| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on March 24, 2004 |
Return to the Los Altos Lodge Trestleboard TOC Page
Return to the Los Altos Lodge Papers Page
From The East
“Masons are linked together by an indissoluble chain of sincere affection. “ I find this statement to be true when I meet masons in other jurisdictions. That thread of sincere affections is our path to giving us a feeling of trust and acceptance. I know that in our lodge all have this strong bond. We may not agree with some views but I have yet to witness a distrust emanating from any of our members. This is why I feel our lodge strong and worthy and I am proud to be a member.
Is there a change in the making? Have any of the brethren notices more young men interested in masonry? At my visits to our lodge and to the San Jose Masonic Center, I have talked with young men seeking to join the fraternity. I wonder if it is just happening to me or are brethren also finding similar occurrences? In any event, we have another applicant and hopefully we will be conferring many degrees this year.
By the time this trestleboard is distributed we should have conferred a first degree on Mr. Octavio Zapata. Congratulations Octavio. In my dialogues with him, he appeared very eager to join our fraternity. His father is a Mason in Chili and apparently masonry runs deep in his family.
With help of many Past Masters, things are falling in place and our years calendar should be filled with many events. I hope we can schedule a visitation to the Masonic Home, perhaps even confer a degree there. My last visit to Union City was in 2001 and I was very pleased and impressed with the changes taking place.
At the last stated meeting I tabled a resolution on adapting a set of Social Fund rules. In this edition I have included the changes I think best suit our lodge. I was concerned that our Junior Warden would be overly burdened with having to keep two sets of refreshment materials (cups, plates, napkins, etc.). Please read the rules and let me know your suggestions and/or comments at the next meeting and we will try to close this matter within the next two months.
I have been reminded that we have an outstanding issue with the degree scrolls. Will the committee on this item please prepare to make a report at the next meeting. I would hope they can make some suggestions as to how best to display the dipictments and when.
I received a letter from Grand Lodge stating that our Lodge is one of the top twenty five lodges in donations to Masonic charities from our jurisdiction. This covers the first six month of this year. Congratulations brethren on your generosity. Let us never forget our charitable obligation. A short article on charitable giving is in the center fold.
I want to express a sincere thanks to my telephone committee. We are beginning to get it into operation. Hopefully it will give us a better head count on our attendance at all events. To date Dave, Kimball, Larry Fagan, Maury Dunbar have been handling the 408 area code; Gunnar Galsgaard and Harold Hughes are calling in the 650 area code. I still need two or three more volunteers to handle the 650 area code and our sweethearts. It is interesting because in setting up this phone committee, I found that many phone numbers are not current. This distresses me as I would like to know how our members and sweethearts are fairing. We are going to make an effort to make phone contact with these members and sweethearts. More on our efforts next month.
Just made it under the wire, I want to congratulate our newest member, Octavio Zapata. We had a fine degree delivered by Junior Warden Jim Gable on Monday Feb. 9. There were approximately 30 brethren present and the collation afterwards was very warm. Congratulations Brother Zapata.
I noticed the trees are beginning to flower. Let us all enjoy the flowers, may your garden grow and welcome to spring.
Fraternally,
Ernest Casilo
Master
Greetings from the South.
Well, January and the beginning of February have been most eventful and I would like to express my congratulations to Brother Zapatta who received his 1st degree on February 9th. It was my pleasure to be the presiding Master for his initiation and I look forward to seeing him advance thru the degrees.
I wish to remind all our members and friends that the Stated Meeting dinner is March 1st, so get your reservations in now.
As I have been noting in my past articles, I wish to convey my thoughts on Masonry and what we as a fraternity must do to once again be as prosperous as in days gone by. The first object I feel, is that we need to examine our own house before ever attempting to project into the community and to appeal to future members. Since my return to an active participation in the lodge I have been frustrated by the amount of conflict which occurs and the negative effects it has on our lodge as a whole. But, when properly reflected upon, I often find how unnecessary and trivial most of it is.
This is not to say that a healthy debate on any matter is not warranted. When reviewing Masonic history, many great undertakings were lead by masons and their efforts were wrought in debate. But as I review the accounts and the results, I find that they shared the common goal and that the debate was a means to achieve that goal. The common goal is something that I see as missing in the behaviors we now possess. We will now argue on almost any point.
But why should that be so? Are we so different than our forefathers? The answer I find to be ‘Yes’. While we endeavor to govern our conduct according to the same precepts as they did, our world is very much different from what theirs was. As we grow, we are taught to always be right. And that message is not only stated directly, but by the effects suffered after admission that we are wrong. Will we be fired, must I pay a fine , will I go to jail, we someone think ill of me? I know I find it more and more prevalent, and it is growing even stronger in our kids. I see it in my own children too. While a defense for a negative or wrongful accusation may be fully warranted, one must look at the situation before making the ultimate stand to be right. I’ll give you an example. When my son was younger, he had chores to do as most children do. If he failed to cut the grass one day as he was scheduled to do and had accepted responsibility for, then why when the chore was left undone would a defense be necessary? Particularly when the excuse was for a chosen alternative, like playing video games? The answer is the same. We, as a society, teach that: ‘You must be right, always.’
The answer to this problem may be all too easily reached, and I call to every one of you to consider the following. When confronted by feelings that cause you to react in a situation, just ask yourself this: “Is it good for the peace and harmony of the lodge and of my life?” If, in that one question, we can reflect to the ideals of life and conduct which Freemasonry teaches us, then we may be far ahead in avoiding unnecessary conflict. By lessening the conflicts, then we can bring harmony back within the lodge, and be better prepared to convey a positive image to the community.
Fraternally,
Jim Gable,
Junior Warden
The SOCIAL FUND & JUNIOR WARDEN FUND
LOS ALTOS LODGE NO. 712 F. & A. M. SOCIAL FUND & JUNIOR WARDEN FUND
The Social Fund of Los Altos Lodge No. 712, F. & A. M., is established in accordance with Section 21060 of the California Masonic Code, and is to be used exclusively for the purpose of providing special meals for the lodge, for which a charge shall be made. The sale of tickets for dinners shall be deemed to be "Funds collected by an officer, committee, or member of a Lodge from members of the Lodge for social purposes of the Lodge or its members....." as stated in the code. These funds, as stated by the code, "are received in trust as special funds and are not funds of a Lodge, and can only be used for the purpose for which the funds were collected....." - in this case, the purpose being the providing of dinners for lodge members and their guests.
The Social Fund may be used for the purchase of food and kitchen supplies, and related items. It may not be used for the purchase of alcoholic beverages of any kind.
In order that there be no confusion between the Social Fund and Junior Warden’s Fund (JWF), the Lodge will consider all activities to be social activities except such as are associated with degrees, degree practices, masonic information meetings and Officer Association Meetings.
Interpretation of Section 21020 of the California Masonic Code
Use of Refreshment Revolving Fund (or JW Fund)
(2002 G.M. Decision No. 2)
Section 21020 pertaining to the use of the Refreshment Revolving Fund is intended to provide complimentary refreshments for Lodge members and their guests, with no charge being made for these refreshments. The fund is a “revolving fund” in that once the fund is exhausted the Lodge may appropriate an amount not-to-exceed $500 at any one time. This section of the Code also requires the presentation of receipts for these incidental expenses to the Lodge by the Stewards or Junior Warden, as directed by the Master, in order for another appropriation to be made. There is no other authorized use of this fund, and its use for any other purpose is prohibited by the California Masonic Code. (10/02)
In order for the Social Fund to be established, Los Altos Lodge No. 712 appropriates an estimated amount for each social event at the monthly stated meeting preceding the social event. The JW will keep an accurate record of all moneys collected for each event. At the end of each social event the JW will prepare a voucher covering all the expenses and income of each social event and will submit this to the Lodge at the next convenient stated meeting. Each voucher will be audited. The JW Social Fund may be audited anytime as the only moneys the JW will retain are funds held for stated meeting meals paid in advance. Such payments are considered as meal payments regardless of whether the payer participates in the meal or forfeits the payment.
In order to not require the JW to maintain two separate sets of supplies, the JW will use Social Fund supplies for all JW Fund activities. The JW shall pay the Social Fund for these supplies. The rate of payment will be one fourth of the average meal rate for the year for each individual attending the JWF activity. The Social Fund will provide the JW Fund with dry good supplies and refreshments. All else shall be purchased by the JW Fund for JW activities. Alcoholic beverages are not included in either Social Fund Activities or JWF Activities.
The Social Fund shall not be used for any other purpose than that of providing approved lodge dinners/social activities for members and their friends. Should other projects require a similar fund, a separate fund shall be established for that purpose. The Social Fund shall not be used to furnish complimentary (free) refreshments for members or their friends, the latter being the function of the Refreshment Fund as set forth in Section 21090 of the California Masonic Code.
Free dinners provided to widows, invited guests and prospective candidates are to be vouchered by the JW in reconciling the expenses of the social event.
This procedure will allow for proper tracking of social activity expenses.
Ernest Castillo, WM Date
Richard Rosenberg, Secretary Date
(LODGE SEAL)
(Due to the previous Trestleboard containing much needed information, the LAMTA report was omitted. ed)
2003 was a very active year for LAMTA. Besides the normal administration of the building, we embarked upon an elevator fund campaign. As was reported in a previous trestleboard, LAMTA would match all funds donated for the first $100, 000 donated.
Many brothers and members of the Eastern Star have participated with donations. We received exceptionally generous donations from Kermit and Vera Mae Williams and Bro. Gene Murname. To cap off the years activities towards the fund, Kermit and Vera Mae sponsored an open house, at their expense, with proceeds being matched by them and all going into the elevator fund. The result is that to date the fund is at approximately $115,000.
LAMTA has also developed governing rules for this fund which will be sent to each donor with a corresponding certificate of acknowledgment. We only await Grand Lodge confirmation that what we have in process is correct. Hopefully this year we will move ahead with the elevator.
Our building has been fully rented throughout the year. Because of the economic turndown and a fairly high vacancy level in the local office space community we, at LAMTA have taken steps to retain our valued tenants.
This year LAMTA hopes to keep all the brethren better informed as to how our building is progressing.
As mentioned in the LAMTA report we have an elevator fund. The pending rules for this fund would like to have more than half the funds required prior to contracting for the elevator. To show our progress I have prepared a type of fund graph showing how we are progressing.
(graph not shown) Fund has approximately $115,000 would like $187,000 to start and the current estimate for the cost is $300,000.
We are still entertaining donations and or ideas for proceeding. Donations can be sent to the Lodge or to LAMTA. ed
Mr. John Dotter, Horticulturist will present a talk on Horticulture and Spirituality.
In every culture around the world gardening can be found as a form of spiritual practice. When we care for the earth we care for ourselves. Gardens can create mature persons, as well sustainable communities. Our minds can be nurtured like gardens. The effort enriches our unique personalities.
Over the years, you have heard many good reasons to make your gift to the Masonic Homes of California or the California Masonic Foundation. At a time when we had 150,000 masons in this jurisdiction, a $10 or $20 gift was all it took to keep these organizations healthy. Times have changed. Simply put, fewer of us need to do more.
Healthcare costs have risen dramatically over the years. Our brothers, wives and widows are now living longer, and requiring more expensive types of care. The Homes is doing our work for us. They need our support!
The Foundation is increasing its focus on supporting our teachers in the public schools. We believe we make a difference with our Masonic Student Assistance Program. Just ask a child whose life has improved because of it*
We now have a new Alzheimer's Unit in Union City to support those vulnerable members of our family who suffer from dementia. Who knows what the next important advance in care will be. Don't our brothers, wives and widows deserve the best care available? What would we want for our brothers and widows of Los Altos Lodge in need?
Please make your gift soon. We all need to do our part. Ask Richard Rosenberg for a pledge card, and make a gift that represents your own ability and your concern for our programs and their future. THANK YOU.
Go to the Last Trestleboard Issue
Go to the Next Trestleboard Issue
Return to the Los Altos Lodge Trestleboard TOC Page
Return to the Los Altos Lodge Papers Page