Dear Brothers and Sisters:
As my year as your Exalted Ruler comes to an end, I would like to thank all the members for giving me the opportunity to serve our Lodge. I know we did not always agree, but everything that the Board worked toward was for the good of the Lodge. I know you will give your full support to the new officers that will be doing their best to serve this Lodge as of April 1, 2011.
I want to remind all of our great volunteers that we will be having our annual Volunteer
Appreciation Dinner in March. I want to encourage our volunteers to attend; it's a great time to get together.
In February, I was able to attend the State Association Quarterly Conference in Umatilla, Fl. The conference was held at the Florida Elks Youth Camp. I was really impressed with the quality of this camp. If you have the opportunity, I encourage you
to visit (during the off season) and take a tour. If you make prior arrangements, the staff will give you a guided tour and possibly serve you a great lunch. Completion of 25 new cabins is scheduled for the upcoming camping season, which means approximately
another 225 children will be able to attend each week this summer. Applications for camp are in the Secretary's office, so see Carol.
During the conference, I had the opportunity to sit and talk with the Occupational Therapist from the Miami area. I was very impressed with her education, training and dedication to the Florida Elks Children's Therapy Service. She is dedicated to the
program because the service we offer is not only for children, but the entire family. She told me that whenever she needs special equipment for a patient, it is provided. She is never told it's not in the budget. With the continued support of all the Elks in the State
of Florida, this program can continue to flourish and continue to maintain its impeccable reputation. This program treats 325 handicapped and disabled children
each week. I don't believe there is a hospital in the country that is capable of treating that many children at a time.
The above two programs, plus many others, are what our contributions to the "Harry Anna Trust Fund" support. I especially encourage our new members, as well as all Elks, to continue support this outstanding fund.
Thank you for the great year. I will never forget this opportunity, nor the many new members that I had the pleasure of meeting and sharing what being a true Elk is
about.
God Bless.
Cathy Bedwell
Exalted Ruler
Remember "Elks Care - Elks Share"
