Winners of the Elk Oratorical Contest. Photo provided.
District Four Improvement Council of The Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, Inc. sponsored their Annual Oratorical Contest on March 10. The Oratorical Contest was held at Pee Dee United Elks Lodge no.1679 and Excelsior Temple no.790 in Darlington.
Pictured receiving the 1st Place Prize is Taliya Coffie. She won the local Oratorical Contest in Lake City previously, and then won the District Four Improvement Council's Annual Oratorical Contest. Coffie will represent the District Four Improvement Council and advance to compete at the SC State Association Annual Elk's Session in Columbia. Coffie is shown with District Four Improvement Council's officers and members and family. Coffie was sponsored by Lake City Elks Lodge no.1680 and Harriet Tubman Temple no.1320.
District Four Improvement Council is consisted of the following Lodges and Temples:
Pee Dee United Elks Lodge no.1679 and Excelsior Temple no.790, Darlington.
Greater Progressive Lodge no.1607 and Liberty Temple no.800, Florence.
Lake City Lodge no.1680 and Harriet Tubman Temple no.1320, Lake City.
Birnies Elks Lodge no.1195 and Sacred Heart Temple no.835, Sumter.
There were representatives from each area above.
The Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the World, Inc., has sponsored these Oratorical Contests to engage and encourage young people to become the best version of themselves through these contests. It should be noted that actress and former talk show host Oprah Winfrey and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall competed in these Elks Contest.
