Patty Macolino did not think she would become the “exalted ruler” of the North Haven Elks Lodge 25. It may sound like a serious moniker with which to walk around, but Patty doesn’t get carried away by that title. Rather, she recognizes its significance relative to her situation.

“I’m humbled by that title. Years ago, women did not belong to the Elks. They belonged in a little separate side-like entity called the Emblem Club. I belonged to that, and then I dropped out for whatever reason,” says Patty. “I ended up starting to come around again. My friend, Denise Reynolds, who had just passed, she was an exalted ruler. She said, ‘You’re going to become a member, you’re coming back because now the women can join the club...you’re going to be exalted ruler someday.’”

Patty eventually rose through several chairs before landing her current leadership position at the Lodge. Patty says it was Reynolds “who put my jewels on me as exalted ruler last year,” remembering Reynolds as a mentor and “one of the best people you’d ever find. She was just an amazing, amazing individual who knew this whole organization.”

As the current exalted ruler, Patty oversees its committees and other activities, which include a bevy of philanthropic work in the North Haven community with trusted individuals dedicated to investing in the goodwill of their town and in West Haven and New Haven, too.

“Last month, we did a chili cook-off, and then the funds that were raised from them. And then we, the club, we put some additional money into at least bring it to $1,000. We donated to the Fire Department in North Haven for the first responders there,” she says.

Lodge 25 also raised money for the families of the department’s late firefighters, Anthony DeSimone and Matthias Wirtz. Coat drives, the recently started food drive, and the upcoming toy drive in December are other philanthropic activities held by the Lodge under Patty’s leadership. Recognizing the men and women of the armed forces is a must, too, she says.

“We are totally dedicated to veterans and to their families, whether they’re here or they’re not here. We don’t forget our veterans,” says Patty.

These activities and accomplishments have been overseen by Patty in a time when the Lodge is flourishing as a community organization. The North Haven chapter relocated to town last year after selling its former building on State Street in New Haven. Since then, it has seen its membership grow exponentially.

“When we moved into this building a year ago [in] June, we had a little less than 300 members. We’re almost 800 members now,” says Patty.

For the accomplishment of having the highest percentage of new members in the country, Lodge 25 was awarded by its national foundation for that accomplishment at a convention this past July in Minnesota.

“Everybody down here steps right up to the plate. They’re awesome. We got a great group of people,” says Patty.

As a “people-person,” Patty has found that being a part of the Lodge is a great way to connect with members at what she calls her “happy place.” Being able to help her community with her fellow community members and the value of selflessness is something she says she picked up from her hard-working parents.

“I was blessed as a child...I was one of the lucky ones to have the parents that I had, and I learned from both of them because my mother and father always did stuff for somebody else,” Patty says. “It’s rewarding; it makes you feel good. I’ve had my own things happen in my life that weren’t so great. However, you learn from that, and I just tried to make somebody else’s life a little better.”

For anyone who is curious about joining the Lodge or a similar community organization, Patty says it is a pleasure to be around a tight-knit group of dedicated people who are committed to helping others and proving that goodness thrives in the world.

“With all the bad things that are going on...we do the good side of it, and that’s what we need more of, and I believe that 100%. That’s what we need, and we’ve got to get back to the basics: start taking care of each other,” she says. “I’m really proud to say that I’m an Elk.”

Up next, the Lodge will host its Hoops Shoot free throw contest on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 7 Linsley Street.

For more information, visit www.elks.org/lodges/home.cfm?lodgenumber=25. Food drive donations may be dropped off at 80 Old Broadway West.