Elks Club Tournament

On October 25th, the Elks Lodge held its second annual golf tournament at Rocky Bayou Country Club where hard work translated into money for the lodge’s worthy projects.  Likewise, the tournament benefited our club financially and offered us an opportunity to support charitable efforts in our community.

Belinda Leatherwood, a member of our club and one of the hard-working Elks, said, “I was proud to be a member of Rocky Bayou Country Club and have so many of our tournament players come up to me with warm and wonderful compliments about our golf course and employees.  On behalf of the Elks, we thank President Carol Elliott and the members of the Board for allowing us to have the tournament at Rocky Bayou.”  Of the 66 players in the field, 30 were non-members who received information packages about membership at RBCC.

John Leatherwood, a long-time member of RBCC and a former club President, also, shared the following bit of information on the Elks and its mission:
“The Elks of Twin Cities Lodge #2747 help those in need, especially children and veterans.  We visit over 23 veterans in both the Twin Cities Pavilion and Bluewater Manor monthly and give ‘comfort items’ to make their lives a bit more enjoyable.  At Christmas, we have an adopt-a-vet program that enables us to treat our vets with gifts of clothing or other needed items that they would otherwise do without.  We participate in Memorial Day and Veterans Day celebrations.  We support Sharing and Caring and the Homeless Programs of the church with gifts of food and clothing.  We send the same kind of support to COPE House in DeFuniak Springs.

“As part of the Elks of Florida, we employ 20 physical therapists who provide therapy to children whose families have no more insurance or state aid available.  Each therapist treats 15-20 children weekly in the child’s home, providing up to 26 weeks of therapy at no cost.  Florida Elks pay for it.  We also have a 400 acre camp near Umatilla, Florida.  Our Northwest District has nine Lodges.  Together we send 90 children to camp for a week in the summertime.  Again, no cost to the family.

“On the national level, we support the Elks National Foundation, which provides scholarships for graduating seniors.  Nationally, Elks are second only to the federal government in scholarships awarded.  Last year over $3 million were awarded to some 500 plus scholars.  Three of those scholarships went to local grads—each one received $1000 for four years.  That is a total of $12000 given back into our community.

“What do Elks do? We do all this and more.

“I am pleased to be a member of both Rocky Bayou Country Club and the local Elks, who worked together for the mutual benefit of both organizations when we were permitted to hold the successful Elks Tournament at our club.  Thank you, all.”