The Official Publication of the Audubon Park Lodge #272
December 2004
Volume 6, Number 10
From the East ...
We made it through our first Stated Communication and I hope all who were
present had as much fun as I did. The two things I want to do during this
year is focus on making Stated Communications and all our events fun for the
Brethren and others who attend and I also want to insure our Temple Board
is active and effective. If we are going to attract and retain "good men"
we must give them a reason to come to Stated Communications. A very important
part of those meetings is of course the ritual work that must be done. But
once the ritual has been attended to we should be able to do the work and
have some fun while we're working. I hope you will all plan to attend Stated
Communications on a regular basis. Who knows what you might learn by attending.
I'm sorry, I was out of town and unable to attend Family Night when Dean Whittier
once again prepared his "world famous" Taco Soup. I'm sure all who were there
had a great time. I encourage you all to participate in our Family Nights
- they are one more way for us to get together as Masons and include our families.
There is always plenty to eat and we have a great time.
I want to extend congratulations to WB Chet Echelbarger, who was recently
honored by the Order of DeMolay with the Cross of Honor. Chet received this
very prestigious award at the Installation of Officers at Empire Chapter Order
of DeMolay. Chet was recognized for his selfless commitment and dedication
to the young men of DeMolay by helping whenever and wherever he was asked.
This is certainly a very big honor for him, so please be sure to acknowledge
Chet when you see him next.
Our next Stated Communication will be December 8 and our next Family Night
will be December 22. As usual for this Holiday time of year we will have a
Christmas theme and Brother Bill Wilson will be collecting Toys for Tots.
Check the other two columns in this months Pillars for more details.
If any of the Brethren are interested in being our Senior or Junior Steward
for this year please let me know. Those are the only two officer positions
that aren't filled. Also, if anyone is interested in working on our program
of providing books to school kids please contact me. This is a program that
was very active for several years and we certainly don't want it to fade away.
Finally, any of you know of any "good men" who aren't Masons and should be?
I bet each of you know several. Have you spoken with them about Masonry? I
did - when I was in South Carolina playing golf. I gave the gentleman's name
to VWB Dean Heinemann, since the person with whom I spoke lives in Cheney.
I hope he petitions Temple Lodge #42. We need new Masons to join and share
in what we do - thank about it - and talk with someone who should be a Mason."
Chuck Young
Worshipful Master
From the West...
But there are those that we don't know that can't have that feeling, because
they aren't able to afford the few niceties that give Christmas a special
meaning. It could be that they are sick, out of a job, injured, divorced,
or a family of a serviceman in Iraq. There are any number of reasons, but
there is no reason that a child should miss out on the special feeling of
Christmas!
As "chairman" of the Audubon Park Toys for Tots, I ask that you help a child
feel that special warmth of being able to open a present on Christmas from
someone that loves them. We will never know who gets the present, but it will
go to someone that really needs it. So, on December 22nd 6:30 p.m., bring
a new, unwrapped toy to the Lodge Christmas Family night, and help make some
child's Christmas nicer!
Bill Wilson
Senior Warden
I want to thank everyone
for attending November Family Night. We all enjoyed "Dean's Famous Tortilla
Soup" and it WAS delicious!! With the addition of corn breads and the extras
of cheese/olives/sour cream...it was a meal "Fit for a King". That was followed
up with some delicious carrot cake and pumpkin pie. Brother Eric left up the
decorations from the Buckaroo Ball and it really added to the "atmosphere".
I am looking forward to seeing you at next months Family Night on Wednesday,
12/22/04. This evening will be an "Italian Night". Salad and garlic bread
will be provided so bring your "Favorite" Italian dish to share....anything
your little heart desires of an Italian flair! Dessert will also be provided.
Please don't forget your toy for "Toys for Tots" in lieu of the gift exchange.
Let us, as Brethren give our gifts to the children of Spokane this Christmas.
Beware there may be a door prize...if that "pesky" Lady is handing out name
tags again...ha ha. I thought it might be nice if we wore name tags "on our
hearts" at the dinners to help us all remember each others names. I know this
sounds strange since most of us see each other quite often. We do have new
comers that come to the dinners and our wives only see each other once a month.
"Remember to share your smiles as you never know who might need one."
Bill Queen
Junior Warden
Just a reminder that annual dues need to be paid by December 31, 2005. Please
send your dues to WB Floyd Morse, PO Box 9575, Spokane, WA 99209, if you have
not paid.
Happening at the lodge
The November stated meeting's theme was Veterans night. All veterans in attendance
were recognized. The Worshipful Master Chuck Young gave a reading of "Thank
You to Veterans" by Col. Frank Potter Ret. Senior Warden Bill Wilson read
a letter from Gen. Haggie, Commandant of the USMC remembering the Marine Corp.
anniversary. B. Bob Faulk reported on a presentation to Veterans by the El
Katif Legion of Honor.
The Job's Daughters and the Demolay youth received an honorarium for work
done during last month's officer installations. Two brothers were remembered
and honored in a memorial, Brother Chris Sutherland and Brother Carol B. Smith.
Audubon Park lodge raised $200 for Tom Turkey drive which was matched by a
brother in the district. Everyone enjoyed WB John Smith's presentation of
"The working tools of a traveling Mason" as Masonic education.
Audubon Park lodge received a Pillars of Progress for family values at the
District 27 meeting held Oct. 30, 2004. The award was presented to Worshipful
Master Chuck Young by MWB Satoru "Sat" Tashiro, Grand Master of the MW Grand
Lodge of F&AM of Washington.
The purpose of the APMF remains the same as when it was first incorporated:
1) Develop an asset base of at least $250,000.00. 2) Invest and manage assets
for growth. 3) Distribute income to Audubon Masonic Lodge 272 and The Temple
Building. The duties of the APMF Directors have been amplified since the APMF
reached its milestone of $100,000.00 of invested assets. We need to continue
fund raising efforts to reach the goal of $250,000.00.
The Audubon Park Masonic Foundation asset base has increased to $105,000.00.
The increase is due to market value increases of the securities held in our
portfolio. It appears stability has been restored to the financial markets.
It is evident investors confidence has been restored. This is an excellent
time for the APMF to receive donations and invest. With the end of this tax
year, we will review our investments and may make necessary adjustments.
Year end review: It is the time of the year for all of us to review our investment
holdings. We may have: 1) incurred gains or losses. 2) experienced stock splits,
reverse splits, spin offs, mergers, acquisitions, etc. 3) inherited "certificate
issues" and hold these and or other certificates in our name. 4) Brokerage
Accounts with "low account balances" or failed to do "minimum trading" required
by the institution. 5) issues we no longer favor or care to hold. 6) only
a few shares because of a spin off, reorganization, or reverse split, etc.
7) wanted not deal with the markets any longer. 8) a desire to reduce the
size of our estate. 9) a desire to make a Charitable Gifts or Donation to
APMF.
All of the prior donation programs remain in place and we encourage all to
consider donating. The Legal Counsel of the APMF Board of Directors informed
us we need to focus on larger gifts. The following programs have been in place
since the inception of the APMF. 1) Donation or Gifts. 2) Honorarium. 3) Bequest.
4) Memorial. 5) Asset Transfers. 6) Beneficiary of Life and Annuity contracts.
The BUCKAROO BALL & DESSERT was held Nov. 13, 2004. Fifty two dancers took
a Saturday Night bath, shaved, slapped on a little "Cowpoke Cologne," put
on their country western finery, donned their boots, grabbed their hats, saddled
their horses and rode to town to gather at the "Buckaroo Palace" for the Buckaroo
Ball & Dessert.
A wonderful time was had by all. We gave away over $400.00 in door prizes
to those who came. We also had a best dressed cowboy and cowgirl costume contest.
It was fun looking at all different attire. After the counting was done and
the bills were paid the Audubon Park Masonic Foundation netted $122.00.
Taco Soup Night: It was requested by the Temple Board members that we leave
the "Buckaroo Ball" scene in place for the family night. The children and
adults approached the scene with awe, they tested the real looking camp fire
flame. A number of us wore our cowboy outfits and it seemed appropriate for
the theme of the evening. APMF also donated soda pop, bottled water and milk,
surplus from the Buckaroo Ball, to the event. The soup, atmosphere and "familyship"
was enjoyable.
Please feel free to email me at eeberman@hotmail.com
or call me at 509-328-2910 with your comments or questions. Happy Holidays
to one and all. Wishing you good health, happiness and prosperity.
Fraternally yours W.Br. Eric E. Berman, Sec-Treas.
Famous Masons' Corner
Edward "Eddie" Rickenbacker (1890-1973) The leading American "ace" in WW1
and in WW2 he made special missions for the Secretary of War. Forced down
in the Pacific in 1942 he survived for three weeks in an life raft. He was
a member of Kilwinning Lodge No. 297, Mich.
Masonic Quiz
Q: What two Saint John's Days are celebrated by Freemasons?
A: Saint John, the Baptist, on June 24th and Saint John, the Evangelist, on
Dec. 27th.
Q: What is the oldest Masonic document in existence in the United States?
A: See the January issue of Pillars for the answer.
Calendar of Events
December 2004
12/7 Bethel #64 Job's Daughters Meeting 7:00 p.m.
12/8 December Stated Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
12/9 Ivanhoe Chapter #80 - Order of Eastern Star - 7:30 p.m.
12/21 Bethel # 64 Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
12/22 Family Holiday Gift Exchange - " Toys for Tots" - 6:30 p.m.
12/28 Temple Board Meeting - 6:00 p.m.
January 2005
1/4 Bethel #64 Job's Daughters Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
1/12 January Stated Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
Officers 2004-2005
Worshipful Master WB Chuck Young
Senior Warden
B Bill Wilson
Junior Warden B
Bill Queen
Treasurer
VWB Douglas Tucker
Secretary
WB Floyd Morse
Chaplain
WB David Ferguson
Marshal B
Robert McVicker
Senior Deacon
B Allan Jones
Junior Deacon
B Barry Rettkowski
Senior Steward -------
Junior Steward
-------
Tyler
B Rob Queen
Grand Lodge Lecturer VWB Douglas Tucker