Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444 conducted their 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 one (1) to fifty-five (55). Exalted Ruler (“ER”) Mike Klinger presided over the meeting. Lodge Secretary Laura Lumley acted as master of ceremonies, and awarded 188 service pins.
Secretary Lumley 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.” Over 178 members were awarded five through thirty-year pins. A 45-year service pin went to Vernon Sprankle. George Claude, Charles Ranney, and Jerry Reynolds were awarded 50 year pins, and all in attendance joined in a standing ovation to celebrate Merle Bassett’s 55 years of membership although Mr Bassett was unable to attend.
Five-year members celebrate service pin awards
ER Klinger 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 as they are certainly the future of the Elks.” Klinger 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.”
Ten-year members Board of Trustees Chairman Frank Scarpine, Richard Heiman, Trustee Larry Colgan, Kathleen Wachter, PER Dave McLeod, Rosemarie Camuso Shafor, and Exalted Ruler (ER) Mike Klinger
Fifteen-year members Jim Poterack, Bill Murrell, Wesley Johnson, Jack Jacobs, Basia Bills, Dennis Boelts, John Dellos, Treasurer Bill Bongartz, and ER Mike Klinger
L to R – Twenty-year members, PER Irene Romero, Frank Gunning Jr, Past District Deputy Harvey Boelts, Sandra Bergan, Donna Wild, & ER Mike Klinger
Twenty-five-year member Brian Molloy & ER Klinger
L to R Richard Palas, Armando Vasquez, Past District Deputy Norm Jones, James Weber, & ER Klinger
Forty-five-year member Vernon Sprankle & ER Klinger
Fifty-year member Charles Ranney & ER Klinger
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has also reached a historic milestone last February as it celebrated its 150 Anniversary. The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444, celebrating forty-nine (49) years of service to the Saddleback Valley communities, is one of eight 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 150 year history of giving, “Elks Care, Elks Share.”
Andy Costello, Lodge Publicity
Photo Credits: The Mission Viejo / Saddleback Elks Lodge No. 2444
Andy Costello
Grand Lodge Area 7
Membership & Marketing Committeeman
