User:EdmondsonCole/sandbox

The Secret Society of The Smoked Mullets was started in 1996 when Englewood Florida Chamber President Nita Edmondson (Cole) was looking for a special recognition award for those in the Englewood community who had contributed to the area’s successes, but may never have been recognized.

“I wanted to have a special award for the special people who worked so hard in the past to help grow Englewood, but I wanted the award to be fun too.”

The name originated from Englewood’s famous dish: the smoked mullet. Historical tales say when the mullet ran in Lemon Bay in the early days, they literally jumped into the rowboats, and “got tangled up in the ladies petticoats.”

The original committee members included Laurie Dignam, Dean Hanewinkel, and Nita Edmondson (Cole). The first award was given to Dr. John Flower in 1996, and the announcement was made by those in masks, and wearing fish and mermaid costumes - hence the “Secret Society.” He became the first "Smoked Mullet".

The Secret Society of Smoked Mullets is made up of all the winners, and each winner brings a secret member into the group who is also a voting member for choosing the next year's Smoked Mullet.

When the group met in 2003, they developed a secret handshake (thanks to past winner Don Platt), and agreed they would like to organize in the future to be a community committee for the continued success of the Englewood area. Englewood has had special challenges because it is a community located in two counties. With no City Hall, the Englewood Chamber of Commerce has become the center of information for business and non-business activities. Individual efforts were paramount to the growth of the area, thus the basis for this recognition.

The Smoked Mullets are of a generation when Englewood was blazing a trail for its residents. The honorees have been chosen from original pioneer families for their personal efforts in helping Englewood in past years, and have not been recognized for those efforts.

Each of the winners brings into the group a “secret” member, more for fun, and to grow interest in the group. Also, should needed, this person stands in for the “Smoked Mullet” winner when necessary.

A secret handshake was created by Winner Don Platt in the 2003 meeting.

The winners are named for Englewood's well known "Smoked Mullets" because Mullets were the most abundant fish in Lemon Bay in the 1800’s and provided sustenance for people who lived here. They were “smoked” to preserve them since there was little or no refrigeration. In the past, Winner Eunice Albritton has brought a sample platter of smoked mullets to the award luncheon so people who live here today can taste them. The same can be said about these winners, they provided sustenance to the community in the early days of organization, and have preserved the memories for the rest of us.

Anyone can be nominated, but past generations are given priority. Only the past winners can bring the names to the nomination meeting, and vote for the winners. The chosen winner is kept a secret until the luncheon. Contact a previous winner to ask them to make a nomination for you. A list of winners may be obtained from the Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce.

It’s a lifetime honor to be chosen. Membership does not expire.

The “Society” can be called together anytime by the chair. They can publicly take on community projects, take a stand on public issues affecting the community, or just help behind the scenes.