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 | | The weather in Seattle is in the upper thirties during the day but the weather in the SRMC where the Brethren of St. John's Lodge No. 9 gathered for the November Stated Communication was warm and friendly. The gathering was hungry as the conversation nooks were empty and all stood around the dining room entrance where the odors of an excellent chicken |
dinner were very evident. The Brethren stood around quietly talking and looking longingly into the room as Bobbi set the tables.
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| When he came to invite the Brethren into the dining room at five minutes after six WM Terry Grove discovered everyone already in the room for the meal as everyone had eagerly filed in at 6 on the dot. Steve (Steve's Expresso Cafe) didn't disappoint. The dinner lived up to the smell and after the convocation all that could be heard was the sounds of knives, forks, | |  |
and spoons as the meal was eagerly consumed.
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 | | As the evening would prove to be full and there was no time to be wasted, WM Terry Grove called to our long time server, Bobbi, immediately after the main course had been served and presented her with a large token of our regard from the officers of the Lodge to be used on her upcoming vacation cruise. A very deserved time away for her. |
| She has served our meals and put up with us for many years and her efforts are truly appreciated by St. John's Lodge's Brethren. |
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 | | Following supper, the membership, guests, and visitors adjourned to the Lodge room where VWB Carl Alexander gave a presentation on the financial health of the SRMC. He told the Lodge that a decision on whether or not to sell the building was going to be made very soon. The numbers showed that the Scottish Rite cannot afford the building for much longer. It looks like St. John's Lodge No. 9 will have to find a new meeting place in about three years. |
| Following the Scottish Rite presentation all guests left and WM Terry Grove opened Lodge for this month's Stated Communication. After the usual opening business of the Lodge was finished ballots were handed out and the election of officers for 2004 was held. Bro. Mike Rust was elected Master of the Lodge. Bro. Joseph Lund was elected Senior Warden, Bro. Mark Campbell was elected Junior Warden, WB Ken Lane Jr. was elected Treasurer, VWB Jim Russell was again elected Secretary, and VWB Chuck Brockway was elected to another four year term as Trustee. All accepted the positions |  |
 | | Following the election of officers the WM introduced the affiliated Past Master's and had the Past Master's of St. John's Lodge No. 9 form a semi-circle west of the altar where he thanked them for their service to the Lodge. He then gave each a carnation and a personal "thank you" to each to show his appreciation of their efforts to help him and the Lodge. |
| After seating the Past Masters, the WM had MWB Ken Robinson escorted to the East where MWB Robinsion talked to the Lodge about the value of Past Masters to a Lodge. He told humerous stories about the vaunted knowledge of a Past Master and talked about the real contributions that these dedicated men give to their Lodge. He talked of the travails of the Lodge Secretary when dealing with Past Masters and he talked of the sudden knowledge of Lodge operations that comes to a sitting Master shortly after he is replaced. He told the Brethren that a Lodge cannot function easily without the dedication and hard work of the Past Masters. | |  |
 | | After MWB Robinson's talk the Worshipful Master announced that St. John's Lodge No. 9 had received an award at the District meeting on October 31st. Grand Master John McNabb presented him with a framed certificate in appreciation of the work that St. John's Lodge No. 9 does in the community. This award, we feel, is very deserved by our Lodge as we are diligent about giving aid where needed in our community. St. John's Lodge is helping everything from the food banks to purchasing, preparing, and serving food to homeless teens at the University District Teen Feed several times each year. |
| VWB Richard Oslund, our acting Chaplain, was also honored at the District meeting. He was awarded the Grand Master's Achievement award for his many years of dedication to Freemasonry. VWB Oslund is always willing to do whatever needs to be done for the Lodge and is very active in charity work. He is the member who is primarily responsible for St. John's Lodge No. 9's involvement in the Ethiopian Orphanage project. | |  |
Committee reports were mostly dispensed with for this Month but the Lodge did approve several motions dealing with expenditures which were budgeted for but required a vote of the Lodge.
The Long Range Planning Committee members were appointed by the Worshipful Master and a meeting was called for at the SRMC on Wednesday, November 12th, at 7PM.
Announcements were made and the Lodge was closed at about 9:50 PM. Peace and Harmony prevailed as is usual at St. John's Lodge No. 9. |
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