| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on July 30, 2006 |
Return to the Los Altos Lodge Trestleboard TOC Page
Return to the Los Altos Lodge Papers Page
All text input has been scanned from the TB by the webmaster, to get this information to you, as I am not getting any text sent to me from the Officers...
As you can see the Trestleboard is back to its previous form and all the officers have articles for this edition. I have many people I must thank, but first some history.
About eighteen years ago my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and during the ensuing years many forms of treatment were used: chemo, radiation, and surgery. She lived well and was still living in her own home in June, when my sister and I were visiting. On Friday she was not feeling well and spent most of the day resting, by Sunday she was too weak to leave her bed, and she died that night while sleeping. I remained in Oregon for the next week.
Sometime during that week I contacted Ernest Castillo because I needed a Trestleboard published for July. (Bill Malmstrom was in Indiana). He informed me that he was leaving for New York the following day but not to worry, it would be taken care of. Ernie and Robert Sohigian thank you so much for the July Trestlboard.
Upon my return home I started receiving calls, cards and well wishing from my Masonic Brothers and Sisters. I don't think I can put in words how much all this meant to me, but still, thank you.
Now for a quick recap of June. At our stated meeting we had our Public Schools night. It started with a wonderful dinner. After which we retired to the lodge room where the lodge made presentations for both the scholarship and the teacher of the year awards. Both recipients had their families present with them. And the High School Counselor who assisted in determining the award was also present. After pictures were taken and the guests retired from the lodge, we conducted our business meeting and still left shortly after 9:OOpm.
July, the month of Our Independence, the stated meeting was on July 3rd and as such we had a simple dinner and a meeting followed. The busy Masonic days of July were on the following weekend (8th and 9th)., the Los Altos Art and Wine Festival We again had a booth for this event. We talked to many people interested in Masonry and it's history. We were also asked by several people how do you become a Mason, and several blue applications were distributed.
At the August stated meeting we will receive our 6 month reports from the Treasurer and Secretary. At the end of August the lodge will have a picnic, which we are looking at using the patio instead of the park, giving us the option of eating in the dinning room if the weather is too hot. This will again be a combined event with the Los Altos Eastern Star Chapter, as we have done in past years.
Fraternally,
Gregory Buschek
Master
Last month Linda and I were in Indiana for The Indiana Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.
I am the Grand Representative of Indiana in California. Linda also has two rentals in her home town and it gave us a chance to check them out.
The new Grand Worthy Patron had a short speech but he put a lot of meaning into it. He told of two books that he had read about the greatest generation that ever was. The generation that came out of the depreciation and fought in WW2. How they worked together to rebuild and pull our great country back together and make it strong again. Then came the baby boomers and it went from we and us to me and I. The Fraternal organizations that had grown during the depreciation and WW2 started to decline with the baby boomers who were not interested in joining anything. He said that both books noted that the trend is somewhat reversing itself. People are looking to work together again, to pull this country back up to what it was. Joining organizations and saying we and us instead of me and I. We are seeing young men asking about Masonry. I was in the elevator at the hotel we were staying at and a young man asked why I was wearing a tux at seven o'clock in the morning. I explained to him about Eastern Star and how it was a part of Masonry. He replied that his grandfather was a Mason. I asked why he wasn't a Mason. He said his dad wasn't one but he was thinking about joining a fraternal organization or a service club. Of course I told him how to become a Mason. This wasn't the first time I have met a young man whose grand father was a Mason, his father wasn't, but he was interested in becoming one. Let's hope this trend is going to continue. We had a few good prospects stop at our booth at the Art and Wine Festival.
The officers are practicing for the up coming first degree. They are also getting ready for advance stations. Our Inspector would like all of us to be qualified by September.
Shaken not stirred in 007 Senior Warden
William Malmstrom, P.M.
Senior Warden
Los Altos Art and Wine Festival
I had a lot of fun at this year's festival. The festival has special significance to me since it was because of one that I first walked into a Masonic lodge. Like many of the men who walked up to the table this year, I believe I started my conversation with the words "My grandfather was a Mason".
A highlight for me was when we had all five elected officers at the booth (along with our coach) sharing our thoughts on Masonry and other topics. I think this shows well the solidarity that we have, and the sincere affection that we share towards each other.
Masonic Get Togethers
There have been Masonic Get Togethers in the Valley every month. Worshipful Hank Vlcek started them about five years ago. I heard about them at the OAM, and went to the one in May. I had a truly wonderful time. Here's an introduction which Worshipful Bob Griffin wrote:
This has gone by other names such as "The Smoker" or "Scotch and Cigar Day" and also "Masonic Fellowship Day". Primarily is a day set aside once a month, where brothers from different lodges get together at someone's residence and share their single malt scotch and enjoy a cigar and chat. Not everyone who attends smokes or drinks scotch, but everyone chats. Sometimes people have brought books, videos, magazine articles, regalia to display and/or exchange and also to make announcements about upcoming events or things that might be of interest to Masons.
Everyone is encouraged to bring a beverage (single malt preferred, but soda, tea, beer, wine.... pretty much anything liquid is fine - but there is plenty even if you don't), a cigar or two (if you smoke, there are usually a few spares around if you don't have your own) and some munchies to share (and there is usually plenty to eat regardless).
This is just a great way to meet and socialize with brothers from other lodges and is also a good way to introduce potential candidates to Masonry. Golden Rule in particular has used this as a means of enticing new members successfully for several years now.
If you'd like more information about these, please send email or give me a call. The schedule and locations for the next two are: August 20th: Max Mora September 24th: Rob Sohigian
Beijing
I'll be in Beijing from August 4th through August 27th. Unfortunately, I'll miss the stated meeting Masonic Get Together, and the OAM. I will be proudly wearing my Los Altos 712 shirt while I'm there. (When I get back, I hope to talk a bit about Masonry in China... I know there has been a lot of interested in things Chinese lately.)
Well, that's it for this month.
Fraternally
Robert Sohigian, JW
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