HERE - San Mateo Lodge #1112

FebruaryBand NotesBy Jeanette LangdellAs we begin a new year of performances of our own San Mateo Elks Band, it seems like a good timefor a little band history.The San Mateo Elks Lodge is one of very few Elks Lodges in the country to have its own band. The SanMateo Elks Concert Band, founded in 1959, consists of about 30 volunteer musicians, playing allkinds of instruments from piccolos to tubas. The repertoire consists of big band music, Broadwaytunes, holiday music, military marches and patriotic songs, Oktoberfest music, rock and roll, oldiesbut goodies, light classics, and lots more. The band is fortunate to have an extensive collection ofmusic for all occasions. Members of the Concert Band also form smaller groups such as the DixielandBand and the Brass Band, which play on special occasions. James Langdell has conducted the bandsince 1999 and played clarinet in the band prior to assuming conducting duties.Longtime band member Dick Fusco recalls a magical evening in the late sixties when Bing Crosby andPhil Harris attended an Elks dinner. Veteran bandleader Harris sat in with the band and playeddrums for the duration of the evening. No record of Bing singing, though!In February, you can hear the band (and celebrate leap year) at our monthly dinner concert onFebruary 29.If you or a musician you know would like to join the San Mateo Elks Concert Band, we rehearse at theLodge on most Tuesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. Please contact James Langdell at (650) 504-8046 forinformation. All skill levels are welcome.If you have an idea of an occasion thatcould be made even better by thepresence of the San Mateo Elks ConcertBand, please share your ideas with BillBates by phoning (650) 212-0252.Photo Caption: Band director JamesLangdell

MarchBand NotesBy Jeanette LangdellYou may know that the San Mateo Elks Band has a history of supporting local young musicians. Thisyear we are excited to announce that we are raffling off a beautiful, hand-made quilt to benefit ouryouth scholarship fund.The quilt was created by Kay Arnaudo, flutist in the band, and Janet Fusco, wife of band member DickFusco. It measures 68” wide by 84” long and would look great either as a wall hanging or gracing abedroom. The quilt features a musical theme, illustrated by various band instruments. It’s trulygorgeous! To fully appreciate the intricacy of the quilt, you must see it in person; and it will be ondisplay at the March and April dinner concerts.Current band member Ravi Sahae, trombone, was a past Elks Band scholarship recipient. The awardreinforced his desire to further his music education, and he went on to study music at UCLA.Raffle tickets may be purchased at the Lodge office or at the dinner concerts. Tickets are 1 for $2, 3for $5, or 7 for $10. The lucky winning ticket will be drawn at the band’s annual scholarship concert,tentatively scheduled for Sunday, May 6.In March the band will be playing for the installation of officers on March 24 at 4:30 p.m. and also atthe monthly dinner concert on March 28.If you or a musician you know would like to join the San Mateo Elks Concert Band, werehearse at the Lodge on most Tuesdays from 8 to 10p.m.Please contact James Langdell at (650) 504-8046 forinformation. All skill levels are welcome.If you have an idea of an occasion that could be made evenbetter by the presence of the band, please share your ideas withBill Bates by phoning (650) 212-0252.Photo Caption: Music-theme quilt

AprilBand NotesBy Bill LangdellThe world said goodbye to Elks band clarinet player Fred Strebel on December 28, 2011. He was 70years old and the record suggests he made every year count. As well as being a solid musician, he wasa champion golfer, a lumberjack, a German translator with Army Intelligence, and parlayed hisfather’s locksmith shop into a successful business enterprise. As an Elks band member he was theguy who made things happen like arranging road trips, founding the Dixieland group, recruitingmusicians, and hosting a Super Bowl party during which he would shoot off a ceremonial Elks Lodgecannon whenever the 49ers scored a touchdown. The police didn’t mind because they were invited.Fred had a knack for getting show business personalities like Bing Crosby and Phil Harris to appearwith the band at the lodge. One day he extended a warm Elks welcome to a trumpet player he heardat the train station who introduced himself as “Charlie Spivak” of the Glenn Miller and Dorsey bigbands. “Charlie” played some great trumpet with the Elks band that evening, but some membersnoticed he couldn’t read music and the almanac listed the real Charlie Spivak as two years deceased.We never did learn the visiting trumpeter’s real name.Around 1999 after his wife Paula died, Fred met and married attractive movie actress and musicianMichelle Carey who shared the screen in the 60’s and 70’s with such notables as John Wayne, RobertMitchum, Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Angie Dickinson, and ElvisPresley. We saw less of Fred after he moved to the Palm Springsarea, but he didn’t forget his friends at the San Mateo Elks band.Thank you, Fred, for sharing your life with us.Reminder: Purchase your tickets in the lodge office for the band’sscholarship fund quilt raffle. A lucky winner will be drawn at theband’s May concert.Photo caption: Fred Strebel

MAYBand NotesBy Jeanette LangdellAs the weather turns nice and outdoor concerts are possible, the San Mateo Elks Band begins a busyspring and summer schedule.We kicked off with the annual Burlingame Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt. Though a bit chilly, the bandenjoyed accompanying young egg hunters from age 2 on up to experienced 10-year-olds. We playedsome rousing marches including Thunder and Blazes, Stars and Stripes Forever, Manhattan Beach,and (as the older kids prepared to search) Entry of the Gladiators. Check out the young man in thephoto – he was dancing and conducting the band! Let’s hope his parents sign him up for musiclessons.In May, the Dixieland Band will provide musical accompaniment for the Memorial Day PancakeBreakfast, on Monday, May 28, with the full Elks Band performing as usual at the monthly Lodgedinner on Wednesday, May 30.On Sunday, May 27, the band is honored to return to the liberty ship SS Jeremiah O’Brien to performaboard for its recognition of the 75th Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge and Seamen's MemorialCruise. Watch for a full account in next month’s band notes. Thisevent is one of the highlights of the year for band members.If you or a musician you know would like to join the San MateoElks Concert Band, we rehearse at the Lodge on most Tuesdaysfrom 8 to 10 p.m. Please contact James Langdell at (650) 504-8046 for information. All skill levels are welcome.If you have an idea of an occasion that could be made even betterby the presence of the band, please share your ideas with BillBates by phoning (650) 571-5508.Photo caption: A young music lover!

JUNEBAND NOTESBy Bill LangdellOn June 14, 1777, during the Revolutionary War, the U.S. Congress adopted theAmerican flag. The BPOE has commemorated the occasion since the early days ofthe organization and allegiance to the flag is a requirement of every member. In1907, the BPOE Grand Lodge designated by resolution June 14 as Flag Day. TheGrand Lodge adopted mandatory observance of the occasion by every lodge in 1911,and that requirement continues. This patriotic expression prompted PresidentWoodrow Wilson to issue a proclamation that officially established June 14 as FlagDay.The observance of Flag Day and the presentation of historical U.S. flags is anhonored Elks tradition. The band is proud to participate in that tradition byperforming patriotic and popular music at two Elks Flag Day observances. OnSaturday, June 9, at 10:30am we travel to the Yountville Veterans Home for anannual picnic and ceremony where we are joined by Elks representatives fromnorthern California, a military color guard, the resident veterans, and MissCalifornia candidates to celebrate our flag’s history and honor those who servedunder it. The next day on Sunday, June 10, at 3pm we will perform similar honors atthe San Mateo Elks Lodge. Actual Flag Day falls on a Thursday this year, but comecelebrate with us on Saturday or Sunday anyway. It’s always a challenge to presentthe flags in correct chronological order and not accidentally introduce the “Snake”flag three times, but any miscues will be forgiven after a heartfelt reading of thepoem “I Am Old Glory” and singing of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”Flag Day is an Elks tradition. Be there!Where can you find the Elks Band next? We are playing for the Jeremiah O'BrienSeamen's Memorial Cruise on Sunday, May 27, at 9:00 am. On Saturday June 2, we'llbe at the Port of Redwood City to celebrate the 75th anniversary of both the Portand the FDR presidential yacht "Potomac," which will have dockside tours for theoccasion. Join us!If you have an idea of an occasion that could be made even better by the presence ofthe band, please share your ideas with Bill Bates by phoning (650) 571-5508.

JULYBAND NOTESBy Bill LangdellOn May 27, the San Mateo Elks Band played for one of our favorite engagements ofthe year – the Seamen’s Memorial Cruise aboard the SS Jeremiah O’Brien. A specialthrill was sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, which was celebrating its 75 thanniversary that very day!According to the O’Brien website, ssjeremiahobrien.org, the liberty ship was launchedin 1943 in South Portland, Maine. Named for the first American to capture a Britishnaval vessel during the Revolutionary War, the O'Brien made seven World War IIvoyages. She also made eleven crossings of the English Channel carrying personneland supplies to the Normandy beaches in support of the D-Day invasion. After thewar, she was "mothballed" to Suisun Bay.Skillful maneuvering by a U.S. Maritime Administration official saved the O'Brienfrom the scrap yard. In 1979, after hundreds of hours of labor by volunteers toremove thick layers of preservatives, the O'Brien headed for San Francisco. No othership ever has steamed out of the mothball fleet under her own power. She is nowberthed at Pier 45 and is open for tours and the occasional cruise.Most remarkably, in 1994 the O'Brien steamed through the Golden Gate, down thewest coast, through the Panama Canal, and across the Atlantic to England andFrance, where she participated in the 50th anniversary of the Allied invasion atNormandy that turned the tide of World War II in Europe. Of the more than 5,000ships that formed the original D-Day armada, the O'Brien was the only ship to return50 years later.The Elks Band is honored to be invited each year for the Seamen’s Memorial Cruise,where we perform traditional military marches andhymns and our trumpeters play “Taps” during thememorial ceremony.If you have an idea of an occasion that could be madeeven better by the presence of the band, please shareyour ideas with Bill Bates by phoning (650) 571-5508.Visit the band page on the Elks’ website for ourupcoming schedule.Photo caption: Elks Band under the Golden Gate Bridge

AUGUSTBand NotesBy Bill LangdellOn June 24, the San Mateo Elks Bandplayed for one of our favoriteengagements of the year – the Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance car show held on theStanford campus. It was a beautiful day for playing music, and exotic and vintagecars featured included many Italian cars like Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, andDino. We made a point of playing “Arrivederci Roma” to celebrate the impeccablyrestored and maintained array of Italian cars. A special thrill was trying to musicallycompete with the exhaust blast of nearby American muscle cars revving theirengines. We could imagine the price of gasoline increasing one cent per gallon withevery mighty muffler-rattling roar of the big throated road warriors. Deputy ElksBand conductor Bob Brown did a fine job of picking numbers and keeping us at anhonest tempo. Thank you, Bob! Proceeds from the event benefited Lions clubcharities. Afterwards, I tried to get my picture taken with the Oscar MeyerWienermobile but could not find it anywhere. Drat!We have a somewhat light performance schedule for the summer but will be playingfor the July 25 and August 29 San Mateo Lodge dinner concerts which we have notdone in past years. Hope to see you there!If you have an idea of an occasionthat could be made even better bythe presence of the band, pleaseshare your ideas with Bill Bates byphoning 650-571-5508 or emailingbates@coastside.net. Visit the bandpage on the Elks’ website for ourupcoming schedule. The bandwelcomes new members – pleasecontact band director JamesLangdell at 650-504-8046.Rehearsals take place at the Lodgemost Tuesday evenings.Photo caption: Oscar Meyer Wienermobile on display at a car show somewhere inNorth America

SEPTEMBERBand NotesBy Jeanette LangdellYour San Mateo Elks Band has been taking a bit of a break for the summer, but willbe playing for the August 29 and September 26 Lodge dinners, and our DixielandBand will be at the Labor Day pancake breakfast on September 2 nd . In the meantime,we’ve been preparing for the upcoming Oktoberfest season by filling our musicfolders with some festive oom-pah music!Have you ever wondered how the band gets bookings? Well, we have been fortunateto have one of our players, Bill Bates, serve in this capacity. Bill has renewed theband’s connections with many organizations and is always exploring newopportunities for us to bring music into the community.If you have an idea of an occasion that could be made even better by the presence ofthe band, please share your ideas with Bill Bates by phoning 650-571-5508 oremailing bates@coastside.net. Visit the band page on the Elks’ website for ourupcoming schedule. The band welcomes new members – please contact banddirector James Langdell at 650-504-8046. Rehearsals take place at the Lodge mostTuesday evenings.

OCTOBERBand NotesBy Jeanette LangdellFall is upon us, and you know what that means - Oktoberfest season! Get ready forsome toe-tapping oom-pah music from your San Mateo Elks band.Upcoming band dates include the September 26 Lodge dinner, and the familyfriendlyBurlingame Pet Parade on Saturday, September 29, at 10:00 am, onBroadway in Burlingame. This year it features alpacas, police dogs, and pet fortunetellers, in addition to hundreds of owners and pets dressed in wild and crazycostumes. Can’t wait to see those pets strutting to some great music from our band!If you have an idea of an occasion that could be made even better by the presence ofthe band, please share your ideas with Bill Bates by phoning 650-571-5508 oremailing bates@coastside.net.Visit the band page on the Elks’ website for our upcoming schedule.

DECEMBERBand NotesBy William LangdellFall is upon us, and the days are getting shorter. Band members cherish indoorengagements at the lodge and bundle up to brave the elements at a few outdoorengagements, but mercifully we avoided needing any Hurricane Sandy disasterrelief. Our appearance at the family-friendly Burlingame Pet Parade on September29 was well received and appreciated by the organizers and participants, as wepicked songs to go along with the menagerie of family pets marching up and downBroadway including non-traditional pets like llamas and a pig with painted toenails.St. Matthias Church in Redwood City invited us to their outdoor Oktoberfest onOctober 28, where we played German tunes and helped them drink beer and eat the“wurst” they had to offer. I frightened the children by playing a few tunes on mySwiss alphorn.Veteran’s Day found us in Half Moon Bay helping the American Legion honor ournation’s military heroes at a ceremony and BBQ. Particular attention was paid tothose who fought in the “forgotten war” in Korea, who are often overlookedcompared to WWII and Vietnam veterans. On November 14, we hosted visitingveterans from the Menlo Park VA hospital at a dinner in their honor at the lodge. Weare looking forward to our usual lodge dinner on November 28 and upcomingholiday engagements including an evening festival in downtown Burlingame onDecember 7 from 6 to 8pm. Hope to see you at one of these events.If you have an idea of an occasion that could be made even better by the presence ofthe band, please share yourideas with Bill Bates byphoning 650-571-5508 oremailing bates@coastside.net. Visitthe band page on the Elks’website for our upcomingschedule.Photo caption: Elks Band at St.Matthias Oktoberfest

JANUARY 2013Band NotesBy Bill LangdellLate November and early December greeted the Elks Band with a flurry of activities,including the Veterans’ Dinner, Elks Memorial Ceremony, Lodge Dinner, Members’Holiday Lunch, Burlingame Holiday Parade, and the Pillar Point Harbor ChristmasConcert followed by a band thank you dinner at a nearby clam chowder restaurant.We resume activities in January with a visit to “Life’s Garden” retirement home inSunnyvale as well as the Lodge Dinner on January 30. Our special thanks andgratitude go to Bill Bates for serving as bookings manager for the last two yearsafter the tragic loss of Walt Janssen. Thanks, Bill, for keeping us together and active.If you would like to be a player in the Elks Concert Band or have leads on possiblebookings, please call our director, James Langdell, at (650) 504-8046.Photo caption: ElksBand at BurlingameHoliday Parade

MARCHBand NotesBy Bill LangdellThe San Mateo Elks Concert Band is in full swing for spring! We led off the year witha performance at Life’s Garden retirement community in Sunnyvale, where wehelped the residents celebrate their birthdays. An always appreciative audienceeven fed us cake!The band will be accompanying the Elks Installation of Officers on March 23.Congratulations to incoming Exalted Ruler Mike Mercurio – we wish you a fruitfuland productive year. Another upcoming event is the annual Burlingame Lions ClubPancake Breakfast and Easter Egg Hunt on March 30. Bring your kids or grandkidsto look for over 4,500 chocolate eggs, starting with toddlers at 9:00 am. The bandwill be playing beginning at 8:00 am, after fortifying ourselves with some pancakesand hot coffee. Hope to see you there!New! If you have a favorite piece you’d like us to play at an upcoming dinnerconcert, let us know what it is, and we’ll look for the sheet music to play it for you(no guarantees we’ll find it but we have a fairly extensive library). Email banddirector James Langdell, jameslangdell@gmail.comIf you have leads on possible bookings for the band or are interesting in joining,please call James Langdell at (650) 504-8046.

MAYBand NotesBy Jeanette LangdellThe San Mateo Elks Concert Band is ready for spring and summer! On March 30 weperformed at the Burlingame Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt. Thankfully, the weathercooperated and it wasn’t too chilly at 8 am that day. We performed tunes such as“Pop Goes the Weasel,” “Manhattan Beach,” and “The Thunderer” as each age groupof children came ever closer to the band as they energetically searched for eggs.Next up, the April 24 Lodge dinner, where you can hear the band at 6:15 pm. In May,the Dixieland Band will accompany the Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast onMonday, May 27, with the full Elks Band performing as usual at the Lodge dinner onMay 30.Just added to the Band schedule! We’ll be playing our favorite engagement of theyear – cruising on the S.S. Jeremiah O’Brien. This “Greatest Generation MemorialCruise” on May 18 sails from noon to 5 pm. WWII vets are free; the fare is $85 foreveryone else. More info at http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/events.php. Comejoin us!If you have a favorite piece you’d like us to play at an upcoming dinner concert, let usknow, and we’ll look for the sheet music (no guarantees, we’ll find it but we have a fairlyextensive library). Email band director James Langdell, jameslangdell@gmail.com. Lastmonth, we had a request for Beatles tunes, which we are fairly confident we have onhand, so listen for themsoon!If you have leads onpossible bookings forthe band or areinteresting in joining,please call JamesLangdell at (650) 504-8046.Photo caption: ElksBand at BurlingameLions Easter Egg Hunt