| Los Altos Lodge No. 712: | Last Updated on November 19, 2003 |
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It has truely been an honor and reward to serve as your Worshipful Master for 2003. I have had full cooperation and assistance from the Officers, Members, Past Masters, and Sweethearts. Thus my year as Master has been relatively easy...at least that is what I am told. Thank You for allowing me the opportunity to serve you. I will summarize this past year's accomplishments in the next Trestleboard (Jan 2004 "From the North"). Elections were held at our Stated Meeting on November 3rd. The following Members were elected:
* Master-Elect Ernie Castillo, PM, HA
* Senior Warden-Elect Luis Orozco, II, FM, HA
* Junior Warden-Elect James (Jim) Gable
* Treasurer-Elect Flemming Nielsen, HA
* Secretary-Elect Richard Rosenberg, PM, HA
I was elected to serve a three-year term on the board of Trustees of the Lodge. W. Bruce Pruitt, PM is retiring at the end of this year.
Lodge Trustee Term Expiration
Harold Hughes 12/31/04
Dan McDaniel 12/31/05
Richard Weyers 12/31/06
We have at least two, perhaps three, director positions opening on LAMTA for year 2004. At our next Stated Meeting, we will elect the directors for LAMTA. If you are interested in serving as a director of LAMTA, please let Ernie Castillo or myself know of your interest.
The Grand Master has approved the proposed amendment to our By-Laws allowing the Charity Committee to have the power to draw upon the Treasurer a sum not exceeding $500.00 for the relief of a distressed worthy Brother, his wife, widow, or orphan.
On Monday, November 10th, we had the pleasure of honoring Worshipful William (Bill) Malmstrom with the Hiram Award. A spaghetti dinner cooked by the Valley Star Club was enjoyed by all. Congratulations Worshipful Brother Bill on your Hiram Award.
Worshipful Ed Fentum, PM will be presenting information at our December 1st Stated Meeting regarding Royal Arch Masonry. Ed is currently the Grand High Priest of California Royal Arch Masons. If you are not yet a Member of York Rite Masonry and would like additional information, please attend our December Stated Meeting.
On Monday, December 8th, we will provide a reception for Worshipful A. Glenn MacBride who has been appointed Assistant Grand Lecturer, Division II of the Grand Lodge of California. Dinner will be provided at 6:30PM with the reception following in the Lodge room. Our new Grand Master, Most Worshipful Howard D. Kirkpatrick will be in attendance. Please call the Lodge Information/Reservation line with your reservation by Friday, December 5th, Noon (650) 569-6276.
Please attend Lodge.
Fraternally Feeling Good,
Richard Weyers,
Master
The one Masonic lesson that most impressed me is the teaching of tolerance and understanding among Masons. We are tasked to admonish gently. But gentleness is subjective and in the eyes of the beholder. One brother's gentle nature can still offend another brother. How do we overcome this? I guess by our other lessons of always trying to do things in the 'most friendly manner'. What is the 'most friendly manner'? For me it means, to grant brethren the benefit of the doubt when if in a moment of anxiety they do not act in a friendly/gentile manner; that doesn't justify that I should be unfriendly. A friend is someone you accept even when they make mistakes. None of us are perfect, we have all committed some act which later we regretted. That is why we must be tolerant and learn to forgive and forget. The bond of friendship takes time, trials, tribulation; but a true bond of friendship is another word for love. We Masons are supposed to make true friendships.
As to my hope for next year, well we already have plenty on the Los Altos plate to keep us busy. For one we must devote time to keeping the elevator project moving. Many brothers, particularly, Bros. Kermit Williams and Gene Murname have given a great initial thrust to this project so let's not drop the ball . We must work with our Temple Association to see that this becomes a reality.
Two other projects I wish to have in place and functioning early in the year is a telephone committee and a set of guidelines for administering aid to Distressed Worthy Brothers.
Getting the telephone committee in place will assist us in better preparing for our meal and special occasions. Towards that end I have already contacted several brothers and we have started a committee and made some phone calls. I also want to extend a request to any widows that may have some extra time to join our committee. If you can help, give me a call and I will include you in the committee. I would like it such that no committee member has to call more than ten other members.
As to DWB, I plan on presenting to the members my suggestions on how best to approach this implementation. Our WM has done a fantastic job in presenting and informing the brethren on how and what our responsibilities are. We also voted to amend the by-laws to enhance our capability to respond. Now I think we need a detail set of guidelines to enhance and help our officer in the performance of this duty.
I look forward to an active year. For the Ladies I hope to have programs that will entertain as well as be informative. I hope to have presentations at most of our affairs. I have commitments in February and March for horticultural presentations. I plan on opening these presentations to the Los Altos residents. Chapter three in this effort will be written in the next few months as I make more contacts and schedule them. If you Ladies have any suggestions, I am all ears. Contact me with your suggestions and I will investigate and see what develops. I plan on showing an old film in January. After the busy Holiday season and our stated meeting being the next day after Installation, I thought a pause was in store.
I would like to end with this quote: 'Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.' (Quote taken from the Dalai Lama on the millennium.)
Fraternally,
Ernest Castillo, P. M.,
Senior Warden
2004 Annual Installation of Officers
Brethren, widows, families and friends:
You are cordially invited to attend the
Annual Installation of Officers
of Los Altos Lodge, Number 712
on January 4, 2004
3:00 PM Hors D'oeuvres
4:00 PM Installation of Officers.
Fraternally,
Ernie Castillo, Master Elect
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