A farewell to the Pilot Club of Fort Myers Beach
To the editor:
On behalf of the charter members of the Pilot Club of Fort Myers Beach and other long-time Pilot sisters, we wish to express our deepest appreciation for the past 25 years of community support.
As of June 30, our Pilot club has been dissolved, and we are greatly saddened. Our charter will be surrendered and returned to Pilot International headquarters.
In 1985, a group of successful business and professional leaders from Fort Myers spoke to a small group of ladies from Fort Myers Beach. Their commitment to service and deep dedication to friendship so inspired the Beach ladies that they formed their own Pilot club.
For the next 25 years, we dedicated ourselves to service to our community and enjoyed lasting friendships with one another. Our commitment to our community took various forms beginning with the Beach Clean-ups and included auctions, style shows, luncheons, shrimp festival parades, donations to the Beach Library, to the Beach School and to the Beach Girl Scouts to mention a few.
As out dedicated ladies joined us, we were able to accomplish so much more through the years. We participated in Pilot International and District conventions where we learned the inner workings of our International Club. The opening of the third Pilot Scholarship House in the state located on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus was a highlight that we’d worked on for many years.
We are greatly saddened by the dissolution of our Pilot club, but we would be remiss if we did not thank our Beach community for all of their support during these past 25 years. Thank You!
FMB Pilot Club Charter members
Mary Meader
Edwina Raffa
Jane Ross
Georgia Shaki-Hill
Betty Simpson
Roxie Smith