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 | | Our second meeting at Greenwood was well attended by the brethren of St. John's Lodge No. 9. We didn't have many visiting Brethren this month so the membership had the opportunity to mix and sit with other members without regard to making sure that those who visit us are made to feel at home. |
| This month Steve (Steve's Expresso Cafe - Bothell) served us beef pot roast with all that goes with this dish. Potatos, baby onions, carrots, and beef that fell off the fork. along with an excellent gravy and rolls with butter. Of course this was all preceded by a dinner salad. The sounds of cutlery was all that could be heard once the plates were served. | |  |
 | | There are many Freemasons who have relatives in the craft and when these get together at Lodge they spend time catching up on what they, and their families, have been doing since their last meeting. One of our few visiting Brothers was from Doric Lodge and he came with his cousin who is a member of St. John's Lodge. They found a fairly empty table over in the corner to | | catch up on one another's lives while everyone ate. |
This month we had invited teachers from Sacajawea Elementary School to come to tell us about how the Accelerated Reading Program is going at their school. Teachers Lauren Bernard and Visala Hohlbein
| brought an excellent presentation. They told us that teachers in the Seattle School District are not used to coming to places like St. John's and asking for funding to help them prepare our city's children for the future and actually getting that funding. They found out last year that St. John's Lodge is committed to helping them teach children to read. Children are our most important resource. | |  |
The server that the Lodge purchased for their school took until June to get set up properly. This was not the fault of the Lodge. The School District took over four months to get it set up and running. The teachers said that it was like getting a birthday present and having to leave it in the box for four months.
It is now up and running and teachers throughout the school are making use of the Accelerated Reading Program and the tests that this program offers. They need funding for more tests, books, and related items for the teachers to be able to expand their use of this important program. We will take these needs into consideration when the budget is set for 2006. St. John's Lodge keeps the Accelerated Reading Program high on its list of funding opportunities to help our society grow toward a strong future. We now fund the program at three schools and will be adding more as time goes on.
WM Joseph Lund opened Lodge on the Master Mason degree promptly at 7:30PM for the October Stated Communication.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read, the treasurer's report was received, bills were read and ordered paid, communications were read and the folder containing these was passed around so the brethren could peruse them during the meeting. Visitors were introduced, the Past Masters of St. John's Lodge No. 9 were introduced and accorded the Public Grand Honors. The Grand Lodge Committeemen, Deputies, and Officers were escorted to the East, introduced, and accorded the Public Grand Honors.
WBrother Skip Albertson reported that the Scholarship committee had received two more requests for scholarship assistance from those whom we had previously agreed to help. These were given funding by vote of the Lodge.
WBrother Charlie Tupper reported that one possible candidate attended the Seattle Art Museum tour and that these outings have had an impact on gaining new members. He also reported that there will be one more outing during this year and that he will continue these for the coming year.
Secretary, VWBrother Jim Russell reported that there were four members delinquent on dues. This will be dealt with at the December Stated either by ordering the delinquencies paid due to indegency or by dropping these members from the rolls.
The Secretary read two petitions, one for the degrees and one for plural membership.
The Secretary read one memorial scroll and the officers performed the in Lodge memorial service for Brother Joseph Westall.
Birthdays for the month were announced and the membership sang?? Happy Birthday to them.
There was no unfinished business.
The Thanksgiving Charity was discussed and funds approved for the needy families that we will be providing the holiday meals for along with some needed extra groceries. WB Ken Lane Jr. is chairing this charity event.
The following dates of interest were mentioned:
- October 22 (7-10pm): District No. 5 Youth Night (Halloween)
- October 26, 5pm: St. John's Lodge No. 9 Trustees meeting
- November 10 (7pm): Entered Apprentice Degree
- November 16 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated Past Masters/Elections
- December 3 (11am): Secrets of the Chair (13 Coins not confirmed) 1pm Greenwood
- December 3 (5pm): Greenwood Lodge Installation of Officers
- December 10 (10am): Installation of Officers (Saturday morning)
- December 14 (7pm>: Officers meeting/practice
- December 21 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated
Just before Lodge was closed the WM was presented with a Glengarry and ceremonial basket hilt sword for the Knights of St. Andrew, a Scottish Rite of Freemasonry organization.
There being no further business before the Lodge, Lodge was closed at about 9:20 PM. Peace and Harmony prevailed, as it always does, at St. John's Lodge No. 9.
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