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The weather was excellent for our first evening at Greenwood Masonic Center. Parking was very good and close to the Lodge and the building is the best St. John's Lodge No. 9 has met in in many years. Those arriving before 6 PM found easy parking within a block of the Lodge and those arriving after that hour used the St. John's School parking lot. By 6:15 PM most of the membership had arrived for dinner. Moving the Stated Communications to the third Wednesday of the month did not seem to affect attendance at all.
This evening went well because of a very good job done by our moving committee. They worked hard and had everything in place early so it was a seamless move for the membership.
Steve fed everyone a very good spagetti dinner and then everyone adjourned to the Lodgeroom for the pre meeting presentation.
This month's presentation was about mentoring children of incarcerated parents.
 | | The speaker was Ms Amber Wade, cluster leader for Mentoring Children of Promise of the Volunteers of America. She told us that Mentoring Children of Promise was created in response to the need for children with an incarcerated parent to have stable, caring adults in their lives. These at risk youth are seven times more likely to become incarcerated at some point in their lives. | Research shows that quality mentoring can help reduce first time drug and alcohol use, increase regular school attendance, improve grades, and benefit caregiver and peer relationships.
These children range in age between five and fifteen. Men are matched with boys and women with girls to provide guidance and to "hang out" with a kid. It is based on the Big Brother Big Sister programs, but focuses on children of incarcerated parent or parents. |
| Following the presentation our dinner guests left and WM Joseph Lund |  | | opened Lodge on the Entered Apprentice degree. Visitors were introduced by SD Jim Wold, acting Jr. Warden VWB David Campbell, Acting SW WB Charles Tupper, and WM Joseph Lund. The Secretary read the minutes of the previous meeting and the Treasurer gave his report. Communications were read and folders of these were passed around to the membership for their private perusal. | | Bills for the month, having been passed by the finance committee, were read and ordered paid. |
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Committee reports were then heard.
WBro. Hans Wehl reported that the move from the Scottish Rite went well, with many hands giving assistance. In April, we were notified that we needed to find a new home one year ahead of schedule. By late August we had found a new home with gracious | |  | | and generous landlords and moved into Greenwood, for our first stated meeting this evening. WBro. Wehl particularly noted the services of WBros. Jeff Lane and Ken Lane, Jr., and VWBro. Jim Russell for their hours spent in preparation.
WBro. Jeff Lane arranged for the contractors to prepare and finish storage facilities at Greenwood. WBro. Ken Lane assisted with packing and driving the truck. VWBro. Russell was always available to advise and assist. On the day of the move, we had the assistance of many brothers, including the advisors and friends of the Merle E. Luther Chapter, Order of DeMolay and members of Diamond Lodge No. 83, its sponsoring body. |
| WBro. Wehl also expressed his gratitude for the valuable assistance from WBro. Jim Lumsden and the brothers of Greenwood Lodge No. 253 for their warmth and generosity. The secretary also noted that the "quick work" on moving day was made possible by the hours and hours of packing and attention to detail performed by WBro. Wehl. | |  |
WBro. Joseph Lund reported that the 145th anniversary dinner was well-received, and expressed his appreciation to Bro. Iain Cameron who planned and organized the celebration. Bro. Ken Wehl performed a few magic tricks during some of the breaks by the jazz ensemble, and VWBro. David Julian and his wife Beverly also stepped in for impromptu entertainment. If there was any disappointment, it was that 17 of our 121 reservations failed to show.
VWBro. David Campbell reported that he has been unable to visit with any of the youth groups since our last communication, but will resume that activity later this month. There will be a fund raising silent auction sponsored by the Washington State DeMolay at the Nile, October 30. The money raised will benefit the activities of the state DeMolay, Rainbow and Job's Daughters organizations.
MWBro. Al Jorgensen is asking for contributions to go toward the Masonic youth groups. VWBro. Campbell will ask for a contribution from the lodge later in the meeting.
WBro. Charles Tupper reminded the brethren that the lodge will be hosting the fifth event designed to encourage new prospects to join us in our activities. On Thursday, September 29, we will be touring the European Renaissance exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum (SAM). The SAM has a wonderful collection including Renoir's "Last Supper," works by Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Degas, Botticelli, Chagall, Monet, Picasso, Matisse, and many other famous artists. This is another opportunity to invite a friend who may be interested in the fraternity. The tour will start at 6:15 at 100 University St. Eleven have signed on to the tour, so far.
A petition for the degrees and one for plural membership were read and committees were appointed to investigate these and report back to the Lodge at our next Stated Communication.
Three memorial Scrolls were read including one for Bro. Francis "Frank" Cushman, Tyler Emeritus of St. John's Lodge No. 9. It is always hard to say goodbye to a member and it is especially hard to say goodbye to one who has been special to so many active members over the years. Bro. Cushman was such a man and he will be missed.
Birthdays for the month were read and the Lodge "sang?" Happy Birthday to these Brothers.
Unfinished Business was then dealt with:
WBro. Jeff Lane presented two bills received today for finishing touches of the Greenwood facilities: Bergman Lock & Key and Jeff Lane . These were ordered paid.
The Secretary read a resolution for a mid-year adjustment to the 2005 budget:
- Whereas the Trustees annually perform a mid-year review of our annual budget, and
- Whereas changing our stated meetings from the 1st Wednesday to the 3rd Wednesday will cause our 2005 installation of officer
- expenses to come payable this year and not next, and
- Whereas we underestimated the fees necessary to manage our investment portfolio, and
- Whereas it is our desire to conduct criminal background checks on petition applicants,
- Therefore be it resolved that the following increases to our 2005 Operating Budget be made:
- Increase Installation Ceremony $1,500
- Increase Oppenheimer Management Fee $35,000
- Add Petition Processing $300
This resolution, having been read at the previous stated communication and published in the Trestleboard, was moved for adoption, seconded and passed.
New Business followed:
The Secretary m/s/p that two additional leaves be added to the Tree of Life in memory of our departed brothers Richard Oslund and Frank Cushman. Proceeds for these leaves, at $100 each, are credited to the Masonic Home Endowment Fund.
All Masons are invited to attend a regional workshop presented by Grand Lodge. Four workshops are scheduled, each identical, with the first one to be held at the Everett Masonic Center, Saturday, October 8. Registration fees are $12 at the door. WBros. Dennis Archambault, Joseph Lund, Bro. Chris Carney, and VWBros. Ashley Brinkley, Mike Davis, and David Julian expressed their intentions to attend. VWBro. David Julian is a leader of the workshop.
VWBro. David Campbell requested that the lodge support a fund raising event sponsored by the Washington State DeMolay. A dinner/auction will be held by the Washington DeMolay Foundation to raise money for the DeMolays, Rainbows and Job's Daughters. The youth committee of St. John's recommended, and it was m/s/p to contribute $600 to the Washington State DeMolay Foundation. VWBro. Campbell also requested that we support a special appeal by our Grand Master MWBro. Al Jorgensen to support our youth groups. It was m/s/p to contribute $500 to the Grand Master's youth program.
Hurricanes Katrina caused extensive damage to the homes and lives of many who were struggling even before the arrival of this natural disaster. While relief efforts from our federal, state, and local governments - and charitable efforts from private citizens - will assist in those areas, we believe that more can be done to reach out to those often forgotten.
Relief of the distressed is a duty incumbent upon all men, but more particularly upon Masons.
It was decided to contribute $2,500 to the relief effort. The Master added $500 from the Master's Charity fund for this effort.
The following announcements were made:
The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:
September 28 (5pm): Trustees meeting - Greenwood Conference Room (2006 budget)
September 29: Seattle Art Museum
October 8 (8:30am): Regional Workshop, Everett Masonic Center
October 12 (7pm): Officers meeting/practice
October 19 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated
October 22 (7-10pm): District No. 5 Youth Night (Halloween)
October 26, 5pm: St. John's Lodge No. 9 Trustees meeting - Greenwood Conference Room
WBro. Terry Grove announced that District 5 LOMA will again be hosting the annual Halloween-themed youth night at the Scottish Rite, Saturday, October 22. VWBro. Mike Davis invited the brethren to the next LOMA business meeting, this Wednesday, September 28.
These were followed by the Good of the Order:
WBro. Vincent DiGiulio thanked the lodge for its support of the Children Identification Program (CHIP), and reported that 1,503 children were processed at the Monroe Evergreen Fair. WBro. Terry Grove put in hours and hours helping to film and process the children. Parents and their children formed long lines to receive this valuable service, and were grateful for the service provided by the Masonic fraternity. The CHIP Committee is looking for used Sony Camcorders that may be donated. The goal is to obtain approximately 33 Recorders and TV's so that the Grand Jurisdiction can be divided into approximately 11 regions based on population and area.
Bro. Jim Wold expressed a desire to go though the degree kits and to find what should be upgraded for our future degrees. He was invited to do so, and to report back his recommendations.
The Master reported that six brothers had attended the Queen Anne meeting, and were to have received the district traveling trowel. However, the trowel was in the hands of a Queen Anne brother who was not present at that meeting. VWBro. Mike Davis promised to retrieve the trowel and present it to the Master.
WBro. Jeff Lane thanked Bro. Marv Pearson of Greenwood Lodge, who contracted to paint the areas under construction. Bro. Pearson contributed $712 of his fee back to St. John's to be used towards any gift that we may present to Greenwood Lodge. A gift is contemplated, following conference with members of the Greenwood Temple Board.
WBro. Jim Lumsden of the Greenwood Temple Board welcomed the brethren of St. John's, and noted that the special placemats welcoming the lodge which were at our dinner tables this evening were created by WBro. Gene Ross. The Master thanked WBros. Lumsden and Ross for their consideration.
WBro. Ken Lane brought greetings from Ken Lane, Sr., and also from Bro. Joseph DuWors, who is thought to be inland enough to escape the ravages of Hurricane Rita bearing down on the Texas (and Louisiana) coasts.
VWBro. Michael Davis brought greetings from the Grand Master and encouraged the brothers to use the Grand Lodge hotline when requesting information from the Grand Lodge. He said that there were just under 800 personalized Masonic license plates now on Washington autos. Lastly, he encouraged the brothers to purchase the Grand Master's collectable coin for $10, the proceeds giving life to the Grand Master's travels and activities.
The lodge was then closed at 9:30 p.m. Peace and harmony prevailed, as it always does, at St. John's Lodge No. 9.
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