| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on December 13, 2009 |
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Brethren—
Please note that our October stated meeting will have an important addition. Several of our Brothers, Roger Lawler, Michael Heeger and Laszlo Juhos will be receiving their Golden Veteran’s Award before our stated meeting. Wor. Randy Downey will make the presentations and we would like to have a great turnout.
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Annual Communication will be October 2, 3, and 4 at the Grand Lodge Masonic
Memorial Temple at 1111 California St. in San Francisco. All Master Masons are
cordially invited to attend.
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If you do not have your tickets to the Grand Master’s Reception on October 10th,
you would be wise to get them soon. It should be a great event.
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On the evening of October 19th, Los Altos Lodge will host the OAM. Please be present. We will need your help.
Fraternally,
Bob Rowan - Master
Brethren, your Officers work goes on, and the good news is that we are making good progress on getting our proficiencies in order. We must still finish the work for the 2nd and 3rd degrees but the light at the end of the tunnel is not the train.
The planning process for next year is well on the way. The calendar is almost set and flyers are completed for most of the major events for next year. As we work toward next year’s budget presentation, we find that our revenues have been decreasing while our costs have continued to increase. In the course of time we will be looking at all of our Lodge programs and will be ready to take any action necessary. Gone are the days of “unchecked” spending and yet, we must still provide necessary services. Trying to sort this all out is a difficult and daunting task but one that must be complete in the next few months. We cannot maintain the status quo without repercussions. The belief that we must have a strong foundation is paramount. In the age of competition, our building needs to be kept in a manner that warrants the confidence of our renters that we are providing quality service. We therefore cannot rely on past contributions as a way to continue some Lodge programs; believe me that as your Lodge Officer’s, we will do our part in making this transition.
A major problem at Los Altos is the lack of new members. In this regard, we will be taking several new steps in the near future to try and increase our membership such as an open house and newspaper ads. I hope you will all be patient and understand that we are trying our best to provide the Lodge with good programs while maintaining a sound fiscal responsibility to the Lodge.
Bobbie Byers
Senior Warden
Brethren,
This weekend several members of our Lodge and also members of Valley Star Chapter of OES, enjoyed the “wine of refreshment”. We spent Saturday at two wineries, Solis (pronounced Sol-ees) and Fortino, in Gilroy. We left the parking lot of the Lodge around 10:30 and drove down to the wineries at the junction of Watsonville Rd. and Hecker Pass Highway.
At the Solis Winery we were treated to tasting their award-winning wines, and an interesting and unique tour of their facility and vineyards. The production facility is a few hundred yards behind their tasting room down a dirt road running amidst the vineyards. As you go you are invited to sample some of the grapes hanging from the vines. Being September the grapes are almost ripe and are very sweet. The difference is that wine grapes are much smaller than the table grapes you buy in the store, have thicker skins and, of course, seeds. We were able to try three types of grapes, Sangiovese, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. The tour and description of how they harvest and prepare the grapes was very interesting.
Afterwards, we had lunch under the shade of the very large trees that are around the Solis Winery tasting room. It was very enjoyable and very relaxing. We then went down the street (about a mile) to the Fortino winery for a standard tasting.
Afterwards, some of our people drove over to the outlet stores in Gilroy and the rest of us returned to the Lodge getting there around 4:30. A great time was had by all. I plan to do this again next year. So keep your ears open for the Senior Warden’s Wine Tour, next year, and join us for a great day of fun, and friendship.
Cheers!
David Anderson
Junior Warden
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