Message from the Exalted Ruler

  Members All: 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! 

As we roll into 2023, a quick look back on December saw Viera Lodge hold the annual Memorial Service on Sunday the 4th. We also were honored to participate with our Antlers Lodge in the laying of wreaths at Pinecrest Cemetery in Cocoa on December 18th. The service honored all Veterans who have passed, but specifically honored Medal of Honor recipient and local Korean war veteran Emory Bennett from Cocoa.  Viera Lodge also sponsored “Angel Trees” for Christmas gifts for Brevard Family Promise and One Senior  Place. The Lodge members displayed their generosity, and I thank you all for showing Elks Care/Elks Share.  Our Antlers Lodge and their sponsor Heidi Vargas made sure the gifts were delivered to the various program outreach offices. We had an awesome egg-nog get together for the Season as well. 

The merger of Melbourne Lodge into Viera Lodge HAS BEEN APPROVED and is NOW OFFICIAL. The merger of the Lodges gives us a membership of 553 at this writing. We have the ability and chance to provide much more to our community in the way of services and donations. We are a growing, thriving Lodge, and the input and interaction by all members is vital to what we do. We are in the process of exploring the possibility of spearheading an annual wreath laying at Florida Memorial Gardens. This event will require considerable manpower and effort, as there are many Veterans in their final rest at Florida Memorial. Our Veterans service team will be making a presentation to the Lodge floor shortly. 

In February, we will nominate Officers for the upcoming lodge year. If you have thought of becoming more involved or would like to help in the management of the daily Lodge functions, please see either myself or any Officer and we will get you pointed in the right direction with information on what the position entails and how to go about becoming active. Positions are available for all skill sets. 

Also in February, the quarterly meeting of the Florida State Elks Association will be held in Umatilla at the Youth Camp. Grand Exalted Ruler Bruce Hidley will be in attendance. If you have not visited the Youth Camp, this is an excellent opportunity to do so. The trip to Umatilla is well worth the time and effort when you see how your donations are put to use furthering the good works this Order does. The Youth Camp is one of the premier facilities in all of America, something Florida Elks may proudly claim.

 As we approach the end of the Lodge year, I thought you would be interested to know that presently, we have reduced the number of delinquent members to 18. On a percentage basis, that puts Viera Lodge at a rate of less than 4 percent, and while not quite optimal, is certainly manageable. Also, as we close in on the end of the Elk’s year, I encourage each of you to please remember to continue with your donations to the Harry-Anna Trust Fund as well as the Elks National Foundation. The Lodge is tasked with “per capita” quotas that we always try to exceed. As our indoctrination video says, “Benevolent” is in our name, and the Viera members certainly show that we follow that precept by our example and our donations to the fundraising arms of Our Order. THANK-YOU Members all for what you do!!

 **IN CLOSING, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU READ THE SECRETARY’S NOTICE ON UPCOMING BY-LAWS REVISION VOTE ON PAGE THREE.** The information is self-explanatory. Questions?? Please ask!! 

Until next month, stay safe, stay healthy, and MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

 Jerry Harrington, PER III 

Exalted Ruler