Home - Archive Index - 2012 Archives - April Stated Communication. April Stated Communication
OPENING OF LODGE The Lodge opened on the first degree at 7:33pm, thirty-three members and eight visitors in attendance as per Tyler's Register. The above officers were in their stations and places, except that WBro. Jim Lumsden filled the place of the absent Chaplain and the place of the absent Senior Steward was left unfilled. PROGRAM OF EDUCATION Following dinner and prior to opening of Lodge, VWBro. Doug Haughton and Ms. Mary Craves-Holland spoke to the assembled brothers and guests about the Grand Lodge Outreach Services program. They are looking for “ambassadors,” or local representatives, for the program. Eleven Ladies of the brethren remained to complete a project to support the Outreach Services while the gentlemen moved to the tiled Lodge room for business. 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 three visiting brothers, Bros. Steve Hanson (Calif.), Chris Lorenzen (Greenwood 253), and WBro. Tom Eastman (Eureka 20). The Senior Warden introduced his counterparts, Bro. Andy Goeres (Queen Anne 242) and WBro. Al Gustafson (Lafayette 241). Also present was Musician Bro. Adam Creighton, Junior Warden of Greenwood Lodge No. 253. 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 extended a hand of friendship to each as he announced their names. In attendance were WBro. Vincent DiGiulio (CHIP), WBro. Terry Grove (CHIP chair), VWBro Jim Russell (Masonic Home Endowment chair), Bro. Adam Creighton (Music Research), VWBro. Jim Maher (Finance), VWBro. Darrel Womack (Photography chair), VWBro. Charles Tupper (DDGM 5), VWBro. Coe Tug Morgan (Asst. Grand Secretary emeritus), VWBro. Doug Haughton (Grand Marshal), MWBro. Wayne Smith (PGM, Code Commission chair), MWBro. Al Jorgensen (PGM), and MWBro. Gale Kenney (PGM, Jurisprudence), 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. TREASURER’S REPORT The Treasurer reported that our investment portfolio had a meager increase last month but has come back strongly the last few weeks. EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL The following bills, having been reviewed by three acting members of the finance committee (VWBro. David Campbell, VWBro. Darrel Womack, and WBro. Terry Grove), were submitted to the Lodge for approval. After the acting chairman, VWBro. 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. Itemized below are the expenses for the month of April: COMMUNICATIONS Trestleboards and letters of communication were distributed. Concerning each, the Secretary reported the following: We have received a thank you letter from Taproot Theatre for our recent contribution. We have been invited to be their guests for one of their elementary school road shows. Also, the Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound will be hosting a live radio drama and comedy on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 22-24 in Bellevue and have offered Rada Uphus Chapter Order of Eastern Star $5 for every ticket sold through the OES group for the Friday and Sunday shows and $10 for the Saturday show. Tickets for $25 are available through WBro. Vinny DiGiulio or any Rada Uphus member. The Masonic Service Bureau will be hosting a Funeral Training Workshop on May 19 from 10am to 1pm at Myrtle Lodge No. 108 in Issaquah. All Master Masons are invited to attend an “Ancient Order of Shipbuilders Master Shipbuilders Degree” followed by a Table Lodge at Edmonds Masonic Center, Saturday, June 23. The Grand Lodge has distributed announcements and registration forms for the 155th annual communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington which will be held at the Vancouver Hilton in Vancouver, WA. Included are nine resolutions to amend the Washington Masonic Code. We have received through our Grand Lodge an appeal from the Grand Lodge of Kentucky for assistance following injuries and loss of property caused by dozens of tornadoes in that region. Grand Master Michael Sanders has arrested the Charter of Mt. Adams Lodge No. 227 (Yakima) and has issued one indefinite suspension, five definite suspensions and one expulsion to several brothers in this jurisdiction as Masonic Discipline. We have been invited to participate in an August 12th picnic with other Lodges in District 5. Our Bro. Eric Koteles is the picnic chairman. The Nile Shrine has asked if we want to renew our golf bench marker for $150. This will be addressed under new business. We have been asked to consider a number of charities for our donations: The Millionair Club, the University of Washington Presidents Club, the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, and the Grand Master’s Youth Dinner and Auction (May 20). We have received newsletters and Trestleboards from the HOPE Heart Institute, Eureka Lodge No. 20, Garfield Lodge No. 41, University Lodge No. 141, Daylight Lodge No. 232, and Lafayette Lodge No. 241. Please take home an extra copy of the HOPE Heart newsletter for healthy reading. COMMITTEE REPORTS The Senior Warden announced that there will be a Master Masons degree on May 22nd, with a practice either May 14 or 19. The degree will open at 7pm. Bro. Ron Woodall reported that he is putting together some opportunities for social gatherings, with the first outing opportunity this coming Saturday to visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. He also hopes to combine this with wine tasting at a local winery. Bro. Woodall will again be a park ranger this summer at the North Cascades National Park and will organize an excursion or two for a weekday and/or weekend in July or August. Lastly, he will arrange an evening to take in the King Tut exhibit at the Pacific Science Center in the next few weeks. Bro. Hector Ramos, chair of the scholarship committee, reported that the deadline for scholarship applications was last week. He and his committee will be interviewing seventeen applicants beginning at 9am, Saturday, May 5, here at Greenwood. He invited anyone interested to sit in on the interviews. MEMORIAL SCROLLS Memorial scrolls were read for Bros. Allen McCulloch, Bruno Zittlau, Mordie Eskenazi, Al “AJ” Wold, Isaac Alhadeff, Ray Bailey, and Karl Ambler, followed by remembrances from several brothers of the Lodge and a memorial service by the Chaplain. Bro. Adam Creighton offered an appropriate dirge on the piano. BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Bros. David Holdsworth, Eric Koteles, Hector Ramos, Simon Letarte, Josh Skinner, Gale Kenney, and Carl Alexander were honored with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to celebrate achieving one more year in their journey through life. MASONIC EDUCATION WBro. Joe Oates and Bro. David Flood presented a report to the brethren charting progress achieved so far by the Long Range Planning Committee. They presented the plans in the format of the Grand Lodge Pillars of Progress. The bottom line is that we need a plan to sustain ourselves. A decade from now, there won’t be enough of us to maintain a viable Lodge without bringing in and retaining new brothers. UNFINISHED BUSINESS FABulous Family Appreciation Brunch Our annual family brunch will be held Sunday, May 6. A limit of 110 adults and children over five has been set. To date, 97 reservations have been made. It was m/s/p to authorize the Treasurer to write a check to Ivar’s Salmon House to pay the May 6 brunch bill upon receipt. NEW BUSINESS Nile Golf Bench Marker For many years we have “sponsored” a bench at the Nile Shrine golf course as a token of support for the maintenance of the course. The secretary m/s/p that we renew our bench marker at the Nile Shrine for $150. Centralia Express Dinner Train VWBro. Charles Tupper is arranging for a Lodge outing in July that will include a train ride and dinner. The excursion travels through the scenic upper Chehalis Valley, through pastoral farmland, including an additional three miles along the sylvan Chehalis River. A chartered bus will depart from Seattle to Centralia. There should be room for about 60 people. It was m/s/p to cut a check to Charles Tupper to secure a chartered bus and dinner train reservation for the July excursion. (32-1) Out-of-Pocket Expenses The Secretary m/s/p that Bro. Simon Letarte be reimbursed for refreshments following the meeting. Angelman Charity Walk VWBro. Charles Brockway requested that the Lodge consider contributing to the Angelman Foundation. His fourteen-year old grandson has Angelman syndrome and is severely disabled, non-verbal and still struggles to walk with assistance. The Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF) conducts an annual national walk to raise awareness and funds for this debilitating, life-long disorder. Over the last five years, more than nineteen thousand concerned individuals have attended the ASF National Walk in twenty-eight different cities across the US. Many thousands more have contributed significantly by volunteering their time, talent and support through generous contributions and sponsorships. Eighty-one percent of the funds received through the walk directly benefit the mission of the ASF which is to advance the awareness and treatment of Angelman syndrome through education and information, research, support and advocacy for individuals with Angelman syndrome, their families, and other concerned parties. On May 19, cities nationwide will host an ASF walk. The Board of Trustees of the Lodge has reviewed this request and recommends its adoption. VWBro. Brockway m/s/p that St. John’s contribute to the Angelman Foundation walk-a-thon in Puyallup. ANNOUNCEMENTS The brethren were reminded of the following dates of interest:
Bro. Simon Letarte announced that there will be a reception for the Grand Master sponsored by the Seattle Scottish Rite at 3pm on Sunday, April 29. Bro. David Flood encouraged all brothers to attend the May 22nd Master Mason degree, when perhaps as many as four St. John’s brothers will be raised. GOOD OF THE ORDER WBro. Hans Wehl announced that in addition to the toiletries, soaps, etc. that were brought by brothers of the Lodge for the baskets being prepared this evening for the transitional housing patients, a large number of items were donated by the City of Hope. He also announced that the company store will remain open during the refreshment period following the close of Lodge. The Secretary announced that Bro. Mac MacDonald, our speaker at last month’s Table Lodge, has contributed an autographed copy of his book “Lighting Your Own Fuse”, which will go into our library. WBro. Al Gustafson invited the brethren to join in a late afternoon gathering of the Lafayette Lodge brethren at the Columbia Tower, Thursday, April 26 at 6pm. Lafayette’s next stated meeting will feature a Cinco de Mayo theme. WBro. Terry Grove encouraged the brothers to attend firearms safety classes conducted by the Nile Shrine. He added that District 5 Association will be sponsoring an evening at the Everett AquaSox (vs. Tri-City Dust Devils) on Friday, July 13. MWBro. Gale Kenney encouraged Master Masons to attend an “Ancient Order of Shipbuilders Master Shipbuilders Degree” followed by a Table Lodge at Edmonds Masonic Center, Saturday, June 23. Bro. David Flood said that one of our charity organizations, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, will be offering an epic performance of Verdi's Requiem on May 20 at 3pm. VWBro. David Campbell, back from open-heart surgery, said that he appreciates all the sincere best wishes and assistance offered by the brethren. He now has a new and properly functioning heart valve. His remaining problem is bone-on-bone action in his knees which the doctors recommend should not be addressed because of the over-all risk to his health. 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 Bro. Simon Letarte at 9:32pm, peace and harmony prevailing. | ||||||||||||||
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