NEW MEMBER INITIATION – JULY 2021

The Mission Viejo, Saddleback Valley Elks welcomed new members Kathleen Clarke, Anthony Faulkner, and Rosanne Moore of Laguna Hills, Michael Byrnes, Woody Cennamo, and James Quade of Dana Point, Pamela Thompson, Jeannene Van Sant, and Jane Salafia of Mission Viejo, Patrick McCarron, and Juana Huber of Lake Forest, Michael London of San Juan Capistrano, Michele Miller of Aliso Viejo, Dan O’Donovan of Rancho Mission Viejo, and Mark Tate of Laguna Woods. Exalted Ruler (ER) Greg Morgan and his staff of Officers presided over the July initiation ceremony. ER Morgan addressed the fifteen newcomers saying the Lodge is setting new records in charitable donations thanks to the influx of new members and the resumption of the Lodge’s Wednesday night bingo event which is one of the principal sources of the Lodge’s charitable funding.

In other Elks news, Elks Community Activities Committee Chairman Harvey Ohman reported recent donations of over $12,000 were made to local schools, clubs, and organizations. Among recipients were St. Kilian’s food pantry, Girl Scouts of America, Angel ID bracelets for Diabetic kids, Sassy quilters, who make quilts for vets, Stand Up for Kids, Laguna Hills High School Football, and Mission Viejo High School Football Booster Club’s program for honoring veterans and active members of the Armed Forces. The Lodge also sponsored a luncheon for veterans, a Red Cross Blood Drive, a golf tournament for the Association’s Handicapped Children’s Fund, a Sock Hop for the developmentally challenged, and a donation to the Elks National Foundation which provides funds for Scholarships and support for a wide variety of local community charities. When asked about the donations, Chairman Ohman said, “These donations are just for the past six weeks. There are funds going out to worthy recipients almost every week of the year. It’s just what we do here, and why I’m so proud to be an Elk.