Following dinner Ms Heidi Fray of Rite Care Center of the Scottish Rite spoke to the assembled brothers and guests.  The Seattle Rite Care Center will be celebrating 25 years of service to the community at Salty’s on Alki, Thursday, October 1.

RiteCare of Washington provides diagnostic and therapeutic services to children, aged two through seven, whose primary disorder is a severe delay in language or speech development. They also offer a program for their parents.

For more than 30 years nationally and 25 years in Washington State, Scottish Rite Masons have made a strong commitment to families of children with speech and/or language disorders.  Scottish Rite Masons raise funds to support the Seattle and Spokane Clinics and sponsorship programs across the state.  These efforts, combined with donations, grants and special events make it possible to provide services at no charge to families.

Following her address to the Lodge, Master Nick Mitchell presented a check made payable to Rite Care to Ms Fray. 

MEETING

The Lodge opened on the second degree at 7:30pm, twenty-seven members and eleven visitors in attendance. 

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 standing invitation to tile the outer door and join his brethren at the inner door, 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 were four visiting brothers, Bro. Carl Tokarek (Lakeside Lodge No. 42, Sandpoint, ID), WBro. Jim Lumsden (Greenwood Lodge No. 253), Bro. Steve Lowe (Greenwood Lodge No. 253), and WBro. John Bolding (Greenwood Lodge No. 253).

The Master introduced VWBro. Mike Davis (Queen Anne Lodge No. 242), and WBro. Todd Smith (Greenwood Lodge No. 253), Masters of their respective lodges.  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 (photography chair), WBro. Charles Tupper (technology), WBro. Hans Wehl (public schools outreach), VWBro. Charles Brockway (membership development), WBro. Larry Blake (credentials), VWBro. Mike Davis (Chmn. CHIP Foundation), VWBro. Marv Pearson (Deputy of the Grand Master District No. 4), VWBro.  Michael Cuadra (Deputy of the Grand Master District No. 5), VWBro. Jim Russell (Junior Grand Steward), VWBro. Coe Tug Morgan (Grand Historian), MWBro. Al Jorgensen (jurisprudence), RWBro. David Owen (Grand Secretary), and RWBro. G. Santy Lascano, (Deputy Grand Master), all of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington.  They were accorded the public Grand Honors.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION

The minutes of the previous communication were read in short form and were available in full as posted at the Tyler’s door. 

CATERER EXPENSE APPROVED

As the caterer was waiting at the outer door to receive his payment for the evening’s meal, the Master entertained a motion to approve this expense.  Thirty-five were served in buffet style .  It was m/s/p to pay Matt Parham for the evening’s dinner.  The brethren agreed the dinner was of fine quality and were asked to remember this experience as they vote in December for a permanent caterer.

TREASURER’S REPORT

The Treasurer reported that our financial status remains “solvent.”  

EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­SEPTEMBER

The following bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (VWBro. David Campbell, WBro. Hans Wehl, and WBro. Darrel Womack), were submitted to the Lodge for approval.  After the acting chairman, WBro. Darrel Womack, 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 a nice note of appreciation from the widow of Bro. Donald Johnson for the flowers we sent to his memorial service.

The Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Washington has issued a clarification of last month’s letter regarding official correspondence with foreign jurisdictions:

What is official correspondence?  Simply put, any information dealing with the Masonic Record of a Mason or the invitation of a Grand Master to attend a function in a Constituent Washington State Masonic Lodge.

Also, solicitation by a Mason of this Jurisdiction (and/or other Jurisdictions) to promote his business is a violation of Masonic Protocol.  If you would like to offer your business to another Grand Lodge, or to its Lodges, you would need to first go through the Grand Lodge of Washington.  The Grand Secretary can prepare the necessary correspondence to the other Grand Lodge first as an introduction.

Another point of clarification when referring to Masonic Entities, it means all Blue Lodges and Grand Lodges of Foreign Jurisdictions.  This does not include the Appendant or Concordant Organizations.

 We have received notice that the Grievances & Appeals hearing for Chris Carney will be held at 9am October 12 at the Grand Lodge offices in Tacoma.

Teen Feed sponsors, University Street Ministries, will be holding an annual celebration at University Heights Center, Sunday afternoon, September 27.  The Blue Nile Children’s Organization will be holding a fundraising banquet at St. Mark’s Cathedral, October 3.

The Pirates of Treasure Island, supporters of The Forgotten Children’s Fund, will be holding a charity auction in Edmonds on Saturday, October 24.

We have received newsletters and Trestleboards from the HOPE Heart Institute, the Phinney Neighborhood Association, Eureka Lodge No. 20, University Lodge No. 141, and Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No.  281.  Please take home one of the extra copies of the HOPE Heart newsletter for healthy reading.

Lastly, a letter was read from Grand Master MWBro. Gale Kenney addressed to a member of the Lodge, informing that member of his definite suspension beginning September 16, 2009 and concluding January 21, 2010.  This action was in response to the Brother's. continued involvement in Mr. Chris Carney’s appeal to the Grand Lodge Grievance & Appeal committee after the Grand Master directed all third parties to discontinue such participation.   

WBro. Ken Lane, Sr. rose, expressed his outrage that brothers of the Lodge are being treated in this manner, and declared that he would no longer sit in this Lodge.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Bro. Mitchell reported that the 149^th anniversary dinner held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel went well, although the attendance was about 1/3 our usual turn-out.  The musical group Jason Parker Trio featuring Josh Rawlings was outstanding, with an  extensive repertoire, reflected in lyrical arrangements of the time-honored standards of Porter, Gershwin, Davis, Charlie Parker, Monk, Ellington and more.  To his surprise and a well-kept secret, WBro. Ian Webb received a 25-year pin for his service in the fraternity.  VWBro. Jim Russell acknowledged the great job Bro. Mitchell did in putting an outstanding venue together with short notice due to unusual circumstances.

The Master asked our two Fellowcrafts present (Bros. Ben Giddens and Simon Letarte) how they were coming in their proficiencies toward the Master Mason degree.  WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. suggested that they would be fully prepared for the  degree and volunteered to coach Bro. Giddens in the temporary absence of Bro. Downie. 

The Master announced the appointments of members of the 150^th anniversary committee:  Bro. Nick Mitchell, Bro. Matt LaCroix, Bro. David Long, VWBro. David Campbell, Bro. Iain Cameron, and WBro. Jack Berg.

BIRTHDAY GREETINGS

Bro. Harry Arthur (9/10/30) and WBro. Vinny DiGiulio (9/22/49) were honored with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate achieving one more year in their journey through life.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

149^th Anniversary Dinner

The Master had arranged for free valet parking for all guests at our 149^th anniversary dinner.  Through some confusion, the process for free validation was established late and VWBro. David Campbell was charged for his parking.  It was m/s/p to pay VWBro. Campbell for his parking expense

NEW BUSINESS

Night Trolley Tour

In August, nineteen from St. John's enjoyed a tour of the Museum of Flight arranged by VWBro. Ashley Brinkley.  This month we will be hopping aboard an historic Metro “trackless trolley” for a special tour of the varied nightlife in Pioneer Square, Broadway, lower Queen Anne, and the University District.  Stops for photos and coffee will be made along the way.  The Night Trolley Tour will depart from 2^nd Ave. So. and So. Main Street (across the street from the Seattle Fire Department headquarters) at 7pm, Saturday, September 26.  This three-hour trip costs $5.  Three brothers indicated their interest.  Others should contact VWBro. Brinkley.  Next month VWBro. Brinkley has scheduled a Fall Foliage Tour on Sunday, October 25.   This will be a scenic 4-hour trip through the Cascade foothills along the quiet back roads of east King County as the autumn leaves are turning color.  Tour stops will be made for photos and lunch.

BALLOTING ON PETITIONS

A favorable ballot was spread on Mr. Kalman Eric Koteles for the degrees.  The petitioner had received unanimous favorable recommendations by his investigating committee.  The Secretary will notify Mr. Koteles and arrangements will be made for the Entered Apprentice degree.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:

GOOD OF THE ORDER

WBro. Todd Smith invited everyone to participate in the Greenwood Fellowship nights.  Poker, ping-pong, and general fellowship highlight these evenings following steak and baked potatoes.  Greenwood’s next stated communication will be October 7; the next fellowship evening will be October 19.

VWBro. Carl Alexander has Macy’s discount cards to benefit Scottish Rite’s Rite Care program.  See him following the meeting.

Master Nick Mitchell announced that a reporter from “The Stranger” will be meeting with him to prepare a story on the Masons.  This will be tied in to Dan Brown’s newest book “The Lost Symbol,” which was issued yesterday.  It was recommended that Bro. Mitchell present the reporter with a set of our Lodge history books.

WBro. Serco Tokatlian expressed his disappointment that a senior member of our Lodge was allowed to exit the Lodge room in frustration and anger with no words of encouragement or support from his brethren.

VWBro. Marvin Pearson encouraged the brothers to attend an evening at Occidental Lodge No. 72 tomorrow, where VWBro. Brian Hardy will receive his Past District Deputy’s purple apron.  WBro. Vinny DiGiulio invited the brothers to a Royal Arch Mason evening at King Solomon’s Masonic Center, Tuesday, October 26.

VWBro. Mike Davis invited the brethren to Queen Anne Lodge No. 242 Installation of Officers on Thursday, October 22.  The brothers of Queen Anne are encouraged that for the first time in six years none of their officers to be installed are “re-cycling” through the chairs.  

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 Fellowcraft Masons, the flag was retired and the lodge closed in due and ancient form by the Master at 8:44pm, peace and harmony prevailing.