A new group of real-estate elves are in town following efforts by former Elves Club president Lynn Nestman to keep the charity alive after she resigned as president in May.
Mike Doyle, a realtor with Re/Max City Realty in Gibsons, has taken the helm as president of the Elves Club, while the organization’s approximately 30 other agents have agreed to pitch in as volunteers, including board directors and a secretary and treasurer. Doyle was elected president by acclamation.
“We thought it would be a good fit because there are quite a few of us and lots of hands make light work,” Doyle said. “This is our first stab at it.”
Nestman has also been hired to assist with the transition, with Re/Max agents chipping in to subsidize her. “She’s basically the boots on the ground,” said Doyle, who said it will take some time for the new board to get up to speed with running the fundraisers and the popular gift card program that supplies households in need with groceries and other necessities.
Last year, 680 households applied to the program. The cut-off date for applications this year is Dec. 12.
The new volunteers and president are in the process of hammering out details for the annual telethon and Crash the Coast boot drive scheduled for Dec. 8, which raise the most money for the Club. They also plan to participate in the Parade of Lights on Dec. 1 with a float. “We just wanted to allow it to continue the way it has done, but with a little more structure and a little more help,” Doyle said.
This will be the 50th anniversary of Elves Club.
