Home - Archive Index - 2012 Archives - March Stated Communication. March Stated Communication TABLE LODGE The Master opened the Lodge on the first degree at 5:45pm and immediately called it to refreshment. The evening began with thirty-six members and seventeen guests assembled for dinner to enjoy an evening of instruction. Following the invocation by the (acting) Chaplain (WBro. Jim Lumsden), the Master called for the Senior and Junior Wardens to invite our brethren on the columns of the North and South to assist in opening a Lodge of Table Instruction. The Marshal led the brethren in pledging allegiance to the flag and the Chaplain opened with prayer.
CHARGE TO THE BRETHREN The Master then charged the brethren: Brethren, in this solemn hour I charge each of you to rededicate yourselves as a Freemason to the noble and glorious purpose of bringing Light to dispel darkness...to the precepts set forth in the Great Light of Masonry, the rule and guide of our faith. I charge you to keep your apron an emblem of innocence, unspotted by the world...to practice that most excellent gift of charity... to make constant and proper use of the Square of Virtue, the Level of Equality, and the Plumb of Rectitude. 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. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS The Master welcomed all brothers to this evening’s Table Lodge of Instruction and called upon our visitors to stand and introduce themselves. St. John’s lapel pins were presented to each and all were accorded a hearty welcome. THE CEREMONY OF THE TOASTS Before, during and following dinner, several toasts were proposed and acknowledged. They included toasts
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS COMMUNICATION Following the fourth toast, the Master called upon the Secretary to read the Minutes of the previous meeting. The Lodge opened on the first degree at 7:32pm, twenty-seven members and eight visitors in attendance. The Deputy of the Grand Master was received. The minutes were read in short form and accepted as posted. The Treasurer reported that our portfolio decreased in value in 2011. January and February expenses were approved. Communications were read; committee reports were received. It was agreed to give $800 to the Grand Lodge Masonic Home Endowment Fund and place 8 leaves on the Tree of Life. The Lodge instructed its trustee to the Masonic Service Bureau to cast a “no” vote on any proposal to provide funds to the Royal Arch Park. A resolution was read for action at a subsequent meeting to amend our standing procedures. It was agreed to grant funds to Richmond Temple for foundation repair and that this money shall be returned to St. John’s if the building is sold before December 31, 2022; that Bro. Simon Letarte be reimbursed $51.96 for refreshments; and that Bro. David Flood be reimbursed $330 for registration to the 2012 Wardens Conference. Announcements were made. The Deputy of the Grand Master extended remarks. The Lodge was closed at 9:56pm by the Deputy of the Grand Master and a team of Past District Deputies, peace and harmony prevailing. The Secretary presented the expenses that will be acted upon when the Lodge is called back from refreshment to labor following the close of the Table Lodge. COMMUNICATIONS Trestleboards and letters of communication were distributed. Concerning each, the Secretary reported the following: The Grand Lodge reminds all Lodges that own real estate that they are required to transfer the property to a Fraternal Building Society as a separate corporate entity from the Lodge. St. John’s does not own real estate. The Grand Master has appointed RWBro. Bruce E. Vesper to Senior Grand Warden pro tem for the remainder of the current Masonic year. The Grand Lodge again solicits contributions for ad space in a Yearbook that will be available for purchase ($15). Rates for the space range from $75 (inside ½ page) to $300 (inside back cover). An invitation for dinner has been received from the Grand Assembly of Rainbow Girls for May 19 at the Pasco Red Lion. Tickets are $25. We have received newsletters and Trestleboards from the HOPE Heart Institute, Heirloom Bible Publishers, Hawaiian Lodge of Hawaii, Eureka Lodge No. 20, Garfield Lodge No. 41, University Lodge No. 141, Daylight Lodge No. 232, Lafayette Lodge No. 241, and Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281. Please take home an extra copy of the HOPE Heart newsletter for healthy reading. COMMITTEE REPORTS Following the fifth toast, the Master asked for reports from several of his committee chairs: VWBro. Charles Tupper reported that the District 5 Association is collecting information on brothers throughout the district who agree to be available to assist in degree work. This information will be distributed to the Lodge secretaries as a resource. He announced that WBro. Tom Eastman of Eureka Lodge No. 20 will be our next Deputy of the Grand Master for District No. 5 effective at the close of the Annual Communication of Grand Lodge in June. The Association will join St. John’s in holding a district-wide picnic at the Nile on the second Sunday of August. WBro. Terry Grove will be making arrangements for a district outing to attend an Everett AquaSox baseball game this summer. There will be a visit to Tacoma to visit an auto show on tour in September. The next meeting of the Association will be the last Wednesday of April at Spiro’s Pizza. Bro. Simon Letarte reported that there will be a Fellowcraft Degree this coming Saturday at 10am, followed by lunch at RAZZis Pizza in Greenwood. He encouraged all to attend. Bro. Eric Koteles announced that there will be an Entered Apprentice Degree Monday, April 2, at 7pm. He is in the process of calling on brothers to participate on the team.
WBro. Hans Wehl brought to everyone’s attention the new St. John's Lodge banner on temporary display in the dining room. It will be hung in the Lodge room during our stated and special communications. It is appliqued and embroidered on both sides so that it can be properly seen in all possible venues, including any parades, etc. The banner was produced by a lady in Bellevue who also has been producing the American flags used on the Presidential limousines. WBro. Wehl also showed the new scarfs that have been produced which display the Lodge logo and are available in the company store. VWBro. Ashley Brinkley reported that the social outing at Portfolio Restaurant was well received and a repeat outing may be coming later this spring. Twenty-three members and their ladies enjoyed the dinner and fellowship. Bro. David Flood encouraged the brethren to attend the FABulous Family Brunch that will again be held at Ivar’s Salmon House “by popular demand.” We will be assembling at 8:30am, an hour before the doors are opened to the public, on Sunday, May 6. Bro. Eric Koteles reported that the 152nd Anniversary Dinner will be Saturday, September 8, at FareStart Restaurant in downtown Seattle (7th & Virginia). FareStart is a non-profit that for twenty years has trained homeless people to be chefs, baristas, and waitpersons and enjoys an 80% success rate. Many of the restaurants in Seattle send their top chefs to volunteer to assist in this training. An additional toast was made by our visitors saluting “our gracious hosts,” St. John's Lodge. Following the sixth scheduled toast, Bro. Mac MacDonald of Eureka Lodge presented an inspiring motivational message. The Master introduced Bro. MacDonald: Mac graduated with a degree in psychology and organizational development from the University of Las Vegas. After three years as teamster and then superintendent of teamsters on the Alaska pipeline, Mac was awarded a NATO scholarship to study international relations at Oxford. After stints as a flight training scheduling coordinator for the Boeing commercial aircraft company, and director of personnel development for a large Seattle-based corporation, Mac formed his own firm, the LYFE. That's L. Y. F. E., which stands for lighting your own fuse enhancement company. He now tours the United States, Mexico, and Canada delivering self-help programs and teaching people how to light, or re-light, their own fuse. When I told you he brings a wealth of experience to his talks I wasn’t exaggerating. In his earlier years Mac was also an actor and appeared in movies such as "Apocalypse Now", "American Graffiti", several episodes of "Murder She Wrote", many television commercials and in, as he says, many forgettable films where he performed "forget-ably". He is a board member of the World Affairs Council, a Scottish Rite Mason, and a counselor for domestic violence abusers and their survivors. TYLER’S TOAST Following Bro. MacDonald’s motivating speech, the Tyler proposed the final toast.
Are your
glasses charged in the West and South, the Worshipful Master cries; (The Final Toast [a portion] - Peter Richards - 1852) Closing the Table Lodge in proper form, the Master then invited the brethren to assemble upstairs to take action on a few matters and close our Lodge of Entered Apprentices. CALL FROM REFRESHMENT TO LABOR The Master called the Lodge from refreshment to labor and resumed business on the first degree.
EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH The following bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (VWBro. Charles Brockway, WBro. Bill Collison, WBro. Terry Grove) were submitted to the Lodge for approval. After the acting chairman, VWBro. Brockway, 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 BALLOTING ON PETITIONS A favorable ballot was spread on Mr. Seann Pierre Maria for the degrees. The petitioner had received unanimous favorable recommendations by his investigating committee. The Master will appoint a mentor to Mr. Maria, who will be initiated April 2nd. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Amendment to Standing Resolution The Secretary read the following resolution which had been recommended by the Board of Trustees and introduced at the February stated communication: Whereas it is incumbent upon the brethren of St. John’s to approve or disapprove the payment of expenses that come before the Lodge, and Whereas there are certain customary expenses including salaries and utilities and other obligations routinely contracted on behalf of this Lodge, and Whereas there are those rare occasions when severe weather forces the cancellation of a stated meeting, Therefore be it resolved to add new paragraph 8 to the Financial Control Procedures[i] of St. John’s to wit: 8. The elected officers shall be allowed to pay all necessary and customary bills during any month when there is no stated communication. The resolution was m/s/p (23-0). Requested Dimit from Membership Accepted The Master announced that he has accepted and signed a request by Bro. Randolph J. Pepple to dimit from the Fraternity. Bro. Pepple is the son of our late Past Master WBro. Gary Pepple (Ionic), and has not attended Lodge since the merger of Ionic No. 90 and St. John’s, September 1, 1993. 152nd Anniversary Dinner Bro. Eric Koteles m/s/p that our 152nd Anniversary Dinner be held at FareStart Restaurant. There should be plenty of parking available at the 7th & Virginia location, near the County Courthouse. NEW BUSINESS Taproot Theatre WBro. Bill Collison reminded the brethren of the efforts of Taproot Theatre to promote understanding and discourage bullying in our public schools. Taproot Theatre performs plays at our elementary schools with “moral messages” to discourage bullying at school and afterhours on the internet and by twitter. He m/s/p that St. John’s send the budgeted funds to Taproot Theatre in support of their non-bullying message. The Taproot Theatre is an identified line-item in our charity budget. Lion’s Foundation WBro. Collison further requested that the brothers consider the Lion’s Foundation in our giving. The Lion’s Foundation supports hearing assistance and collects used eyeglasses to distribute to those who cannot afford this care. He m/s/p that St. John’s send the budgeted funds to the Lion’s Foundation for eye and hearing relief (20-1). Our 2012 budget includes $1,000 for “eye & hearing” charity. Policy Change for Guaranteed Minimum Costs It was brought to the attention of the Trustees and Lodge officers that Hawaiian Lodge has a policy when requesting reservations for an event that their members are asked to submit a check which will be returned when they attend. For example, they announced that a charge of $60 per person must accompany a reservation for a recent Sweetheart Ball. “All Hawaiian Lodge widows are invited. Widows need not send a check, but reservations are required. Checks will be returned at the door.” The practice is, those who make reservations and do not show up will have their checks deposited. This assures that those who make reservations do so with serious intent to participate. It also means that the Lodge is not paying the venue-provider for guaranteed “no-shows.” The officers agreed that this idea seemed an intriguing one and brought it before the Lodge for discussion. A motion to this effect was proposed, with WBro. Mark Campbell substituting a motion and it was m/s/p to bill those who fail to cancel a reservation without adequate notice (23-0). It was clarified that this should apply to those events where we must absorb the cost of “no-shows.” Because of the nature of the Ivar’s brunch, we are only billed for those who attend, whether that number is slightly below our estimated attendees or not. Out-of-Pocket Expenses The Secretary m/s/p that VWBro. Charles Tupper be re-imbursed $120 for his expenses for the admission of 15 to the Seattle Art Museum. The Secretary also m/s/p that Bro. Simon Letarte be re-imbursed $11.99 (degree practice refreshments) and $71.42 (this evening’s dessert) for his expenses. ANNOUNCEMENTS The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:
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March 24 (10am): Fellowcraft degree
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March 26 (7-9pm): Ritual instruction classes at Greenwood
Masonic Center
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March 29 (7pm): Officers meeting
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April 2 (7pm): EA degree
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April 7: Long Range planning - time TBA
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April 14 (9am): College of Knowledge (topic Mormon
Freemasonry)
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April 18 (6:15pm) 7:30pm: St. John’s 9 (dinner) Stated - Youth
Groups Night
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April 25 (7:30): Quarterly meeting of Masonic Service Bureau
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May 6 (8:30am-10am): FABulous Family Brunch – Ivar’s Salmon
House
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May 9 (6pm): Board of Trustees
VWBro. Charles Tupper reminded the brethren that Greenwood Temple Association will be holding a movie night for the entire family this Saturday. GOOD OF THE ORDER VWBro. Charles Brockway informed the brethren that WBro. Mark Campbell was recently inducted into the Legion of Honor, the highest honor bestowed on an adult by the International Supreme Council, Order of DeMolay. VWBro. Brockway was elected Dean of the Southern Court of Legionnaires. WBro. Al Gustafson invited the brothers to share in Lafayette Lodge’s monthly social evening. WBro. John Hannaman announced that Lakeside Lodge No. 258 will be conferring an Entered Apprentice degree Monday, March 26. They also will be having Bro. Jeff Craig speak on “Morals and Ethics” at their April 9 stated communication. Bro. Paul Bernal announced that he will be accompanying students of Crestwood Elementary to the Junior Achievement weekend BizTown that our Lodge graciously contributed to last fall. 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 Lodge was closed in due and ancient form by the Senior Warden Bro. David Flood at 9:55pm, peace and harmony prevailing. | ||||||||||||||
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