Home - Archive Index - 2010 Archives - January Stated Communication January Stated Communication Edited Secretary's minutes, Photographs by WB Darrel Womack
On the evening of January 20th the Brethren of St. John's Lodge No. 9 met for dinner and the monthly Stated Communication. The meal this month was very nicely served by the young ladies of Richmond Highlands Rainbow Assembly.
PROGRAM OF EDUCATION Following dinner and prior to opening of Lodge, Dr. Fred Minifie spoke to the assembled brothers and guests on behalf of the University Lions Club. The Lions support sight and hearing programs for those with deficient vision and ability to hear. This year, the Lions in Washington will provide free screening for an estimated 30,000 patients, the vast majority of whom will be children.
Fred Minifie, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Speech and Hearing Sciences, has been one of the major architects of this University of Washington department. Coming to the department in 1971, he served the UW for 29 years, including eleven years as Department Chair. Since his retirement in 1998, he continues to serve on the Advisory Board and represents Speech and Hearing with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation. He is the co-author (with Hixon and Williams) of the seminal textbook, “Normal Aspects of Speech, Hearing, and Language.”
As President of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in 1983, Dr. Minifie directed this enormous organization through one of its most formative periods. He continues to serve as an advisor to the Association on matters of scientific integrity. Dr. Minifie is past president of University Lions Club and University Lions Foundation, and has continued as an advocate for the hearing, sight, and speech impaired. He helps raise funds for retrofitting used hearing aids and obtaining new glasses for low income children and adults. He has traveled, at his own expense, with graduate students to third world countries to help set up screening and treatment programs with local governments. The Master presented Dr. Minifie a check for $1,000 to support the Lions Foundation program.
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. PROFICIENCY EXAMINATIONS The Worshipful Master called upon Bros. Carl Tokarek and Simon Letarte to demonstrate their proficiencies on the Master Mason degree. Bro. Tokarek was examined by his coach Bro. George Rine; Bro. Letarte was examined by his coach WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. The brethren of the Lodge expressed their full acceptance of each brother’s work. Both Bro. Tokarek and Bro. Letarte had demonstrated their proficiency before committee, but desired to do so before the brothers of the Lodge. For proficiency, one must be able to demonstrate knowledge of the obligation, signs, words, and grips and all modes of recognition of each Degree. CALL DOWN TO ENTERED APPRENTICE DEGREE The Master declared that labor be suspended on the third degree and opened a Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons for the purpose of conducting business on that degree. Entered Apprentices Bros. Eric Koteles and John Louderback were admitted and joined their brethren. INTRODUCTIONS The Master introduced two brothers who have contributed to the success of our Lodge: Bro. Nick Mitchell and WBro. Ken Lane, Jr. They were welcomed by the brethren. 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 seven visiting brothers, Bros. David Sheldon (Occidental Lodge No. 72), John Sutton, (Robert Burns Lodge No. 243), WBro. Dennis “DJ” Synnott, (Lakeside Lodge No. 258), WBro. Larry Bronner (Alki Lodge No. 152), WBro. Merle Claflin (Lafayette Lodge No. 241), WBro. Jim Lumsden (Greenwood Lodge No. 253), and WBro. Doug Searles (Doric Lodge No. 92). Also present were Chaplain Bro. Alex LaBarba (Doric Lodge No. 92), and Musician Bro. Adam Creighton (Greenwood Lodge No. 253). The Junior Warden introduced his counterpart, WBro. Al Gustafson (Lafayette Lodge No. 241). All guests were accorded a warm St. John's welcome.
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. Charles Tupper (technology), WBros. Tom Dahl and Hans Wehl (public schools outreach), WBro. Darrel Womack (photography chair), VWBro. Jim Maher (finance, MRC Trustee, long range planning), WBro. Larry Blake (credentials), VWBro. Michael Davis (CHIP Trustees, president), WBro. Terry Grove (CHIP chair, charity), VWBro. Steve Pennington (public relations chair), VWBro. Don Campbell (Assistant Grand Secretary), VWBro. Jim Russell (Junior Grand Steward), MWBro. Richard Mecartea (PGM), MWBro. Satoru Tashiro (CHIP Foundation, jurisprudence), MWBro. Charles McQuery (jurisprudence), and MWBro. Al Jorgensen (Masonic Retirement Center Trustee, jurisprudence), all of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington. They were accorded the public Grand Honors. MWBros. McQuery and Tashiro were invited to remain in the East. GRAND MASTER RECEIVED
The Master then instructed the Senior Deacon to seek out the Grand Master. MWBro. Gale Kenney, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington, was escorted to the Altar where he was received by the Master and escorted to the East. He was accorded the public Grand Honors, offered the gavel which he declined, and invited to remain in the East. 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. The Secretary also read the short-form minutes of a Special Communication, December 22, 2009: TREASURER’S REPORT The Treasurer reported that our portfolio increased last month by 2.84%. An independent accountant’s report received this month indicates that our Quick Books balances and bank statements are near agreement and that our Quick Book balances do agree with our Oppenheiemer investment statements. This independent review was at the request of our Board of Trustees following the change in Lodge treasurer. COMMUNICATIONS Trestleboards and letters of communication were distributed. Concerning each, the Secretary reported the following: The Grand Lodge of Washington has announced the dates of March 12 – 14 for the annual Wardens Conference to be held in Yakima. Registration of $300 each needs to be received by February 12. The Masonic Service Bureau will be holding its annual meeting and election of officers, Friday evening, January 29, at the Greenwood Masonic Center. The Daylight Masons invite everyone to a special dinner honoring the principal players of the Seattle Youth Symphony, Sunday, January 24, at 5:30pm. The dinner will be at the University Masonic Hall. Tickets are $25 each. The SYSO with the Children’s Theatre saluted American Music with a gala evening last Friday. We have received acknowledgment from the City of Hope for our recent contribution. The Blue Nile Children’s organization asks for our support for the Richard Oslund Memorial Clinic in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Bro. Tad Dodge has requested a dimit, stating that he is disappointed that his brethren have not joined in his enthusiasm for faith-healing guru Dr. Philip Savage. WBro. Daryl Anguish is on the mend, having been ill for the past six weeks, and hopes to be with us at our February communication. VWBro. Charles Brockway sends best wishes from Australia. He reports that the Christmas Operation Kid Smile was a great success. Members of St. John's added $1,408 to the Lodge’s $1,500 for gifts, clothing and food for families of the Triple Nickel at Fort Lewis. We have received the balance of funds ($1,057.65) from Bro. Matt LaCroix for the media kits he produced with Ms. Liz Lamb-Ferro. Newsletters and Trestleboards have been received from the Phinney Neighborhood Association, The HOPE Heart Institute, the City of Hope, Eureka Lodge No. 20, University Lodge No. 141 and Lafayette Lodge No. 241. Please take home one of the extra copies of the HOPE Heart newsletter for healthy reading. COMMITTEE REPORTS WBro. Joseph Lund reported that Trustees of the Masonic Service Bureau are working diligently at defining charity guidelines and future direction of the Bureau. Its financial portfolio ($300,000) is good. Times have changed, and where once the Bureau had a staff of 2-3, it now has a staff of one. The Bureau once had medical equipment, and now has none, with few requests (which can be satisfied by purchases or rentals). In the past, expenditures were as much as $37,000 annually, with $6-8,000 for charity. This past year, the annual budget was $15,000, with $8,000 issued for charity. WBro. Lund, will again serve this Lodge as our Trustee to the Bureau, where he also serves as its president. The Master announced that he has issued the Master’s charity fund for the month of January. This will assist a single mother with three children and was recommended to the Master by WBro. Mark Campbell. EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY The following bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (VWBro. David Campbell, WBro. Hans Wehl, and WBro. Daryl Womack), were submitted to the Lodge for approval. After the acting chairman, WBro. 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. MASONIC EDUCATION
As the Grand Master has designated the month of January “Shrine Month,” the Master invited newly installed Potentate of the Nile Shrine, MWBro. Sat Tashiro, to enlighten the brethren on this appendant body. MWBro. Tashiro thanked the members of St. John's who had attended his public installation earlier this month, and expressed gratitude to the Master for this opportunity to present a couple of representatives to speak.
WBro. Larry Bronner, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nile and a Past Master of Alki Lodge No. 152, said that the first Shrine was established in 1872; today there are 400,000 Shriners, primarily in North America. In the 1900s infantile paralysis (polio) was a major health problem for children, and the first Shrine hospital was established in 1922. Today, there are 22 hospitals, with a cost of 2 million dollars a day to operate. WBro. Dennis “DJ” Synnott said that he has been a proud member of the Shrine for the past twelve years. He was brought to tears during his march in one of the parades when a woman approached him and expressed how grateful she was for the Shrine hospital that saved her life as a child. All encouraged the brothers to investigate joining the Shrine: “Playground with a Purpose.” BIRTHDAY GREETINGS VWBro. Jim Russell , WBro. Darrel Womack, and WBro. Doug Searles were honored with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate achieving one more year in their journey through life. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 150th Anniversary The Master called upon Bro. George Rine to present the resolution introduced at the previous stated communication: Whereas St. John's Lodge No. 9 was chartered September 4, 1860 and will celebrate 150 years of Masonry in Seattle, and Whereas it is the desire of the members of St. John's Lodge No. 9 that we celebrate this special anniversary in a style befitting our historic place in the Greater Seattle community. Therefore be it resolved that funds not to exceed $50,000 be authorized for our 150th anniversary celebration including appropriate advertising/news and media coverage. Plans for the celebration of our 150th anniversary include re-constitution of the Lodge by the Grand Lodge early afternoon of Saturday, September 11, followed by light refreshments. That evening, we will hold a dinner at the top of the Columbia Center for invited guests with featured entertainment. It was m/s/p that funds not to exceed $50,000 be authorized for our 150th anniversary celebration. NEW BUSINESS Dimit Request Granted The Secretary reported that Bro. Theodore “Tad” Dodge has requested a dimit from St. John's Lodge. Determining that Bro. Dodge was currently in good standing, the Master granted the dimit. Bailey Gatzert Accelerated Reader WBro. Joseph Lund proposed that the Lodge add a third school to its Accelerated Reader charities. Bailey Gatzert Elementary School is a K-5 school located at 1301 E. Yesler. The new principal is supportive of the Accelerated Reader system of childhood reading improvement. WBro. Lund recommends that we direct $6,000 of our $8,000 2010 A/R budget for Gatzert Elementary, leaving $2,000 to be shared by John Rogers and Sacajawea. WBro. Bill Collison questioned if the new school was yet prepared for taking on this program. In the early development of this program we asked each school’s Accelerated Reader Program coordinator to work up a budget proposal for that year’s program. The idea behind this was that sometimes two thousand dollars would work (they might just need some books and a few tests) where another school that was starting up might need $6,000. He added, for a new school, we should know (1) how many commitments have been made by teachers in implementing the program, (2) the number of students anticipated in the program the first year, (3) if the school principal is really behind the program, and (4) the proposed budget with an implementation plan. The budget should include hardware, software, training, and books. It would be helpful to know if the school coordinators have a “coordinators users support group” to help each other, particularly the new school. With this information we might be able to make an informed recommendation and appropriate money for training early this next year for implementation in the fall. WBro. Lund said that a couple of members of the staff have Accelerated Reader experience and are ready to roll. The school is short of money (as are all schools) and could well use the support. He visited the school and found that shelves in the library had more empty spaces than books. Schools we have assisted in the past had PTA support to supplement our assistance. This school has no operable PTA system. It was m/s/p to provide $6,000 to Bailey Gatzert Elementary for their Accelerated Reader Program. 2010 Wardens Conference Each year the Grand Lodge hosts a conference of Wardens (and Senior Deacons) to assist in educating those future leaders of our lodges. The fee for the conference is $300 per participant and $50 per spouse. Senior Deacon Bro. David Flood will be unable to break away from his business during tax season. Bro. Rine has committed to attending. It is not known if Junior Warden Bro. Joe Oates can attend. It was m/s/p to pay $600 for the registration of our two Wardens to attend the annual Wardens Conference in Yakima, March 12 – 14. ANNOUNCEMENTS The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:
The Master announced that the ladies will be encouraged to attend the evening of our next stated communication. The Grand Musician VWBro. David Julian will entertain, and while the brothers are in our meeting, Lady Nancy Jorgensen has arranged for the ladies to play “The Price is Right!” GOOD OF THE ORDER Grand Master MWBro. Gale Kenney rose to address the Lodge. He announced that members of the Grand Lodge team will be laying a cornerstone for the Seattle Valley of the Scottish Rite this coming Saturday. He congratulated the two brothers for their demonstration of proficiency. He thanked MWBro. Sat Tashiro and the representatives from the Shrine for the enlightening presentation on the Shrine. He announced that the Masonic Service Association has received a request for assistance from the Grand Lodge of Haiti following the horrible damages to life and property caused by the 7.2 earthquake, January 13. MWBro. Kenney then addressed the issue of the rejection of a good brother who petitioned the Lodge. He reminded the brethren that a petitioner should be considered on his own merits. Those in this room who have other issues and problems and who do not vote for the good of Masonry should take a serious look within themselves and perhaps make a decision to move on to something else. Masonry may not be the right place for them. He added that actions such as these make him “ashamed that this is my Lodge.” CLOSING OF AN ENTERED APPRENTICE LODGE The Master closed the Lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons and resumed labor on the Master Mason degree. 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 9:52pm, peace and harmony prevailing.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Website © 2002 - 2009 - St. John's Lodge No. 9 F&AM of Washington - All Rights Reserved |