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 | | The December meeting was held on December 21st, right in the middle of the holiday shopping season. Despite the time of year the dining room was again full. Steve made salad and lasagna for dinner.
This was an excellent turn out for WM Mark Campbell's first meeting as Master of St. John's Lodge. |
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| Following dinner the membership adjourned to the Lodge room where Mr. Jim Geiszler of the Secondary Academy for Success (Bothell) spoke to the assembled brothers and guests. SAS, established in 1969, provides a highly successful high school alternative for "at risk" kids. Most have been given no chance to graduate, but SAS has sent a few thousand on | |  | their way with high school diplomas. During this time there has never been a curriculum program for the performing arts. This year, Mr. Geiszler gathered twenty-five students and, assisted by five professional blues musicians who came to the school for two hours a day for 13 days, taught them to play the blues. There was a 14-song concert at the end of the session. Most of the twenty-five students did not play a musical instrument when they started, and only a few knew what the blues was about. The concert was the highlight of Mr. Geiszler's 35-year teaching career.
The Bothell school district contributed $8,400 to the start-up program, which paid for the instruments. The musicians contributed of their time. Mr. Geiszler hopes to establish a continuing program which he estimates will cost $18,000 per year. This would help to pay for the professional musicians and would impact 30-50 students. He said that he estimated 10-12% would go toward administrative costs. He is currently working to develop a blues curriculum that will meet state standards for Fine Arts and possibly English (creative blues song-writing class). He expressed hope that St. John's would assist in this dream. $2,400 has been contributed by another community fund-raising program. |
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 | | Following this presentation the guests were excused and WM Mark Campbell opened Lodge on the Entered Apprentice Degree for the monthly Stated Communication. The usual business of the Lodge was quickly dispensed with including the reception of one visiting WM and the reception of twelve Grand Lodge committee members and officers. The WM had the Lodge accord these | | dignitaries the public grand honors. |
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Bro. Steve Specht reported that the Masonic Service Bureau has approved its 2006 budget and will be proposing a couple of changes in its by-laws. He said that the Bureau is making efforts to improve its communications and relations with member lodges.
VWBro. Charles Brockway reported that a Christmas Charity team of seven brothers, along with his wife Sherla and Zachary Dinwiddie, helped bring Christmas to seven soldier families with 17 children on December 17. The Lodge and the brethren provided adequate funding for this effort and some additional gifts were brought by a few of Santa's helpers. It was clearly the right thing to do for our soldiers and their families. Santa and his helpers enjoyed their labors. WBro. Hans Wehl again dressed the part of Santa, and was assisted by WBro. Mark Campbell, VWBro. Brockway, Bros. Jim Wold, James Phelen, Matt Barnes, and William Isabelle. Staff Sgt. Matt Barnes is a Mason from Oklahoma and an officer at Fort Lewis. Zach Dinwiddie is the son of our late brother Robert Dinwiddie.
Brothers Ken Lane, Jr., Jim Wold and Brian Downie distributed additional food and gifts to several of our Thanksgiving families. A child's car seat was provided to one expectant mother.
Bro. Jim Wold announced that a Fellowcraft Degree will be held on January 26. He encouraged the brethren to assist or to attend this degree which will be held for Bro. Brian Downie.
WBro. Skip Albertson reported that Mike Lujan is not enrolled in school, and that his scholarship funding is available for another student. It was decided that this available scholarship be awarded to Andrew Bun Neang. He will attend the University of Washington.
| VWBro. Brockway reported that the two signs which will be installed at the Royal Arch Masonic Park in Maple Valley and the Masonic Park at Granite Falls have been completed. One was available this evening for the brethren to see. These signs will be erected on the buildings for which St. John's Lodge No. 9 has supplied the funding to either build or renovate. | |  |
WBro. Hans Wehl again offered recognition to WBro. Jeff Lane for his great assistance preparing storage space at Greenwood in preparation for our recent move from the Scottish Rite. WBro. Lane and others were recognized for their efforts at our September stated communication.
One petition for the degrees was read and one petition for reinstatement was favorably balloted.
A memorial was read for Bro. Robert Eugene Dinwiddie, Jr. and many of those present had comments relating to how much they will miss this Brother.
WBro. Charles Tupper reminded the brethren that Sacajewea Elementary school still had need for funding to continue to advance their accelerated reader program. The server that the Lodge purchased for the school took until June to get set up properly. It is now up and running and teachers throughout the school are making use of the accelerated reader 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. The Lodge voted that funds be allocated for the Sacajewea accelerated reader program.
Last year this lodge paid toward the repair of a damaged shelter roof at the Royal Arch Masonic Park in Maple Valley. Part of the agreement between the R.A.M. Park and St. John's was that a sign would be attached to the shelter acknowledging this contribution. This year, we contributed to the Masonic Park at Granite Falls for the construction of a shelter. We have prepared two large wooden signs to be mounted on the two shelters. It was voted to pay Jeff Lane for his out-of-pocket expenses for the preparation of these signs. VWBro. Brockway will see that the signs are installed.
WBro. Joseph Lund asked the brethren to support a new scholarship trust in behalf of the son of our late brother Robert Dinwiddie, Jr. Bro. Nick Mitchell is working with a representative of CIBC Oppenheimer to establish a trust fund and account in which to deposit funds. Brothers who want to contribute may send their contribution to Zachary Dinwiddie Scholarship Trust c/o PO Box 30069, Seattle, WA 98113-0069. Checks should be made payable to Zachary Dinwiddie Scholarship Trust.
The Washington Masonic Code, Sec. 23.02 B.L. allows a Master, on vote of a Lodge, to open a Lodge of Sorrow, which will remain open only during his term of office, for the purpose of conducting Masonic funeral rites. It was voted that a Lodge of Sorrow, for the purpose of conducting Masonic funeral services under such restrictions as provided by the Washington Masonic Code of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington, be opened Saturday, December 10, 2005.
Bro. Jason Leehan thanked the lodge for raising him to a Master Mason. Although he has not had the opportunity to see another Master Mason degree performed, he expressed his certainty that it was a very fine performance. He thanked the brothers who participated in the degree, and his coach VWBro. Jim Russell for conducting him through his preparation for the three degrees. He was reminded by VWBro. Russell that he has additional work ahead to be proficient and to continue his studies.
WBro. Vincent DiGiulio (CHIP) said that to date 2,622 children have been processed by the Childhood Identification Program in Washington. Further assistance is needed for video equipment and personnel to cover a greater part of the Washington jurisdiction.
WBro. Boe Lindgren, a member of our lodge and also the Sulton-elect of the Ancient Shrine Oriental Band, extended good will to the lodge and encouraged our members to seek out the Shrine. WBro. Doug MacKenzie also encouraged our members to investigate the Shrine as a further advancement in their Masonic journey.
WBro. Richard Hawley thanked the brothers for his generous welcome back into the lodge, and said that Masonry has always been a force in his personal life.
 | | The Master invited the Deputy Grand Master RWBro. Charles McQuery to address the lodge. RWBro. McQuery said that he has recently been honored by being elected Oriental Guide of the Shrine and encouraged the brethren to seek membership in that organization.
He reminded the brethren of the Life Membership program, and that the Life Membership fund
| continues to give monetary support to our lodges long after a brother passes to the Celestial Lodge. It is currently earning 4.5 - 5% interest.
He encouraged the brothers to purchase Masonic license plates for their vehicles, as a part of the money from these sales ($28) is directed to Rite Care, formerly Scottish Rite Center for Childhood Language Disorders.
The Grand Lodge Float Committee is looking for volunteer drivers.
The Wardens Conference will be held in Yakima this coming March.
Next year's annual Grand Lodge Communication will be held at Ocean Shores in June. Our Grand Master will be encouraging all Master Masons to attend. Only Grand Lodge officers, Past Masters, Masters and Wardens will have a vote, but all Master Masons will be extended an opportunity to make their presence known.
Finally, he asked, "Why do we do what we do?" Our opening ritual sets us apart from the outer world. It forces us to focus on the meaning of Freemasonry. It clears our mind from our daily cares and concerns and brings us together as members of a brotherhood.
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The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:
- January 11 (5pm): Trustees meeting - Conference Room
- January 12 (7pm): Officers meeting/practice
- January 15 (3pm): Scottish Rite Reception for Grand Master
- January 18 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated
- January 26 (7pm): Fellowcraft degree
- January 27: Quarterly meeting of Masonic Service Bureau (election of officers)
- February 15 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John's 9 (dinner) Stated Official Visit of District Deputy
The Lodge was then closed by the WM at 9:17 p.m., peace and harmony prevailed as it always does at St. John's Lodge No. 9.
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