Pilot official visits local club; learns of scholarships, upcoming fund raisers

SAINT AUGUSTINE – Governor-elect of the Florida District  Beverly Shean paid a visit to the Pilot Club of St. Augustine March 4.

Sharing ideas on how to increase membership, the visitor, from Panama City, questioned club members on their various projects including awarding of some $12,000 in scholarships. These include $11,000 from the Hester Abbey  Floor Covering Scholarships presented by Scott and Elizabeth Kophamer; $1,000 Donnie Heymen Scholarship awarded to the building academy Skills students at Pedro Menendez High School; and financial assistance for women re-entering the workforce at St. Johns River State College.

A $500 scholarship from the Heymen fund, is being awarded to Corey Banks of Hastings, to help with his further education.

The visitor also heard plans about the caladium bulb sale, with orders picked up from 9 a.m. to noon March 14 at Watson Realty parking lot, U.S. 1 South; the March 21 Bunco party at the St. Augustine Beach City Hall, with doors opening at 1:30 p.m. and play beginning at 2 p.m.; and the June 6 Datil Pepper High Tea at the St. Johns County Agricultural Center.

In other action, the membership voted to donate $2,000 to the St. Augustine High School Choral Group which will be traveling to Italy this summer.

As a memento of her visit, Vicki Sellner, president-elect, presented the special visitor with a gift bag of local items including datil pepper jelly.

The Pilot Club of St. Augustine meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at Applebee’s, State Road 312. For information on membership contact Tadzia Alexander.