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Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter
December 2008 ~ Volume 7, No. 12
P.O. Box 249
Ames, Iowa 50010-0249
http://IowaMasons.com/249.html
or
www.arcadialodge.org
Jeremy Davis-WM
jeremyndavis@gmail.com
(515) 291-7016
Jay Cole Simser-Secretary
jaycoles@aol.com
(515) 232-2580
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Greetings from the East!
As I write this month's column, I am looking out the window and see the ultimate indication that winter has arrived: SNOW! Only in Iowa can it be over 50 degrees one day, and in a mere three days snow is flying and the winds are bringing in the chilly, cold Canadian air. Brr….
Before I get too far into this month's column, I would first like to offer congratulations to the Brothers of Arcadia Lodge #249 who have been elected to serve for the upcoming year at the November stated meeting. They are:
WM: Paul Miller SW: David Baker
JW: Marty Jacobs Secretary: Jay Cole Simser
Treasurer: Taner Zehn Trustee: Jeremy Davis
If you see any of these brothers, be sure to congratulate them. We are fortunate here in Ames to have a membership base, but with that comes a great responsibility for the officers and serving as an officer in a Lodge such as ours is not a simple, nor easy task. So, for the coming year, be sure to support our newly elected brothers and try to attend and participate in our lodge functions as much as you can. We have a lot of new faces in Arcadia from the past couple of years and it would be great for many of them to get to know some of our "established" brothers!
As we look to the future, the WM-elect has selected Thursday, December 18, 2008 as the date for the Installation of Officers. This is a ceremony that is open to the public (wives, children, friends, family, neighbors, etc.) and it is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the Lodge. There will be light refreshments served after the installation.
Also coming up in December is our annual holiday dinner celebration. This year, this dinner will be held on Saturday, December 13th at the Lodge. The social hour will begin at 5:30 with dinner to be served at 6:30 p.m. Cost for the dinner is $10 and reservations must be received by Sunday, December 7th. If you would like to make a reservation for the annual holiday dinner, e-mail the Lodge Secretary at jaycoles@aol.com. As in the past, we will be hosting the Lodge's Toy Drive to benefit children in the Ames/Story County area. When you attend the December Stated Meeting, the Installation of Officers, or the Holiday Dinner, please bring an unwrapped toy to the Lodge. The donated toys will be taken for distribution the Monday after the holiday dinner.
Finally, as we come to the end of another year, I would like to thank the brothers of Arcadia for all you do. Having been designated as one of the Top 3 lodges in Grand Lodge of Iowa jurisdiction, along with a PLUS ONE designation, is an amazing accomplishment…but it would not have occurred without the support of our members. Our lodge is unique in that it truly brings together a cross-section of the population, which is something many lodges in Iowa struggle with. The lodges who are becoming more and more active have embraced this concept, and it can be witnessed in a number of lodges. That said, for Arcadia to continue to prosper, it will take the brothers of this lodge to continue to be involved and for those who have not been involved lately in activities…don't be afraid to come to a lodge event these days. I'll bet you may not know everyone in attendance because of our significant number of new brothers, but your attendance will be critical during the next few years as the Lodge continues to grow and progress to the future.
And so, for the last time, until we meet again…
Jeremy Davis, WM
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Proposed By-Law Changes to be voted on at the December Stated Meeting (December 4, 2008)
It was moved that the following be deleted:
SECTION 4. SALARY
The Secretary shall receive as salary the sum of $125.00 per month
and this be enacted in lieu thereof:
SECTION 4.
The Secretary shall receive he sum of $125.00 per month for the use of his equipment. (Computer and Copy Machine, etc.)
Also that the following be deleted:
SECTION 6. DUES
The annual dues of Arcadia Lodge No. 249 shall be set at the stated meeting in September upon recommendation of the Finance Committee (10/6/2005) plus current Grand Lodge Dues. Three dollars ($3.00) of these dues will be paid to the Charity Fund.(4/7/2005) If membership is consummated on or after July 1, dues for 1/2 year will be paid. (This goes into effect for 2007 dues. Dues for 2006 will be $40.00 plus Grand Lodge Dues for a total of $60.00)
and the following enacted in lieu thereof
SECTION 6. DUES
The annual dues of Arcadia Lodge No. 249 shall be set at the stated meeting in September upon recommendation of the Finance Committee (10/6/2005) plus current Grand Lodge Dues. A portion of the dues will be designated for the Charity Fund. If membership is consummated on or after July 1, dues for 1/2 year will be paid.
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Brothers:
I am proud to be a Mason. Not only because of whom we are in our families and communities, but also what we generously give financially to different deserving groups.
Unfortunately, this last year we were presented with fewer opportunities to fill our Arcadia charitable coffers; yet many requests for assistance continued or newly came to our attention. We need your help, please consider giving to Arcadia Lodge's charity / goodwill fund so that we may help others (groups and individuals) in need while spreading a generous Masonic presence. Fund disbursements are reviewed by the Charity Committee and voted on at the Stated Meetings on the first meeting each month (Thursday). For even MORE information on how monies can be given regularly, or as a gift or endowment should speak with Arcadia's leadership.
I know we'll do the right thing. Please give what you can as soon as you can.
Jay A Ochanpaugh, 32o
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December 2008 Calendar
1st-Demolay @ 7p.m.
2nd-Eastern Star @ 7 p.m.
3rd, 10th,17th, 24th, 31st,-Coffee (Lincoln Center HyVee) @ 9 a.m.
4th-Stated Meeting and $5 Dinner @ 6:30 p.m
7th-Church @ 10 a.m.
10th-Newsletter Deadline
12th-Amaranth
13th-Holiday Dinner. 5:30 Social, 6:30 Dinner
15th-Entered Apprentice Degree for Joel Dorn @ 7 p.m.
16th-White Shrine
17th-Arcadia After Hours (Olde Main) @ 5:15 p.m.
18th-Arcadia Installation of Officers @ 7 p.m.
22nd-Demolay @ 7 p.m.
24th-York Rite @ 7 p.m.
27th-Elbert Family (All Day)
29th-Demolay @ 7 p.m.
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December Birthdays! (Happy Birthday! From Arcadia Lodge)
12-1 Robert E. Lewis
12-2 Stanley Hyer and Nick Tsimpanopoulos
12-4 Leonard Reedholm, Mike Hinders, Andrew Hartman, Richard Magie
12-6 Wesley Shubert
12-8 James Demarest
12-12 Arthur Taylor
12-13 Jerry Spencer and Ben Godwin
12-16 Curtis Bauer
12-20 Timothy Grandon
12-21 Stephen Carr and Massoud Mir Shahidi
12-24 Bill Hockman
12-26 Robert Hoffman
12-30 F. Terrill Adams
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Happy Holiday's from Arcadia Lodge! Be sure to have a safe and joyous holiday season. As we celebrate, let us not forget those who are less fortunate than we are. Keep in your prayers the men and women serving our Country around the world.
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Visit us on the Web at http://IowaMasons.com/249.html or www.arcadialodge.org
Don't Forget: Arcadia Lodge Annual Holiday Dinner on December 13th. 5:30 Social, 6:30 Dinner. Bring an unwrapped toy to the dinner to benefit Toy's for Tots in the Ames/Story County area.