooking Lake Beulah. 

The Polk County Veterans Council has become the unofficial overseer of the park, working with the City of Lakeland to maintain the park in immaculate condition.  Many different partners have joined the Council in ensuring funding of various projects, including individuals, Veterans organizations, and businesses. Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 has a long history of supporting Veterans  and, over those years, has lived up to that commitment in so many ways.  The Veterans Council looks forward to forging an even closer alliance with Lakeland Elks Lodge #1291 to support the more than 60,000 Veterans residing in this area. 

 

2024 ENF AND LAKELAND LODGE SCHOLARSHIPS

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2024 ENF AND LAKELAND LODGE SCHOLARSHIPS

Both the Elks National Foundation’s and our local Lodge 1291’s Scholarship Programs are underway. To access both of these programs, high school seniors should contact their school’s guidance counselors and work with the guidance staff in completing their applications for the 2024 Most Valuable Student (MVS) Scholarship Program.

All applications are to be completed online by accessing them at enf.elks.org/mvs. Within the body of the application, students can select which of the five (5) closest lodges to their home address they want to receive their applications. PLEASE INFORM ANY STUDENTS YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN YOUR FAMILY, TO DESIGNATE LAKELAND LODGE 1291 TO RECEIVE THEIR APPLICATIONS. The deadline for making applications to the MVS Program is November 13, 2023.

LEGACY AWARDS

If any member of Lakeland Lodge 1291 has a child or grandchild who is a high school senior planning to attend a college or university next year (2024), please have them complete a MVS application as explained above. I am also asking that you let me know that your child or grandchild is applying by dropping me an email at nancilator@gmail.com. If your child or grandchild attends a high school outside the Lakeland area, please let me know that as well because special provisions need to be made to get a “hard copy” of their application to our local Scholarship Committee for consideration.

In addition, children and grandchildren of active Lakeland Lodge members can also apply directly to the Elks National Foundation (ENF) for a Legacy Award. THIS IS SEPARATE FROM AND IN ADDITION TO THE MVS PROGRAM AND OUR LOCAL LODGE’S PROGRAM. Legacy applications are also done online at enf.elks.org/leg and the deadline for Legacy applications is February 5, 2024 at 11:59 am Central Time.

As our Lodge’s Scholarship Chairperson, I am willing to discuss the various Elk Scholarship Programs with any of our members and answer any questions you might have. Again, my email address is nancilator@gmail.com

Nancy Read

Scholarship Chairperson

Lakeland Elks Lodge 1291

 

Thank you, Elks…

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Thank You Elks!

Bob, Vicki and All Our Friends at the Elks Lodge Lakeland,

 

I was reading the Elks Creed this morning, specifically the part where it said, “Protect Childhood With Tenderness” and thought,  well… that’s beautiful, but how does that manifest itself in the real world.

Certainly, all the Christmas Parties, the times you let us use your facility for free, all the toys for the kids and the Elks Summer Camp, demonstrate tenderness, as does the generous $2,000 check you just presented to our kids.   And tenderness from people they (and we) respect, does something more. It teaches our kids that important people care about them and that gives them the confidence to dream!

 

And we know who makes those dreams possible…

Thank you for making our community stronger through your kindness and generosity!

Sincerely,

Steve Giordano | President & CEO

 Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County, PO Box 763 | Lakeland, FL 33802

813-997-7104      www.bgcpolk.org

Latest Issue of the “Antlers” is ready for reading…

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Antlers logo

Check out the latest issue of the Antlers Newsletter. Click HERE

Remember; the Antlers pages are now in the  Members Only Section and are password protected. If you can’t remember your password, contact the Lodge Secretary.

  • Read a statement from your Exalted Ruler, Chris Porche.
  • Read messages from our Veterans Committee, House Committee, and Board of Directors.
  • Get an update on all of our upcoming meals & events
  • Take a peek at all of our new members from the last 2 months.
  • And don’t forget that you can connect with us on Facebook

Elk Riders are Approved for Lakeland Lodge -Update 7/29

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It’s Official! The Elks Riders motorcycle group has come to Lodge 1291.
As of June 2016, the Lakeland Lodge has the newest chapter of Elk Riders USA in Florida. There is a great deal of excitement about this new auxiliary in the Lodge and everyone is welcome to participate. If you own and ride your own bike you can join us as a Full member or if you just like to ride with someone else we gladly welcome you as an Associate member. Of course, we also encourage those who would like to help us spread the word of Elkdom and help us with our charitable ventures to join us as Associate members.

Our newly elected officers are:
President
Chuck Wolfe
Vice-president
John Mathison
Secretary/Treasurer
Mac McArthur

If you’d like some more information about the group, please catch up with one of us at the Lodge and we’ll gladly fill you in on the Elk’s Riders and our goals for our chapter. We are already planning some exciting events in the near future. Come join us and have fun, get a little wind therapy and show your friends and neighbors how much Elks do to help others! Our meetings are the third Sunday of each month at 2:00 pm. If you’d like an application, just ask the bartender and they’ll gladly help you! We’ll see you there. We meet every 3rd Sunday at the Lodge. Come on in and see what we do or to join up. You don’t need a motorcycle to join.Elks Riders USA
Elks Hoop Shoot

What is a Hoop Shoot?

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The Hoop Shoot is a program sponsored each year by Grand Lodge. Thousands of kids from across the country participate in the contest each year, attempting to make as many free throws out of twenty five attempts as they can.  The contest starts at the Lodge level and continues up through the District, Regionals, State finals held at our Youth Camp in Umatilla Florida. It then moves  forward to the National level starting with the Regionals and finishing up with National finals held in Springfield Mass.

Lakeland’s Hoop Shoot was held this year at the Boys and Girls Club with thirty seven kids competing in the three age groups 8-9, 10-11,  and 12-13 with boys and girls competing separately. Six kids placed first and became eligible to complete in

the District contest held at Brandon December 5th. Two kids, Jaiden Wynn, 10-11 boys and Christina Mitchell 12-13 placed first, with Christina making 24 out of the 25 attempts. Both Jaiden and Christina are eligible to complete at the next level. Anthony came close and assured me he would be back next year.

Next up is the Central Regional Hoop Shoot Contest that will be held on Saturday morning, January 16, 2016.  The contest will be at Seminole High School, 2701 Ridgewood Avenue, Sanford, Florida 32773 and is scheduled to begin 9:00 am.  If you have an opportunity to attend the State Regionals or Finals to cheer on the Lakeland Contestants it would be great.

Ted Martzloff PDDGER

Hoop Shoot Chair