| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on February 11, 2000 |
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Master - From The East
Here comes Summer: If the heat don't get'cha, then the action will! We have lots of events planned for the rest of the year, and if you're not there - then you're gonna miss out!
It's your choice! I have been asking for input throughout the year, and these events are the result.
Goeth For It! The events are listed in the chronological order on page 9.
Further detailed information on all of these events will be posted on the lodge website "Events Page" at http://www.jps.net/losaltos7l2/events-1-99.html
[Now http://www.calodges.org/no712/events-1-99.html; 2/11/2000]
or call me at 650-261-0816 and leave your regular mailing address, and I will mail you the same detailed list.
If anything strikes your fancy: "JUST DO IT!" Take a chance! Be supportable! These events will also be advertised to all Masonic Lodges and Eastern Star Chapters in our local area.
The Los Altos Art and Wine Festival was a tremendous success! [Yea!] Check out the pictures! We requested 2 full tents and also shared one with the Emergency Preparedness Group of volunteers. We had available the complete Kids ID Program computer system and banners from Grand Lodge, and also the same equipment owned by DeAnza Lodge. We used the Grand Lodge banners and the DeAnza computer system as it was a faster and a more advanced computer. We were able to ID 100 kids on Saturday, and over 200 additional kids on Sunday - totaling over 300! We were also able to talk to several men that expressed interest to coming to our Masonic Information Night on July 26! Congratulations to all!!! Special recognition is given to Bill Malmstrom and Lou Orozco for setting up the booths early both days, to Cliff Dion for constant work at the booth as well as overall moral support, to Mike Sadler for setting the new Guinness Book of Records for the time spent ID'ing kids, to Bruce Pruitt "parent outreach extraordinaire," and to Hal Bain & all of the other volunteers who were present and assisted!
The weather was hot, the food was great, the Lodge was air conditioned, and the US Woman's Soccer Team won! We had a great time!
We also were able to assist with the Festival's big "Cake Parade" by allowing the 20+ children in the parade and 2 men on stilts to use the Lodge building as a staging area on both Saturday and Sunday. In addition, we did encounter some minor problems in the building during the Festival, and these will addressed for next year.
Our July 12 Stated Meeting was our "Wild Tie" and "Be Patriotic" night. We certainly were... The meeting lasted 2 hours, to conform with the 2 hour video of The Holy Land, and we transacted a lot of business and shared lots of Masonic history. Congratulations to Ernie Castillo, Richard Rosenberg, and Luis Orozco who read portions of the long section on Emblems from the 3rd Degree! This was very educational to all, and they each received "More Light" in the form of a Masonic Flashlight for their participation. This activity will be presented each month, so come to our Lodge meetings and receive "More Light"!
Worshipful Bruce Pruitt, P.M., H.A., received our Lodge's 1999 Hiram Award on July 19! As we all know, Bruce has been extremely active in Masonry for a very long time, has been very supportive of our Lodge in several capacities, and he certainly deserves this award. Congratulations Bruce!
Also, we had our Masonic Information Night on July 26, with presentations on Lodge Masonry by Dan McDaniel, PM; York Rite Masonry by Bruce Pruitt, PM; Scottish Rite Masonry by Maurice Dunbar, and the Order of the Eastern Star by Joyce Buschek, Worthy Matron of Valley Star OES. Many interested men and their families were invited, and several attended and enjoyed the evening and light refreshments downstairs.
Our Grand Master reminds us that August is California Masonic Foundation Month. Support the Masonic Foundation this month, and every month throughout the Masonic year.
Be sure to review our list of planned social events on page 9.
Our next Stated Meeting will be a short one on August 2 with the theme "Summer Clothes Night". The after dinner program will be the recently released video movie "Patch Adams" - a very funny story of a man who wishes to become a Doctor and be on a friendly basis with his patents - based on a true story, with Robin Williams (2 hrs). Coffee, drinks, port, and cookies will be available in the kitchen after the Lodge meeting for those who wish to see the rest of the movie. Our planned visitation to Monterey Lodge is on Saturday, October 2.
As summer comes upon us, let us remember:
This is YOUR Lodge!!
Let's plan, coordinate and do lots of things for it..
and for each other!
I'll look forward to seeing you in Lodge!
Fraternally,
Patrick Bailey
Master
Senior Warden - The Westerly Wind
Hi everybody, here it is only the beginning of August, and we've already had a busy summer! First, I want to extend a big congratulations to our lodge's newest Hiram Award recipient: Worshipful H. Bruce Pruitt, P.M. I know that everyone is pleased with the adding of Bruce's name to that list of illustrious members of our lodge who have received the highest honor Los Altos Lodge can confer upon one of its members.
Second, I was very happy to be present a few weeks ago at the Redwood City Rainbow Assembly initiation of eleven (11)!!! new girls. It convinces me even more that we have so much to give to the youth in our area, and that we must try to be as supportive as possible.
Third, on July 15th, two young men very close to me were invested with the Degree of Chevalier: Christian M. Martin, and Justin A. Martin.
The Chevalier is the highest honor a DeMolay can receive for service while as a boy. As their father, I am very proud of both of them, and I am very thankful for the many wonderful times all three of my sons have had with DeMolay. At the ceremony, Christian gave a brief impromptu speech, thanking the many dedicated men who have made DeMolay possible, and urging us Masons to continue being supportive. As you know, Christian was raised in Los Altos Lodge last September.
Fourth, I was able to attend the final one of the 14 Town Hall Meetings (THM's) which Grand Master Melville Nahin held this year. Even though attendance was low at the last one, the quality of the THM was top-notch. Over all, the 14 meetings held throughout California this year were a great opportunity for US3 working in the trenches to get to ask questions directly to our Grand Master. Every THM also had 30 minutes at the end where any person present could speak his mind, and the Grand Master listened. These THM's were also well attended by many of the Grand Lodge Officers, including our Deputy Grand Master, Alvin Weiss, the Grand Wardens, the Grand Secretary, The Assistant Grand Lecturers, and many Inspectors. By my estimation, over 1,000 Masons in California attended these THM'S. I think we owe a great big Thank You also to Worshipful Dick Riemer, P.M. who served as the Master of Ceremonies for these THM's and travelled all over the state with our Grand Master for these meetings.
Those who could attend a THM came away with a great deal of enthusiasm for our Craft, and a lot better understanding of what is going on. Here is a partial list of what those present asked the Grand Master to discuss: Par Capita Tax, Why don't we permit 18-yearolds to petition for the degrees? All three degrees to be conferred on the same day to a candidate, Raffles, How to make changes in the By-Laws, Liquor licenses, Wearing of yannulkes in lodges, Support of DeMolay, Rainbow for Girls, and Jobs Daughters, Temple Board committees and problems, Sesquicentenniel Events, Cornerstone Laying Ceremonies - Why can't we do the VFW? Stated Meetings: How to keep them to 30 minutes long!!!, Advertising Freemasonry throughout the state Solicitation: What is it, and how far can we go? How should a Mason wear his Masonic ring on his finger (Up or down)? Lodge activates Senior/Junior Wardens retreats What to do if you are having a problem with your Inspector Attendance Membership growth Grand Lodge 5-YearPlan Rose Parade float Masonic Homes Lodge consolidations Rich lodges / Poor lodges Where a lodge can donate any surplus funds Lists of Sojourners from out of state Secrets in Freemasonry (What is secret?) Prince Hall Lodges - Why affiliations with them are not allowed Holy Bible and alternative Books of Holy Writings Religion and politics in Freemasonry. Note: The one subject which was not discussed was Ritual, because Entered Apprentices & Fellowcrafts were also invited to attend.
Each of these subjects was spoken about at length, and some subjects took over 10 minutes.
One small piece of trivia: Wor. Dick Piemer, P.M., who was the Master of Ceremonies, told me during a break that he became a Senior DeMolay at age 21 without ever having been to even one DeMolay meeting. How could that be? I asked. As a young boy, Dick joined an organization called the Order of Boy Builders. He belonged to Nelson D. Elwood Chapter in Joliet, Illinois. He entered military service, and became 21 years old, but during that period, the Order of Boy Builders merged with DeMolay, and all Boy Builders automatically became DeMolays.
Finally, I had the sad duty last month to perform Masonic Funeral services for two Past Masters: John D. Alter, P.M. of DeAnza Lodge No. 51 1, and Dean R. Chamberlin, P.M. of Charity Jarman Lodge No. 362. I consider it a privelege to have known them both. We will miss them.
Robert Martin, P.M.
Sr. Warden
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