New Members Installed at Elks Lodge 583

On Saturday, March 29th, at the Redlands Elks Lodge 583, twelve new officers were installed in their new positions for the new year starting April 1st and ending March 31st of 2015. Guests and members of the Elks Lodge were mingling and talking with one another before the ceremony began, and relaxed outside on the patio. The Elks Lodge is a fraternal organization and a place to have “camaraderie, good times and helping people in communities and honors veterans and youth” said Rick Dombrowski who is a Lodge Advisor and has been a member for 35 years. Aleda and Bob Barden are Riverside residents and traveled to the Redlands Lodge, Aleda shares, because, “the young lady who is going to be the Exalted Ruler is a good friend and we came out to support her.” The installation began and Judy Golding-Feeley led the ceremony reminding everyone of the principles of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity from the Elks Mission statement. The new officer’s names were called and they gathered in the center of the room facing the podium. They were each guided to their new seats/positions. There was even a couple that became new officers that evening, Hilary and John Fulton, both Est’d Loyal Knight. After the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, the new Exalted Ruler, Sylvia Becker was led to the podium. Becker introduced the new officers and their attending family and friends. Before the end of the ceremony, Becker received a license plate cover and flowers as she handed out gifts to Denny Young and Judy Golding-Feeley. Elsa Gates came to support her husband, Thomas Gates who became an Esquire that evening. She said, “I’m a doe here, and that’s what the spouses are called, it’s really nice, it’s our second home and all four kids are involved. We got involved a year and a half ago, and it’s really an extended family, we really love it here. The people are charitable, very friendly, and patriotic. We’re here four nights a week and my kids love it here, it’s like their home away from home.” Renie DeHoog was there with her friend Eileen Sanborn, who came to support Becker, and said, “Sylvia is a very dear friend and excited about it, and we’re curios to know what this Elk think is all about because she kept talking about it.” Sanborn has known Becker for many years because their kids grew up together and they met on the PTA Board. Becker stated after the ceremony as she was chatting with friends Sanborn and DeHoog, “it’s a fun place to hang out and a safe place, it's family, they are serious about visiting other lodges, its a great social organization with great charities.” Camping was one of the reasons Becker became involved and she said, "I investigated more and the lodges are looking for members, and I came and the people were so nice and charming and it tumbled from that." New officers include: Name Office Tom Gates - Esquire Sam Trad - Treasurer Ron Martin Jr.- Tiler Joyce Beauregard - Secretary Eric Brown - Leading Knight Sylvia Becker - Exalted Ruler Christine Coates - Organist Mary Burch - Inner Guard Hilary Fulton - Loyal Knight John Fulton - Lecturing Knight Lynn Snodgrass - 5th Year Trustee