Hamden Elks Announce 2013 Elk and Officer of the Year

The Hamden Lodge #2224 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks has announced their honorees for Elk of the Year, Eric Wagner and Officer of the Year, Norman Kamienski. 

Elk of the Year Eric Wagner has been a Lodge member for 18 years and has served as a Lodge Trustee for 14 years. A dedicated Elk, Eric was also honored for his commitment to Hamden Lodge as Officer of the Year for 2002-03.

Eric has chaired and participated in CT Elk Association Hoop and Soccer Shoots, Comedy Nights, lounge and children’s Christmas and Halloween parties, and other youth, Veteran, and Lodge events too numerous to list. Eric currently serves as Chairman of the Lodge Board of Governors.

A graduate of Hamden High School and the Connecticut School of Electronics, Eric is an Electrical Engineer.  Eric has served as coach for the Hamden Youth Hockey Association and Hamden Fathers Baseball. Eric resides in Hamden with his wife, Laurie Holabird. They have three children Courtney and Amanda of Hamden, Eric of Branford and four grandchildren.

Officer of the Year Norman Kamienski has been an Elk member for five years. He has participated in the Lodge’s Hamden and North Haven Flag Day Ceremonies, Flag Retirement Ceremonies, and Hamden and North Haven Memorial Parades, Veteran’s and Youth Events. He is currently a Lodge Trustee and member of the Lodge Board of Governors. Norm has assisted with food service as a House Committee member and currently coordinates Lounge activities.

Norm attended East Haven High School and Post College for Business Administration, and is a graduate of the Printing Industry of America’s Executive Development Program.

He served his country as a USMC Corporal, a Vietnam Veteran. He is a former member of American Legion Post 89 and former Executive Board Member of Stratford PAL. He is an eleven-gallon blood donor with the American Red Cross.

Norm was Vice President of Operations while employed at SGI Corbett Press of Woodbridge; Supervisor of the Planning Department at Eastern Press in East Haven, CEO of Efficiency Inc. in Stratford and Mailing and Outside Services Coordinator while employed by GHP in West Haven. His professional affiliations include: Association for Graphic Communications, former Director; Printing Industry of Connecticut, former Chairman; United States Postal Customer Council, former Executive Board Member; Bridgeport Regional Business Council, former Ambassador; and Stratford Chamber of Commerce, former Director.

Norm resides in Hamden with his wife, Sherry. They have a daughter Carole and enjoy spending time with their grand-daughter Maggie. 

Eric and Norm will be honored on April 5 at the Hamden Lodge’s Elk and Officer of the Year Event that will be held in conjunction with the Lodge Installation of Officers. The public is welcome. Installation and ceremony begin at 6:30 in the Upper Hall, followed by cocktail hour (cash bar) and dinner.  

Dinner tickets are $10 per person and are available at Hamden Elks Lodge, located at 175 School St., evenings after 4 p.m. and weekends after 12 p.m. For more information, call the Lodge at 248-2224 during those times. Proceeds will support the Elks many youth and veterans projects and area charities.