"As long as there are veterans, there are Elks who care," Bob Pagnani quotes from an art piece donated to the Tintic Elks Lodge. The fraternal organization and veterans are inextricably linked. Pagnani is the state coordinator for veteran fundraising. He also serves as the Exalted Ruler for Tintic Elks Lodge.
"It's an honor the Elks chose me," he said. Pagnani has been a member for only 11 years.
There are 13 lodges that banded together to raise $20,000 to purchase three new patient transfer carts for the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City. Each cart logs 2,000 hours a year transporting patients through the miles of hallways at the center, and they wear out quickly.
Tintic Elks are selling tickets for a quilt raffle to raise money for the Salt Lake City VA Medical Center. Lady Elks and seniors pieced the top and quilted it; Pagnani says it's beautiful. Each corner honors a branch of the military and the center is dedicated to fallen soldiers.
Radio personality Doug Wright and others recently held a fundraising motorcycle poker ride for Eureka historical lighting, and helped out the Elks, too.
"Doug Wright helped us. He gave us a place at the poker ride," Pagnani said.
One of the stops on the ride was the Tintic Elks Lodge. They sold tickets for the quilt to the riders and raised $275 that Saturday.
Pagnani said more than 45,000 veterans use the veterans center a year.
"The VA is overwhelmed because of our good care," Pagnani said. The Elks also sponsor a fundraising golf tournament, usually at a course in Tooele, Pagnani said.
Vans from Mesquite and Elko Nevada and southern Idaho transport vets to treatment at the veteran's hospital in Salt Lake. The Elks supply lap robes for the frail and ill veterans for their trip.
Pagnani, a native of Massachusetts and a Vietnam veteran, was stationed at Dugway and liked the area so much he settled in Eureka when he retired. "I'll never leave here," he said.
For more information about the Elks fundraiser or to donate, contact Bob Pagnani at rpagnani@hotmail.com.
