(From left) Greeters Linda Teichmann (Senior Center Coordinator) & Mary Ann Costello (Elk Volunteer).
(From left) Mission Viejo Seniors Helen Reta & Lee Kester.
San Juan Capistrano Mayor Lon Uso and Wife Cheryl.
(From left) Lake Forest Seniors Barbara & Joseph Mantenereri.
(From left) Entertainer Wayne Pulcini.
(From left) Elk Volunteers Laura Lumley, Bob Hauxhurst, Diana Wilson, Barb Martino, Pat Martino, Irene Romero, Ray Mallen, Jinnae Wessling, Charlie Hart and Jim Wessling.
To the music of Wayne Pulcini, over 120 seniors swayed the afternoon away at the semi-annual seniors dinner dance sponsored by Mission Viejo/Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”). The Normal P. Murray Senior Center pre-sold seven dollar tickets for this event. Ticket proceeds went directly to the senior center as the Elk’s Lodge charity funds paid for the entire event. Other funds raised at the dinner were also given to the senior center.
Norman Murray Senior Center Recreation Coordinator Linda Teichmann and Mary Ann Costello greeted the guests and ran the raffle. The Elks Lodge set-up, decorations, greeters, door prize raffle and dinner preparation were provided by Elks Lodge volunteers including: Pat and Barb Martino, Andy and Mary Ann Costello, Ray Mallen, Lorene Tierney, Jim and Jinnea Wessling, Donna Wild, Mike Cline, Sandy and Jack Jacobs, Harry Lenczyk, Loretta Leach, Pat Katapski, Irene Romero, Laura Lumley, Charlie Hart, Diana Wilson and Bob Hauxhurst. Guests were served a dinner of Chicken Florentine, Rice Pilaf, veggie Linguini Alfredo, green beans and salad. Tesoro High School Marching Band student volunteers served the dinner. After serving dinner, some of the students joined the seniors on the dance floor and even asked Elks Lodge members if they could return to such a future event.
Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler and kitchen crew chief Pat Martino said, “Congratulations to the volunteers and event co-chairs Ray Mallen and Lorene Tierney for organizing a first-class event. The Elks Lodge members are pleased that we were able to conduct a fun social event for the seniors of the Saddleback Valley.”
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge #2444 is one of ten 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 142 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
