Upcoming Events 

Sat., Feb 12 - Blood Drive from 10 am to 3pm at Miceli's.  A reservation is suggested.  See flyer below.

Sun., Feb 13 - Super Bowl Meat/Seafood Raffle & 50/50 Raffle at Goldy's Chicken Shack Meat raffle begins at 3:30 50/50 at the start of the game. Winner chosen during halftime. 

Tues, Feb 15 - Island Luau Basket Sorting at 9:00 at Beth Nelson’s home at 3343 Manatee Dr., St James City.  Bring any large baskets you can obtain. Call Linda  715-579-5009 with questions.

Tues, Feb 15 - General Membership Meeting at the Elks Lodge, 5630 Pine Island Rd, Bokeelia, FL 33922.  Meeting starts at 6:30 pm.  Bring wine and boutique items. Also bring gift cards from restaurants for the baskets.

Sat, Feb 19 - Island Luau Painting Day at SJCCC.  From 10 am - 2 pm. Contact Sandy Kerr at 305-849-1539 if you are coming. Lunch will be provided. Bring scissors, paint brushes, and wear comfy work clothes. We will be painting large Tiki Faces, cutting table cloths, painting cans, decorating cans, and more.

Mon. Feb 21 Island Luau Basket Making at 9:00 at Beth Nelson’s home at 3343 Manatee Dr., St James City.  Bring scissors, tape, and your creative juices to create some awesome auction items.

Mon. Feb 21 - Island Luau (Wine) Event 2022 Planning Meeting at 6pm at SJCC. This will be the last committee meeting before the event. 

Sat. Feb 26 - Inside Set-Up for Island Luau from 3-6 pm at SJCCC.  We will decorate indoors and set up tables and stage the areas. We will set up all outside tables with table cloths and décor. Some food preparations will happen.

Sun. Feb 27 - Outside Set-Up for Island Luau starting at 9 am. We will set up all outside tables with table cloths and décor. Set-up welcome area tent with balloon entry way. Display outside décor.  Followed by the event from 1 - 5 pm.

Sat., Mar. 19 -  BAG N TAG and Pancake Breafast event at the Moose Lodge.

Fri., Apr. 8 - “Hooked on Education” 2022 Scholarship Application deadline.

Members are encouraged to visit the website for up to date news, meeting minutes, financials, merchandise and committee event forms.  

**IMPORTANT WEBSITE ACCESS INFORMATION**

Ladies - I have updated the website. The Members ONLY page is located on the HOME page in two sections. Drop down menu...More also located in middle of home page. This area now holds all the pages previously protected by a password. You will now only be required to enter the 2022 Password: 20HMP22 on the Members only page. The other pages will open in a new window for you to easily navigate between pages without having to enter the password multiple times. I will review this at the meeting and can answer any questions you may have. 

Please do not give the password out to other members, they will need to email the Secretary at matlachahookers@matlachahookers.org to have their membership verified. 

Calling cards and the updated membership packets will be available at the General Meeting on Tuesday. Members who are unable to join will have their cards and paperwork mailed out to them.    Vice Madam, Julia

Madams Letter

Ladies,

Congratulations to Lorie and Theresa for recruiting ArtFest Volunteers, and to all that gave their time this past weekend!  Your efforts truly will make a difference to our ‘Hooked on Education Scholarship Program’ enabling individuals seeking higher education to achieve their goals of make better lives for themselves.

Now let’s focus on our ‘Luau Wine Tasting’ on Sunday, February 27th at the St James Civic Association from 1pm until 5pm.  There are volunteer opportunities that vary from making baskets, painting props, collecting donations to set up and tear down.  Remember that even an hour or your time can make a difference.  Tickets will be available at the February meeting.

The proceeds from the Luau are donated to the ‘Beacon of Hope’s Senior Services’, benefitting senior citizens in the greater Pine Island area.  Geez…just realized that I fit into the category…after all, I ask for and enjoy the discounts! 

Our Merchandise Team has been busy this year and we will have a Hooker Booth at IslandFest; better known to most of us as the Mullet Toss, on Saturday, March 12th at Philip’s Park.  This event is brought to you by the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce.  I’ll be volunteering for the Chamber in the morning, toss a Mullet or two and I have another commitment that day.  I’ll be heading down to the Legion Riders Annual Steak Cookout early that afternoon.  I know that the Merchandise Team and Chamber would welcome volunteers.  This is a Local Event featuring Local Vendors! 

Volunteer your time, throw a mullet, enjoy food and drink and support the vendors. 

Wrapping up the Spring 2022 Season is our Bag ‘n Tag ‘n Breakfast.  The first press release has been submitted and reminds the readers that we are accepting donations.  Our next sorting will be on Saturday, February 19th from 9:00am until we’re done.   The more the merrier when it comes to sorting!  This event supports our Scholarship Program. 

Do not miss the February General Membership Meeting!  We’ll be presenting checks to F.I.S.H. from Christmas Caroling and to Pine Island Elementary from the PIE Fishing Tournament & Derby.  Also, we have changed how we are going to do our 50/50s at these meeting and the new format will be officially revealed next week. 

We’ve hooked up with Miceli’s for our Blood Drive this Saturday, February 12th from 10:00am until 3:00pm.  The sign up link is below, however, please give me a call at 239-910-3829if you have difficulty signing up online.

Hope to see you on Tuesday, February 15th for the General Meeting at the Elks Lodge.  Doors open at 5:00pm and the meeting will begin promptly at 6:30pm.  There will be food and drink available for purchase.

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Madam DJ

Hookers sold water, beer, seltzer and wine to a thirsty crowd who generously tipped us for our enthusiastic service and smiling faces.  After or before their shifts, volunteers enjoyed perusing the festival grounds and seeing the artwork from over 200 juried artists from all over the country.  Sculpture, ceramic, watercolor, oil, jewelry to name just a few of the mediums on display. We had good weather and an abundance of things to eat and drink while experiencing the event. 

The fruits of our labor resulted in over $4,000 in tips that will provide scholarship funds for Lee County students. 

Thank you all for your valuable time and effort.  We continue to do great work (and have a lot of fun) while making a positive difference in our community.

Hooker Hugs to all, Theresa Kramer and Lorie Tidwell, Co-chairs ArtFest Fort Myers

THE February GENERAL MEETING

Pine Island Elks Lodge

Tuesday, February 15th

5630 Pine Island Rd, Bokeelia, FL 33922. 

Doors open at 5 pm. Food will be available to purchase.  The meeting starts at 6:30 pm.  Please bring Food Pantry donations.  PIE and FISH guests will be on hand for a check presentations at the beginning of the meeting.

Virtual Link to Attend February General Meeting
Tue, Feb 15, 2022 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM (EST)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://meet.goto.com/243217757

You can also dial in using your phone.
United States: +1 (786) 535-3211

Access Code: 243-217-757

Help and Donations Still Needed

For the next Hooker Meeting at the Elks on Feb. 15th, please bring:

• A bottle of wine (valued over $10) for our Mystery Wine Table. Mo will be looking for them.
• Money to purchase event tickets.
• Gift cards from salons, restaurants, etc. for our Silent Auction gift baskets.
• Luau Chic Boutique items if you still have items to donate.

If you would like to help with food prep or serving, contact Lori Tidwell @ 202-294-4901 or Theresa Kramer @ 239-560-9687.

Members on the Island Luau committees, please bring whatever tickets you have left.

The next meeting for the Island Luau (Wine Committee) is

Mon., February 21

Saint James City Civic Center doors open at 5:00 pm 

Wine Committee Virtual Meeting Information

Mon, Feb 21, 2022 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (EST)

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/487845453

You can also dial in using your phone.
(For supported devices, tap a one-touch number below to join instantly.)

United States: +1 (646) 749-3122
- One-touch: tel:+16467493122,,487845453#

Access Code: 487-845-453

New to GoToMeeting? Get the app now and be ready when your first meeting
starts: https://global.gotomeeting.com/install/487845453

NOW AVAILABLE

“Hooked on Education” 2022 Scholarship Application

The Matlacha Hookers will grant scholarships to qualified applicants. Scholarships may be used for tuition, books or other acceptable costs of education for either a certification, licensing or technical program or toward a college degree. Notification of Scholarship winners will be made prior to the Hookers’ general meeting in May.  Application Deadline is April 8th, 2022.   For questions, please call Chairperson:  Natalie Gazda 239-322-9701

Pine Island Food Pantry

Don't forget to support Pine Island Elementary (PIE) at Winn Dixie in February! 

The Food Pantry everyday pantry needs include boxed dry cereal, small bags or boxes of white rice, saltines, canned spaghetti Os and ravioli, kids size snack packages, popcorn (indiv. pkg bags in a box), canned tomato and vegetable soup, hamburger helper, canned fruit – mixed, peaches and pears, and personal care products, such as, toothpaste and toothbrushes, laundry detergent, shampoo, deodorant, razors, dish soap, feminine hygiene products and size 6 diapers or pull ups.  Dog and cat food are also welcome. 

Nonperishable donations can also be dropped off at the following locations: Winn-Dixie, V.F.W., American Legion, Moose, Elks, Centennial Bank, the Matlacha Post Office or at the pantry when it is open on Monday and Thursdays, 8:30 am - 10:30 am. Visit pineislandfoodpantry.org to learn more. Thank you!

Don’t forget that 0.5% of all of your purchases will be automatically donated to the Matlacha Hookers if  you,

1. Select Matlacha Hookers as your charity and then,
2. Enter Amazon through the Amazon Smile each time you shop.

Thank you for supporting us all year long!

Send all Herald and website content submissions to the Secretary at MatlachaHookers@MatlachaHookers.org for pre approval.

Questions or concerns:  contact Karen Durand at MHwebmistress@gmail.com.  

Please do not email to Karen by forwarding a Herald publication.  Since we use the free version of WIX for both our website and emails, the Herald emails actually go out under a different email address which she does not have access to.