The Republican Club of Longboat Key met Jan. 12 for not only its first meeting of the new year, but also the first meeting of President Scott Gray’s term.
Members mingled around the Harbourside Ballroom, catching up on the holidays and the year to come before finding their seats for dinner and the night’s speakers.
Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge (CWVC) sponsored the meeting and attendees heard from Andrew Lourake, an Air Force veteran who was the first above-the-knee amputee to return to full flight status in the nation, about the program. CWVC provides environments for researchers to study wounded veterans in challenging environments, the findings of which inform treatments, orthotics and prosthetics for veterans with traumatic brain injuries, PTSD and other injuries. They mainly focus on sailing, mountaineering and SCUBA challenges and have worked with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s SCUBAnauts in the past to plant coral.
The Republicans Club of Longboat Key hosted its annual holiday party at the Harbourside Ballroom on Dec. 11, taking the time to not only celebrate but also usher in new leadership for the club.
In exchange for half off the price of admission, members could bring an unwrapped toy to place under the tree for Toys for Tots, leading to an overflowing Christmas tree at the ballroom s entrance.
Members spread out around the ballroom as they caught up on each other s holidays plans and happenings. Before dinner, Nancy McElmeel sang the national anthem and Santa (John Wheeland) led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
McElmeel steps down, Republican Club names Maj. Gen. ‘Scott’ Gray President
Air Force Maj. General ‘Scott’ Gray amd Joe McElmeel.
STEVE REID
sreid@lbknews.com
Longtime Republican Club President Joe McElmeel announced last week that he was stepping down from the position after several years building the Club’s membership and presence in the community.
The Republican Club named Air Force Maj. Gen. David ‘Scott’ Gray as the new President last Thursday at an organizational meeting.
Gray will start the post in January and McElmeel remains President through the end of the year and during the final holiday extravaganza slated for Dec. 11 at the Longboat Key Club.