The Mission Viejo Saddleback Valley Elks welcomed twenty-four (24) new members in April, making the April initiation the largest one-month group to be inducted into Elkdom in the Lodge’s forty-seven (47) year history.
The new members from the City of Mission Viejo are: Megan Aguilar, Chrisie Alva, Sonja and Dave Shane Beck, Bradley Fowler, George Gugliotta, Robert Hart, Juan Maldonado, David Kinney, Michelle McCann, Karina Miller, Christian Murray, Anni Pierce, Sandra Polanco, Robert Reedy, and Amy Ryes.
Other new members are Andrew Rose, and Daniel Sisto, from Rancho Santa Margarita, and George Carter, Roger La Porte, and James Chalmers of Lake Forest. Carl Aten of Huntington Beach, Donna Farris of Aliso Viejo, and Judy Higashi of Laguna Woods were also initiated.
Lodge President David McLeod and his corps of officers conducted the time-honored and respectful ritual of initiation. Following the one hour ceremony McLeod praised his team of officers for their fine performance.
He spoke to the large class of newly inducted Elks saying, “Your membership comes at a perfect time of year, as the Lodge has never had a more extensive docket of charity events. We will be hosting local award winning boy and girl Students, Scouts, and Athletes as we celebrate “Elks National Youth Week” at 7:00pm next Tuesday.” McLeod went on to say, “The public is invited to this open event, so please bring family and friends.”
In the busy month of May, other Lodge events include visits to the Vets Hospital in Long Beach, a Red Cross Blood Drive on May 2nd, and the annual “Cancer Kids Carnival”. Another Lodge event will be in support of the City of Mission Viejo’s Adoption Committee and their First Marine Division “Lake Day with the Troops” on May 14th at Lake Mission Viejo.
In addition to the regularly scheduled Wednesday night bingos, the Lodge Bingo Charity committee is running an all-day Sunday Bingo Marathon on May 15 to raise funds for these and other Elks Charities.
Besides having a full schedule of planned charity events, Lodge officers will be attending the California, Hawaii Elks Association annual convention to be held this year in Anaheim beginning on May 18th.
The highlight of that meeting will be the presentation of funds raised throughout the year to support the Order’s “Major Project for Handicapped Children”, affectionately referred-to as the “Purple Pig.” Lodge’s president Dave McLeod will join the one hundred seventy other California and Hawaii Lodge presidents to present the local Lodge’s annual donation.
This year’s event is expected to top the $3,400,00.00 which was reported at last year’s convention.
Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 is celebrating 47 years of service to Saddleback Valley Communities. It is one of 10 lodges in the Orange Coast District of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) whose headquarters is in Chicago, Illinois. The BPOE is a charitable organization with a 148 year history of giving. “Elks Care Elks Share”
“KEEP COMMUNICATING”
Andy Costello
2015-16 California, Hawaii Elks Association
Public Relations Chairman
