May 8, 2010
Brethren,
Here we stand another year older and hopefully the better for it. Our Lodge continues to grow with 17 additions since Dec 2008!! I would like to welcome our newest members: Tim Howard and Jack Edson. Please take time to get to know these individuals who have much to offer.
After the changing of the guard, our meeting structure, meals, and philanthropy have largely remained static. Each month on the 1st Thursday, we are treated with a tantalizing meal at 630pm followed by an equally pleasing meeting. Our meeting has changed a bit with the addition of two segments: Masonic etiquette and Dummies Review. Masonic etiquette is very brief demonstration on a topic of Masonic tradition. This has been well received by new as well as long-standing members. The Dummies Review gives a synopsis from the previous month’s Freemasons for Dummies chapter. You may recall we have been meeting monthly this past year reviewing a chapter each month out of the Freemasonry for Dummies book. This book provides a fantastic overview of our Masonic tradition. These discussions have taken on a life of their own with the past three events lasting to midnight or beyond. We meet the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 800pm. Please feel free to join us anytime.
Regarding our upcoming fundraising events, the Memorial Breakfast with the American Legion, will be held Sunday May 30th (Sunday before Memorial Day) starting at 600AM. Further the Airport commission has added a few attractions for the September event which may add a significant boost to those numbers. So reserve Sunday September 12th as well. Please save WM Lockhart considerable amounts of time and email your offer to help: poorfisherman33@gmail.com . These events are the life blood of our organization.
With the proceeds from these events we gave four scholarships to local students: Ben Caltrider, Kent Henderson, Holly Onken, and Blake Haluska. The three former students will be attending Iowa State University and the later University of Iowa. During the May stated meeting last week, we served over forty Masons and guests in honoring our award winners.
This spring we had three members join appendant Masonic bodies: Craig Luchtel and Tim Howard, the Des Moines Scottish Rite and I, the Estherville York Rite. If you are a member of these groups take time to visit with us about this new journey.
I urge you all to continue supporting Signet Lodge with your presence. Time and again, the newly-made Mason comments on how interested he is to find long-respected community members as Masons. The fellowship at stated meetings, degree work, and our Dummies review is second to none.
With this in mind, here is a listing of upcoming meetins:
Thursday, May 13th, 730pm—Rob L.’s 1st degree
Tuesday, May 18th, 800pm—Dummies Review, chapter 18 “Ten Amazing Conspiracies, Anti-Masons… “
Thursday, May 20th, 730pm—Rob L.’s 2nd degree
Sunday, May 30th, 600am—Memorial Day Breakfast with American Legion
Thursday, June 4th, 630pm—Stated meeting, Glenn Lockhart “Masonic Education”
Tuesday, June 15th, 800pm—Dummies Review, chapter 19 “Ten Cool Masonic Places”
Monday, June 28th, 730pm—Rob L.’s 3rd degree
Thursday, July 1st, 630pm—Stated meeting, 10 Brothers, “10 topics to be presented in open Lodge”, Pearls and Ponderables “Why was it the Masonic Guild that lasted”
Tuesday, July 20th, 800pm—Dummies Review “Deciding the new book”
Thursday, August 5th, 630pm—Stated meeting, Mark Licht “Farming in the Ukraine”
Tuesday, August 17th, 800pm—Dummies Review “The new book begins”
I would like to draw your attention to the July stated meeting. Similar to a few years ago, we will assemble 10 different brothers, each presenting a topic they would like to see expanded upon as a presentation in open Lodge. I have need for eight others to present ideas. Please save me gobs of time and volunteer. If you already did, I have since disposed of those emails and the ravages of age prevent my mind from remember who you were. Please be kind and shoot me another email. The only limitation will be time and topic. Each will have 3-4 minutes only. The gong will be rung at 5 minutes. The topic is anything Masonic, if you cannot think of something that interests you in the vast literature of our body, I will assist you. I look forward to hearing from you and mostly hearing about what topic you’d like to see presented. Let me know if you need help.
The rest of the year’s highlights are on the website: http://www.iowamasons.com/264.html. September will see the return of the Adopt-a-Mason night highlighted by our very own, Ryan Broderson talking on the Beehive. I have added some links on our website to some interesting sites. Please check them out.
Lastly Worshipful Master Lockhart has appointed a committee to redo Signet’s By-Laws. We hope to give a report at the July meeting and plan to vote in August. If you foresee any concerns about the same let me know.
Hope to see you all at these functions.
Fraternally,
Greg L. Perkins PM
perkinsgreg@hotmail.com
228 W Randall Rd
Carroll, IA 51401
(712) 792-8917