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 | | On a balmy June 1st the Brethren of St. John's Lodge No. 9 arrived at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center for one of its last meetings at that location for the usual 6 PM dinner. The dress code for this meeting was business casual so most members and visitors arrived with sport shirts and slacks and were dressed for a comfortable evening at Lodge. |
| Steve served stuffed pork chops or Salmon dinners with baked potato, salad, rolls, and vegetable to all and everyone enjoyed the meal. No one left the table hungry. Bobby reinjured her leg and it had to be re-operated on so she is laid up for the summer again and we all miss her smile and service. We hope for a complete and early recovery. | |  |
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 | | Following the meal announcements were heard as it is St. John's Lodge No. 9's custom to hear these following the meal rather than at the end of the Stated Communication. Everyone then retired to the Lodgeroom where Dr. Irl B. Hirsch, Medical Director of the University of Washington Diabetes Care Center, spoke to the assembled members and | | guests. He said that one of every three babies born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime! Diabetes affects an estimated 194 million adults worldwide and over 18 million in the US. Approximately 90 to 95% of those affected have Type 2 diabetes, when the human body does not produce sufficient insulin and/or the body's cells do not respond normally to insulin. |
Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease in the United States and costs approximately $132 billion per year in direct and indirect medical expenses. It usually occurs in adults older than 40, but is an increasing risk among younger people too. Type 1 diabetes represents about 10% of all diabetics, but is growing at a faster rate than Type 2. Type 2 or metabolic syndrome, is commonly associated with heart disease and stroke. The underlying causes of this syndrome are overweight/obesity, physical inactivity and genetic factors. People with the metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease, other diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls (e.g., stroke and peripheral vascular disease) and type II diabetes.
Our LDL cholesterol reading needs to be under 100, Those who have suffered a stroke need to keep their cholesterol reading under 70. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure is any reading over 130/80. Those with protein in their urine need to be under 125/75. The hemoglobin A1c test is a simple lab test that shows the average amount of sugar in your blood over the last two to three months. Those readings should be between 4-6. If you have diabetes, readings should be maintained under 7.0. Men and women over 40 should have their cholesterol and sugar levels checked at least once every year.
The UW Diabetes Care Center treats patients with diabetes, and fosters its study and research to affect a cure. At this time, there is no cure - only treatment for this wide-spreading disease. Dr. Hirsch invited those who qualify to participate in a study to explore new ways to prevent cardiovascular disease in diabetic patients.
The Master presented a check for $2,000 to Dr. Hirsch as an unrestricted educational grant to the Care Center from the members of St. John's Lodge No. 9.
Guests were then excused and WM Lund opened Lodge on the Master Mason Degree for the business portion of the evening.
Minutes of the previous Stated were read, bills were paid, treasurer's report was heardcommunications were read, and the usual beginning business of the Lodge was taken care of.
Committee reports were then heard.
Scholarship: WBro. Ken Lane Jr. reported that many of our scholarship candidates have exceeded our hopes and expectations. The committee has made commitments approaching $23,000, with a handful of students still under consideration.
Little League: WBro. Ken Lane Jr. reported that our Little League minors team won their game tonight by a score of 14-4. Last night our majors team beat Lane Harwood Floors to move on in the regional playoffs. That game was tied at 0-0 until the winning run was walked in with the bases loaded.
King County Masonic Library: VWBro. Jim Russell reported that the Library Association has 4,000 books which once were available at the old Masonic Temple on Harvard & Pine. When we sold that building to Seattle Central Community College, the books were eventually transferred and loaned to the Grand Lodge Library & Museum. The King County Library Association continues to monitor the care of those books.
The association authorized up to $3,000 to be spent to mend some of the books that are in need of repair. It also approved the transfer of duplicate books to satellite libraries. These books and others belonging to the Grand Lodge Library will be distributed to satellite libraries in seven lodges throughout the state - University and Delta-White Center locally.
Audit: WBro. Jeff Lane reported that upon reviewing some of the records of the Secretary and Treasurer there were discovered some inconsistencies. The Treasurer shows expenses that occasionally exceed the amount reported in the minutes of the Secretary. It is recommended that the Secretary should forward the expenses of the Lodge to the Treasurer no later than Sunday before Lodge.
After each Lodge meeting, the Treasurer will create an Income & Expense statement and send this to the Secretary and the Audit Committee. The Secretary will review this statement to ensure the minutes reflect all expenses.
Bro. Jim Wold will receive a back-up CD copy of the Secretary and Treasurer's folders each month for off site storage.
Long Range Planning: VWBro. Charles Brockway has passed the chairmanship of the Long Range Planning committee to WBro. Jeff Lane. WBro. Lane reported that he will resume quarterly meetings with the sub-chairs . WBro. Lane solicited everyone's comments and opinions with a goal to create documentation to be used in a decision making process for the next 5 - 10 - 20 years.
Moving: WBro. Hans Wehl reported that our history books are now shrink-wrapped and in storage in the loft of Lane Hardwood Floors. He said that the brothers of Greenwood have been very generous and hospitable in welcoming our move to the Greenwood Masonic Center. On the evening of June 27, we have an open invitation for our brothers to see and become acquainted with the facility.
Fellowcraft Degree: WBro. Charlie Tupper announced that there will be a Fellowcraft degree Saturday morning, June 18. Most of the principal parts have been assigned and accepted. The lodge will open at 9am with the degree immediately following the opening ceremony. The Master expressed interest in holding some of our degrees this summer at Greenwood, which will require a special dispensation from the Grand Master to do so.
New Lodge: Bro. William Isabelle reported that the Grand Master has given dispensation for Esoterika Lodge to work. A short two months elapsed from the formation of an idea to the Grand Master's approval. The initial officers of the lodge will be VWBro. Mike Davis, Master; WBro. Doug Blake, Senior Warden, and WBro. Terry Grove, Junior Warden. These three have demonstrated their ability to confer degrees, as required under the Masonic Code. Twenty-six brothers have registered as charter members, representing nine lodges. The lodge will be meeting at Greenwood Masonic Center on the 4th Tuesday of January, April, July and October. Plans are for its first meeting to be October 25, 2005, with the conferral of an Entered Apprentice degree. A schedule of activities may be found at www.Esoterika.org.
Four petitions for plural membership were then read and one petition for the degrees was favorably balloted.
The resolution to move to Greenwood Masonic Temple in September was favorably voted.
Underground Seattle Tour:
WBro. Charlie Tupper, our Junior Warden, has planned another in a series of activities for members, their families, and prospective members of the lodge. We have attended the movie National Treasure, an evening of bowling, and one for billiards, and now members of St. John's and their families will enjoy a tour through Underground Seattle on Wednesday, June 15. This is an opportunity for a look at historic Seattle. The underground tour is a leisurely, guided walking tour beneath Seattle's present sidewalks and streets, but which were surface streets before the turn of the century. Starting at Doc Maynard's, we will conclude with fish & chips at Ivar's on the waterfront.
In a letter to St. John's from MWBro. Ken Robinson, the Scottish Rite asserted its claim to the property and improvements made in the Quick Room. The benches and furnishings were given to the Scottish Rite by St. John's. Greenwood Masonic Temple has excellent accomodations and these are not needed by the Lodge anyway.
Bro. Jim Wold will again prepare a weekend of fun and entertainment at the Granite Falls Masonic Park, July 8-9-10. He hopes to have a salmon barbecue to highlight Saturday evening.
WBro. Jeff Lane has surveyed the premises available at Greenwood Masonic Center and has provided an estimate of the costs associated with preparing sites for our archives and for our paraphernalia. It is hoped that some monies will be available to present a gift to the Center as part of the moving in. WBro. Lane requested the Secretary to read the following resolution:
- Whereas St. John's Lodge No. 9 will be making a new home at Greenwood Masonic Center, and
- Whereas it becomes necessary to prepare suitable storage for the archives, paraphernalia and other properties of the lodge,
- Therefore be it resolved that a sum not to exceed $20,000 be authorized for the construction of storage facilities and improvements as a gift to Greenwood Masonic Center.
This resolution will be published in the Trestleboard and acted upon at the July Stated Communication.
The Master presented a check for our share of the Fremont Fair booth to VWBro. Coe Tug Morgan, representing Daylight Lodge No. 232. Daylight has taken the lead for several years in providing a booth at the fair to distribute Masonic literature and to answer questions about Masonry. Other lodges contributing money or materials this year are Doric Lodge No. 92, University Lodge No. 141, Maritime Lodge No. 239, and Lafayette No. 241.
There being no further business before the Lodge, Lodge was closed at about 9:40 PM. Peace and Harmony prevailed, as it always does at St. John's Lodge No. 9.
Following Lodge the Brethren gathered in the dining room for pie and coffee. They then went their separate ways until we meet again.
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