About the Coconut Castaways
Who are the Coconut Castaways? The Coconut Castaways, Inc., founded in May of 2007, is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization based in Des Moines, Iowa, but our club is a NATIONWIDE organization and we currently have members in over 1/2 of the states nationwide! We are a group of people who enjoy the Key West and Caribbean lifestyles. We love to socialize by having fun gatherings with other club members and friends and we also love to relax by taking trips to the beach and hanging out under the palm trees next to the ocean. But just as importantly, we are a community service organization whose members believe in giving something back to their communities as often as time permits. AND we are also the official nationwide fan club of Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band, one of the hottest Trop Rock bands in Florida and beyond!! If you enjoy the music of Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band, the laid-back, island way of life and also care about volunteering and giving back to your community, YOU are a perfect candidate to become a Castaway!
Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band Fan Club. The popularity of the Coconut Castaways nationwide is largely due to our connection with Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band, who have a rapidly growing fan base. Howard Livingston and the MM24 Band won several Trop Rock Awards in November, 2009, including Trop Rock CD of the Year, Song of the Year (I’m Living on an Island) and Entertainer of the Year!! And before that, their hit song “Blame It on the Margaritas” was named the #1 Trop Rock song of 2007! We are SO proud to say that we are the nationwide fan club for the band!
Community Service Organization. Our Club members know that there are organizations and individuals in our own communities and beyond that can use our help. That is why we offer many opportunities for community service and volunteer work. Members can choose from several different volunteer opportunities throughout the year that fit their schedules and therefore are able to volunteer when it’s best for them. Our Coconut Castaways' slogan is “Serving Community Roles With Caribbean Souls” and community service and volunteer opportunities are very important to us. We encourage all members throughout the country to volunteer whenever possible. Also, if your organization needs volunteers for an event, please contact us and we may be able to help.
Fun Social Organization. The Coconut Castaways hold monthly social gatherings for our local members called “Jump Ups”. Each Jump Up will not only provide opportunities for fun and socializing, but also for discussion about our upcoming community involvement and charity work. Our social events could include picnics, attending a live music event or local celebration, or just hanging at our home bar (Down Under in Clive) and enjoying each others’ company. We also have had amazing annual gatherings for our members nationwide to get to meet each other. We have made lasting friendships from these annual events and you will, too! We enjoyed club cruises in 2008 and 2009, where we were joined by Howard Livingston and the Mile Marker 24 Band. And 2010’s annual trip is to the Florida Keys to “Meet Me in the Keys” and hang out with Howard and the Band in their local spots. Check out our Castaways Calendar to find out more about our upcoming Jump Ups. We are always looking for new faces and fun things to do!
The Coconut Castaways have been very successful so far and we continue to grow. We would love to have you join in on the fun! To become a Coconut Castaway, please visit the "Want to become another Castaway?" page. We hope to hear from you soon!
Current Board Members of the Coconut Castaways, Inc.:
· Julie Engelken – President & Coconut Counter (Treasurer)
· Kory Ellerbeck – Vice President
· Tammy Hollander – Cruise Director (Membership Director)
· Marc Hollander – Gopher (Director of Marketing & Promotions)
· Barb Clark – Coco-Note Taker (Secretary)
Please contact us if you are interested in serving on the various committees we offer, such as the Social committee and Charity committee.
Join our Coconut Castaways Group on Facebook!
(left to right in photo) Barb, Kory, Julie, Marc and Tammy
