APRIL 2008 TRESTLEBOARD
SCHEDULE
7th Stated Meeting 7:30, Special By-Laws Vote; Dinner 6:30; Ladies' Program, 7:30 Bunco!
From The East for April
Brethren: How swiftly the sands of time run! We're 1/4 of the way through the 2008 term! Hard to believe!
While I was away at trade shows two weeks ago, Brother Jason Stryker manned the helm and directed the Stated Meeting of March. From all sources I have heard that Brother Jason did a remarkable job in the East. We had visitors from out of state, an official visit from Epes Randolph #32 who absconded with the Traveling Gavel and even a visit from a Past Grand Master, MWB Robert Hannon. Brother Jason also presided at the Lodge Education Night on February 11.
By the time this Trestle Board is printed, Brother Jason will also have opened, conferred, and closed as Master in the Third Degree for our newest Master Mason, Brother Chuck Wooke.
It is really great to have Brother Jason as my second in command, and I really appreciate all he does.
Most of the newer Brethren have also participated in many new stations and parts over the last year and it is really a pleasure to see them perform while we "older guys" sit in the columns and watch.
The business meeting on April 7 begins with dinner at 6:30. Business and the Ladies' program begin at 7:30. The most important business to come before the Lodge will be the approval or disapproval of the changes to the Lodge By-Laws concerning dues and fees. The Ladies' program will be a Bunco game with two $25 grocery store certificates for the two top winners, and a "White Elephant" gift for the last place winner.
Come to Lodge with your ladies and meet your Brothers on the Level!
In celebration of its 50th anniversary, on Saturday, May 17 2008, at 1 PM, MWB Dave Luebke will preside at the Marion McDaniel Lodge #56 Rededication Ceremony.
In addition to the 50th anniversary celebration on May 17th, Marion McDaniel Lodge will also be honoring one of its most well known members, John Wayne, with a celebration of his 101st birthday.
It all begins with a free breakfast for all Marion McDaniel members and their families at 9 AM. John Wayne movies begin at the same time in the Lodge room and will continue until 4 PM. A free luncheon for all Marion McDaniel members and their families will begin right after the Rededication of the Lodge by MWB Dave Luebke. Snacks and drinks will be available for all throughout the day. Guests and non-members may participate in the breakfast for $6.00, lunch $7.00 or both $10.00.
William D. Hole, PM Worshipful Master
Message from the West: "Quality rather than quantity."
Message from the South: No submission.
Posted February 12, 2008
Brethren: Looks like March will come in like a lion as we prepare to Raise Bro. Chuck Wooke on the 24th.
Brothers Jason Stryker and Dave Mahon were in the East for the two Fellowcraft Degrees during January and did a great job! Brothers Dave Mahon and John Barnes performed the Staircase Lecture (each for the 1st time) very, very well! Most of the Officers for both of these degrees sat in new chairs for the first time as well and did a very good job! It was really nice to see the younger members performing the degrees as we "experienced" members watched!
The assembly of bicycles for the "Bikes For Books" program on Jan. 26 was a great success with 10 members in attendance, which was followed by a FC Degree practice.
The February Stated meeting night went very well beginning with a delicious lasagna dinner and continuing into the business meeting where the presentation of the recommendations of the By-Laws Committee was the highlight. The appointed Sideliner of the month was Bro. Allen Morgan who can always be depended upon to fill a chair if needed.
That night also saw the Ladies' program holding a Bunco game which, judging by the raucousness heard while within the tyled Lodge Room, was a great success! The two $25 grocery store gift cards were won by Mary Hedberg and Ruth Hoffman. Nancy Aderstrom won the "white elephant" prize.
The March Stated meeting will be led by Bro. Jason Stryker as I will be away at a trade show on that date. The Ladies' Night program will be "A Taste Of Home" party which is like a Pampered Chef party, but with more products at less cost. The Ladies' Night drawing that night will be for the Host's (of the party) share, which I'm told, can be as much as $50-$70 worth of free product.
To the Brethren of Marion McDaniel Lodge #56 who live in the Tucson area: Please come to Lodge with your lady and meet with us in Brotherhood. Your wives eat free and there is a great program for them EVERY Stated Meeting night.
William D. Hole, WM
Message from the West: No submission
Message from the South: No submission
Upcoming GL Events:
Arizona Masonic Academy (was GL Warden's Academy) March 28, 29, 30 Prescott, AZ open to all Master Masons (Registration Fee required, contact Lodge Secretary for more info.)
For interested Master Masons, the Southern Arizona York Rite Bodies are having a Festival Saturday, Mar 1 and Saturday, Mar 15. All York Rite Degrees will be done. Anyone interested can call 731-8333 or cell 260-8360 and speak to WB Jeff Horton, High Priest, Tucson Chapter #3 RAM.
PROPOSED BYLAWS CHANGES
POSTED FEBRUARY 12, 2008
Present Reading:
Section 1. The Table for Fees of this Lodge shall be as follows: For the Three Degrees, the sum of One Hundred-Fifty Dollars. For…..
Change To Read:
Section 1. The Table for Fees of this Lodge shall be as follows: For the Three Degrees, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars. For…..
Present Reading:
Section 2. The Fees for each of the foregoing shall accompany the several Petitions…..
Change To Read:
Section 2. The Total Fees for each of the foregoing shall accompany the several Petitions…..
Present Reading:
Section 3. Two-Thirds of all Fees shall be turned over to the Trustees for Investment Purposes.
Change To Read:
Section 3. Omit entire Section 3.
RATIONALE FOR EACH CHANGE
Article VIII, Of Fees
Section 1. The present fee of One Hundred Fifty Dollars has not been changed for over twenty years. Following the Entered Apprentice Degree, the Candidate receives the mandatory Grand Lodge Educational Material at a cost of about $12.00. When the Candidate receives his Third Degree, the Lodge presents each Candidate a Bible ($25.00), an Apron ($25.00), an engraved Trowel ($8.00), and a Monitor ($1.00). At the end of the year, the Lodge is charged by Grand lodge to pay for each Petition the following Fees:
| EXPENSE | PRESENT | PROPOSED |
| Lodge Fee for Degrees | 150.00 | 200.00 |
| Grand Lodge of AZ Fee | 12.00 | 12.00 |
| George Washington Memorial | 15.00 | 15.00 |
| Masonic Charities of Arizona | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| AZ Masonic Foundation for Children | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Total To Accompany Petition | 187.00 | 237.00 |
Section 2. To clarify the requirement that the full Fees amount accompany the Petition when presented to Lodge.
Section 3. Due to Fees and the cost of Candidate materials, the Lodge is unable to comply with this requirement.
ARTICLE IX. OF DUES
Present Reading:
Section 1. The Dues of each member of this Lodge shall be Thirty-Five Dollars plus current Grand Lodge Per-Capita tax per year, payable in advance. Dues for new members….
Change To Read:
Section 1. The Annual Lodge Dues of each member of this Lodge shall be according to the following formula payable in advance:
2009 $50.00 Plus Grand Lodge Per-Capita
2010 $55.00 Plus Grand Lodge Per-Capita
2011 $60.00 Plus Grand Lodge Per-Capita
2012 $65.00 Plus Grand Lodge Per-Capita
Dues for new members….
RATIONALE FOR CHANGE
ARTICLE IX, OF DUES
Section 1. The present Annual Dues of $35.00, plus Grand Lodge Per-Capita of $16.00, do not spread out enough to allow the Lodge to service its fixed expenses and the various charitable projects we wish to accomplish. At the present time, several other Lodges in the Tucson area are also planning on increasing their Annual Dues.
By using the above formula, the Lodge will be able to meet expenses and also allow for inflation in future years. The intent is not to penalize our older members who are on restricted incomes, but to ensure that the Lodge survives in the future.
The By-Laws Change Committee also discussed the possibility of placing a Maximum Level for Annual Lodge Dues of $100.00 plus Per-Capita Tax. This was tabled for future reference.
At the present time, the Annual Per-Capita for Grand Lodge is $16.00 per Master Mason. There has been a rumor that at the next Grand Lodge Session in June, a resolution will be made to increase the Annual Per-Capita Tax an additional $20.00, bringing the total tax to $36.00.
The Lodge will vote on the proposed Bylaws Changes at the April 2008 Stated Meeting. If approved, then, by the attending members, the Proposed Changes will be prepared in final form for submission to Grand Lodge for approval so that they may be implemented in time for the 2009 Annual Dues cycle.
LODGE DUES HISTORY
1965-1976 $17.00 Plus GL Per-Capita
1977-1982 $20.00 Plus GL Per-Capita
1983-1995 $30.00 Plus GL Per-Capita
1996-2008 $35.00 Plus GL Per-Capita
Dues have not kept up with inflation. During the years 1965-2007, the value of $17.00 in 1965 dollars inflated to $112.53 in 2007 dollars per the inflation calculator that can be found www.westegg.com/inflation/.
Likewise, the value of:
20, 1977 dollars in 2007 is $ 72.10
30, 1983 dollars in 2007 is $ 63.66
35, 1995 dollars in 2007 is $ 48.38
As you can see, the proposed $50.00 Annual Dues Plus Per-Capita in 2009 barely keeps up with inflation increases since 1997, hence the $5.00 per year proposed increase through 2012.
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FEBRUARY 2008 TRESTLEBOARD
Brethren:
As I write this; January is not yet over, but I'm sure it was a good month.
January 7th was our first meeting of the year. The dinner preceding it was scrumptious. The Ladies' program afterward was a demonstration of sewing and embroidery techniques by Rose Skelly from Catheys Vac & Sew. Joanie Spomer won the $25.00 Albertson's grocery gift card drawing.
A Fellowcraft Degree practice and By-Laws Committee meeting were held on the 14th. Results and recommendations of the By-Laws Committee meeting will be heard at the February Stated Meeting.
On January 19th, WB Steve Harrington and I went to Mt. Moriah Lodge in Douglas to attend two Fellowcraft Degrees which were put on by the Military Degree Team. Mt. Moriah Lodge, as you may remember, has an honest-to-goodness (not a "representative") staircase on which the Lecture was given. Our own WB Chuck Holbert, who is a regular participant on the Military Degree Team, was the Junior Steward. Great food,
Great Brotherhood, Great Fun and one heck of a ride down and back.
I hope, and am planning, to take our Lodge down to Mt. Moriah Lodge to perform a Fellowcraft Degree on one of our candidates some time during the year. You'll love the Lecture on the staircase! I'll keep you posted.
January 21st will see Brother Jason Stryker occupying the Oriental Chair as he Opens, Confers and Closes for
the first time in the Fellowcraft Degree. Brother Dave Mahon will also be presenting the Staircase Lecture for the first time as well.
January 28th will see Brother Dave Mahon in the East as he Opens, Confers and Closes for the first time in the Fellowcraft Degree. In addition, Brother John Barnes will present the Staircase Lecture for the first time also.
February 4th will be our next Stated Meeting; dinner at 6:30, Lodge at 7:30. The Ladies' program will be a night of Bunco headed up by WB Sid Leluan's Mother-In-Law, Donna, and my wife, Bonnie. Two $25.00 grocery gift cards from Frys and Albertsons will be awarded to the two top winners and a "White Elephant" prize to .... well, you know.
I want to stress that the By-Laws Committee will make their recommendations at the February Stated Meeting. See you there!
Message from the West: No submission. Message from the South: No submission.
Congratulations to our Sideliners of the Month, WB Jeff Horton (December) and WB Charles Barnes for January!
WM Bil Hole
From The East for January
My Brothers: Another year of Masonry begins at Marion McDaniel Lodge; the 50th year to be exact. Hard to believe it was 50 years ago that Joe Wilhoite and crew tossed the first shovelful of dirt and began the foundation of our Lodge. Hard to believe it was 21 years ago that my father and Worshipful Brother Earl Strasser Raised me here in this Lodge. Tempus Fugit. What is not hard to believe is that Marion McDaniel Lodge has grown into the most friendly and fun Lodge of which to be a member. The core of Past Masters who still participate, the members in the columns (sidelines) who eagerly join our proceedings, the visitors who return to our Lodge on a continual basis, and most especially, all the Officers of this Lodge make Marion McDaniel Lodge the best place to come for Brotherhood, friendship and fun. I have visited many other Lodges, been a member of a number of other Lodges and been the Master of another Lodge, but I have never seen such enthusiasm and eagerness to participate and succeed as I see in this Lodge of ours.
Keep up the good work, my Brothers!
This year, in addition to the fun and Brotherhood we all experience at Marion McDaniel Lodge, 2008, marks the Lodge Night=Ladies' Night program. At every Stated Meeting there will be a program for the ladies, and I mean all the ladies; wives, sweethearts, mothers, daughters and friends. There will be no charge for the ladies' meals. There will be a special program for the ladies after the men go into the Lodge Room. There will be a $25 gift certificate drawing for some lucky lady at the end of the ladies' program. At the last meeting, Brother Bob Nagore's daughter, Amanda Nagore, won the $25 Fry's gift certificate, which she donated to the family that she and her workplace adopted. There was also a candle party just in time for Hanukkah and Christmas.
January's ladies' meeting will highlight a sewing and quilting demonstration by Cathey's Vac And Sew. So don't be a so-and-so, bring out your ladies so they can sew and sew! February's ladies' meeting will be a Bunco night and a Pampered Chef party is scheduled for March. More fun and entertainment for the rest of the year is planned. At the last two dinners, we had 50/50 drawings where half of the 50/50 drawing goes to the winner and the other half is used for the Ladies' Night program. Brother John Barnes was the winner in November and Worshipful Brother Chuck Holbert the winner in December. Please, come out to Lodge and bring your ladies with you!
At the Installation it was mentioned to me that a person had a hard time calling me "Worshipful" Master and that it connoted to her that I was being "Worshipped", as in worshipping God. I explained to her the origin of the use of the "Worshipful" title and all seemed to be fine afterward. I wondered how many other non-Masonic people had this reservation and thought that it might be a good short article for the Trestle Board. In Freemasonry, the presiding officer of a Craft or Blue Lodge is called the Worshipful Master, much as one would address a judge as "your honor." This office is most commonly attained by "going through the chairs" which is a process of advancing through a series of appointive and elective offices of increasing responsibility until elected to the Chair by the membership of the Lodge. In a Masonic Temple, the Worshipful Master, as the Master of the Lodge, sits in the "Chair of King Solomon." The complimentary and honorific "Worshipful" has no religious connotation. It is the British equivalent of "honorable," or "venerable," which is used in French-, Italian- and Spanish-speaking countries. The word "worship" comes from the Old English word "weorthscipe," and the Middle English "worschipe," meaning "to honor." In England, Mayors and Magistrates have been addressed as "Worshipful" or "Your Worship" since long before Masonic rituals became popular in the eighteenth century.
That being said, I want to wish everyone the very best of a new year, and invite all the Brothers and their families to come visit with us and help make this the best year ever at Marion McDaniel Lodge!
WB Bil Hole, WM
January 7, 6:30 PM dinner, 7:30 PM Stated Meeting-
Special Ladies' program - Ladies eat free - Candle
Party - Fry's $25.00 Gift Certificate door prize.
Lodge Night = Ladies' Night. All stated meetings
will have a special ladies' program;
bunko, sewing and quilting
demonstrations by Cathy's, dirty bingo, Pampered Chef
parties, etc. Ladies eat free. $25.00 gift
certificate door prize for the ladies only.
DECEMBER 2007 TRESTLEBOARD
From the East for December:
NOTICE: Installation of Officers for 2008 at the Lodge on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 2 pm. With this Installation, we begin celebrating our 50th Anniversary as a Lodge.
Next Stated Meeting is December 3, 2007, 7:30.
Second Degree, December 10, 2007, 7 pm.
Congratulations to our incoming Lodge Pillars, WM Bil Hole, SW Jason Stryker, JW Dave Mahon - and to all the Brothers who have accepted the task of upholding the strong traditions of Lodge #56's Officer Line.
Congratulations and Welcome! to our newest Entered Apprentice Mason, Br Chuck Wooke.
The November Stated Meeting presented our Grand Master, MW Dave Leubke and his Grand Sr Warden, RW Mike Bishop. Thanks to our Grand Master for coming and for giving of his time to speak at dinner with two of our Candidate Prospects. MW Dave Leubke had positive things to say about MM #56 and our reputation for strong Ritual work. (Based upon that, it's OK by me if he'd like to come again…smile.) He was especially interested in and noted the fine results of the Lodge Ritual Master Program initiated by our own WB Bil Hole.
Our November Sideliner of the Month was Br Allen Morgan who is wasting no time getting back in the swing of things. Whatever he did on the sidelines was enough to catch our Br JW's eye and get the award. Can he hang on to the Sideliner Jewel? Come in December and find out! - Better yet, come and take the Sideliner Award yourself!
A good number of Brothers have responded in support of two of our Lodge Brothers in need. They thank you, we thank you. We still have a long way to go to retire the debt. Please help where you can! See our web page for more detail or call our Br Secretary (especially mid-afternoon, when he is napping). It would be wonderful to help our Brothers in need start the New Year in the clear.
Don't forget to tell your Lady about the new Lady's Program during Stated Meeting. Our Ladies eat free and then will be treated to guest speakers and games and activities. And, with Official Minutes being circulated rather than read in the Stated Meeting, the overall duration promises to be shorter. So, bring your Lady down to Lodge!
Coming up in January, we have another group of bikes to purchase for the Bikes for Books initiative. Last Fall we put 26 bikes out there. Let's try to do it again! With your help and support we can do it!
Thanks again to everyone who made this past year the success and fun it has been.
Until I see you all again, fraternal love to all!
Br Stephen C. Harrington, WM
NOVEMBER 2007 TRESTLEBOARD
November 1, 2007
From The East
My Brothers!
NOTICE: The Lodge will hold Election of Officers for 2008 at the November Stated Mtg, 7:30 pm, Monday, November 5, 2007.
NOTICE: Installation of Officers for 2008 at the Lodge on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 2 pm.
For our Nov. Stated Mtg, a special steak dinner starts at 6:30. The business meeting starts at 7:30. Also, please note that the cost of our fellowship dinners has been increased to $6.
Also I am pleased to announce that our AZ Grand Master, MW Dave Luebke, will visit us at this Stated Meeting . Let's plan on giving him a 'grand' "The Duke's Lodge" welcome!
Congratulations to Br Ron Wall for achieving the sublime degree of Master Mason, and to our newest Entered Apprentice, Br Salvatore Spatola. Also, Well Done! to Br Don Bunch who completed his Master Mason Proficiency on Oct 22nd.
Our October Sideliner of the Month was WB Sid LeLuan. Now, let's see if he can weather the active challenge of our other Sideliners extraordinaire.
Our Lodge held a visitation to Tucson #4 on Oct 3rd. With ten Brothers in attendance, we threw down the challenge for them to come visit and also made off with the Traveling Gavel. What a great showing! Thanks to all who participated!
We're postponing our celebration of Past Masters Night until sometime in the Spring. Watch these spaces for information on this and coming attractions.
A good number of Brothers have responded to support a Lodge Brother in need. We thank you. We still have a long way to go to retire the debt. Please help where you can! It would be wonderful to start the New Year in the clear.
My Brothers, I will take this opportunity to thank you from my heart for your support this past year. The smiles, the fun, the fellowship (the corn, the wine, the oil that is central to the Fraternity) we had in full measure. I will treasure the memories of your fraternal affection and support, always.
Br Stephen C. Harrington, WM
OCTOBER 2007 TRESTLEBOARD
October 8, 2007
From The East
My Brothers!
My Brothers! First, NOTICE: the Lodge will be holding Election of Officers for the year 2008 at the November Stated Meeting, 7:30 pm, Monday, 11/5/7.
Secondly, NOTICE: Our Grand Master, MWB David Leubke has called a special Grand Lodge session for Saturday, Oct 27 in Phoenix (El Zaribah Shrine Center, 552 N 40th Street) from 10 a.m. to approx 1 pm. The purpose is to determine the disposition of the Charter for Glen Canyon Lodge #59. All Master Masons in good standing may attend. Lodge Wardens and Past Masters must pre-register by Oct 15, to vote in session. More detail is available from our WB Secretary.
Our next Stated Meeting will be held October 1, 2007. Dinner is at 6:30; business meeting at 7:30. Please note that the $5 cost of our fellowship dinner needs to increase; the cost of food just continues to go up. The new charge is to-be-determined, but perhaps we can toss a little bit more than $5 in the basket in the interim? Celebrate the culinary magic being performed for us in the kitchen by WB Chuck and Teri Barnes. Come down and join your brethren at Lodge!
At our Stated Meeting in September, we voted Br Walter Graham into Affiliation with the Lodge, and Mr. Salvatore Scott Spatola to receive the degrees of Masonry. At the October Meeting, we will be voting on another Petition for Affiliation and a Petition for the degrees. We continue to grow and attract more good men than ever, a tribute to the fellowship, works, and welcoming spirit in the Lodge. Come down and bond with our new members!
Our September Sideliner of the Month was WB Henry Spomer (aka Henry Spooner Jr). He received our new Sideliner nametag and jewel. In a change to the award, our Br JW, as the Lodge Pillar of Beauty, will now select the Sideliner (so you can all stop trying to curry favor with the Master). WB SW Bil Hole received a pin (just because) - and Br Bob Morris received the Lodge's Order of the Golden Knot, for tying knots in the cable tow that would confound a sailor.
Reminders:
1) Planned visitation to Tucson #4 (1944 E. Allen Rd.) October 3 at 6:30 pm (meets at 7pm). We WILL take the Traveling Gavel!!!
2) The Lodge continues a special request for help by donation in support of a Lodge brother's medical bill. We have received some generous help with this request, but have a long way to go. Thank you, Brothers, for your support!
Br Steve Harrington, WM
September 17, 2007
From The East
My Brothers!
A last minute call from KUAT TV for help to answer telephones was answered by twelve.
Friday evening September 14, 2007, the following from Marion McDaniel Masonic Lodge #56 and Fidelity Assemble # 46 International Order of Rainbow for Girls showed up at the University of Arizona PBS television studios and answered telephones during KUAT's fall fund-raising campaign.
The station would have been pleased with six people but the Masonic family again showed their willingness to help and provided twelve people. Staff at KUAT are overwhelmed by the support they receive from the Masonic Fraternity Family.
A big thank you goes to, David McDonald, Dave & Nancy Brown, Rique and Tracey Durazo, Karen & Christin Guy, Danielle Glenn, Tina Estavillo, Savannah Samarano, Allen Morgan and Henry Spomer for giving of their time to help the University.
SEPTEMBER 2007 TRESTLEBOARD
September 6, 2007
From The East
My Brothers!
Our Stated Meeting's normal date would fall on Labor Day, so it will actually be held on the second Monday, September 10. As usual, dinner is at 6:30 and the business meeting at 7:30. Come down and join your brethren at Lodge!
This summer has been busy with degree work and assisting our Candidates in their work. Hats off to Br JW Jason Stryker for his exemplary work as Head Coach, to WB Henry Spomer for his tireless support as Coach for the entire West side of town, and to SW WB Bil Hole for his terrific ritual development program. Congratulations to Brothers Rick Durazo, Don Bunch, and Chase Trujillo for their having reached the sublime degree of Master Mason!
We have some changes in our schedule for the Fall:
1. The Rummage Sale has been moved to March 1st due to schedule availability conflicts within the Lodge building itself.
2. Our Lodge Officers and brethren will be making a visitation to Epes Randolph Lodge on the 26th of September. Epes will be celebrating their Past Master's Night and will confer the 3rd Degree on one of our Lodge Candidates, Br Ron Wall. Plan on joining us for the visitation and degree that evening!
3. Over the summer, Tucson Lodge #4 captured the Traveling Gavel. It is my desire that Marion McDaniel Lodge vist them at their Oct Stated Meeting and retrieve that gavel. Details to follow.
4. We will hold our own Past Master's Night on October 22nd and can expect to conduct an Entered Apprentice Degree. Time to brush up on your ritual and volunteer, Past Masters!
Now, my Brothers, it is time to address something near and dear to all Masons: aiding and assisting a distressed worthy Brother Mason. One of our own Brothers has been in distress for some time, though you'd never hear a word about it from him. For years, this Brother has given of his time and energy to the craft. Without embarrassing him by details, I would share with you that he has had significant health and welfare challenges beyond his means to resolve. Our Lodge, in conjunction with the Scottish Rite (WB Jeff Horton, Secretary of the A&ASR, has the lead), is assisting him.
I can assure you that he is worthy of our assistance. As Master, I am making a special request of all Lodge Brothers to help by donating toward the payment of his one-time expenses (about $2,300 remains to be paid). If you can assist in some small way, send a check to our Brother Secretary indicating your desire to aid our Brother. You may also contact WB Jeff Horton, Secretary of the Scottish Rite, directly. A little from each of us will go a long way. Besides, it will feel good to help a Brother in distress!
Finally, Hats Off to WB Henry Spomer and his fellow Lodge Brothers, for organizing this Fall's Bikes for Books Program. He, along with WB Charles Barnes, Br Dave Brown, Br Rick Durazo, and WB Chuck Holbert, assembled 26 bikes Labor Day weekend for distribution to 13 local area schools. If you missed out on the fun of helping build the bikes, you'll have another chance in January! Thanks to all who support this valuable community program.
Thank you, Brothers,
Br Steve Harrington, WM
June 1, 2007
FROM THE EAST
My Brothers! Here we are, poised on the brink of summer, with many fine Masonic activities directly ahead of us! The first fine activity is to prepare for our annual 'going dark'. Yes, after much bashing about the head and denting of the Master's Hat, I've realized that the Lodge is better off going dark for July and August, after all. We are still blessed with many new Brothers actively working their degrees, and we'll be doing degree work all summer - but no long-winded Business Meetings for us. Yee-Haw!
Mark your calendars now for Saturday June 16th. The Lodge will be hosting a very special John Wayne Day Celebration, marking his 100th Birthday! The fun begins with breakfast and eggs cooked to order at 9 a.m. (prepared by very own Senior Warden), accompanied by the singing styles of Betty Barnes and Sue Akers, while John Wayne movies play in the Lodgeroom. Follow that with a fabulous catered lunch brought to us from Famous Dave's! Grab some fresh-popped popcorn and watch Br John in a classic movie or two, right up to 4 p.m. Maybe you'll win a great Door Prize! Lodge Members and one guest are free. All others are $5.00 at the door.
While marking the John Wayne Day, move your pencil over to Monday June 18th and mark in the Arizona Military Degree Team Fellowcraft Degree at the Lodge for one of our newer EAMs! If you have never seen this team perform the ritual to martial music and precision drill step, you are in for a major treat! Come down as we welcome the Team to our Lodge and enjoy their great work.
This past month, the Lodge co-sponsored a Lunch-box Social with the young ladies and Advisors of Fidelity Assembly #46, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. It was held at Reid Park under the shade of tall, stately trees. Our little Ramada sheltered some of the loveliest picnic baskets you'll ever see (until next year), decorated by the young ladies. We all had a great time and we also helped raise additional funds for their upcoming activities.
Congratulations to our first Lodge Ritualist recipients! WB Jeff Horton, WB Henry Spomer, and BR JW Jason Stryker received their first "dangler" denoting their Associate status (the first level of accomplishment) as Lodge Ritualist. WB SW Bil Hole became the first member to receive the second level "dangler", the Apprentice! It is rumored that several other Brothers are getting close to receiving a dangler level or two, so keep watching these spaces for news!
Brother Dave MacDonald has taken the reins on driving us into the Annual Rummage Sale. We will, as usual, be holding it in the Fall, probably on the first weekend of October. There is the possibility that we may move it to cooler weather at the start of November, but that will be discussed at the June Stated Meeting. So, if you wish to put your oar in the water on this issue, paddle on down to the Lodge.
Finally, Hats Off! To WB and Grand Lodge Sword Bearer Marv Hoffman for his stellar sideline performance at the May Std Mtg - it was enough to just barely squeak by Br Tom Fowler's noble attempt to regain his Sideliner of the Month Status. WB Marv carries his Sideline of the Month status to the Grand Lodge Communication and will no doubt assist him in holding that humongous sword a little higher!
If we do not see you in the June Stated Meeting, or at any of the many degree nights coming up, have a great summer. And while you're kicking back, enjoying the oppressive, humid monsoon - think about coming down to the air-conditioned Lodge. There are worse things you could be doing with all that free time…
Br Steve Harrington, WM
May 8, 2007
FROM THE EAST
My Brothers! What a wonderful April we've had, and what a marvelous May we will be enjoying! Our youngest Entered Apprentices (all six of them) are hard at work beginning to master their proficiencies. The Lodge can thank Br JW Jason Stryker for organizing the Coaching classes and connecting our newest Masons with their Coaches. We all owe a tip of the hat in gratitude to Br Jason for the care and attention he brings to this important Lodge function. And Brothers, if you have forgotten just how wonderful it is to see Masonry through the eyes of a new Initiate, come down to any of our meetings in May. We are all seeing the wonders again, anew, with every regular step they take.
On April 16, at the Initiation of Br Rick Durazo into our Lodge, we were paid a visit by the Worshipful Master, Jr Past Master, and a Brother of Grandview Lodge #23, Prince Hall Masons. How wonderful it is to share the fellowship and fraternity of Masonry with our Brothers from Prince Hall Masonry. WM Elvin Sanders complimented our Lodge on its degree work and extended an open invitation to visit their Lodge, an invitation we hope to take up very soon!
This month, the Lodge is co-sponsoring a fund-raising activity for Fidelity Assembly #46, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. On May 19th, the Assembly will be holding a Lunch Box Social. What is that, you ask? Well, these young women decorate lunch boxes and fill them with lunch for 2. They then all go to Reid Park, Ramada 17, for 11 a.m. on Saturday May 19th. And there, they await the Masons who have bought tickets for the privilege of bidding to purchase their favorite lunch box. That lunch box, and its maker, will then join the Mason for the social part of the Lunch Box Social! What a great idea! Tickets to participate in the auction (only $7.00 each) are available from any Fidelity Assembly Member at our Lodge Stated Meeting. Or, contact Mrs. Nancy Brown (Mother Advisor) at (520) 663-0360. Sounds like fun!
Here's a heads-up for June - Saturday, June 16th. The Lodge will be hosting a very special John Wayne Day Celebration. The day begins with breakfast and eggs cooked to order at 9 a.m. (prepared by very own Senior Warden), accompanied by the singing styles of Betty Barnes and Sue Akers, while John Wayne movies play in the Lodgeroom. There will be a catered lunch from Famous Dave's with more movies and fun right up to 4:00 pm. Lodge Members and one guest are free. All others are $5.00 at the door. Told ya there would be some "don’t miss" activities coming up…
At our May Stated Meeting, in addition to enjoying a Visitation by the Shrine Potentate and his Divan, we will be presenting our first Lodge Ritualist Awards for excellence in mastering and performing our Masonic Ritual. We have four Brothers receiving their "danglers", but you'll have to come down to see who they are (and what a "dangler" is!). And before I forget, hat's off to WB Henry Spomer, our Sideliner of the Month for April. So, my Brothers, come down and see if WB Henry can defend his title or must he yield to another worthy sideliner (can Br Tom Fowler reclaim the title?). We have all the ingredients for a great time this month, and next. All we need is YOU!
Br Steve Harrington, WM
April 1, 2007
From the East for April:
My Brothers! We are very fortunate to have Affiliated a new Brother and to have Initiated four new Brothers this past month of March. We will likely Initiate a fifth new Brother and will be reading an additional petition for Affiliation this month. We have, indeed, entered a busy period of degree work and membership revitalization - so much so, that I will say this right up front here - we need Coaches! Oh, do we need Coaches! Please step forward? Help our newest brothers learn about Masonry and how they fit in!
Our first month of the Spring Back To Lodge Program saw several brothers rejoin us and celebrate their Masonic bonds of friendship and brotherly love. It was terrific fun for all and our returning brethren had a few surprises for us in the way of shining some light on our Lodge's history. One brother casually mentioned that he had done the floor work when Br John Wayne became a Lodge Member! While we were in Lodge, the ladies seemed to be having a splendid time with Bingo (although the way I heard it afterward, a certain young lady seemed to have had winning cards most of the evening). Now, joking aside, I ordered official Summons letters to be mailed out in support of the Spring Back To Lodge Program. I wished to communicate my strongest desire that our local brothers return to Lodge. Let me stress that attendance IS NOT MANDATORY, despite the receipt of a Summons to attend; I meant it when I said, "if within the length of your cable tow". I have learned that you do not burn down the house in order to light the stove. Now that no one can be upset with me anymore, please come to Lodge!
By the time this Trestle Board goes to press, our Certificate of Honorary Membership should have been received by MWB C. Rolland "Rollie" Lattanner PGM of Ohio. We know he is proud to call us friends and brothers.
This Master tips his hat toward WB SW Bil Hole, for his terrific graphics work on the certificate and the "get it done right" final touches he brings to all he does.
While the hat is being tipped, here's one toward WB Henry Spomer for his dedication to the Grand Lodge Masonic Schools Program. On the 17th of March, WB Henry hosted the annual Essay Contest Awards at MM#56, with over 70 attendees. Great job WB Henry!
One last tip of the hat goes to Br Tom Fowler - our Sideliner of the Month for March. He wears the award well. Come down to Lodge - you may be the next honored Sideliner!
Circle May 19th and June 16th as very special Saturdays for the Lodge. Details for both will be in next month's Trestle Board. These are "Don't Want To Miss" events!!
Br Steve Harrington WM
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