November 2006 Trestleboard

FROM THE EAST

Mark Campbell, Master

s I sit down to write my final article I find it hard to believe that my term as Worshipful Master is almost over. But at the same time, if you subscribe to the belief that “time flies when you’re having fun” this last year should have felt like twenty. But in all seriousness, it’s been a great year that I can look back upon with a real sense of pride and accomplishment.

As some of you may know, I had the opportunity to be Master four years ago. But before I advanced to the position of Junior Warden, I stepped out of the line, citing career issues and a lack of adequate time to devote to the Lodge. Being Master now has proven to be a much better time for me. A two-year-old at home, being a father for the first time and a dangerous level of sleep deprivation all worked together to make a calm, stress-free environment, ideal for helming one of the largest and most influential Lodges in the state. (You parents out there will be able to sense a slight tinge of sarcasm in the previous statement.)

Nevertheless, I believe I managed to keep the Lodge moving in the right direction. But I can’t take all the credit for a successful year. St. John’s is blessed to have an abundance of members that care deeply about the work that we do. These men make countless sacrifices to see that the traditions of a relevant Lodge are maintained. We’ve all had the experience of visiting another Lodge where the stations are barely filled. Moreover, the business portion of their meeting is unsubstantial and their calendar of events is conspicuously empty. I say this not to criticize other Lodges or to imply that we’re “better than everyone else.” I’d merely like to point out that what we have here is special (as in not the norm) and we are lucky to have so many members that are dedicated to keeping it that way.

Yet I look back upon my term and I can’t help thinking of all the things that I wanted to accomplish but didn’t. As I prepared for my time as Master it seemed as if the sky was the limit and that I had all the time in the world. But as the year progressed I quickly realized that some of the things that I had envisioned for the Lodge would not come to fruition. Like the famous Mason and poet Robert Burns once wrote, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

But the one thing that gives me the greatest amount of pride is the simple fact that I was Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge No. 9, just like my father before me. What more could a dad, or a son for that matter, ask?

EDMONDS SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERS PUBLIC THANKS

This message was included in a recent mailing to the residents of the entire Edmonds school district, which includes Cedar Way Elementary of Mountlake Terrace:

“The Free Masons have pledged to continue their generosity by giving $3,000 worth of library books for the library and another $2,000 to improve classroom libraries. They are also providing four brand new bicycles each trimester as incentives for kids to improve their reading. Thank you, Masons!”

Officers and Trustees Dinner

St. John’s officers and trustees will prepare their planning for next year over dinner at the Greenwood Romeo’s on Saturday, November 18. All officers and trustees are asked to be present at this important kick-off to a successful year. Dinner will start at 7pm .

CALENDAR

· November 8 ( 5pm ): St. John's Trustees meeting – Library

· November 15 ( 6:15pm ) 7:30pm : St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated Meeting Past Masters Night/Elections

· November 18 ( 7-9pm ): 2007 Officers and Trustees planning dinner (Greenwood Romeo’s)

· November 21 ( 7:30pm ): King Co. Masonic Library ( Delta-White Center }

· November 22 ( 7pm ): Officers meeting/practice or degree

· December 2 ( 5:30pm ): Greenwood Lodge Installation of Officers

· December 9 ( 10am ): Installation of Officers (Saturday morning)

· December 16 ( 3pm ): University Lodge Installation of Officers

· December 20 ( 6:15pm ) 7:30pm : St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated

PAST MASTERS HONORED THIS MONTH

ELECTION OF OFFICERS; 2007 BUDGET ACTION

Our brothers won’t want to miss our November’s Stated Communication. New officers will be elected to serve in 2007 and our Past Masters will be given a special recognition for their long and loyal service to the lodge. We look forward also to hearing from Ms Selam Kifle who will bring us up to date on the progress of the Blue Nile Children’s Organization. The Trustees will be presenting their recommendation for the 2007 operations and charity budgets.

This Stated Communication will be Wednesday, November 15. Dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m.

Once again it is that time of year when we honor the Past Masters of St. John's Lodge No. 9. We are pleased to have these revered brothers join us as we recognize their achievements for the year they served this lodge and the lodges of Ionic No. 90, Theodore Roosevelt No. 229, and Elliott Bay No. 257. What a legacy and what a history! A full house is always a happy occasion at ceremonies such as this, so brothers, please join us. As is our tradition, a select core of Past Masters will close lodge.

At that meeting we also will be electing officers and a Trustee for the next term. We anticipate that WBro. Charles Tupper, our Senior Warden, will be elevated to the East. WBro. Tupper has been a member of the fraternity since 1990 and this lodge since 1998. He served as Master of Thomas M. Reed Lodge No. 225 in 1995 and 1996 and as librarian for the Grand Lodge of Washington in 1997 and 1998. He and his wife Karen have three grown children and one grandchild. An open installation of officers will be Saturday morning, December 9, at 10am . We welcome and encourage families and guests.

The Blue Nile Children’s Organization (BNCO) represents a grass root effort to effectively work with the people and the government of

Ethiopia

in their efforts to reduce, prevent or control poverty, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases. The BNCO, founded in 2001 by Ms Kifle, an Ethiopian immigrant of Seattle, works to address the acute problem of homeless children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and other catastrophes. St. John's Lodge No. 9 has been a strong supporter of the Blue Nile Children's Organization since its conception, when it was first brought to our attention by VWBro. Richard Oslund.

The Blue Nile Children's Organizational goal is to address the needs of these orphaned children by providing a place of refuge where they will be educated and trained to support themselves and their community when they become adults.

To our Past Masters: there will be no Secrets of the Chair planned for this year, as our expected Master for 2007 has already been elevated to the Chair of King Solomon.

!!! Please make your dinner reservations with the secretary at stjohns9@seattlemasons.org or 206 623-0261 by Friday (Nov. 10) prior to the meeting.

Brothers of the lodge again will look forward to delivering groceries and meals to families in the Seattle area who need a little kindness and support for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. We have enjoyed this opportunity to bring a little sunshine into the life of many who are struggling to make ends meet, and also to those families whose loved ones are serving overseas.

__________________________________________________________________________________

The Senior Warden with the help of the Trustees and junior officers has put much thought into the proposed budget for 2007. There has been an attempt to reduce the operational budget from our previous year, and still emphasize our charitable good works. This budget will be presented at the November stated communication for approval.

WBro. Hans Wehl displayed new items from the company store at the last stated communication. They include jackets, vests, caps, cook aprons, T-shirts, sweat shirts, coffee mugs, saddle bags, zippered portfolios, and name badge/ID/wallet holders. All these items are of high quality and display the lodge logo. Also available are copies of an excellent book, “Freemasons for Dummies,” written by Christopher Hodapp. These are available for just a few dollars, including the “ St. John’s Bucks.”

St. John's Lodge No. 9 has financed the elementary school accelerated reader programs in Seattle and Mountlake Terrace . These programs have helped to improve the reading level of many students at the grade school level. Our Lodge also supports DeMolay, Job's Daughters and Rainbow Girls programs. The Seattle Youth Symphony, Northwest Little League, the local food bank, a senior center, and homeless teens are numbered among the many recipients of this Lodge's charity.

At this time of the year, we annually re-examine our giving. Every member of the Lodge is encouraged to make recommendations. Please contact a Trustee with yours:

The Grand Master has designated November as a month to recognize the contributions of the Eastern Star.

The Order of the Eastern Star is the largest fraternal organization in the world to which both men and women may belong. Only men who are Master Masons are eligible and only women with specific Masonic relationships may be members

It is comprised of persons with deep religious convictions and spiritual values. Its teachings are taken from both the old and new testaments. It is benevolent and charitable in its actions – raising millions of dollars annually for projects that benefit mankind.

Being a member of the Order of the Eastern Star “is a wonderful and fulfilling way of life. Through this fraternal service to humanity, we build a better way of life for all.”

__________________________________________________________________________________