June 6, 2019 marked the 75th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy and the official international ceremony celebrating this major anniversary took place on Juno Beach. Six members of St. Petersburg Elks Lodge 1224 were part of a group of Elks who traveled and attended and supported the 75th Anniversary of D Day in Normandy this past June. The medals were presented to them on August 3rd by Florida Elks Past State President and WCD Leader, Frank Palladini on behalf of Historical Programs, France, and the first city US Forces liberated, Sainte-Mere-Eglise. The medals were given to them as an appreciation for not only participating in the festivities but because they also escorted WWII Veterans from the US to the 75th Anniversary of D-Day ceremonies. The surviving veterans are now all in their nineties, and each year their numbers dwindle with as time marches on. The anniversary was commemorated with military parades.

The Elks and the Historical Programs recognize and celebrate historical moments in American military history and make sure that the sacrifices made by many in our nation are never forgotten and passed on to future generations of Americans.  Rudy Masi also received a separate award, a plaque for his work with Historical Programs.

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Picture 1) Left to Right: WCD Esquire/PER Joanne Matos representing 1224, LOEA President/FLOE Treasurer Marlene Evans representing 1224, FSEA PSP/WCD District Leader Frank Palladini , FSEA VPAL Rudy Masi, Sr. representing 1224, PER Dolly Masi representing 1224, FSEA State Chair Elks Training/PER Rose Goodrich, Nancy Gorby, FSEA Children’s Therapy Services BOD/PDD Toni Goodrich representing 1224, FSEA Vice Chair Veterans Services/ Tarpon Springs #1912 ER/PER Robert Gorby, and Robert Matos representing 1224.

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​St. Petersburg Elks Lodge 1244 has been donating on a monthly basis the use of their pool to Dive Care, a non-profit Florida corporation. Dive Care is comprised of group of certified Scuba Diving Instructors, Dive Buddies that teach prospective divers and dive instructors. Their programs are available to any child, adult or veteran with a disability with the intention of providing both physical and psychological therapeutic value to each person.

St. Petersburg Elks Lodge 1224 is proud to announce that it awarded two scholarships.  Each scholarship was worth $1500.  The recipients were, Tyre Hill who will be attending UCF and Julia Finster who will be attending Notre Dame.

Pictured L – R:   Tyre Hill, PER Cathy Shriver and Julia Finster.

The Bronco Babes, put St. Pete Elks brains to the test on August 10th.  It was a fun night of trivia, camaraderie and friendly competition which resulted in raising over $600 for our Veteran’s projects.  Thanks to all who participated and volunteered. It was a great night! 

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Pictured left to right: Lynn Dexter, Dawn Lieber E.R., Penny Rase, Debby Rase

St. Petersburg Elks #1224 is excited to share that it raised $500 for MYcroSchool Pinellas to help with uniform shirt expenses for their students.

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MYcroSchool, are charter high schools that are tuition-free high schools in Florida. MYcroSchool offers flexible schedules, so students can work at their own pace and finish high school under any situation. Their small class sizes allow teachers to focus on students that need help the most. This individual attention ensures students are not left behind and finish high school on time.

Pictured L to R: ER Dawn Elaine Lieber, Traci Cain Steen and PER George Povelitis who generously kicked in $100.00 for this fundraiser.

On July 30, St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 Elves, were busy delivering their Christmas in July gifts to 19 children at Sallie House.  The 1224 head Elf, ER Dawn Elaine Lieber received a Christmas wish list from the kids, that she was thrilled to fulfill.

At a value of $400.00 the children were each given an outfit, undergarments, scented hand sanitizer, body lotion and body spray. 

Sallie house is a safe haven for children, infant to seventeen years of age, who have been removed from their home because of abuse or, neglect or — even abandonment.  No pictures of the kids were taken due to the delicate circumstances they are in.

Pictured L to R - ER Dawn Elaine Lieber, Lecturing Knight Sharon Literski, PDDGER Toni Goodrich, Inner Guard Jeannie Jeanne Sninchack and Jan Durbin Giallourakis.

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​During their recent hosting of Visitation of the West Central District on July 13th, St. Petersburg Elks Lodge 1224 collected $420 in cash and donated it to Dixie Hollins Civitan Club who acted as their servers.   Dixie Hollins High School borders both St. Petersburg and Kenneth cities.  The money which the club earned will be going back into the community.  Dixie Hollins Civitans’ Club donates their time and money earned throughout the year to several kids’ organizations who assist the underprivileged.

On February 19, National Vet Girls ROCK Day recognizes the immense dedication of the nearly 2 million U.S. veteran women.

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St. Petersburg Elks Lodge 1224 Esquire, Retired Army Lt. Col. Carol Barkalow, Mary Timm, and all other female veterans whether Elk members, currently serving or retired, YOU ROCK!

During the 108th Anniversary celebration of St. Petersburg Elks Installation and Variety Show event, the servers for the occasion were the Dixie Hollins Rebels Softball team. The Lodge offers High School clubs and teams and other nonprofits, the ability to earn community service hours, learn life skills and the opportunity to interact with a diverse demographic. The Rebels’ team swapped places with other schools in our lineup because of the team’s immediate need.

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Dixie Hollins Rebels’ Softball team was in fundraising mode because they recently discovered that their field maintenance equipment had been stolen during their off season from their secured concrete storage unit. It cost them $500 to replace the stolen equipment and they had to borrow from money raised for their other needs, such as travel and sports equipment.

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After the team completed their 2+ hour shift at the Lodge. St. Petersburg ER Cathy Shriver was thrilled to present Coach Robin Brady with $406 in cash received in donations from Lodge and family members attending the evening’s event.

Pictured L – R : Alecia Buanisky, Alyson Lucas, Hawaii Grimes Layner (parent), Braelyn Grimes, Exalted Ruler Cathy Shriver and Rebels Softball Coach Robin Brady accepting the Lodge Members donations.

On Saturday, July 14, St. Petersburg Elks Lodge 1224 donated $750 to Music Sweet Music Inc. (MSM) towards their fundraising efforts to keep up the with the increasing demands of providing Music Therapy to children and adults in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties. The money received will be used to pay MSM's contracted Board-Certified Music Therapists. 

MSM currently provides Music Therapy at three Tampa Bay area Children Hospitals, one group home for the challenged and in several participants' homes. Veterans and members of the military have also been participants in the program. There are positive affects and healing abilities for soldiers with invisible wounds of war such as PTSD. MSM has also been called by families to use their 'Music as Medicine' for patients in hospice for their spiritual, physical, and emotional comfort on their end-of-life journey.

St. Petersburg Lodge is proud to support an organization that is making a difference in our Tampa Bay Community.

Pictured L - R: May Graci, MSM Public Relations volunteer accepting the check on behalf of Music Sweet Music and Cathy Shriver Exalted Ruler.

 — with Cathy Shriver.

​St. Petersburg Elks Lodge #1224 in Florida initiated 35 new members into the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in a ceremony held on June 8. Exalted Ruler Cathy Shriver and her Officers are happy to welcome these new members and are looking forward to seeing them around the Lodge.

On MAY 8, on the Floor, before the opening of the Lodge Meeting, two Scholarship winners were awarded $1,500 each and congratulatory cards by St Petersburg Elks Lodge 1224.  On hand for this occasion were their families.  The Seniors receiving scholarships were: Sophia Augyst-Laulette, age 18, a Senior at Boca Ciega High School.  Sophia will pursue a degree in Nursing in the fall at State College of Florida. Tyler Grohn, also age 18, is a Senior at Osceola High School.   Tyler will pursue a degree in Marine Biology at FL International University. Scholarship Chair Joan Vignoul, PLP and Lodge Organist is a retired school teacher and she reviewed and evaluated the scholarship applications.   Our Lodge is happy to be able to actively participate in providing scholarship awards to these deserving young adults who have excellent grades and are active in their schools and community.

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PICTURED L - R: Scholarship Chairperson Joan Vignoul, PLP,  Sophia Augyst-Laulette, Tyler Grohn, both holding their Congratulatory Cards from St. Petersburg Elks Lodge and PER Bonnie Barnes.

On Saturday April 14, St. Petersburg Elks Lodge 1224 participated  in The Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (VAHCS)  Stand Down for Homeless Veterans that took place from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm in the Veterans’ Courtyard located between buildings 2 and 37 at the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center.   Over 700 veterans participated in this event this year.

 St. Petersburg Lodge 1224 had a table with 205 double sided fleece blankets that were made by a group of  volunteers.  The project was spearheaded by Americanism Chair Kat Chaplain.   

 The hope of the Lodge was that one of our blankets would make someone living on the street or sleeping in their car more comfortable.    The total cost of the project was $2950 and took a year to complete 

Pictured:  Kat Chaplin, Americanism Chair holding one of the blankets that was given away.

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