| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on November 29, 2001 |
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There are two great honors that makes a Masters year truly complete. One of the greatest is to present a Fifty Year pin. That honor was made available to me at our last Stated Meeting when I assisted our Inspector Dan McDaniel in presenting Bother Bill Harvey with his Golden Veterans Award. This meeting was also our Past Masters Night and we had thirty five Past masters and members in attendance along with many of their wives. What a great night for Bother Bill.
What really made him feel good was when everyone lined up and came by to shake his hand and congratulate him. Bill congratulation again, this was a great privilege for me and knowing you has enriched my Masonic life.
The other honor is the presentation of the Hiram Award. This honor will take place on November 19 and the recipient is Gunner Galsgaard, PM. As this article is written before this event has taken place I'll provide more particulars in my farewell article next month.
Thanks to Worshipfuls Robert Martin and Kermit Williams for arranging the Past Masters Night. The work was first class and the turn out was fantastic. We haven't had that many for dinner since the crab feed in February.
The annual election of Officers was held and the Officers Elect are Bob Lake - Master, Rick Weyers - Senior Warden, Hal Bain - Junior Warden, Richard Rosenberg - Secretary, H. Sterling Bailey - Treasurer, Harold Hughes - Trustee, Ernie Castillo, Gunner Galsgaard, and Larry Fagan as members of the Temple board. Congratulations to all.
After this meeting Hal Bain is breathing a big sigh of relief. He gave his Third Degree Proficiency at the Stated meeting and it was a splendid job. Now he says he can concentrate on the task of Junior Wardens for the ensuing year. Anyone thinking about going through the line and becoming Master of a lodge should take the Third Degree proficiency The best time is as soon after being raised as possible, while it is still fresh in his mind and not yet confused with other ritual.
My year is almost over and it has been a very full year to say the least. Starting with installation in January, crab feed in February, Fifty Anniversary Dinner in March, combined meeting with Palo Alto in May, Robert Martins Wedding in June, Art and Wine festival in July visitation in August, Roll Call, Coming Home dinner and meeting in September, hosting the OAM and our Past Masters Night in October, 50 year pin and Hiram Award presentations in November. I will need time to catch my breath after such a year. My last event will be the Holiday Dinner on December 17th. We will have a special dinner followed by The Peggy McMurry Singers entertaining us with Holiday Music. Please join us.
Fraternally
William J. Malmstrom, P.M.
Master
As I sit here writing this I am looking forward to a busy holiday season. Before we get to Hanukah, Christmas and Kwanza let us not overlook Thanksgiving. I know it has been a year of great tragedy, both on a personal and global scale. PLEASE spend a moment and give thanks for what we do have.
Our November stated meeting was Past Master's night. Under the direction of our Junior Past Master, the Past Masters performed the opening and closing of lodge. Dinner was a well-attended chance to socialize and renew old friendships. Watch for a repeat next year. November will be a Past Masters event. If we have a candidate for a degree we will have a Past Masters degree, otherwise we will try to continue this year's event.
The Grand Lodge Annual Communications have come and gone. The results were reported in last month's trestleboard, but I thought I'd take a moment to explain a few of the items that did pass. The Grand Master's recommendation No. 4 was to appoint a task force to write a ritual manual, it passed by 73.3% What this means is that there will be a companion to our ritual cipher. The current cipher is an aid in memorizing the ritual work, the new manual is supposed to add directions on floorwork and other operational details on conferring the degrees. It is due from the task force at the next October's Grand Lodge session. The other resolution I'd like to comment on is No. 01-12. The Masonic Rose Parade float will not be continued without a new source of funding, and this resolution was an attempt to start an Endowment Fund to pay for the float. The argument was made that the Rose Parade float is a very visible way to advertise the family of Freemasonry. The California resolution was only one part of the equation. Many other Grand Lodges will also be voting as to whether or not to support this project. Now comes the catch - if and only if enough other jurisdictions vote to contribute, resolution No. 01-12 (passed by 52.7%) will add a $1.50 charge per member to each lodge for the 2002-2003 Grand Lodge year. We in California have cast our vote, now we need to wait for the results from the rest of the World.
Elections for Officers were held in November and I am very honored to have been elected as Master for 2002. Congratulations to all the Officers elected to serve Los Altos Lodge for next year. I am planning next year with an eye to what you, the members want. In looking at the results of our member survey a couple of ideas came out. Let's have more scholarships and support of our community, fun activities and short meetings. We are also discussing how we MIGHT change the lodge dinners. Suggestions include: having some months with no dinner before but light refreshments after the meeting, having more stag nights or even having a different night for our family dinner. Next year's trestleboard will include a new column called "Member Update". Each month we hope to include a message from one of our members on any new happenings in their life. Please write a short (a few paragraphs) and either send it to me or our trestleboard editor. As space permits we'll include them in future editions of our trestleboard. I'm sure you'd like to hear news about some of your brothers and they'd like to hear about you too. Also at the December stated meeting I will be presenting a preliminary annual budget for your consideration. Remember this is your lodge!
Fraternally,
Robert Lake
Master Elect.
Elections are completed and I am very happy to accept the position of Senior Warden-Elect. As Junior Warden this past year I can positively say that I am now exhausted. I feel this year has been very productive and our Lodge is strong. I could not have accomplished this year and all the refreshments without the help of the Valley Star Club. Leslie Hayes, Laura Corner, and their staff of dedicated, quality cooks put out many magnificent home-cooked meals. Every stated meeting dinner and the OAM dinner in October were enjoyed by all. I hope you had a chance to indulge yourself, if not, please come in 2002!
I also would like to thank our Worshipful Master, Bill Malmstrom for his continued support throughout this year and the advise of Brother Bob Lake in preparing for each month and ultimately the year. Also, to the many dedicated Brothers who helped with set-up, greetings, clean-up, cash receipts at the door (Brother Hal Bain), and dishwashing/garbage detail (Brother Greg Buschek, P.M.).
But...my year is not yet complete! Our Stated Meeting dinner for December 3rd will include: Hot rolls, Caesar Salad, Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans, Chocolate Ice Cream & Cookies. The cost will be $10.00 with reservations by noon Friday, November 30th, and $12.00 at the door. R.S.V.P. to [me].
On Friday, December 7th, the Santa Clara Valley Officer's Association is hosting a Holiday Party for Masons, Families, and Friends. The festivities will take place at the San Jose Masonic Center (On the hill) beginning at 6:00 PM. The cost of admission is a can of food for the Food Drive. If you are bringing children who expect to receive a present, please bring a wrapped present for each of your children with their names clearly marked for Santa to hand out to them. There will be a magician, the Shrine clowns, and many fun and exciting events. Please come and enjoy yourselves with your families, friends, children, grandchildren, etc...
On Monday, December 17th, we will have our annual Holiday Dinner starting at 6:30 PM followed by entertainment by The Peggy McMurry Singers. The dinner will include: Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese, Stuffed Beef Sirloin, Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Vegetables and Dessert. Our own Worshipful Master and our newly elected Junior Warden, Hal Bain, will be preparing the meal. The cost will be $8.00 with reservations by noon Friday, December 14th, and $10.00 at the door. R.S.V.P. to 650-903-9625.
On Monday, January 7th, 2002 (following our Installation for LA712 on Saturday, January 5th, 3:00 PM) we will have our first Stated Meeting dinner of 2002. The dinner will include: French Bread, Bagel-Bites, Mixed Green Salad, Chili and Soup, Top-Your-Own Sundaes. The cost will be $7.00 with reservations by noon Friday, January 4th, and $9.00 at the door. Please make your reservations with our Junior Warden-Elect, Brother Hal Bain, at 408-489-5577. (Note: If you had purchased the "meal plan" for 2001, this meal is included)
I'll see you in Lodge!
Richard Weyers
Senior Warden Elect.
by Bro. Rudyard Kipling
There was Rundle, Station Master, An' Beazley of the Rail, An' Ackman, Commissariat, An' Donkin' o' the Jail; An' Blake, Conductor-Sergeant, Our Master twice was 'e, With im that kept the Europ-shop, Old Framjee Eduljee. Outside - 'Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam! Inside - 'Brother, an' it doesn't do no 'arm. We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square, An' I was junior Deacon in my Mother-Lodge out there! We'd Bola Nath, Accountant, An' Saul the Aden Jew, An' Din Mohammed, draughtsman Of the Survey Office too; There was Babu Chuckerbutty, An' Amir Singh the Sikh. An'Castro from the fittin'-sheds, The RomanCatholick! We 'adn't good regalia, An' our Lodge was old an' bare, But we knew the Ancient Landmarks, An' we kep' 'em to a hair; An' lookin' on it backwards It often strikes me thus, There aint such things as infidels, Except', per'aps,it's us. For monthly, after Labour, We'd all sit down and smoke (We dursn't give no banquets. Lest a Brother's caete were broke), An' man on man got talkin' Religion an' the rest, An' every man comparin' Of the God 'c knew the best. So man on man got talkin', An' not a Brother stirred Till mornin' waked the parrots An' that dam' brain-fever-bird. We'd say 'twas 'ighly curious, An' we'd all ride 'ome to bed, With Mo'ammed, God, an' Shiva Changin' pickets in our 'ead. Full oft on Guv'ment service This rovin foot 'ath pressed, An' bore fraternal greetin's To the Lodges east an' west, Accordin' as commanded. >From Kohat to Singapore, But I wish that I might see them In my Mother-Lodge once more! I wish that I mighat see them, My Brethren black an' brown, With the trichies smellin' pleasant An' the hog-darn passin' down' An' the old khansamah snorin' On the bottle-khana floor, Like a Master in good standing With My Mother-Lodge once more. Outside - 'Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!' Inside - Brotherm,' an' it doesn't do no 'arm. We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square, An' I was Jounior Deacon in mu Mother-Lodge out there!
"Mr. Dreyfuss Goes to Washington"
Monday, Nov. 26, 9-11 PM on the History Channel;
And also again at Nov. 27, from 1 - 3 PM.
[Patrick Bailey videotaped this show, and then loaned it Ernie Castillo, who will circulate it to any interested Lodge members. It should eventually end up in our videotape library in the dining room.]
The following are the terms of the Los Altos Masonic Temple Association as of January 2002:
Hal Bain, Lou Orozco, FM, and Patrick Bailey, PM, are in their 3 year of their first 3 year term;
Greg Buschek, PM, and Robert Martin, PM, are in their 2 year of their first 3 year term;
Harold Hughs is in his 5 year of his second 3 year term.
Gunnar Galsgaard, PM, and Ernie Castillo, PM, are in their first year of their second 3 year term. Larry Fagan is in his first year of his first 3 year term.
The Trustees and their tenures are: Harold Hughs for 3 years, Bruce Pruitt for 2 years Gunnar Galsgaard 1 year.
Dec. 17, 2001:
Cost: $8.00 - with Reservations
Or
$10.00 - at the door.
Entertainment:
The Peggy McMurry Singers
Dinner is at 6:30 PM,
With Entertainment to folllow.
Reservations, call Richard Weyers.
Taken from I Kings 10:24:
T N T P S O L O M O N A AND ALL H D A H D O G O T M U N THE EARTH E M S O I C L T S P U D SOUGHT TO E U P I E S H R L D T R SOLOMON A N T M H G W A I T R G TO HEAR R A R C U N N I L C A C HIS WISDOM T E I O R D I M S H E A WHICH H H S D A C L T A D H E GOD HAD W O N L U I W C U C O I PUT IN HIS H T L M N M R N L P T M HEART
The following Brothers have passed to the Grand Lodge Above. Ken F. Arnold, 12/11/60 - 10/15/2001 "J.D." Pressnell 8/19/25 - 10/10/2001
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