Membership Information
Reno Elks Lodge #597
General meetings are held every fourth Wednesday (except in June, November & December) at the
Reno Elks Lodge #597
597 Kumle Lane, Reno, NV
For more information on attending one of our fun meetings, please Contact Us or
call 775-350-2442 [email protected] or 775-851-2169 [email protected]
Our Officers
Membership LevelsRegular Members (R) - A regular member must be less than 65 years of age and must be of Italian descent or married to someone of Italian descent. Included is a $1000.00 life insurance benefit. $90 per year plus a one-time $20 administrative fee plus $5 Mortuary Insurance fee.
Associate Members - (A)-An associate member is anyone 65 years of age or older or anyone under age 65 who declines the $1000.00 life insurance benefit. An associate member must be of Italian descent or married to someone of Italian descent. They enjoy all the same rights and privileges of a Regular Member. $75 per year plus a one-time $20 administrative fee. Social Members (S)- Anyone may be a social member. It is not necessary to be of Italian descent or married to someone of Italian descent. A social member may not hold office or act as a delegate to the Grand Lodge convention. Members not of Italian descent. $75 per year plus a one-time $20 administrative fee. Social / Benefits (SCB)- A social member under the age of 65 and who opts for the $1000.00 life insurance benefit ($5 Mortuary Insurance fee applies). $90 per year plus a one-time $20 administrative fee. Junior / Social (JRS) Anyone under the age of 18 years of age or until their 26th birthday provided they are a full time student No fees. Junior (JR) A junior member who opts to include $1000.00 life insurance benefit. ($5 Mortuary Insurance fee applies). $15 per year. |
Club HistoryThe Cristoforo Colombo Lodge was installed on May 12, 1929. The founders were Nicolo Gardella, Rose Mongolo Marillion, Pete De Prati, Luigi Anelli and Edith Mongolo Lazzari.
According to records, the first meeting was held on May 22, 1929 in the social hall of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Cathedral, which is still the meeting place today. At the first meeting there were 59 persons in attendance. Signor Pietro De Prati became its first venerable. Other prominent names among the Charter members were Gardella and Zunino; these names are still represented in the current membership. In addition to donating scholarships to students of Italian descent and giving to the Savitt Medical School Library at the University of Nevada; the Lodge has supported the new College of Education at the University. The Lodge is proud to participate in the Italian Festival at the El Dorado Hotel each year since 1987 and had an award-winning float in the Columbus Day Parade. For several years a favorite local charity has been the St. Baldric's Foundation which gives to Children with Cancer. In November we donate to two community Non-Profits, always including one for Veterans. Additional projects and donations are discussed throughout the year. The members of the Lodge have always enjoyed traveling near and far over the years: Napa, Sonoma and Central Valley Wine Country areas; Gilroy Garlic Festival; Crab Cioppino Feed in San Francisco; Caribbean and Mexico cruises; and numerous bus trips to places like the Pink House in Genoa, trips to the Nevada Museum of Art, Arte Italia, and the Reno Aces Baseball games. Well known lodge members have included Judge John Gabrielli who was elected in 1963 to serve as a District Judge in Washoe County; Louis Ferrari who was also elected to the State Surveyor General Office in 1950 and served till 1957; Hugh Ricci who was the State Engineer of the Nevada Division of Water Resources and is now retired. Joe Eidem, also known as Chef Joe, is a local iconic chef and cooking instructor; Past President Barbara Wisniewski is retired, a grandmother and has served the order in many different positions, currently she is the State Grand Lodge President ; Immediate Past President, Pamela Ricci, past State Membership Chairman and now State Arbiter is a successful Realtor with RE/MAX Realty Affiliates and is a leader in the Realtor organization as well as a wife, mother and grandmother. Our current president is Dawn Romero who has been serving the Order for many years, a retired teacher, mother and Nanny. |
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The Past Presidents of the Lodge have been:
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