Romeos Men's Ministry, FCC of Wildwood, FL

02/24/2023

08/15/2021

ROMEOS Update: “It’s All For The Kids”

Most readers are probably aware of the good work performed on behalf of local area underprivileged children by our small, dedicated group, but are you aware of the amount of effort required each year to sustain our ever-increasing fund-raising efforts? In short, it takes a lot (and the work continues to some extent throughout the year). The plain and simple truth is that none of us on The ROMEOS committee are getting any younger, and although we’ve welcomed several new members in recent years, we could still use more volunteer help on the committee, be it as a fund-raising solicitor, a golf tournament support volunteer, or any number of other areas that could use some extra help. Please contact committee chairman, Johnny Miller, at (352) 303-3967 if you’re interested in helping out at some level of involvement.

As we prepare to welcome all of our seasonal “snowbirds” back (including those folks who live north of the US/Canada border), we would like to remind everyone that we’re also a major source to fill the needs of the many golfers in our community from our annual (on-going) sale of slightly-used, very good condition, golf clubs, golf balls, golf bags and accessories. Once again, contact Johnny Miller for more information.

The 2022 fund-raising season rapidly approaches - and we hope to be in a position to re-introduce the very popular “pot luck” dinners following each golf event if conditions will allow. Our first golf outing is tentatively scheduled for Monday, December 13th, but the safety and wellness of all our Continental friends and neighbors is first and foremost, so final plans will be issued in October or November due to the ever-changing COVID situation.

Thank you all for your continued support.

07/31/2021

ROMEOS - “Hot and Wet!”

Happy Days from the ROMEOS! Hope y’all are having a wonderful summer, be it here in (mostly) sunny Florida, or somewhere a bit further north where it might be a bit cooler and dryer (lol). At any rate, we would like to bring you up to date on our very successful 2020/2021 fund-raising season.

Several co-chairs presented scholarship funds to Marybeth Harper, Director of the Retreat at Silver Springs summer camp in Ocala. Our support will help over 120 children enjoy a week’s stay at camp this year!

Co-chair, Paul Wirick, presented a funding check to the Oak Park Elementary School and the Wildwood Elementary Schoo to help support their P.E. programs.

The ROMEOS also provided individual scholarship funding to Wildwood High School, Leesburg High School, and Leesburg First Academy.

In addition, our community outreach provided scholarships to 2 local area trade schools along with 3 local food banks.

We also continued our partnership with Project Legacy, a child advocacy group helping children in Lake and Sumter counties, keeping in step with our motto,

“It’s All For The Kids”

Several families have asked how they can help support the ROMEOS efforts which prompted us to implement a new category of fund-raising to allow individuals and families purchase hole sponsorship signs. An example of the Personal Hole Sponsor sign is pictured below.

Contact Johnny MIller at 352-303-3967 for more particulars regarding Personal Hole Sponsorship.

We’re also a major source for filling the needs of the many golfers in our community from our annual (on-going) sale of slightly-used, very good condition, golf clubs, golf balls, golf bags and accessories. Here again, contact Johnny Miller for more information.

NOTICE!

All new residents who are now citizens of Florida should be aware that it is vitally important that all legal papers from your previous state of residence be brought into compliance with Florida state codes, statutes, etc. in order to avoid having your estate settlement burdened with the cumbersome and unnecessary probate process. Each year ROMEOS sponsor, Atty. Patrick Smith, donates an estate trust package valued at $695.00 which you can be the recipient of for making a personal donation to the ROMEOS charity. Once again, contact Johnny Miller for more details.

Our first golf event for the upcoming 2022 season will be held here at CCC on Monday, December 13th. More details will be published in future updates.

We hope everyone enjoys their summer and wish good health and safe travels to all!

04/05/2021

Pictured from left to right presenting a check at our April breakfast meeting to Marybeth Harper, Director of The Retreat in Silver Springs: Paul Wirick, Steve Newton, Marybeth, Johnny Miller, Rich Wright, and Roger Krumme.

03/27/2021

2021 Platinum Sponsors ($250 min. donation + 5 raffle prizes)

Banks Page Theus Funeral Home
Parady Financial Group
Plaza Lincoln
Oakwood Grill
Suter Air Conditioning
The Oaks on 44 Restaurant
The Chiropractic Center
No Pressure House Wash

2021 Gold Sponsors ($250 min. donation)

M.D. Termite & Pest Control
Campus USA Credit Union
First Choice Windows
Traverse Chiropractic
Down to Earth Landscaping
Floors of Distinction
Accent Insurance
Quality Physicians Group
Frank Slaughter Insurance
Living Waters by Bass
Lenhart Electric
Cotillion Southern Restaurant
The Gun Shop & Range
Wildwood Mower & Saw

Silver Sponsors ($150 min. donation)

Byrd Insurance
San Jose Restaurant
Main Street Dentist
Pat’s Sales
Patrick Smith, Atty
Paquette Tractor Museum
Nathan Thomas Insurance
L.A. Flooring
Battery Power
Nobles Golf Carts
Four Star Realty
Lake Square Aluminum
Sensible Financial Solutions
Mid-Florida Credit Union

Personal Hole Sponsors ($250 min. donation)

Ginger and Tim Robertson
Dick and Marcia Arnold
Gail and Barry Brooks
Lynn and Charlie Branch
Jim and Linda Moore
Mickey and Bob Finnecy

03/18/2021

March 8th proved to be another beautiful day for the ROMEOS golf tournament with a 70* high temperature under sunny skies. Our putting contest was won by Phyllis Miller who outlasted Larry Masbruch in the “Sinkers” vs. “Stinkers” playoff to qualify for a putt at the grand prize. Her attempt missed so the grand prize will once again be up for grabs at the April event.

Tom and Brooke Heimerl and Larry and Vicki Masbruch won the mixed division and .Paul Robinson, Todd Blake, Rick Derr and Rick Bloyd won the men’s division.

Our annual golf club and accessory sale continues with a vast selection of high quality equipment to choose from including complete sets as well as specialty clubs such as drivers, hybrids, putters and wedges. There are also a number of slightly used bags and dozens of balls to select from, all at vastly reduced prices. Contact Johnny Miller at 352-303-3967 if you would like to donate clubs or golf accessories or to schedule an appointment to view this year’s selection.

And remember, all proceeds from the equipment sale are put towards our “It’s all for the Kids” charities so you’ll be helping your community as well as your golf game by participating.

Our last golf scramble for 2021 is scheduled for Monday, April 12th. Sign up at the CCC Pro Shop. Players of all levels are welcome to participate. Sign up even if you do not have a foursome and the tournament committee will assign you to a foursome where you can meet some of your neighbors in the community and share some laughs along the way.

Raffle tickets will be on sale outside the Pro Shop for 2 weeks prior to, and on, the day of the April tournament. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to win your portion of what will be nearly $4500 worth of prizes!

Remember, just like the golf equipment sale, all proceeds from the prize raffle are used to support the ROMEOS “It’s all for the Kids” charity efforts.

02/15/2021

ROMEOS - KEEP ROLLIN’

We had a fantastic day for our February golf event, 72* and partly sunny. There were 64 golfers, hooking, slicing and putting their way around our lovely course while enjoying our 9-hole scramble format.

Pictured here are: Denny Larson and Gary Roush, winners of the “Sinkers” and “Stinkers” divisions of the putting contest.

They had a “putt off” and Denny earned the chance for the grand prize. The next picture shows Denny getting ready to attempt a 16’ putt on the 9th green.

Guess what? He made it!!!

Only the second grand prize winner in 15 years. Congratulations, Denny. He chose the beautiful, hand-crafted, wooden mallet-style putter donated by Louisville Golf out of the three possible prizes offered.

Winners of the Mixed Division were: Joyce Weaver, Scott Weaver, Kathy Baumbaugh and Bruce Baumbaugh.

The Mens’ Division winners were: Harry Wayne, Harold Burgess, Don Hutson and Dennis Richey. Congratulations to all winners.

Our next two events are planned for March 8th and April 12th. Sign-up sheets will be available in the CCC Pro Shop three weeks in advance of each event. You may sign up as a foursome or individually and we’ll team you up with other players looking for a fun time.

We should have near $4000 in prizes to raffle off at each of our last two events for 2021, thanks in large part for no December tournament being held. Raffle ticket sales will be held twice daily prior to the shotgun starts for two weeks before the scheduled event.

11/24/2020

If you or anyone you know is in need of golf clubs or accessories, we have literally hundreds of good, used clubs to select from. Again, contact John Miller at 352-303-3967 to schedule an appointment for viewing this year’s supply or if you have good used golf equipment that you may wish to donate.

11/23/2020

The next ROMEOS breakfast is scheduled for Monday, December 7th at the Bob Evans Restaurant on 466A in The Villages.

There is always a short message and brief business meeting followed by friendly “chitter-chatter” along with a few good laughs.

Its best to arrive around 8:15 or so because the breakfast starts at 8:30 SHARP! All men are invited. Please contact John Miller at 352-303-3967 or Rich Wright at 352-748-2716 if you have any questions or need a ride.

06/20/2020

This is the time to brag a bit, so allow me to identify all the organizations that received funding from The ROMEOS this year:

1. Funding reserved towards future support for The Retreat at Silver Springs (currently closed due to coronavirus) to help children enjoy a week’s stay at the summer camp. For many of these children this is the highlight of their summer. If you know of any children who would like to attend during the 2021 or subsequent summer seasons, please have them go to their website: (www.retreatatsilversprings.com).

2. We continue to offer major scholarships to Wildwood and Leesburg High School Seniors going to college this calendar year.

3. Increased support to Wildwood and Leesburg Elementary
School’s for their before and after school P.E. Programs.

4. Continued our partnership with Project Legacy, supporting children in the local community. Their programs help children in Lake and Sumter Counties (www.projectlegacy.net).

5. Continued our support of THE YOUNG PERFORMING ARTISTS group from the Royal Community of Wildwood by providing funding for several youths to attend summer camp.

6. Expanded our scope of funding to include two (2) local area technical schools and First Academy in Leesburg.
Created a new category of funding to support three (3) local area Food Pantries.

I think we can call 2020 a Banner Year!

05/02/2020

Collage of photos from various ROMEO'S golf outings

04/28/2020

photos of member(s) making presentations to various recipients