(L to r): Gloria LeCouvre, Exalted Ruler; John Fischle, 40-Year Member; Charlie Hart, Lodge Secretary.
(L to r): Gloria LeCouvre, Exalted Ruler; Frank DePrizio and Hal Friedlander, 45-Year Members; Charlie Hart, Lodge Secretary.
(L to r): Gloria LeCouvre, Exalted Ruler; Morris Silver, 55-Year Member; Charlie Hart, Lodge Secretary.
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) conducted its annual tribute to members for years of service at a recent meeting. This year’s event, which was well attended by Elks members and guests, recognized years of tenure from five (5) to 60.
Exalted Ruler (“ER”) Gloria R. LeCouvre presided over the meeting. Lodge Secretary Charlie Hart acted as master of ceremonies. Over 121 service pins were awarded.
Secretary Hart said of the event, “Pins are awarded for five-year increments of service. We affectionately call it ‘Old Timers Night’ and it is always a fun filled get-together for the recipients and attendees.
There is always lots of storytelling from the older members about the early history of our Lodge.”
Members attending the meeting were awarded five through fifty-five year pins. 35-year service pins went to George Wegner of Mission Viejo, Jim Elder of San Juan Capistrano, Richard Schneller of Laguna Hills and Thomas Sargent of Redding. John Fischle of Dana Point, David Roadway of Oceanside, William Donohoe of Lake Forest and Gerald Logan of Pollock Pines received 40-year pins. 45-year pins were awarded to Hal Friedlander and Stephen Janosik of Mission Viejo and long time bingo volunteer Frank DePrizio of Laguna Niguel.
Celebrating 50 years of membership were Tom Meany and Hartcel Hobbs of Mission Viejo.
Although not present at the meeting, Eugene Totera of San Clemente was recognized for his Elk membership spanning 60 years. However, long time member Morris Silver of Laguna Woods was present to accept recognition and an anniversary pin for his 55 years of service (attached photo). Attending with Morris was proud wife Bea.
ER LeCouvre said of the event, “Our Elks Lodge prides itself on the increasing numbers of younger men and women who are becoming members.
We love to see those young families here enjoying themselves at a Friday night dinner as they are certainly the future of our Elks organization.”
LeCouvre added, “Nevertheless, I think it is great when we honor our old timers. They are the people who built and made the Elks the charity organization it is today.” ER LeCouvre is herself an octogenarian, and prides herself on being one of the most active seniors in the entire national Elks organization.
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-two (42) 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 144 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
