Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter

PO Box 249, Ames, Iowa 50010-0249
www.IowaMasons.com OR www.arcadialodge.org
515-233-4299

September, 2008 - Volume 7, No. 9

W.M.: Jeremy Davis  291-7016
       jeremyndavis@gmail.com
Sec.: Jay Cole Simser - 232-2580
  JaycoleS@aol.com

Greetings from the East

Wow!  With football just around the corner, summer is quickly coming to a close.  It is hard to believe how quick this summer flew by.  It seems like only yesterday it was Memorial Day weekend and now Labor Day is right around the corner!

As we move to the Fall, Arcadia Lodge has a busy schedule.  During the month of August, we conducted degrees on three candidates.  As we gear-up for degree work, be sure to attend lodge and support our newest brothers.  Additionally, do not be surprised if you receive a call to assist with some degrees in the near future!

During the August stated meeting, the Finance Committee proposed a dues increase for the upcoming year of $20, with $2 of the increase going to support the charity fund.  As most of us are aware, the cost of utilities has skyrocketed during the past year and the lodge has not been immune to these increases.  In fact, the utility budget, which was increased from previous year's expenditures, has been nearly utilized for the year at this point, with five more billing cycles yet to arrive.  The Property Management Committee has begun taking steps to address this concern by having our heating and cooling system evaluated and has updated the controls for the system in an effort to conserve as much energy as possible.  However, with a building the size of ours, the costs undoubtedly will continue to rise, just as they are for each of us at our homes.  As such, the necessity for the increase in dues is primarily to address our increased utility costs.  The Finance Committee recognizes this increase is significant, however, the lodge cannot continue to operate in the "red" due to utilities.  This increase will allow the lodge to operate with a balanced-budget.  During a meeting between the Property Management Committee and the Finance Committee in July, we collectively reviewed the expenditures of the lodge and have determined we are running as "lean" as possible.  Thus, when this proposal is brought to a vote at the September stated meeting, I ask that our brothers support this increase.

On Saturday, September 6, 2008, the Grand Lodge of Iowa will be hosting a tailgate event prior to the Iowa State Football Game where ISU will host Kent State.  The kick-off time has not yet been set, but tentatively, we are looking at beginning the festivities approximately 4 hours prior to kick-off.  The tailgate will be located in "tent row" which is the line of tents directly north of Jack Trice Stadium.  The Grand Lodge has secured Tent #9, which is in the middle of the row of tents.  This should provide great visibility for the Masons of Iowa and a place for Masons to congregate for fellowship prior to the football game.  As it goes right now, a majority of the Grand Lodge of Iowa officers for the current year, along with those for the upcoming year will be present.  In accordance with proper tailgating procedures, we ask that if you are going to attend to please bring a tailgatin' food item to share.  Beverages will not be supplied, so please bring your own tailgatin' beverages as well!  We will also have a couple of grills available to grill meat, if you so desire!  We will also have a number of yard games, such as bean-bag toss and other tailgating games.  Plan to stop by the tent that day and socialize with your fellow Masons from around the State of Iowa.

Also in September will be the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Iowa in Des Moines on September 18th to the 20th.  If you have never attended Grand Lodge, this would be a great opportunity for you to do so, as it is close to Ames this year.  Additionally, I will be installed as the Senior Grand Deacon on Friday night following the evening banquet.  Tickets are still available for the dinner and can be obtained by contacting the Grand Lodge office.

As we look to the future, don't forget about our annual Rusty Nail night which will be held at the October stated meeting.  The lodge's annual election night soup supper will be held on Election Day in November.  More details about these two events will be found in upcoming editions of the newsletter.

Also, don't forget about Arcadia After Work Wednesdays.  The September AAWW will be on September 17th at the Olde Main Brewing Company conveniently located in downtown Ames, Iowa.

Finally, based on a number of comments received; the consensus is to return the newsletter to its prior method of publication, especially in terms of on-line delivery.  After Bro. Countryman e-mails the newsletter to our e-mail list, it will be subsequently posted to our website, www.arcadialodge.org.

Take care and I will see you all at the Lodge.

Fraternally,
Jeremy Davis, WM

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to the brothers having birthdays in September:

Brian Dennen - 3rd, Richard Moffitt Jr.- 5th, George Robinson Jr. - 5th, Tanner Sen - 5th, Robert Burk - 8th, Keith Bailey - 9th, Oliver Boyington - 9th, Matthew Converse - 9th, Steve Gwiasda - 9th, Albert Wickland Jr.- 11th, Jim Cobb - 15th, Jeffrey Bryant - 18th, Lance Olson - 19th, Mike Fowles - 20th, Russell Long - 20th, Rodney Brink - 22nd, Jeff Peil - 22nd, Isbrahim Turkmen - 23rd, Steve Schroder - 25th, Paul Taylor - 25th, Russell Kahler -28th, Martin Jacobs - 29th, and Robert Zack - 30th

Educational

Articles from the February 1980 Bulletin of the Grand Lodge of Iowa
Selected by Paul Miller

I am learning from one of my mentors, Al Sloniger, that the Grand Lodge of Iowa used to send out a monthly bulletin with articles and information for masons.  I have selected three of the articles to share.  The first is titled:
This Too, Shall Pass

The following is taken from an editorial which appeared in The Dayton Daily News.

The gasoline question is becoming more acute.

The supply of petroleum is steadily dwindling, and the future looks dark unless another substitute can be obtained.

It looks like a serious situation, but there is every reason to believe that something will be discovered in time.  Something always has been discovered in time.

Heretofore something has always seemed to contain possibilities which would answer in the case of failure of certain bounties of nature.  In the face of the ultimate disappearance of coal there is always water power and electricity to fall back upon.  Instances might be multiplied.

The point is that there is already in use a fair substitute for gasoline in alcohol, which can be produced from almost any sort of organic waste.  The big task is to produce it more cheaply and to devise engines to use it economically and with good results.
It may be that the other power will be devised, infinitely more powerful than gasoline, which can be produced more cheaply.  In these days of miracles of chemistry, this is entirely possible.  In the meantime the scarcity of a suitable power is likely to have some effect in hindering the development and expansion of the automobile industry.
The date of that editorial -- December 12, 1913! Comforting?  Reprinted from "Have a Good Day".

I thought that was interesting that when cars first came upon the scene that fuel was a concern and still is today.  I am curious how much time and effort has been put into the alcohol industry since 1913?

The second is a short excerpt taken from Rite Words - Tucson Scottish Rite Bodies:

Do Three Things

The future of Freemasonry is what you and I make it.  I believe in Freemasonry, and I hope you do!

Edmund Burke, the English philosopher, said, "all that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing!"

As Masons, we should do three things:
1.  Become aware of Masonry's goals and problems.
2.  Become involved with our Symbolic Lodge and Rite as well as with the community.
3.  Recognize Masonry's great opportunity to make the world a better place in which to live."

I think that these words apply to us today as they did 28 years ago and we still need to strive to make our communities and world a better place.

Finally, from the Grand Lodge Bulletin - Calgary:

What is an Obligation

The root of the word obligation is "lig".  It means a bond, a tie, or to tie together.

The same root is found in such words as Ligament and Religion.

The prefix of the word, "ob", means "to move toward" or to "act toward".

Thus, we can deduce that an obligation is something that moves or acts towards the binding of something together.

Masonically the Obligation has a two-way method of tying things or people together.
The obligation moves toward the joining of the Lodge to the candidate to the Lodge.

An obligation is a two-way action.  If one of the partners fails to do his bit then the obligation is not binding or valid."

I thought that this is a reminder of our duty and commitment that needs to be made to our new candidates and members as well as the obligation that we have to our communities in building them up for the greater good of our society.

Newsletter Editor
Seven years ago I took over the Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter because indications were that no one wanted to lead or understood a process to transition from the old style Newsletter to a new and more affordable one that communicates with all Arcadia Lodge #249 members.  That transition to a successful vehicle that communicates with all Lodge members as two major audiences within the lodge is now complete.  One group within the Lodge has no computer or does not use computers as a communication tool.  That group receives a printed version of the Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter by U.S. Mail, and a group within the Lodge that does use computers as a communication tool receives the Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter via e-mail, and more recently via the internet, for a significant cost saving to the Lodge.  The current process is a system to which several Lodge members contribute to successfully complete the mission and making the Newsletter process truly a Lodge activity.

For the first two years after becoming Editor of the Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter I tried unsuccessfully to find an Assistant Editor to learn the process and become prepared to take over as Editor.  Recently, however, there are those that now indicate that they wish to lead and direct the Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter process and procedures providing an opportunity for me to step down as Editor and thus allowing one of those people to step forward and direct the Newsletter to its next level.  Therefore, I have resigned as Arcadia Lodge #249 Newsletter Editor effective immediately.  However, I have agreed to maintain the Newsletter and assist the new Editor as my schedule allows until no later than the end of this year.

I wish to thank all of the Lodge Members that have contributed ideas and work that made the transition to the new and more affordable Newsletter a smooth and successful transition to a vehicle within the Lodge that serves as a significant communication tool for all members of the Lodge.

I hope that you will continue to support the new Editor as you have me.

David Countryman, Editor
Calendar

Sept   1 -   7:00 p.m. DeMolay Stated Meeting.
Sept   2 -   7:00 p.m. Eastern Star Stated Meeting.
Sept   3 -   9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour.  Lincoln Center HyVee.
Sept   4 -   6:30 p.m. All Masonic Dinner - $5.00.
                7:30 p.m. Arcadia Lodge Stated Meeting.
Sept   6 - Grand Lodge Tailgate.
Sept   8 -   7:00 p.m. DeMolay.
Sept 10 -   9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour.  Lincoln Center HyVee.
                Arcadia Lodge Newsletter Deadline.
Sept 11 - Arcadia Lodge Boards and Committees.
Sept 12 -   7:00 p.m. Amaranth Stated Meeting.
Sept 14 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Church.
Sept 15 -   7:00 p.m. DeMolay Stated Meeting.
Sept 16 -   7:00 p.m. White Shrine Stated Meeting.
Sept 17 -   9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour.  Lincoln Center HyVee.
                  5:15 p.m. Arcadia After Work.
Sept 18 - Grand Lodge, Des Moines.
Sept 19 - Grand Lodge, Des Moines.
Sept 20 - Grand Lodge, Des Moines.
Sept 22 -   7:00 p.m. DeMolay.
Sept 24 -   9:00 a.m. Coffee Hour.  Lincoln Center HyVee.
                  7:00 p.m. York Rite Stated Meeting.
Sept 25 - Arcadia Lodge
Sept 28 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Church.
Sept 29 -   7:00 p.m. DeMolay.


November 4 - Soup Supper

To schedule an event at the Masonic Temple call Jay Cole Simser - 232-2580