Special recognition was accorded last week by the Tracy Elks Lodge to Joe Murphy, a longtime member of the California Senior Legislature, and to Joan Rickman, historian of the Tracy Elks Lodge.

Murphy was presented a Distinguished Citizen Award from the national Elks Lodge for his 17 years of service in the Senior Legislature in Sacramento.

Murphy told of his successful multiyear efforts in the state Capitol to support legislation in the state Legislature to establish the Silver Alert program, which promotes the tracking of Alzheimer’s patients who happen to wander away from residential facilities or their homes.

He said half of the Alzheimer’s patients who wander away are either injured or killed, and the Silver Alert program will be an important safeguard against that.

Under the program, local law-enforcement agencies told of the wanderer can contact other agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, to widen the search.

“It’s similar to the Amber Alert program for kidnapped children, without the freeway signs,” Murphy said.

Rickman was named Elk of the Year. Earlier, she had been office manager of the Elks Lodge, and she now serves as lodge historian. She provides stories and photos in the lodge bulletin chronicling past events.

She also has been active in a number of lodge projects, including programs for veterans, said Frank DeSoto, Elks exalted ruler, who made the presentation.

An Officer of the Year award was given to Mike Connors for his efforts in promoting the club’s annual car show and other projects in the past year.

Toastmasters in training

Five officers and a new member of the Tracy Leadership Club recently attended a joint District 39 officers training in Lathrop with The Manteca Smooth Talkers and Tracy Toastmasters clubs.

The officers from Tracy included Rocki Chaparro, president; Sam Wong, vice president of membership; Judy Castellon, secretary; Terry Donaldson, vice president of public relations; and Rowena Donaldson, sergeant at arms. New member Lucy Kaye accompanied them.

Tracy Leadership Club of Toastmasters International invites local residents who would like to become more confident speakers or leaders to attend a meeting and learn more. The group meets from 12:05 to 12:55 p.m. Tuesdays in Conference Room 203 upstairs at Tracy City Hall, 333 Civic Center Plaza.

For information: Terry Donaldson, 835-8383.

Breakfast planned for Easter

Members of the Tracy Latin Athletic Club are selling tickets for their 38th annual Easter Sunday Pancake Breakfast.

The breakfast, featuring pancakes, scrambled eggs, chorizo, sausage, coffee, milk, juice and dessert, will be served from 7 a.m. to noon Easter Sunday, March 31, at Tracy Community Center, 950 East St.

Tickets, available from TLAC members and at the door March 31, are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and children 10 and younger.

Proceeds will finance scholarships for graduates of local high schools.

For information: Louis Villalovoz Jr., 612-4433.

• Send club news to tpourtown@tracypress.com or call 835-3030.