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Greetings Brethren,
Allow me to first thank all of you for your expression of confidence in electing the new slate of Officers for the
upcoming year!
After the leadership dilemma we ran into this past year, I'm glad we are back on a "normal" track. For me, it was a very humbling and gratifying experience accepting your trust by electing me Master. It's nice not
feeling like a Master "wanna-be" or a fill-in with less-than-informed influence on what is happening. I'm not suggesting that I'll have all of the right answers for the upcoming year, but I guarantee you that, I'll do the best I'm able to in order to maintain the leadership in Masonry our Lodge exemplifies in the upcoming year.
I'm delighted to say that we had a very respectable showing at the Memorial Day parade in Red Hook. Some folks
along the sidelines actually applauded
our participation. For the most part, we were all in step without cadence calls. Doug Kimbark, Commander of the VFW, and Bill Moore, Chaplain, who many of us know, were pleased at our showing. As you may know, I'm also a member of the VFW, and I'm striving to build a closer and noncompetitive relationship between the two fraternal organizations. I've come to be convinced that they respect our charitable efforts as much as we respect their sacrifices. I've also endured subtle chiding for not attending more of their meetings but, I believe, I have my priorities correct.
I have to be honest with you on something that is a major frustration to me and it indirectly relates to
participating in a patriotic effort like marching in a Memorial Day parade. I couldn't help but notice that along the route of the parade, there were "unknowing" young folks and, in some cases, apparent
baby-boomer parents, who had not taught their offspring respect for the flag or even understood it themselves. I'd like to sponsor a Constitutional Amendment forbidding baseball caps (worn backwards) and
require all new parents to visit the war memorials in Washington or at least talk to a Vet about their experiences. Is that realistic? Of course not, but is it a Masonic imperative?
I'm not sure.... but there has to be a connection here, since the military has to be as old a Fraternity as Freemasonry. While there appears to be a generation that is lost to the values we learned, as Masons we need to ensure that we turn this around for new generations however we can. OK, enough on that for now. But, be aware, I'm very militant on this subject. I ask you to think about our heritage and the sacrifices made when talking and "teaching" young folks. Off to another subject...
As you are probably aware, Warren Lodge #32 transferred ownership of their Lodge to the local Historical Society.
Along with that, they have been given permission to meet there. Even with this relief, they have few members and are not able to sustain the Lodge. In an effort to stay alive, they have amended their by-laws to meet only once a year and have adopted an affiliation fee of $10.00 and reduced membership fees to $22.50, of which $17.50 goes to Grand Lodge. RW Brother Fred Grieve is in possession of applications for affiliation and will send them to any Brother interested in affiliating (leave the sponsoring member line blank). Keeping Warren Lodge active in the District and continuing the tradition of being a Moon Lodge will provide us an opportunity to potentially influence programs and directions the Lodge could take. One suggestion is to form one or more Degree teams who develop to a level of close perfection allowing them to confer Degrees at other Lodges or at Warren Lodge itself More suggestions are welcome. In today's day and age where it seems almost everything seems disposable, here is a Jewel in the District that should not be allowed to fit that criteria. Infusing new energy into Warren Lodge has every chance to succeed if
we allow it to. Please contact RW Brother Fred Grieve for applications at 758-6028.
Our recent Roast Pork / Fresh Ham dinner was a resounding
success with around 250 served and I want to thank all of those that helped out. We realized a decent profit which will help us stay financially solvent.
While I'm at it, the Ladies of the OES always seem to come through for us when we ask them to help out at a dinner or
some such activity. We always make a point of thanking them at the event and they graciously accept our thanks. But I want to formally thank them in print because they really are a great organization and really
work to help us out. Many thanks, Ladies!
Thanking still remains in order and those that were able to help out at our last Lodge clean-up day, many thanks
. The Lodge belongs to each and every one of us as Brothers. And, just like our homes or apartments, needs periodic clean-up and maintenance.
Our next clean-up is scheduled for 6/5 starting at 9 AM. This Trestleboard will likely get to some of you after the 5th, so you can use that as an excuse. But RW Brother Magley is scheduling another for the following weekend. If you didn't know, he's quite persistent. Please try to show up. It's not a lot of work when shared by many...
Normally this is not something for a Trestleboard but, Ray and Christine Fisher, a couple who hangs in there in the
face of severe adversity, you are an example to all of us. You are wonderful folks who most of us are honored to know and are more than willing to help in any way..
OK, pay attention now! On June 9th we will be conferring the Master Mason Degree on three of our Brothers and
two Brothers from Dover Lodge. Lodge opens at 7 PM! Rehearsals are shown in the calendar below and Officers are required to be there. Please try to make it since this such an important
event for our Brothers in search of more light in Masonry!
We ought to make a point of welcoming our newly initiated Brother Nickie Smith to the Lodge.
It was great to see him joining us at the Memorial Day parade along with Fellowcraft Brother John Dalton. For Brother Nickie Smith we will be having Special Communications during the summer to raise him to the sublime Degree of Master Mason. I encourage you to participate!!!
INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS AND OUR ANNUAL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL ALL ON THE SAME
NIGHT!!!!!!!
June 23rd is our installation of Officers and our Strawberry Festival. Everyone is invited!
The meeting is public and not Tiled. Masons and non-Masons are gladly asked to share our Fraternal mini-celebration before we all wander off to summers' doldrums. Lodge opens at 6:15PM.
DATES TO REMEMBER
- 6/6/99... 3rd Degree Rehearsal
- 6/7/99... 3rd Degree Rehearsal
- 6/8/99... Building Committee Meeting (all invited)
- 6/12/99. Lodge Cleanup (RWB Magley in charge)
- 6/14/99. Dutchess District Golf Outing (Contact RWB Fred Grieve 758-6028)
- 6/19/99. Tivoli Days Parade. Contact Brother Mike Scott for assembly time 758-4344.
- 6/23/99. Public Installation of Officers and Strawberry Festival. Lodge opens at 6:15.
- 6/26/99. Chicken BBQ 4:30 - 7 PM. ALL HELP APPRECIATED!
- 7/12/99. Rehearsal for 2nd Degree at 7 PM
- 7/13/99. Rehearsal for 2nd Degree at 7 PM
- 7/14/99. Conferral of 2nd Degree... Lodge opens at 7 PM
- 7/31/99. Beef BBQ 4:30 - 7 PM. ALL HELP APPRECIATED!
- 8/9/99.. Rehearsal for 3rd Degree at 7 PM
- 8/10/99. Rehearsal for 3rd Degree at 7 PM
- 8/11/99. Conferral of 3rd Degree... Lodge opens at 7 PM
- 8/21/99. Visit to Shriners Springfield Hospital (Contact RWB Otto Tator 758-6544)
- 9/08/99. Stated Communication... Lodge opens at 7:30 PM
- 9/18/99. Chicken BBQ 4:30 - 7 PM ALL HELP APPRECIATED!
Jules Riedel, Senior Warden
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