Dancing to the music of “Back Home”
Wagon Master and event chair, Pat Martino of the Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge Run-A-Ways RV club said, “This was our 30th year for the Western Night Dinner-Dance and it just keeps getting better and better each year! All of the cowgirls and cowboys that attended enjoyed a hoot’n good time, knowing that the biggest benefactors of this event are the handicapped kids and the Elks charities supported by the event.”
Cowboy Hal Mattson (Past Exalted Ruler) with Daughter-In-Law cowgirl Sarah Mattson
The Elks Lodge room was once again transformed into a delightful old western town & country scenes with hand painted wall murals and included a jail house that practically everyone frequented by night’s end…happily paying the sheriffs a small fine (for the handicapped kids) to buy their freedom.
Awards for best costumes Judge Helen Wilson, Winners Ruth and George Cleaver, Kathy Edmisson, Jim Humphrey and Judge Mary Ann Costello
The sold out crowd of cowboys and cowgirls in western attire feasted on BBQ tri-tip, BBQ chicken, country beans, corn & salad, topped off with an ice cream desert. Music was provided by the great country & western group, “Back Home Band”. This was the band’s first appearance at the event and they kept the dance floor filled for most of the evening. Guest’s were treated to over 40 surprise door prizes.
The prizes were donated by campers and friends, and local merchants. They ranged from free dinners to baskets of groceries and gift cards. All prizes were obtained through the efforts of camper Marilyn Gross and her committee. The event was chaired by Wagon Master Pat Martino and wife Barbara with the help of no less than 35 hard working club members, all dedicated to making certain that a great time would be had by all.
MC Andy Costello welcomed the guests and thanked them for their support. He said after expenses, the event garnered over $4,000, which would bring the amount of the Camping Club’s contributions to Handicapped Kids and Elks charities to over $9,000 for the year.
Many of the 110 Run-A-Ways RV club members will be headed next to Golden Village Palms in Hemet to join with over 500 Elk RVers from across the State of California for the annual Elks Rally. The annual weekend event is expected to raise in excess of $30,000 for the Elks Major Project which benefits seeing and hearing impaired children. For information on Elks charities call (949) 830-3557.
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.”
Andy Costello, Lodge Publicity
Mission Viejo / Saddleback Valley Elks Lodge No. 2444; Phone: (949) 830-3557
