| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on September 21, 2008 |
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Brethren -
It’s fall, and there’s a chill in the air already. It seems like yesterday we were celebrating the coming of spring and the warmer weather. Now we have to prepare for winter, Thanksgiving and the Holidays will soon be upon us. Are you ready?
As we move into October, Grand Lodge and most of our activities for the year will be past. At the Stated Meeting, we will announce the results of the Legislation held during the Annual Communication.
The balance of the month will be busy with Officer’s Practices in preparation for Tom Dobrov’s raising on the 27th. To the officers, these Monday practices are a must so we can confer the best degree possible. It is with some sadness, that I must announce that Tom has taken a job in San Diego, so this date for his raising is firm as he will have to travel from there for this event. We will open Lodge at 7:30PM and call down for his proficiency in the Fellow Craft Degree. Then we will proceed to raise him to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason.
One break from the practice schedule comes on Monday, October 20th, when we will host the Santa Clara Officer ’s Associat ion OAM. Brothers, we need your help to make this a stellar affair. It is the once a year when we host the OAM so we need to make Los Altos a stand-out host. Please contact me with your availability to give us a hand.
As we look forward, the November Stated Meeting will be a full evening as it is not only the Annual Election of Officers, but also the Annual Roll-Call Meeting. As this is a mandatory attendance event, it is my hope that we will have as many members present as possible to help elect next year’s line of officers.
Shortly after that, we will be into the holiday season, also busy with Lodge installations. In my conversations with Bob Rowan, we have set the date of the Los Altos Lodge’s Annual Installation of Officers on Sunday, January 11th. Please mark your calendars now for this most important date.
That’s all from the East. May you have a great October and Happy Halloween!!!
Jim Gable - Master
The Test Author Unknown Several years ago, the story is told of a Mason who always wore his Masonic ring and lapel pin when in public. On some occasions, he rode the bus from his home to the downtown area. On one such trip when he sat down, he discovered the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, "You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it." Then he thought, "Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter; who would worry about this little amount." Anyway, the transit company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet. When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change." The driver with a smile replied, "I noticed your Masonic ring and lapel pin. I have been thinking lately about asking a Mason how to join. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. You passed the test. Can you tell me how to become a Mason?" When the Mason stepped off the bus, he said a silent prayer, "Oh God, Grand Architect of the Universe, I almost sold you and my beloved Masons out for a mere quarter." Our actions are the only Masonic creed some will ever see. This is a really almost scary example of how people watch us as Masons and may put us to the test even without us realizing it! Always be diligent, whether it be at the theater, restaurant, grocery, service station or just driving in traffic. Remember, whether it be a lapel pin, a ring, or an emblem on the car, you carry the name of our great fraternity on your shoulders whenever you call yourself a Mason. You never can tell who might be watching!Let’s all try not to sell out our own Lodge. We need your help and participation for our degrees and programs. “You never can tell who might be needing you.”
Sincerely and fraternally,
Robert D. Rowan
Been there, done that and WILL NOT DO IT AGAIN. As my year as Junior Wardens gets closer to the end I look back and will make a few observations. This is the fourth time I’ve been Junior Warden. Three times in Los Altos and one just before I joined the lodge in 1989. I guess I came to the lodge spoiled. The lodge that I had been in had a Senior and Junior Steward that did what Stewards were to do in the lodge. They assisted the Junior Warden in all of his duties for lodge refreshments, prepared candidates, and performed what ever duties they were asked to do. After lodge they helped in putting things away, help in cleaning the kitchen and putting out the trash. In the three times that I have been Junior we have not had stewards that did what was expected of them. I thought that at installation we installed two stewards. Maybe I was wrong, as I have not really seen them this year. When a member assumes a position in the line and does not fill that position all year, it puts an extra burden on all the other officers. The last few degrees that we have done we have had to recruit fill-ins to do the job of Senior and Junior Steward. We have a third degree coming up in October and will have to look for help in these positions. These positions were to be progressive in moving up the line to Master, but in years past this has not happened. We need member that will make the commitment to assume a position and fulfill it.
Bill Malmstrom, PM
The 2009 Masonic Student Assistance Program or MSAP is a vital link to help schools educate teachers and staff in dealing with ‘at risk’ children. To better provide for this program, Los Altos Lodge will match individual member’s contributions, dollar for dollar, to a maximum total of $500. So make out a check to the Lodge and mark that it’s for the MASP Program in the memo block. Your donation is tax deductible and you will receive a receipt from Grand Lodge to honor your generosity.
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