District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler for the Orange Coast District Tom Lemm and Esquire to the District Deputy Harvey Boelts
Grand Lodge National Public Relations Chairman Donald Jones presents “Golden Mike” award to California Hawaii Elks Association Public Relations Chairman Andy Costello
Friday, July 22, 2011, four officers of Mission Viejo, Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge #2444 attended the 147th National Elks Convention where they joined members from the other nine Orange County Lodges and over 6000 members and guests from Elks Lodges across the nation. The main business of this year’s national convention was the installation of a new Grand Exalted Ruler, the title given to the Order’s National President. David R. Carr will serve a term of one year as leader of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE). Other important business included the voting on resolutions designed to streamline the 143-year-old organization. Changes were adopted with the objective of attracting new and younger men and women into membership, while maintaining many of the time-honored traditions of the Order.
Exalted Ruler Gloria R. LeCouvre led the contingent from the local Elks: Lodge Chairman of the Board Harvey Boelts and wife Betty, Lodge Organist and California, Hawaii Association (CHEA) Public Relations Chairman Andy Costello and wife Mary Ann, and Lodge Officer-at-Large Pat Martino and wife Barbara. Honors were bestowed on Harvey Boelts who was installed as Esquire to the Orange Coast District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler Tom Lemm of Huntington Beach Lodge #1959 who was also installed at the meeting. Andy Costello received the prestigious “Golden Mike” award for excellence in Public Relations management for the five state area of Western US and Hawaii. Pat Martino presented a $3000 check to First Vice President Art Echternacht. The donation was a gift from the 2010 – 2011 Orange Coast Exalted Rulers Association in support of his upcoming year as State President of the 175 Lodges that make up the California, Hawaii Elks Association. Echternacht, a member of the Santa Ana Lodge #794, will use the funds to help defray the many expenses connected with the aforementioned high position, which like all Elks positions is unpaid. At the national meeting, the ten (10) Orange County Lodges were highly praised for their charitable work. The local Elks in attendance from Mission Viejo were proud ambassadors of the Saddleback Valley, bringing honor and recognition to the City of Mission Viejo and the people of all South Orange County communities served by the Elks Lodge.
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.”
