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MANVILLE: Elks Lodge gives honors to 2010’s top members

By Mary Ellen Zangara, Special Writer
   Five local members of the Elks were honored at the Manville-Hillsborough Elks Lodge No. 2119 Installation on March 26. The members were recognized for their contributions to the Elks Lodge by Past Exalted Ruler Virginia (Ginny) Shields.
   Ms. Shields, of Hillsborough, completed her term of office and presented each of the honorees with a token of appreciation of either a plaque or certificate.
   Hillsborough resident Barry Bird was selected Citizen of the Year. Ms. Shields said he was selected, “Because of his long association with lodge Boy Scout Troop 186. He revived and revitalized this troop and served as Scoutmaster for 20 years. During that time he led 24 young men to the rank of Eagle Scout.”
   Mr. Bird was very honored for this award.
   ”I appreciate the honor that was given to me by the Elks,” Mr. Bird said. “The Elks has supported the Boy Scout Troop for the past 20 years and it is really good to be involved with such an organization like this.”
   Mr. Bird retired as Scoutmaster a few months ago after giving many years to the troop sponsored by the Manville-Hillsborough Elks.
   Ms. Shields chose Manville resident and newly installed Exalted Ruler Andrea Liptak as Officer of the Year.
   ”Officer of the Year is the choice of the Exalted Ruler. Andrea Liptak made my life easier by doing all of her obligations with accuracy and speed. She is full of ideas for fund-raising and promoting the Elks programs in our communities,” said Ms. Shields.
   Elk of the Year went to Mark Nipps of Manville.
   ”Mark Nipps has led the lodge motorcycle group for the past three years. In addition to fun rides these members support all of the lodge’s veteran’s programs. For the last four years Mark has also participated in the Polar Plunge to benefit Elks Camp Moore. The lodge acknowledged Mark this year but he has been an active Elk for many years,” Ms. Shields said.
   Mr. Nipps said being selected was a “very great honor. I was surprised. I don’t do this for recognition I do it because I like doing it. It feels good when we go to the veteran’s home when we give the cards as Christmas time, jumping in the water, it all feels good.” Mr. Nipps has been a member at the Manville-Hillsborough Elks for 18 years and he is the head of the motorcycle club.
   The Members of the Year were Deb Knitowski of Manville and Frank DiPaolo of Hillsborough. Ms. Shields said that, “Both Deb Knitowski and Frank DiPaolo have served the lodge in numerous ways. To ask either of them for help with a lodge function is to get an immediate positive answer. It does not matter what needs to be done — making tricky tray baskets or hanging decorations from the ceiling—they can be counted on for assistance.”
   ”I am very appreciative of the Member of the Year Award that I received,” Ms. Knitowski said. “It was an unexpected, wonderful surprise. All of the Elk functions support such worthy causes that it really makes it impossible not to be involved and contribute whatever and whenever I can. That is the reason I became an Elk, to be involved in supporting worthy causes. It makes you feel good that you can help out in your own small way. Everyone should try it.”
   ”I am just one guy surrounded by better people than me,” Mr. DiPaolo said. “They are the ones who create the avenues to do what I do. I just go along with it. It is an honor to be recognized by the people that you really respect.”
   Anytime that there has been a function, Mr. DiPaolo said he just did his part. He has been an Elk member for about a year and a half.