Upcoming Events

PLEASE NOTE: OUR NEXT TWO GENERAL MEETINGS ARE ON TUESDAYS!

Tues, Aug 15- August General Membership Meeting starting at 6:30 pm. Street Eatz & Ale 5508 Avenue A in Bokeelia, close to center. See details below.

Wed, Aug 30- September Board Meeting starting at 6 pm Salty Girls Island Cafe 10700 Stringfellow Rd #20 in Bokeelia, close to the center.

Tues, Sept 12- September General Membership Meeting starting at 6:30 pm. Fine Swine 10251 Stringfellow Rd in Saint James City.

Mon, Sept 25- Island Luau Committee Meeting starting at 6 pm. Location TBD. Stay tuned for more details.

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

Madam's Corner

Ladies,

Whether you call it the Dog Days of Summer or the Last Hurrah, the final days of Summer are that light at the end of the tunnel.  Slow down, relax, and enjoy the simple things in life.  Like snoozing in the shade, spending a day in the pool, meeting with friends in the afternoon, and chatting until the sun goes down or the moon rises.

Yup, this is the month to recharge your batteries.  

There's still time to travel and take in the sights, visit with family and friends, and enjoy all that Summer has to offer before we get back into the routines of volunteering and attending fundraisers.

Just a friendly reminder that membership renewals are due in October, but we begin accepting 2024 dues in the month of August.  You must be paid by the end of October to be eligible to vote in the 2024 Board of Directors election at the November General Membership Meeting.  Considering running for the Board!  Your 2023 Board is currently updating descriptions of our respective responsibilities for your review.  Although this is our 25th Anniversary, membership dues are still only $20 a year!

Take some time for yourself this month and play, smile at strangers, and laugh with friends.  It's all good for the soul.

Stay cool and well hydrated, and enjoy.

Madam DJ

Card Shower Requested

One of our sister Hookers, Janelle Cooley, recently lost her long-time partner and best friend.  We are sad to share that Dennis (DL) Havlin passed away on Sunday, July 30th after a brief illness.  DL was a well-known and accomplished writer, speaker, and historian.  He published numerous novels featuring mystery, suspense, and fiction.

Most of you know Janelle as not only a dedicated member, but we cannot recall an event where she had not signed up to volunteer her time.  She even served on the Hookers Board of Directors for a couple of years.

Please take some time to let her know that we care and drop her a note.  

Ms. Janelle Cooley

7881 Barrancas Avenue

Bokeelia, FL  33922

Prayer Shower Requested

Please keep Genie Andrews, our sister Hooker, former Chaplain and Hooker Board member, and her husband, Leigh, in your prayers. Leigh is having very serious health issues and is currently in the hospital.

Pine Island Experience Podcast

The Matlacha Hookers were selected to be highlighted in the most recent episode of the Pine Island Experience Podcast! Madam DJ and Vice Madam Julia did an absolutely phenomenal job of representing us. Way to go, ladies!

General Membership Meeting

PLEASE NOTE: THE MEETING IS ON TUESDAY!

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Street Eatz & Ale

5508 Avenue A in Bokeelia, close to the center

Doors open at 5 pm to start ordering food and beverages.

The meeting begins promptly at 6:30 pm.

Please don't forget to bring food pantry donations! 

Matlacha Hookers Rocked the PIE School Supply Drive

Thank you to all Matlacha Hookers who helped out with the Pine Island Elementary School Drive this year: Cindee Tolliver, DJ Ruscik, Deb Syring, Anna Van Kirk, Gail Landis, Kimmy Rasmussen, Shirley Noble, Kathleen Marquis, Rita Kemp, Cindy Walton, and to everyone who made cash and supply donations. We couldn't have done it without you!

Sincerely, Christy Rau and Joyce Boyer Co-Chairs

Delivering and unloading the supplies at Pine Island Elementary School in late July.

L to R: Yanet Montes, Gisela Ortega, Kathleen Marquis, Shirley Noble, Rita Kemp, Christy Rau, Rich Barber, Principal Tom Millins, Kimmy Rasmussen, Joyce Boyer.

PIE STEM Room, temporary home to the school supplies, where we organized, sorted and stuffed back packs on July 31. L to R: Kathleen Marquis, Joyce Boyer, Rita Kemp, Shirley Noble. 

School supply distribution at Pine Island Elementary Open House on August 7.

L to R: Cindy Walton, Joyce Boyer, Rita Kemp.

Special Discounts for Matlacha Hookers at Pine Island Auto Care!

Pine Island Auto Care, at 8336 Stringfellow Rd in Saint James City, is offering all Matlacha Hookers some awesome discounts! During the summer months, they are offering 25% off oil changes and 15% off major repairs. Pine Island Auto Care is open Monday thru Friday, 8:00 am- 5:00 pm, and they can be reached at 239-282-5599.

Matlacha Hookers' Storage Unit Request

In preparation for our Fall fundraisers, we need the chairs/co-chairs of the various events to visit the storage unit to get things further organized, The goal is for all items to be moved in to the new clear bins with labeling. We'd also like to get the heavy bins placed on the lower shelves, and dividing the heaviest ones in to multiple bins. The lighter bins would then be placed on higher shelves, for the safety of those removing them from above while on a ladder.

Questions? Please contact Linda Bohacek 715-579-5009.

!!Renewals and Elections!!

The renewal process starts this month! If you are interested in participating in the elections your membership must be renewed by October 31st.

The name tags also have gone up 50 cents and now are $7.50 to order.

Nominations will be accepted in September and October. (Nomination slips will be handed out at the general membership meetings and we will also post them here in the Herald.) A special edition of the Herald will go out in October for "Meet the Candidates." Nominations will be closed on Oct 16th, and nominated Hookers will be contacted to see if they accept the nomination.

Elections will be at the November general membership meeting. All paid members will get a chance to vote for the new board at this meeting. We will induct the new board at the December meeting and they will take office at the January board meeting.

Vice Madam Julia is looking for three volunteers to help her with the nomination and election processes. Please contact Julia if you're interested in joining the committee: 239-298-1113 or 12thmadam.julia@gmail.com

New Drop Off Location for Baskets

Please drop off all of your unwanted or extra baskets to Trader's Hitching Post 4547 Pine Island Rd in Matlacha. Cindee Tolliver has graciously volunteered to house them for us, to be used in our future silent auctions.

Select Matlacha Hookers merchandise will also be available there soon!

Matlacha Hookers 25th Anniversary Commemorative T-Shirt Contest

Thank you to those members who submitted designs and tag lines for the Matlacha Hookers 25th anniversary T-shirt. The committee will be reviewing and making a decision in the next month. The T-shirt will be revealed at the October general membership meeting.

We still need three more committee members to judge entries and then finalize our Matlacha Hookers 25th Anniversary T-shirt design and tagline.  Volunteer members must be available during the month of August.

Please contact Linda Bohacek 715-579-5009 or Lbrdh4pets@gmail.com and include preferred days and times. Thank you!

Pine Island Food Pantry News

The Pine Island Food Pantry is in need of the following items: diced tomatoes, dog food, hamburger helper, instant mashed potatoes, elbow macaroni, penne or ziti pasta, egg noodles, dried beans, saltines and crackers. Please bring donations to the next General Meeting or drop off at one of the following locations: Winn-Dixie, V.F.W., American Legion, Moose, Centennial Bank, the Matlacha Post Office or at the pantry when it is open on Monday and Thursdays, 9 am - 11 am.

Visit pineislandfoodpantry.org to learn more. Thank you!

Membership Information

New password for website was updated February 27th.

Members Only Area Password: @HMP23

Herald and website content submissions, along with questions or concerns, should be sent to Christy Rau at MHwebmistress@gmail.com.  Please do not email Christy by replying to, or 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.