(L to r): Charlie Hart, Lodge Secretary; Robert Dedic, 60-Year Member; Pat Martino, Exalted Ruler.
(L to r): Charlie Hart, Lodge Secretary; Gerry Schiphorst and Howard Ames, 35-Year Members; Pat Martino, Exalted Ruler.
(L to r): Charlie Hart, Lodge Secretary; Andy Costello, 30-Year Member; Pat Martino, Exalted Ruler.
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) celebrated membership anniversaries at a recent meeting affectionately referred to as “Old Timer’s Night.”
Elk members with 5-year membership increments (5, 10, 15, etc.) were presented with anniversary pins. Newer members that joined the Lodge over the past five years represented the largest number of members eligible for an anniversary pin. Incredibly, Robert Dedic was recognized for his Elk membership spanning 60 years. Elks Lodge Exalted Ruler Pat Martino said, “It is a privilege to honor all Elk member anniversaries, especially the incredible 60-year anniversary of Robert Dedic. He became an Elk when Harry Truman was President of the United States.”
Other notable anniversaries celebrated were: Gerry Schiphorst, 35-year member who is the Lodge photographer and honorary life member and Andy Costello, 30-year member who is Lodge Organist, District Public Relations Chair, California-Hawaii Publicity Chair, and also an honorary life member.
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-one (41) years of service to the Saddleback Valley communities, 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 143 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
