Home - Archive Index - 2009 Archives - May Stated Communication
May Stated Communication PROGRAM OF EDUCATION Following dinner, WBro. Mark Conlee addressed the brothers and guests on the Scottish Rite’s Seattle Valley language disorders clinic RiteCare, the SR Research Society, and its Master Craftsman program. WBro. Conlee is the past Personal Representative of the SGIG for the Seattle Valley, a 33° Mason, and a long time member of the Scottish Rite Research Society. The Seattle Valley is presently meeting at Lakeside Masonic Center in Bellevue and renovating facilities at what will be their new home at N. 152nd and Aurora. Since 1991, the Scottish Rite Research Society (SRRS) has advanced Masonic research, pursuing a publication program emphasizing quality—both in content and physical form. Anyone interested in deepening his understanding of Freemasonry may become a member and make use of this research society. The Worshipful Master thanked WBro. Conlee and presented him with a St. John's lapel pin. 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 Worshipful Master Nick Mitchell briefly welcomed all brothers in attendance. Following the Tyler’s standing invitation to tile the outer door and join his brethren at the inner door, he 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 were five visiting brothers, Bros. Carl Tokarek (Lakeside Lodge No. 42, Sandpoint, ID), WBro. Mark Conlee (DesMoines Lodge No. 245), WBros. Larry Blake and Marvin Peterson (Greenwood Lodge No. 253), and Bro. David Sheldon (Occidental Lodge No. 72). Also present was Musician Bro. Adam Creighton (Greenwood Lodge No. 253). The Senior Warden introduced his counterpart, Bro. Bret Sandstrom, a member of this lodge and also Senior Warden of Sedro Woolley-Burlington-United Lodge No. 93). The Master introduced VWBro. Mike Davis, a member of this lodge and Master of Queen Anne Lodge No. 242. All guests were accorded a warm St. John's welcome. Grand Lodge officers and committeemen were introduced in their places. In attendance were WBro. Charles Tupper (technology), WBro. Darrel Womack (photography), VWBro. Mike Davis (Chmn. CHIP Foundation), VWBro. Coe Tug Morgan (Asst. Grand Secretary Emeritus), MWBro. Al Jorgensen (jurisprudence), MWBro. John D. McNab (code commission), and MWBro. Richard Mecartea (Past Grand Master). RWBro. Gale Kenney, Deputy Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Washington was likewise introduced. All were accorded the public Grand Honors. PRESENTATION OF THE DEPUTY OF THE GRAND MASTER The Master instructed the Senior Deacon to present the Deputy of the Grand Master for District No. 5 at the altar. VWBro. Michael Cuadra was greeted at the altar and escorted to the East by the Worshipful Master. He was accorded the public Grand Honors and offered the gavel He sat the brethren and graciously asked the Master to continue to preside. ACTION BY GRAND MASTER The Master instructed the Secretary to read a letter from MWBro. Douglas Tucker, Grand Master of Free & Accepted Masons of Washington, directed to WBro. Chris Carney and also received by the lodge. The letter was dated this day, May 20, 2009 and reads: WB Carney, On April 3, 2009 you were sent a directive instructing you to restore peace and harmony to St. John’s Lodge #9 with the assurance that if you did not, the recourse would be to remove you from the office of Worshipful Master. From correspondence that I have requested and received it is apparent you have made the choice to disregard that directive. Therefore, according to the Washington Masonic Code, Sec. 3.01 (2) Const., you are hereby deposed from the office of Worshipful Master of St. John’s Lodge #9 effective immediately. This communication will be read at the May 20, 2009 stated meeting. Fraternally, Douglas E. Tucker Grand Master RESPONSE Bro. Mitchell read a letter from our deposed Master who was not present, which presented his grievances. Bro. Mitchell (as acting Worshipful Master) appointed a committee to investigate and report on the events and actions over the past few years that have resulted in St. John's Lodge current situation of disharmony and MWBro. Tucker's action to depose WBro. Chris Carney as Master. The Committee is instructed to generate a complete and unbiased accurate record and as such has authority to contact any brother it may feel necessary to generate such a record. No brother is required to cooperate with the committee's requests and there shall be no repercussions for not doing so. The committee will report its findings, and at its sole discretion, recommendations, at the July stated Communication. In the event the committee requires more time, the committee will present in August. This committee shall consist of the following brothers: WBro. Helmuth Svoboda (chair) hpsworks@hotmail.com, WBro. Skip Albertson albertsonfamily1@msn.com, and Bro. Brian Downie Downie5027@aol.com. Brother Mitchell asked if any brother had an objection to any of these brothers serving on this committee. No objections were presented. TREASURER’S REPORT The Treasurer reported that our financial portfolio has increased 12+% since March. EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF MAY The bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (WBros. Jeff Lane, Ken Lane, Sr., and Darrel Womack), were submitted to the Lodge for approval. After the acting chairman, WBro. Ken Lane, 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 brethren, the bills were approved for payment. COMMUNICATIONS Trestleboards and letters of communication were distributed. Concerning each, the Secretary reported the following: We have received thank you cards and acknowledgements for our contributions to the Cascade Symphony Orchestra, the Rainbow Girls of Bethel No. 18 (West Seattle), the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras, and the Blue Nile Children’s Organization. Complimentary tickets to the Cascade Symphony May 4 concert were provided to our Worshipful Master. Requests were received from the Job’s Daughters to sponsor ads in their Grand Bethel program and the Miss Washington Job’s Daughters Pageant. The University District Teen Feed has issued a list of personal supplies that are needed by our homeless teens, including hand sanitizer, toothpaste, lip balm, disposable razors and a host of other items. Public Health-Seattle & King County has reached out to alert us about health issues, including the local outbreak of K1N1 or “swine flu” in King County. The annual open air degree at the Masonic Park has been announced for Saturday, August 1. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Masons will be conferring the Master Mason degree. Masons will be recognized at a special Masonic Lodge Night at the Tacoma Rainiers, Sunday, August 16. LuzViMinda Lodge No. 317 is sponsoring a celebration of diversity at Granite Falls Masonic Park, August 21 – 23 and invites the brothers’ participation. A flyer has been received touting new Freemason sunglasses for $15 each. Newsletters and Trestleboards have been received from the HOPE Heart Institute, the Phinney Neighborhood Association, Eureka Lodge No. 72, University Lodge No. 141, Daylight Lodge No. 232, Lafayette Lodge No. 241, and Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281. Please take home the extra copies of the HOPE Heart newsletter for healthy reading. COMMITTEE REPORTS WBro. Jeff Lane reported that the Board of Trustees met May 13 to review our financial portfolio with representatives of Oppenheimer. Our assets have increased 4.5% since the first of the year but are still far below previous levels. Twelve brothers remain delinquent in this year’s dues. It was agreed to recommend to the lodge that we suspend our group subscriptions to the Masonic Monitor effective July 1, saving nearly $1,100 for the remainder of this year. It was also agreed to include in proposed bylaws of the lodge that the annual dues for the lodge beginning 2010 be $40 plus GL per capita assessment. Some change also needs to be made to permit current members who have reached 65 years of age to pay a lesser rate. It was agreed that vender agreements are in order to assure the lodge its intellectual property ownership and to reduce liability exposure. The Master reported that a team will be conferring the Entered Apprentice degree this coming Tuesday, May 26, at 6:30pm. Mr. Simon Letarte, who has been attending our dinners for several months, will be initiated. All brothers were encouraged to attend the conferral. Bro. Ryan Stoulil, chairman of the Teen Feed Committee, was not present. The Master announced that opportunities to purchase groceries, cook, and serve are available Tuesday, June 2, and Tuesday, July 7. Volunteers Bros. Brian Downie, Rick Heston, Ben Giddens and WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. will be available for June 2nd. The Teen Feed program provides hot dinners to homeless teens in the University District of Seattle. Various churches offer their kitchens and dining facilities. MEMORIAL SCROLL Memorial scrolls were read for Bro. Albert Issac Halela and WBro. James Martin Dawson, followed by remembrances from brothers of the lodge and a memorial service led by Bro. Brian Downie.
It was also announced that a service will be held Sunday, May 24, to honor the memory of Barbara R. Mecartea, beloved wife of our Past Grand Master and brother MWBro. Richard Mecartea. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Scholarships Bro. Brian Downie reported that the Scholarship Committee has met with students from Ballard and West Seattle. Bro. Downie, WBro. Lane, and Bro. Aren Hakobyan interviewed and selected four new students, who will join several other repeat recipients of our scholarships. It was m/s/p to commit and provide $20,000 to student scholarships. NEW BUSINESS Masonic Monitor Subscription The Board of Trustees, looking for ways to reduce our expenses, recommends to the lodge that we suspend our group subscription to the Masonic Monitor effective July 1. Members of the lodge who wish to continue receiving the Monitor would be offered an opportunity to do so on an individual basis with a notice in the next Trestleboard. We would also include this opportunity when we mail out the 2010 dues notices. The Secretary was instructed by the Trustees to contact the editor or publisher of the Monitor to give advance notice of this decision. He was informed by both the editor and publisher that without the group support of St. John's, the struggling regional Masonic newspaper would not be able to continue. Several brothers of the lodge expressed their concern about the loss of the Monitor. Others expressed thoughts that the Monitor could or should continue in an electronic format. It was m/s/FAILED to suspend our group subscription to the Masonic Monitor effective July 1. Masonic Supplies At the request of the Master, it was m/s/p to order additional ciphers and copies of the standard work, limited to $150. Printer Service Plan Extension The Secretary reported that he has had some difficulty with the lodge printer, which was failing to function because of a damaged printhead. After working with an HP technician, it was decided that the printer was damaging the printhead and an exchange for a new printer was agreed to. The (2nd) damaged printhead needed to be replaced at a cost of $73.14, but there would be no charge if an extended two-year service plan was agreed to at $71.15. As one printhead had already been purchased (and again damaged), it seemed reasonable to extend the warranty. It was m/s/p to authorize the extended two-year service plan for the lodge printer. Caterer to retire Our caterer for the past fifteen years has announced his intention to retire. The Master said that he has a chef available who can do the job, giving full disclosure that this person is also his future brother-in-law. He said he would like to present a certificate and other token of appreciation to caterer Steve Hofer and serving “wench” Bobbie at our June or July dinner. It was m/s/p to authorize up to $200 to recognize the years of service by our catering staff. Proposed Bylaws Changes The Master instructed the Stewards to pass out copies of the proposed bylaws which will be acted upon at our June stated communication. The officers have reviewed and approved the proposed changes; and Trustees have reviewed and made recommendations on level of dues. Copies are available via email by contacting Bro. Nick Mitchell. ANNOUNCEMENTS The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest: · May 24 (1:30pm): Barbara Mecartea Memorial at Greenwood · May 26 (6:30pm): Entered Apprentice Degree · May 27 (7pm): District 5 LOMA meeting · June 11-13: Grand Lodge (Mirabeau Park Hotel, Spokane) · June 15: King Solomon Lodge No. 60 Annual Strawberry Feed · June 17 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated; Scholarship Night · July 13(7-9pm): Ritual instruction classes at Greenwood Masonic Center · July 15 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated; Herb’s Night – Ladies invited · August 8 (11am – 4pm): Rust Memorial Lodge picnic at Nile (Saturday) BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Bro. Ben Giddens and Bro. Nick Mitchell were honored with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate achieving one more year in their journey through life. GOOD OF THE ORDER WBro. Hans Wehl displayed one of the items from the company store, and encouraged brethren to purchase it for the reduced-to-clear price of $5. This tote bag will hold a can of pop or water bottle and can also be used to carry groceries home to help the “greening” of our city by eliminating the need for a paper or plastic bag. DEPUTY OF THE GRAND MASTER MESSAGE The Master turned the gavel over to the Deputy of the Grand Master for District No. 5. VWBro. Mike Cuadra encouraged the lodge brothers to maintain harmony for the betterment of a fine and stellar lodge in this jurisdiction. He hopes that we can accept the Grand Master’s effort to restore peace and harmony by removing WBro. Carney from the East. He encouraged us to move forward in a positive way. This lodge has become polarized and people have been deeply hurt by words spoken and action taken from all sides. He added that District 5 is doing well with an upsurge in Masonic interest. He encouraged the brethren to support the efforts of their Lodge Officers and Members Association (LOMA). WBro. Terry Grove, Past Master of St. John's, is serving as Treasurer this year. LOMA is making great efforts to cause Freemasonry to be active and visible in this community. 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 Entered Apprentice Masons, the flag was retired and the lodge closed in due and ancient form by the Deputy of the Grand Master at 9:15pm, peace and harmony prevailing. RWBro. Gale Kenney was invited to give the closing charge | ||||||||||||||
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