Presenter District Deputy Rick Blake, with 45-year members Gil Martinez, Marion Migliore, John Morrow, and presenter Charlie Hart
At a recent meeting, Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 (“Elks Lodge”) conducted their annual tribute to members for years of service.
This year’s event, which was well attended by Elks members and guests, recognized years of tenure from one (1) to fifty (50). Exalted Ruler (“ER”) Derek Randles presided over the meeting. Lodge Secretary Norm Jones acted as master of ceremonies, and with the help of Past Lodge President Charlie Hart and Elks District Deputy Rick Blake, awarded 131 service pins.
Secretary Jones 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. Many of the Elks Lodge members have amusing and touching stories about the history of our Lodge – the charitable activities and special social events.”
Over one hundred members were awarded five through thirty-year pins. 35-year service pins went to Joseph Packi, and Ed Vidarete of Lake Forest. Henry Gutierrez of Irvine and Al Preheim of Dayton NV received forty-year pins. 45-year pins went to: Robert Cary of Rancho Santa Margarita, Cullen Ellingburg of Laguna Niguel, Gil Martinez, and John Mrak of Lake Forest, Marion Migliore and Frank Sheehan Jr of Mission Viejo, John Morrow of Laguna Hills, and Hal Simons of Vancouver WA.
Celebrating 50 years of membership and present to receive recognition and his 50-year pin was Craig Drennon of Mission Viejo. Attending with Craig was proud wife Patricia. Although not present at the meeting, but recognized for Elk’s memberships spanning 50 years were: Tom Story of San Juan Capistrano, Don Stebenne of Laguna Hills, and Past ER Bob Elert of Medford OR.
ER Randles said of the event, “Our 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 or volunteering for a charity event as they are certainly the future of the Elks.” Randles 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.”
The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-five (45) 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 147 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
Hal Mattson, Lodge Publicity
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444; Phone: (949) 830-3557
