| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on June 25, 2001 |
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Congratulations to Justin Martin on being passed to the degree of Fellowcraft. We are looking forward to raising you on our visitation in August. What an honor it was to present the third annual Los Altos Education Scholarship to Dorothy Alayna Goins on May 23rd. Alayna is going into teaching. Having read her essay on teaching and what and how she will teach, I have concluded that students she teaches will be very fortunate. After observing the young people that were getting awards and scholarships at the awards ceremony I feel the future of our country will be in good hands.
Something new for our lodge. In our Anniversary year we will hold a "Coming Home Night". Invitations will be sent to all Master Masons raised in Los Altos Lodge to "Come Home" and visit on July 23. It will be a special night with dinner, after which we will open Lodge and recognize every one that has been raised at Los Altos. Be sure to wear the apron you wore when raised (if you can find it). If you are not able to attend please send a note. Tell us what you have done since you were raised. We plan on recognizing all of you.
August 4 has been tentatively set as our visitation. We will be conferring the third degree on Justin Martin. If you are interested in taking a part in the degree let me know. We plan on having a short practice on the middle section in the morning before the degree. Robert Martin, P.M. will be in the East for the second and third sections. I feel that the greatest honor any Mason can have is to raise their own son to the sublime degree of Master Mason. Please plan to attend.
In September will be two events. One will be a dinner cruise on the bay and the other a "Roll Call Meeting/Stag Dinner" on September 24 for all members. If you can, please, wear the apron you were raised in. The dinner cruise is still in the planning stage and more information will be in the next Trestle Board.
When I joined Los Altos twelve years ago there was a group of officers and members that would meet at Macs for "TEA" and discuss Masonry and our Lodge. A few of those brothers are now gone, either to the Lodge above or have moved out of the area. The discussions were very supportive of our Lodge. The support that this group gave the Lodge was of the things that made it strong. Mac's is now gone but I feel that there is still a need for the type of support that, that group of Masons gave the Lodge. It is said that you can never go back; rather than go back let's go forward. Let's start another support group that will get together after a Stated Meeting or a Degree and in the spirit of Masonry plan and discuss ways to make our Lodge stronger and a leader in the community and the valley.
I have scheduled a family picnic in Los Altos park for August 26th. Plan on coming for a day of family and fun.
Last but not least I have asked Worshipful JUNIOR Past Master Robert Martin to plan a Past Masters Night with Worshipful Kermit Williams assisting. It will be in October or November.
Fraternally
Bill Malmstrom, P.M.
Master
Brethren and friends,
July is fast approaching and I am amazed to believe that the year is nearly half over. Recently we had the pleasure of conferring Justin Martin's second degree, congratulations Justin. If all goes as planned we will be raising Justin on a Lodge visitation on Aug. 4.
As always - July is the Los Altos Art and Wine festival. This year it is being held on 14-15 July. We will have a booth, so please stop by to say hi. At our July stated meeting we will be discussing what we do with our booth.
I am in the midst of planning for next year. The lodge installation is Jan 5, 2002 at 3:00 PM. More details to follow. I still have openings for Officers for next year. If you'd like to volunteer, please do! If you want to talk about the details, please talk to me. One special position we need filled is the Trestleboard Editor.
If your time is limited, consider learning a charge for one of the degrees and become a member of that team. The opportunities to serve are quite varied, we need your participation.
In service to the craft,
Bob Lake
Senior Warden
On May 18th through the 20th, Los Altos Lodge sent my wife, son, and I to the Northern California Junior Warden's retreat. There were 101 JWs in attendance, which is a 50% Turnout. I was informed that this is considered good. Besides my son there was one little girl who was accompanying her aunt and uncle.
The San Ramon Marriott facility is very nice and conducive to learning and having fun. We took along our bikes and swimsuits and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves when we were not "in session".
The enormous amount of material presented was very enlightening. I had the preconceived notion that our Santa Clara Officer's Association was the 'best of the best" but was very happy to see that 10 out of 10 groups of JWs were united, cooperative, and of equal talent. I was inspired to see that CA Freemasonry is taken as seriously throughout all parts of our state as in Santa Clara County.
One of the facts presented is that CA Freemasons numbered over 265,000 in 1964 and today are just over 88,000. Which brings us to the question: "What can we do to increase our membership?" We all agreed that besides increasing new membership, we should also focus on existing members.
The four common themes or priorities are:
1. Increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and education during Stated Meetings
2. Schedule quality and informative events at the Lodge for members, family, and friends
3. Increase cross-Lodge activities
4. Increase visibility in our communities
The SCVOA JWs have already begun planning some cross-Lodge activities. Stay tuned to future Trestleboard calendars for updates. As far as the other three priorities, I'll be working on ideas and welcome your suggestions to put into action.
To further increase my understanding of the current state of our membership, I have put together a survey with a list of questions that will be mailed with the August Trestleboard. Please do me the courtesy of answering these questions so I can plan my year as Master and try to maintain Los Altos Lodge as one of the finest Masonic Lodges in California.
Sincerely,
Richard G. Weyers
Junior Warden
Our widow Charlotte Everett has moved to the Masonic Home. • We have received greetings and fraternal triple hugs from our Bro. in Brazil Amilcar Mathias, PM. • The Grand Master is considering recommending that the Grand Lodge of California accept eighteen year old men into the craft. • Another proposal being considered by the Grand Master is a one time, one day a year degree conferral where the candidates will receive all three Blue Lodge degrees on the same day. • The Grand Lecturer is proposing that when a degree is conferred using a Holy Writing other than the Bible, that the selected Holy Writing be the only book on the alter. (ed)
By: Bro. Richard L. Jenkins For the brothers of Cass Lodge 412, Griswold Iowa.
Something big is going on here. Or so I thought that night, As the Masons came to gather round the Great and lesser lights. One from here and one from there, From places far and wide, They came to do, I knew not what, As they gathered there inside. But from each man I was greeted With a smile and voice of cheer. One said, "so you're the candidate. The reason that we're here." I scarcely knew just what he meant, For this was my "first degree." There must be much for them to do Before they got to me. Surely these guys would not travel for the sake of just one man. Yes, there must be much for them to do, Before my part began. The "Brother Tiler" was my company As I waited at the door To step into this brand new realm I had not known before. They shared with me the three Great Lights and some tools of the trade, That I might learn a thing or two of how a man be better made. When at last I had been seated In this brotherhood of men The Master then began to bring The meeting to an end. And with all things then completed, They stayed a little more, To eat and drink and share a laugh Before heading toward the door. But as we left I understood And then began to see. That they all came for one reason. They all came. just for me. Dear brothers I pray every lodge Will make new ones like me, Feel as welcome as these brothers did, When they held my First Degree. Thank you, Brothers!
Entered Apprentice, July 19, 2000 Cass Lodge #412 - Griswold, Iowa
[From Harry A. Bruno, PM, MPS Assistant State Director, Masonic Education & Leadership Development 1st, 11th, & 12th Masonic Districts Grand Lodge of Georgia Pres., Heart of Georgia Scottish Rite Association harry217@bigfoot.com www.angelfire.com/ga/CochranLodge217]
[Submitted to the LA TB by Patrick Bailey, PM]
As you may know, Mr. Perlman contracted polio as a youngster, and he can only walk with the aid of braces and crutches. Whenever he performs, he walks slowly across the stage, sits in a chair, puts the crutches on the floor, and removes the braces from his legs before commencing playing.
On this November evening, very shortly after beginning one of his performances, one of the strings of his violin snapped. As any fan of classical music knows, one cannot play these violin pieces with only three strings. However, Mr. Perlman did not know this. Instead of making his way off the stage to repair or replace his violin, he just sat there for a moment and then signaled the conductor to begin again. To quote Jack Riemer, a columnist who described those events, "...he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they [the audience] had never heard before...You could see him modulating, changing, recomposing the piece in his head."
When he finished, there was an initial silence in that great auditorium, and then the audience rose to applaud. Again to quote Mr. Riemer, "We were all on our feet, screaming and cheering, doing everything we could to show how much we appreciated what he had done." Mr. Perlman raised his bow to silence the audience and then quietly stated: "You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left."
There is an important lesson for all of us in this story. We are not all born with equal talents. Furthermore, many of us lose some of our talents as we grow older, for a variety of reasons. Throughout life, we must acknowledge a simple fact. We cannot waste our time regretting what we do not have. Rather, we owe it to ourselves and to the people around us to do the very best we can with whatever we do have.
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails in to the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.
The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same.
When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.
Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.
In the May edition some important information was left out. Third and most important! Call the three national credit-reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS number. This Alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.
The numbers are: Equifax 1-800-525-6285 Experian (formerly TRW) 1-800-301-7195 Trans Union 1-800-680-7289 The SS Administration also has a fraud line at 1-800-269-0271
On July 23 Los Altos is hosting a COMING HOME for all those brothers that were raised in our Lodge. The invited Bothers are our guest. Dinner will be $10 for the others. Invited Guest please bring "the emblem, the badge and reward" to wear.
Constitution Month Dinner At San Jose Masonic Center
There is planned a Constitution Month dinner at the SJMC for September 12. There will be an entertainment program and dinner cost is $10 per person. Please plan on coming. For tickets contact Ernie Castillo (408) 983-1062.
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