My family moved to Ocala, FL in 2003 and bought a home next to a wooded area owned by the Ocala Elks Lodge at Northeast 25th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34470.

Since 2004, we suffered damages to our property from the Ocala Elks Lodge trees on 4 separate occasions.  The above photo shows how the Whispurring Woods Cat Rescue Cabin (which was on our property) looked before it was destroyed by the Elks tree.

 

Photo of Cabin Destroyed by a Huge Ocala Elks Lodge Tree on September 10, 2017.

On this 4th time, their trees destroyed our cabin, caused massive damage to our property and took the life of a cat which was very important to Karin, owner of Whispurring Woods Rescue.

 

While claiming to be a Charitable “Caring” Organization, the Elks have REFUSED to take responsibility for the damages caused by their trees.

Here’s the history of how the Ocala Elks Lodge has treated us, their neighbors…

 

The first tree from the Ocala Elks Lodge came down on our property during Hurricane Charley in August 2004 and damaged our fence.  We notified the Elks Lodge about the damage and they eventually removed their tree and fixed our fence.

A few weeks later on Sunday, September 5, 2004 during Hurricane Frances, another Elks Lodge Tree came down and destroyed 100′ of the fence separating their property from ours causing $1,200 of damage.

I wrote to a Mr. Sid Carter who was an official at the lodge in Ocala and to their Exalted Ruler Mr Harold Floyd.

The response we received was a letter from their attorney, Mr. Daniel Hicks of Ocala who indicated that he represented the Elks Lodge and stated “The damages your complex suffered were a result of an act of God and your insurance policy should cover your damages”.

I was flabbergasted and outraged because he essentially told us the Elks Lodge had no intentions of doing anything about the damage caused by their trees.

 

While the Elks here in Ocala, FL not only neglected, but refused to help their own neighbors who suffered damages from their trees, the Elks website stated “Elks Pledges Aid to Florida Hurricane Victims”.

Click here to view a photo copy of their website as it appeared on August 18, 2004 and to view the damage caused by their trees.

Our deductible was 1% which equals $1,370. out of pocket before the insurance paid one dime which meant we would have had to pay for ALL of the damages out of our own pocket.

They should have rightfully paid for the damage… especially since they were advertising how they were “Pledging Aid to Florida Hurricane Victims“.

 

Photo of the Elks Lodge Headquarters in Chicago

After receiving the letter from the Ocala Elks attorney stating they were not going to do anything, I then wrote numerous officials within the Elks organization, including Mr. Jack Jensen Grand Secretary of the Elks National in Chicago, Elks USA Grand Lodge Headquarters in Chicago, Mr. Frank Palladini Florida Elks State President, Mr. James M. McQuillan, the Grand Exalted Ruler and the President of the Elks.

NONE of these people did anything to right the wrong which was done to my family.

On December 5, 2006 I wrote the Grand Exalted Ruler and the President of the Elks, Mr. Louis James Grillo about this matter and received no reply.

The mission stated on the Elks.org website states…

“To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share“.

In our case, the Elks have proved that they are NOT Benevolent, do NOT care, do NOT share, have shown no Charity, Justice or Brotherly Love.

I think most people would also agree that it is JUST that since the Elks trees damaged our property, they should fix the damage.

The fact that NONE of the Elks I notified about this did anything is an OUTRAGE. Every member of the Elks who I notified and who failed to do anything has violated the Elks Mission, Motto and Creed, and they should be reprimanded and expelled as members.

They proved themselves to be Heartless, UN-caring, UN-sharing Hypocrites.

If average Joe good neighbors all over the state of Florida can accept responsibility for damage caused by trees to their neighbors property and repair the damage, the Elks who touts themselves as a philanthropic organization, should more than any neighbor in Florida do the right thing and remove their trees from our property and repair the damage.

The Elks failure and refusal to do so is Hypocrisy Personified. This Elks Lodge’s claim of an “Act of God” to avoid responsibly is an OUTRAGE.

The Elks Organization (National, Florida State & Local) has behaved in a disgraceful, stingy, selfish, UN-Brotherly and UN-Caring manner by their failure to have the damage to my property repaired, which was caused by the Ocala Elks trees.

 

March 2011 UPDATE:  On March 9, 2011 another large tree from the Elks property fell onto our property across our fence which had laid smashed and damaged since 2004 and also hit our garage.

This time, they had no hurricane or “Act of God” as an excuse defense… THEY HAD TO PAY FOR ALL THE DAMAGES, as they should have years ago.

It is important to note that when members of the Elks and their insurance adjuster came to see the damage caused by their tree in 2011, we showed them other tress on their property which were rotted and needed to be cut down. They did nothing and have proved to be NEGLECTFUL, IRRESPONSIBLE property owners (*in my opinion).

 

9/10/17 UPDATE: MORE DAMAGES FROM THE OCALA ELKS TREES!

In 2014, Karin started the Whispurring Woods Cat Rescue, (a 501c3 non-profit organization) and purchased a 30′ x 12′ building at a cost of almost $8,000. She even rescued cats from the Elks Lodge property.

Early Sunday Morning of September 10, 2017 a Huge Elks Lodge Tree Destroyed the Rescue Kitty Cabin and crushed about 150′ of our fence (the 4th time in 13 years the Elks Trees damaged our fence).

 

The above article was published by WFTV Channel 9 about the damage. Click here to view article

Prior to the arrival of Hurricane Irma, we spent $3,000 to have trees in our back yard cut down to protect our home and the Cabin. We were therefore responsible property owners and did everything possible to protect our property.

9-29-17 UPDATE: I spoke with the Ocala Elks Lodge secretary this morning and he stated that they received the video and info about the damage caused by their tree and stated that they are only legally responsible for their tree on their side of the fence… essentially telling me they have no intentions of paying for any of the damage.

Our insurance has a $4,000 deductible which means WE have to pay that much out of our own pocket for their carelessness and neglect in maintaining their trees. That is not right, fair or just.

 

This One Flower is all that’s left of the Kitty Cabin

 

On 10/6/17, we paid $2,500 to have the Elks Tree, trees of ours which their tree destroyed, our destroyed cabin and all of the debris removed from our property. Not one cent offered from these people who’s motto is “Elks Care, Elks Share“.

You can see what’s left of their tree across our destroyed fence which caused all of the damage and a cat looking for it’s home. This Elks Tree (4th in 13 years) caused MASSIVE DEVASTATION to our property.

Next, we had to pay about $2000 to have the fence repaired.

At this very moment, there are trees on the Elks property which will eventually fall on our property, and other residences, and do severe damage, or cause a fatality.  We informed the Elks Lodge about these trees years ago (in 2011) and their insurance company adjuster when the last tree of theirs fell and damaged our garage.

Since the Elks and their Insurance adjuster were notified about dangerous trees on the Elks property in 2011 which will fall & cause damage and the Elks has failed to cut the trees down and have done nothing to maintain their trees which border our fence in all of these years, I feel the Elks are guilty of “Willful Neglect“.

Willful Neglect Trumps “Act of God” claims to evade responsibility.

 

In my opinion, the Elks are in violation of their own Mission, Motto, Creed, Guidelines and have engaged in False Advertising and Hypocrisy.

Here’s proof…

As stated above in the National Elks Guidelines, they are supposed to provide “Assistance to People in Distress“.  In our case the destruction caused by their trees CAUSED US DISTRESS and they have given us NO assistance.

The Elks Mission, Motto and Creed states;

“To inculcate the principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love and Fidelity; to recognize a belief in God; to promote the welfare and enhance the happiness of its Members; to quicken the spirit of American patriotism; to cultivate good fellowship; to perpetuate itself as a fraternal organization, and to provide for its government, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the United States of America will serve the people and communities through benevolent programs, demonstrating that Elks Care and Elks Share”.

In our case, the Elks have proved that they are NOT Benevolent, they do NOT care, do NOT share, have shown no Charity, Justice or Brotherly Love.

I think most people would also agree that it is JUST that since the Elks trees damaged our property, they should fix the damage.

Especially since they claim to be a charitable organization… AND they have neglected to maintain their tress… AND this is their 4th tree which has damaged our property.

 

 

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