| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on December 31, 2002 |
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I could not have asked for a better time. It was absolutely perfect. I have special regards for Worshipful Robert Lake, our Jr. Past Master and his wife Becky. Bob prepared me this past year for my duties as Master, arranged for babysitting, and the Flag Escort/Tribute by the International Order of Rainbow for Girls. Becky, with the help of the Valley Star Club, Valley Star Chapter 250, O.E.S. prepared perfect refreshments. Thank you to Worshipful Bill Malmstrom, our Senior Junior Past Master, for agreeing to act as my "Host" thereby rendering a humorous biography. Greg Buschek hand-crafted the Grand Master's Gavel with a sounding block and piece of the "Ailanthus: Tree of Heaven" to be presented to our Most Worshipful Grand Master, Bill Holsinger. Also, my most significant gratitude goes to Joyce Buschek who made the beautiful flower bouquet presentations, assisted with decorations in the Lodge and dining room, and was my Installation advisor for the past three months. Thank You Joyce! Last, but definitely not the least, I thank my beautiful wife and best friend, Jill, for the wonderful centerpieces in the dining room and allowing me this once in a lifetime opportunity to be Master of Los Altos Lodge, the finest Lodge in California!
Gavel designed and crafted by Wor. Greg Buschek
Our January Stated Meeting will be on Monday, January 6th at 7:30 pm. Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm. Please come and welcome your 2003 corps of officers. We will have an after dinner program for the ladies; white elephant night. Ladies, please find something (nearly new) from your home that can be wrapped and exchanged with the other ladies. I've always enjoyed participating and watching other particpants exchange gifts after the gift exchange. You never know what might strike your fancy!
Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 15th. Our very own Dan R. McDaniel, P.M. will be receiving a Golden Veteran's Award to be presented by Past Grand Master Doan. The Lodge will provide a dinner at 6:30 pm followed by the presentation at 8:00 pm. I'm told we will be having Prime Rib. Please call with reservations by noon 1/8 (569-6276).
On Sunday, January 26th, the Lodge will have a Superbowl party starting at 12:00 noon and continue until...it is time to go!
For these three events, please call our information line with reservations at: (650) 569-6276 [(650) 569-MASON]
Fraternally Feeling Good,
Richard Weyers,
Master
Tonight, I thought I would make my remarks simple and speak from the Heart. After all, that is where I first was made a Mason.
When I am asked by friends and family, "Why did you join Masonry?" I respond by saying that Masonry makes me feel good! I also inform them that I get out from Masonry much more than I put in to it, even though it seems lately to the contrary!
Feeling good is the goal I have, not only for me, but also for all the members of my Lodge and those that associate with Los Altos Lodge. I sent out a survey to our Members during my year as Jr. Warden. The overwhelming response for an area of improvement is that of increasing the importance of Fellowship. What is meant by Fellowship? Simply put, Fellowship is people being together with people they like and respect. The Lodge should be the center of activities promoting Fellowship. Just last night, I had an opportunity to sit downstairs after our Installation practice with Worshipful Malmstrom, our host this evening, Worshipful Lake, our Junior Past Master and Organist, and Brother Schoonover, our Junior Steward. We talked for about an hour and recollected many of our Masonic experiences. We laughed. We enjoyed each other's company. We shared experiences. We had Fellowship. I left with a sense of companionship. I felt good!
There is a saying, "In the desert of life, the wise man travels in a Caravan, while the fool travels alone." To me, this is the essence of Masonry; Teamwork. Teamwork is another word for Success. When I arrived for Installation practice last night, I witnessed the officers setting up the Lodge room, assisting with decorations, and anything that needed to be done. I was asked if I needed any help. In fact, every time I've called my Brother Senior Warden, he answers the phone by saying, "What can I do you for?" This makes me feel good!
[ When conferring the degrees of Masonry, we should endeavor to perform the ritual as established and intended. We should be focused on the meaningful delivery of our Masonic lessons to the candidate. We should mentor our candidates and new Master Masons not only in the ritual and its meaning, but also in as much Masonic History as possible. Much can be learned at our dinner tables during refreshment. We will feel good! ]
[ Most people feel a need for continued growth and development as individuals. Perhaps we feel we should be more honest, more charitable, more compassionate, more trusting, or more loving. Masonry reminds us over and over again of the importance of these qualities. We should forever consider helping those less fortunate than ourselves. Philanthropy is one of our primary duties and practices as Masons. Giving time, money, or assistance to others and seeing a smile on an otherwise sorrowful face makes us feel good! ]
Community Service is key to increasing the visibility of our principles. Our Lodge supports the Los Altos Little League. We award an annual college scholarship to a Los Altos High School senior who is pursuing a teaching profession. We provide an annual donation to Los Altos public schools to enhance public education or recognize an outstanding teacher of the year. We host a polling place, provide a Kids ID service independently or in conjunction with the Santa Clara Valley Officer's Association.
With all these activities, there is always one or more Past Masters lending a helping hand. We are taught that the left has always been considered the weaker side of Man. How fitting it is to find our Chaplain and Past Masters tonight situated to my left side, where I am weakest and need them the most, close to my Heart, the better to assist me now and in future, to invoke the blessings of The Supreme Architect Of The Universe and to whisper good counsel in my ear.
We are truly fortunate to have so many active Past Masters here at Los Altos Lodge. I submit that without them, the Lodge would not continue to thrive. Please join me in a round of applause for our Past Masters.
Being my first article, I first want to thank the brethren for placing your confidence in me and allowing me to serve you as Senior Warden for the ensuing year. I will do my best to serve you.
We are in a period when there is much uneasiness in our area and the world in general. Setting aside a few minutes a day to meditate and pray for world peace and forgiveness is one way we can all contribute. The power of prayer has been known to do wonders. I also found out that a few minutes of meditation does wonders for my mental health. I find it difficult to get upset at irritating things that happen if I have started the day with prayer and a few minutes of meditation. So I am recommending that we all set aside a few minutes to ourselves and dedicate it to having good thoughts about the future.
The future of our Lodge is something all the brothers should be concerned with. I am asking you, the brethren, to help us, the officers, in having a memorable year. Send us your thoughts and suggestions. I will be trying to contact all brothers and spend a few minutes chatting and finding out how things are with you and your family. Feel free to write me, or any of the officers with your suggestions and recommendations for your lodge and community activities that we can implement.
Now about the opening quote. I have to admit that I have been carrying a grudge for over 50 years. For some reason no matter how much I try to convince myself that the above statement is true, I still can't seem to shake this irksome incident from my subconscious.
In retrospect, it probably was the best thing that happened to me since it made me more sensitive to the feelings of others and has taught me to be more compassionate and responsive to others in turmoil. Still my grudge is like having a burr under the saddle and I'm still irritated when that thought creeps into my mind. The positive results from this malaise has been that I often help friends and institutions if I think it may avoid a tragic situation. So I've concluded that I am stuck with this irksome thought since as of yet I have not been able forgive and forget.
I suspect that just like myself, many of us have something in our past that keeps slipping out of our subconscious and causing a small degree of nostalgic discomfort. We as Masons must learn to subdue our passions and more importantly to help and forgive our fellow man. I think the Supreme Architect has designed this flaw in our character to keep us marching in the right direction through life.
As the sun sets,
Ernest Castillo, P. M.,
Senior Warden
As you read this, we should be in the midst of the holiday season. Perhaps even at a time between Christmas and our stated meeting of January 6, 2003. If so we are indeed experiencing the blessings of life, graced and garnished with the knowledge that this is also a time for sharing.
This is in fact what the duties of the Junior Warden are all about. His first duty to a new candidate is to govern the lodge as its Worshipful Master when it is a lodge of Entered Apprentice Masons, and to properly introduce this new brother to our fold.
In actuality, this requires him to become the first Masonic teacher and greeter to the candidate, and as such the first to share our privileges and benefits with the newcomer. Indeed, I am humbled at the thought that such a privilege should be entrusted to me by my lodge Brothers.
This is exactly what happens when a father first introduces his son to the many wonders and mysteries of life. The thrill of sharing this great gift of life as a father cannot be compared to anything else in life. To watch him grow by your guidance to a place in life, where he is not only your equal, but indeed hopefully becomes your superior, must be one of the greatest blessings a father can experience. There can be no doubt that unless the son becomes a better man than his father, that father has failed as such. No progress can ever be made in life, unless the current generation is an improvement on the former. Now, as Junior Warden of this Lodge, I wish to share my joy at this holiday season with each of you.
You may or may not know that our new Worshipful Master, Richard Weyers, was originally my candidate to coach through his three degrees. He was indeed one of the best student Masons I have ever had the privilege of instructing, and I will never forget the many wonderful hours we spent exploring the ritual, history, and mysteries of our beloved "Craft." Now, to see him elevated as Master of our Lodge, and to have the privilege of serving as Junior Warden in his year, I am overwhelmingly rewarded. There can be no doubt that I have succeeded as a Masonic father, since my Masonic son sits as Worshipful Master of my Blue Lodge before me. I am now confident that our craft is safe in the hands of this new generation, without question an improvement over our own. I have received this great holiday gift, and I wish to share it with each of you. Please come to Lodge more often this year, and support our new Worshipful Master. Help us usher in a new and exciting era at Los Altos Lodge No. 712. I have prepared an interesting menu for each of our stated meeting dinners this year, they are as follows:
Stated Meeting Dinners 2003 - 2004:
January - Soup, Chili & Cioppino Night, French Bread & Green salad
February - Lasagna
March - Corned Beef & Cabbage
April - Catered Chinese
May - Chicken Enchiladas & Tamales
June - Philippine Night (Chicken Adobo, Pancitt & Lumpia)
July - Armadillo Willy's BBQ Ribs
August - Togo's Deli Sandwiches
September - Baked Ham
October - Wiener Schnitzel
November - traditional Thanksgiving Dinner
December - Roast Prime Rib of Beef
January (2004) - Meatloaf
The annual Mystic festive season encompassing ancient traditions worldwide, which began on "All Hollow's Eve," October 31, and which will end with Candelmas, February 2, is now about half way completed. I wish each of you, and your loved ones, all the best in this wonderful time of rebirth.
May this Solstice bring you brightness, And an end to feeling blue! May this Hanukkah bring you love and peace, With your loved ones close to you! May the Spirit of this Christmas, Bring you blessings and good cheer! And may glorious prosperity, Be with you this New Year!
Fraternally,
In Service to "The Craft",
Luis Orozco, II, F.M.
Junior Warden
We initiated a "Teacher of the Year" Award and Lodge Information / Reservation phone line. From now on the number to call for reservations will be the same year after year. (650) 569-6276
We are also trying to encourage our members with young children and grandchildren to attend our events and to bring their ladies to dinners by having childcare available in the Fireside Room.
As a closing thought let me talk briefly about "Fraternity". Since I have been a member of the Masonic family I have been known to travel. I have visited Masonic Lodges and Eastern Star Chapters all over the bay area and beyond. Wherever I have gone, I have been greeted with warmth and made lasting friendships. Looking around the installation room I was reminded of just how many friends I have. Let me encourage each and every one of you to visit another group, meet some new people, see how the other group works and make new friends. As an afterthought - take a friend. The fun will be twice as grand. Please join me in being active in our Lodge and supporting our new Corps of Officers. I am confident 2003 will be an exciting year.
Fraternally,
Robert Lake,
Junior Past Master
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