Marianne Paton During a recent dinner, members of the Pine Island Elks paid recognition to several members and island residents. Picture are Jim and Judy Runas with 12 years of service, Matt Tague, Bill Brabbs Grand Lodge award recipient, Ann Brabbs Elks of the Year, DJ Rucsik Citizen of the Year, Dewey Duchaine Officer of the Year and Exalted Ruler, Liz Duchaine. Not shown is Gerry Fischer, who was presented with a Grand Lodge award.

Each year, members of the Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge bestows the honor of Citizen of the Year to one island individual. This year, the Elks have named Bokeelia resident DJ Ruscik to receive this esteemed title.

“I am thrilled that the Elks have chosen me to receive this honor,” said Ruscik. “When my husband and I first moved to the island, we were quick to learn that it was a place filled with volunteers so it was only natural that we did the same. It is all about giving back and if we hadn’t learned it before, we know it now.”

Assisting the Elks Exalted Ruler, Liz Duchaine, in presenting the award was Elk Jake Ravoldi.

“DJ moved to Pine Island in October of 1999 where she started working for Merrill Lynch as a registered client associate. There she spearheaded and often coordinated community outreach for them. Some of the organizations she worked with were Strides Against Breast Cancer, the American Heart Association, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Florida’s Blood Centers where she served as a board member on their advisory board from 2000 to 2004,” said Ravoldi. “After Hurricane Charley, DJ joined Florida’s Blood Centers as a Donor Development coordinator full-time for two years. In her spare time, she served as madam president and as a board member of the Matlacha Hookers from 2000 to 2005. She is the past president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 136 and last, but not least, she served as president of the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce in 2009 and 2010.”

Duchaine added “DJ has been my mentor and I am pleased to be honoring DJ as our Citizen of the Year.”

Also presented were awards from the Elks Grand Lodge. Among the recipients was Elk Bill Brabbs.

“We have dedicated the Grand Lodge Special Award to Bill Brabbs. He has been through so much this past summer and just in the last couple of weeks, as he just had his knee replaced and was here the night before working in the kitchen and right back to work at the lodge within a week or less,” said Duchaine. “But, through it all, he has helped with food shopping, working in the kitchen and working outside the kitchen he has helped support the Elkhorn, printing tickets for special events and being the house committee secretary as needed. He has worked with Glea Fisher on the inventory and ordering food. Bill also has stepped up to the plate to do the prime rib, working along side Matt Tague and doing a fantastic job.”

Also this year, the Elks named Dewey Duchaine as Officer of the Year.

“Dewey has been outstanding supporting us as trustee for many years. He has been the chairman of the golf tournament three out of the last four years and brought in over $15,000 for our charity,” Duchaine said. “He was voted in the chairman of the trustees for 2009 and 2010 and has been the support and yes man for the Exalted Ruler for the past year as well.”

Named Member of the Year was Ann Brabbs.

“Our Member of the Year has been very supportive to every person that she comes in contact with. The word no is not in her vocabulary,” said Duchaine. “Ann has created Fun Night at the lodge on Monday nights and has diligently supported the calendar and house committee corner. She has been dubbed my official fire extinguisher and has worked many long and dedicated hours over the past 12 months. All I know is that I could not have done this past year without her.”

In addition, Duchaine also recognized Jim and Judy Runas for their years of dedication to the Pine Island Elks Lodge as well as members Matt Tague and Bonnie Kosinswki along with Pine Island Boy Scout Troop 20.