LODGE ACTIVITIES REPORT
Thanks to all the volunteers for making the Labor Day Party another enjoyable event.
Although they did not play to a full house, the Mike Suman Swing City Band was terrific. It brought back a lot of memories for some of us. The dance floor was full all night. It isn't easy competing with the Miami Hurricanes football game.
Saturday, October 11th, will be something different in our ballroom. There will be Line dancing, Ballroom dancing, Country Western and Square dancing from 8:00 to ll:00 PM. The Salty Dawgs will furnish the music. They have a fine selection of CDs, but if you have a favorite, bring it along. Tickets are $5.00 per person. See insert on Page 8. Dinner specials will be available in the dining room by reservation. It is imperative that you call (305) 270-8185 for reservations.
On Saturday, October 18th, Manny Nicolaides will be preparing us a special Greek Dinner to be served at 6:00 PM. Reservations are required (we do not want to run out of food). Price is $10.00 per person. Tickets will be available from Helen Everett, Virginia DiFede, or from the bartender in the lounge.
October 31st, a Friday night, will be fun night in the lounge. It's Halloween! Don't forget your costumes.
Mark your calendar for November 15th. The Steve Charles Band will be playing in our Ballroom. This is a four piece band and plays all kinds of dance music. Tickets will be $10.00 per person. Watch for details next month.
The Childrens Pool Parties are being discontinued for the season now that we are getting into the fall and the water will be cooler. A big thanks goes to Dirk Noyes for a fantastic job in working with the children.
Ella Mae Shroyer, Activities Committee Chairperson

THE HARVEST BALL UPDATE
These are questions that I have been asked about our upcoming Charity Ball.
Date: November 1st, 2003
Time: Cash Bar at 6:00 PM; Dinner at 7:00 PM
Band: Earth Shines from 7:30 til 11:30 pm
Attire: Semi-formal to formal; Jacket and Tie, Suit, Dinner jacket or tux. Ladies: dressy cocktail dress; long gown or pant suit. This is your chance to shine at the Harvest Ball.
Tickets: $25.00 each, deadline on sales is October 24th for our final head count.
Menu: Fruit cocktail
Chicken Picatta
Red Bliss potatoes
Normandy Vegetables
Rolls and Butter
Dessert: Cheese Cake, Coffee or Tea
Ads: Deadline for inclusion in the Ball Program is October 8th, 2003.
Raffle: Tickets are 6 for $5.00. They are still available and will be sold at the ball.
First prize is $500.00; Second prize is $300.00; and Third prize is $200.00 plus many other gifts.
Toys for Tots: Unwrapped new toys to be collected at the Ball and turned over to the Marines for our Service men and womens kids for Christmas. Theyre putting their lives on the line for us, let's show them that we appreciate their sacrifices.
Next meetingOctober 7th at 7:00 PM. Our volunteers are doing a great job. We look forward to seeing them there and can use your help too.
Thanks for your support.
Mary Rust, Leading Knight and Charity Ball Chairperson

HOOP SHOOT UPDATE
Plans to hold the Elks 2003-2004 basketball free throw contest, known as the Hoop Shoot, have been finalized and will be held on Saturday, December 6th, 2003 from 9:00 AM till noon at the Gulliver Preparatory School located at 6575 North Kendall Drive. Girls and Boys school champions from approximately 15 Elementary schools and 10 Middle schools are being invited to compete. Children will compete in three different age groups. The age groups are 8-9, 10-11, and 12-13. Age is determined by what age the child will be on April 1, 2004. This is the date of the National Championship. School champions from the previous year are also invited to attend.
Trophies and T-shirts will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of our contest.
This year all children are required to pre-register and provide a copy of his/her birth certificate prior to the registration deadline of November 14th, 2003. This requirement also applies to individual children who are entered by Elk members. Entry forms can be obtained by calling Wade Fisk. This entry form, together with a copy of a birth certificate, are to be forwarded to Wade Fisk.
GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP IS EXPECTED AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL.

SICK AND VISITATION
(Always has priority)
Please let us know if a member of our Lodge is not well, is hospitalized, or has come home from the hospital, etc. and you would like for the membership to know, get the information to us before the closing date for the next bulletin each month.
This was a custom previously done and somehow got away from us. It was called to my attention by our dear Nat Barone, PDDGER, Trustee and in general a definite pillar of our very Lodge existence. When he speaks, we listen.
You may call it in to the office, slip it through the door, or place it in my bulletin file upstairs.
Thank you!
Edna J. Camacho

POT OF GOLD
On regular Wednesday meeting nights, we have a drawing at the end of each session. If you are present and your membership number is drawn, you win. On September 3rd, the number drawn was that of Thomas L. Gray; on September 10th, the name of Bradley Dietz was drawn; and on September 17th, the name of Ray Teachey was drawn. Neither were present. The pot is presently in excess of $290.00. This is a gentle way of saying, please come to meetings.
Tommy Palma, P.E.R. and PSVP

BELATED 9-11 REMEMBRANCE
On meeting night this week, the following was graciously handed to me by John Chorlog, our National Service/Veteran Chairman. My only regret is that I did not have it for a tribute to September 11th, last month.
(Edna J. Camacho)

WE ARE
As the soot and dirt and ash rained down, We became one color.
As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning building, We became one class.
As we lit candles of waiting and hope, We became one generation.
As the firefighters and police officers fought their way into the inferno, We became one gender.
As we fell to our knees in prayer for strength, We became one faith.
As we whispered or shouted words of encouragement, We spoke one language.
As we gave our blood in lines a mile long, We became one body.
As we mourned together the great loss, We became one family.
As we cried tears of grief and loss, We became one soul.
As we retell with pride of the sacrifice of heroes, We became one people.
WE ARE
One color - One class
One generation - One gender
One faith - One language
One body - One family
One soul - One people
We are The Power of One.
We are United.
We are America.
This candle was lit on the 11th of September, 2001. Please pass it on to your family and friends so that it may shine all across America. The author of the above is not known.

PENNIES
(The Penny Jar)
The penny jar still is available. It is located in the Lounge at our Elks Lodge No. 948. We collect pennies for The Community Habilitation Center, 1450 SW 79th Street, Miami. You ask, Why? Because Patty Hartnett is a member there and both she and her Mom Isabelle are Elkettes. They need equipment for their gym and we are still going to help them get it.
If you have pennies, please donate them to a good cause. Bring them to the lodge and put them in the jar. They will be appreciated! Many have been donated already.
Thank you again!
The Hartnetts

THE HANGMEN OF NO. 948
What? You didnt know that we have Hangmen in our midst? Read on!
Don, Rickie and Dirk Noyes work diligently to create unique decorations for our special events in the Ball Room; but how do these pieces all get hung?
Enter the #948 Hangmen.
Long before quests arrive Danny Barsimantov, David Grime, Don Noyes and Charlie Williams are there, manned with ladders and whatever else is needed to measure, hang, straighten, tilt, fuss withand sometimes fuss at, these very same decorations. A sense of pride and camaraderie surround these men as they work their way around the room. Then they return to the Ball Room the evening of the event, with tables set and centerpieces affixed, they greet each other, those same Hangmen of 948, with a certain sense of accomplishment.
Thanks fellows.
Keep up the good work!