Home - Archive Index - 2008 Archives - December Stated Communication
December Stated Communication Promptly at 6:15PM the prayer was offered and the Brethren who arrived on time sat down to an excellent bar-b-que ribs dinner which was served in honor of WB Michael Rust who passed away during the month. The room continued to fill while everyone ate their salad and before 6:30 the tables were full.
Following the dinner Mr. Ed Kommers, President of the Northwest Little League, spoke to the assembled brothers and guests and offered his gratitude on behalf of the League for our support of three teams. The Brethren and guests then went up to the Lodgeroom for a presentation from Oppenheimer. Mr. Lance Rounds and Mr. Darrel Lynch from Oppenheimer Co. addressed the brethren and gave an outline view of how our portfolio is managed by the Oppenheimer teams.
The Lodge opened on the Third Degree at 7:50 p.m., thirty-seven members and three visitors in attendance as per Tyler's Register. The officers were in their stations and places, except that Bro. Brian Downie did double duty and filled the place of the absent Chaplain as well as the Marshal. PRESENTATION OF THE FLAG The American flag was presented by the Marshal and deposited in a place of honor in the East. The Worshipful Master called upon the Marshal to lead the brethren in the pledge to the flag. INTRODUCTIONS Following the Tyler’s invitation to join his brethren, the Worshipful Master called upon the Senior Deacon to introduce our visitors with the exception of Masters, Wardens, and Grand Lodge officers and committeemen. In attendance and receiving a warm St. John’s welcome was WBro. Jim Lumsden of Greenwood Lodge No. 253. The Master introduced VWBro. Mike Davis (Queen Anne Lodge No. 242), and WBros. Larry Blake (Greenwood Lodge No. 253) and Ken Lane, Jr. (Esoterika Lodge No. 316). They were accorded the public Grand Honors. The Past Masters of St. John's Lodge No. 9 were asked to stand and be recognized and were graciously thanked for their dedication to the Lodge. They were accorded the public Grand Honors. The Master then instructed the Senior Deacon to escort the Grand Lodge Officers and Committeemen East of the Altar and shook each by the hand as he announced their names. In attendance were WBro. Darrel Womack (public relations), VWBro. Mike Davis (CHIP), WBro. Terry Grove (charity & CHIP), WBro. Charles Tupper (technology), VWBro. Charles Brockway (Special Deputy), VWBro. Jim Maher (Deputy of the Grand Master for District No. 5), VWBro. Ashley Brinkley (Grand Bible Bearer), MWBro. Richard Mecartea (Past Grand Master), MWBro. Al Jorgensen (jurisprudence), and RWBro. Gale Kenney (Senior Grand Warden), all of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington. They were accorded the public Grand Honors. TREASURER’S REPORT The Treasurer reported that our portfolio has grown by 7.83% over the past twelve months ending November 30, 2007. We remain solvent. EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER The bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (WBro. Vincent DiGiulio, VWBro. Charles Brockway, and MWBro. Al Jorgensen), were submitted to the Lodge for approval. After the acting chairman, WBro. Vincent DiGiulio, attested to the accuracy of each bill or invoice, he stated the expenditures were in order and moved for the payment of the bills. On vote of the Lodge, the bills were approved for payment. COMMUNICATIONS Trestleboards and letters of communications were distributed. Concerning each, the Secretary reported the following: We have received a request from Bro. David H. Hunt to dimit from this lodge. The Master has granted the request. We have received an invitation from Master-elect Louis E. Bartrand to attend an open installation of officers for Lodge Alba No. 315, Saturday, January 5, at 2pm, at Greenwood Masonic Center. Also, Daylight Chapter No. 213 Order of Eastern Star encourages all our brothers to consider joining a daytime Chapter of the Order. They meet at the Queen Anne Masonic Hall at 11:30am for lunch, followed by a 12:30pm meeting on the 1st Wednesday of the month. Petitions are circulating with the correspondence. Appeals for contributions have been received from Mercy Corps and the Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Centers. Daylight Lodge No. 232 again will be honoring the principal players of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra and sends an invitation to dinner on Sunday evening, January 13, at 5:30pm. Cost is $25. We have received an appeal from our Grand Master to come to the aid of members of our Masonic family who have been touched by the major flooding in Western Washington earlier this month. A relief fund has been established for those lodges and brothers who wish to extend a helping hand. A regional workshop will be held in Everett on January 26th for brothers throughout the jurisdiction who wish to gain knowledge, share experience, and renew enthusiasm. Pre-registration fee will be $10 to cover lunch and materials, or $12 will be accepted at the door. The Wardens Conference next year will be the weekend of April 11 – 13, in Yakima. The cost will be $300 for each brother attending, with an added fee of $50 for a brother’s lady. Washington State DeMolay again encourages our support with an advertisement in their convention program. The deadline for ad copy will be February 15, 2008. This is a great way to show support for our young men in DeMolay. We have received newsletters and Trestleboards from Conversay, Phinney Ridge Neighborhood Association, the Grand Lodge of Washington, Eureka Lodge No. 20, Diamond Lodge No. 83, University Lodge No. 141, and Lafayette Lodge No. 241. COMMITTEE REPORTS VWBro. Charles Brockway reported on the successful “Operation Kids Smile” held for seven Fort Lewis families of our service personnel serving overseas. It was a full day beginning at 8am at the Brockways in Puyallup, followed by shopping and distribution of groceries, clothing and gifts. Santa was assisted by his helpers VWBro. Brockway (Sherla), WBros. Skip Albertson, Terry Grove, Bill Collison (Aundie), Joseph Lund, Jack Berg, Jim Wold, and Bros. Ken Wehl, Joe Oates, and George Rine. Once again WBro. Hans Wehl (Sharon) played the role of Santa, thrilling twenty children. Bro. George Rine is assembling a team for the Fellowcraft degree, scheduled for Wednesday, January 30. A practice will be held on Thursday, January 10th. WBro. Charles Tupper reported that the first scheduled outside event for 2008 will be an outing to the new movie sequel National Treasure: Book of Secrets. This first outing will be Friday, January 18. He would like an indication who will be attending. WBro. Joseph Lund will be delivering the final installment of bicycles to John Rogers Elementary for those who participated in the Accelerated Reader program and win the drawing. This has been a successful program for improving the reading skills of the elementary students. WBro. Lund will be accompanied on Friday by WBros. Ken Lane Sr., Helmuth Svaboda, and Darrel Womack. GREETING BROTHERS ON THE LEVEL The Master called the lodge “free from restraint” for a period of five minutes and invited the brethren to mingle and to greet each other upon the level. READING OF PETITIONS A petition for the degrees was received from Mr. John Ramon Samudio, born March 19, 1971, in Yakima, WA. Mr. Samudio works as a food receiving/DSD trainer for the Fred Meyer store in Ballard. He is single and is recommended by WBros. Doug MacKenzie, Ken Lane, Sr., and Ken Lane, Jr. A committee was appointed to visit Mr. Samudio and to report back to the Lodge by the next Stated Communication. MEMORIAL SCROLL Memorial scrolls were read for Bro. Reginald Harold Wright and WBro. Michael Steven Rust, followed by remembrances from brothers of the lodge and a memorial service by Bro. Brian Downie. BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Bros. Joe Oates (12/23/43), Ken Wehl (12/28/68), and WBro. Serco Tokatlian (12/28/38) were honored with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate achieving one more year in their journey through life. MASONIC EDUCATION The Master called upon WBro. Charles Tupper to offer another pearl from his collection of Masonic wisdom. WBro. Tupper chose to speak on the Masonic apron, addressing its historic significance in operative masonry to its symbolic importance in speculative Masonry. He admonished us to re-visit our own white leather aprons, to examine them for any blemishes, and to attempt to remove those blemishes which we all have in our own lives as well as on our aprons. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Michael Rust Memorial Expense On Sunday, December 16, the Rust family held a memorial service for WBro. Michael Rust at Greenwood Masonic Center. The service concluded with a Masonic Memorial service written by MWBro. Matthew Hill, Past Master of St. John’s and a Past Grand Master of Washington. It was m/s/p to pay for cleanup to the Greenwood Masonic Center for the use of the lodge room, kitchen and dining room for the Rust Memorial service. 148th Anniversary The Master proposed that two items of business related to next year’s 148th anniversary celebration be addressed. First, the principal entertainment will be artist Bobby Bruce, who performs in the character and style of Neil Diamond. He is handled by Edie Perala, booking agent for Summit Entertainment out of Vancouver, BC. It was m/s/p that the required amount be deposited for the 148th Anniversary entertainment payable to Summit Entertainment. The venue for the anniversary celebration will be the Lake Ballinger Golf Club, Mountlake Terrace. It was m/s/p that funds be deposited to hold the date of September 13, 2008, for the 148th Anniversary Dinner. 2007 Audit Committee WBro. Charles Tupper named Bros. David Flood (chair), Nick Mitchell, and David Long (back-up Joe Oates) to serve on the 2007 audit committee. 2008 Officer Retreat Expense The Worshipful Master requested authorization and it was m/s/p to issue a check to the officer-retreat facilitator in early January, prior to our January stated communication. The officers and Trustees will be meeting in an all-day Saturday session at Leavenworth on the weekend of January 11 – 13 to improve effective communication. It was also m/s/p to authorize a check for the chartered bus (Customized Tours) which will be used to shuttle participants to and from Leavenworth. NEW BUSINESS Company Store Several items need to be purchased to replace inventory in the company store. It was m/s/p to provide WBro. Hans Wehl with funds to restock inventory in the company store. Teen Feed University Street Ministry The University Street Ministry, which organizes the daily schedules for local charity groups to serve hot meals to the homeless teens in the University District, has made a list of “wants” to be available to the young people this winter. We have participated in serving these young people over the last five years. Bro. Chris Carney m/s/p that St. John’s allocate the remaining money in the budget item for teen feed for the purchase of supplies for the homeless teens in the University District for the Christmas season. Summer Picnic Next year’s picnic will again be held at the Nile Shrine grounds, on Sunday, August 10th. This year the Nile will require a refundable damage deposit in addition to the minimum amount to reserve the date and location. WBro. Ken Lane, Sr. m/s/p that the required amount be deposited with the Nile Shrine to reserve the August 10, 2008 picnic site, including damage deposit. Grand Lodge Flood Relief The Grand Master has appealed to lodges and brothers to assist worthy Masons who have been victims of heavy flooding in Western Washington. A special flood relief fund has been established by Grand lodge to facilitate this help. WBro. Doug MacKenzie proposed that we consider sending a check to Grand lodge for this purpose. After inquiring as to the amount of money remaining in this year’s budget for emergency charity, VWBro. David Campbell m/s/p to issue a check to the Grand Lodge Flood Relief fund in that amount to assist worthy brothers and their families impacted by the December flooding in Western Washington. (vote: 19 yea – 8 nay) St. John's Lodge Excess supplies In cleaning, inventorying and re-organizing much of the supplies owned by this lodge, WBros. Hans Wehl and Ken Lane, Jr. have determined that the lodge brothers may wish to discard some of the excess items. These include a camera, several small booklets on Masonry, thirteen old and worn top hats, old costumes, etc. It was m/s/p to do a little “housecleaning,” offer items to brothers and dispose of that which is not claimed. St. John School Parking A thank you is in order to St. John School for allowing us to use their parking facilities when we hold our monthly meetings at the Greenwood Masonic Center. The convenience of the facility is greatly appreciated by the members of our lodge. We hope to continue this welcome relationship. It was m/s/p to contribute a check as a thank you to St. John School for allowing the use of their grounds for parking during our stated communications. Challenge to Blue Nile Committee
ANNOUNCEMENTS WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. announced that groceries and gifts will be purchased and distributed to needy families in the Greenwood area within the next several days, prior to Christmas. Bros. Matt LaCroix and Brian Downie will be joining WBro. Ken Lane, Sr. and Ken Lane , Jr. for this Christmas Family project. Others are invited to participate.
WBros. Jim Wold, Charlie Tupper, VWBros. Ashley Brinkley, Jim Russell, and Bros. David Flood, Joe Oates, and George Rine indicated they will be attending the workshop in Everett on the 26th of January. GOOD OF THE ORDER VWBro. Charles Brockway invited the brethren to share in a DeMolay fund raising breakfast at the Landmark on the Sound on Saturday, February 23. Guest speaker will be former Seahawk center Robbie Tobeck. VWBro. Michael Davis thanked Bros. Jim Russell and Jim Wold for their assistance in recent degree work at Queen Anne Lodge No. 242. WBro. Darrel Womack announced that the Rainbow Girls will be recycling Christmas Trees for $5 donation on January 5. WBro. Doug MacKenzie commended the officers for the wonderful job they did this evening. VWBro. Jim Maher, Deputy of the Grand Master for District No. 5, reminded the brethren that Lafayette Lodge No. 241 will be holding an open installation of officers on January 3. The District 4 & 5 reception for the Grand Master will be March 8 at 5:30 at the Ballard Masonic Center. Tickets for the dinner will be $25 each. WBro. Jim Lumsden announced that Greenwood lodge No. 253 will be holding its annual Christmas dinner for anyone who would like to come on Christmas Day afternoon at 4pm. CLOSING OF LODGE The minutes of this communication were read and approved in short form. There being no further business to come before this Lodge of Master Masons, the flag was retired and the Lodge closed in due and ancient form by the Worshipful Master at 9:40 p.m., peace and harmony prevailing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
