The Official Publication of the Audubon Park Lodge #272

 

February 2007
Volume 9, Number 2

From the East ...

There are items o n the agenda of our February Stated meeting that will be of i n terest to all Brethre n . We will be getti n g ready to prese n t 2 bicycles to Fi n ch School for their “Bikes for Books” program. There is a boy’s bike, a n d a girl’s bike, that will be prese n ted. Tha n ks to Br. Gary Syme’s, astute observations, about $60 was saved due to his sharp eyes a n d seei n g them o n sale at Target. They will be o n display at the Stated meeting for all to see; just i n case you missed them at the Family n ight.

The Rei n stateme n t I n vestigatio n Committee has retur n ed its report a n d there will be a vote o n the rei n stateme n t of Br. Hutchi n so n . We are starti n g to see some of the “lost” brethre n fi n d their way back to our Lodge, a n d we n eed to make sure that they are give n a warm a n d brotherly “Welcome Home”. We had a n other brother from Sachee n Lake drive dow n for the Family Night, a n d look forward to seei n g him agai n i n the n ear future. If you k n ow of someo n e that has “lost” their way to the Lodge, talk to them a n d offer to help them “fi n d” the road back to the Lodge.

We will be havi n g a Rusty Nail meeti n g i n April if we have a n y Brothers that wa n ts to “brush-up” o n floor work, grips, words, a n d toke n s for Lodge. This will n ot be a Stated meeti n g, but a frie n dly, casual, i n formative meeti n g for those that are a bit rusty. If you happe n to be o n e of the “lost” Brothers, please feel free to co n tact me, or a n y of the Lodge Officers to see what we ca n do for you to get you back i n the Lodge a n d amo n g old (a n d some n ew) frie n ds. Now that o n e of our Brothers has decided to “retire” from public service, he has said he will be see n more arou n d the Lodge! This is what we are hopi n g for, to build our n umbers back up a n d fill more seats at the Stated meeti n gs. Fresh faces are ALWAYS welcome at our, make that YOUR, Lodge. Here’s looki n g forward to seei n g more n ew, n ot so n ew, a n d frie n dly faces at Audubo n Park Lodge #272!

See you in Lodge,

Bill Wilson
Worshipful Master

 

From the West...

                                  Happy Vale n ti n es Day...!!

What was St. Vale n ti n es thi n ki n g?!?!   Flowers, ca n dy, cards a n d a cha n ce to say "I Love You" to the o n es we love.  What a n ovel co n cept i n our "Busy, let's hurry up, got to get somewhere world"....

 

Recently Lib has lost two very good frie n ds, Rob a n d Heather lost a very special family member, her Gra n dma Barb a n d as most of you k n ow, our brother Floyd lost his precious Dee .  That "co n cept" sou n ds pretty good about n ow.  Lib was able to spe n d some quality time with her friends a n d as a family we had a very special Christmas Eve with Barb. That "quality time" is more precious tha n gold to our family.

 

Let's remember this mo n th to take the "time" to maybe, give that flower, give that card or just say "I Love You" or "I Care about You" to someo n e special, heck eve n to your friends....my poi n t bei n g is take the "time" a n d do n 't be i n such a hurry to "get some where"....

 
Remember to share your smile as you never know who might need one.

Bill Queen
Senior Warden

From the South...

Greetings to all from the South.  It was great to see Br Bob Hutchinson at Lodge last month.  He like other brothers is leading a very busy life.  Getting to lodge is only one of many things we all have to do.  Taking time to go to Lodge gives you a chance to share in brotherly love and fellowship and reminds us what is important in our lives.  Be like Brother Bob and come see what is happening at your Lodge.

Barry Rettkowski

Junior Warden

In Other News...

From the Secretary's Desk ...

Greeti n gs Brothers, Audubon Park Lodge had 14 brothers purchase Gra n d Lodge Life Memberships.  The Lodge has approximately 27 brothers still payi n g dues. Fiftee n of these have paid a n d we have twelve left to pay.  If you have not remitted your dues, please do so. The Gra n d Lodge Life Membership report has bee n completed for Gra n d Lodge.  We e n ded 2006 with 132 members.  I n March I will report further o n the numbers.  

Feb 14th will be our Stated Meeti n g, followed by a social time. If you are able to atte n d, please joi n us for a cup or two. 

W.M. Bill is presenting a special program, "Rusty Nail" to assist brothers i n re-lear n i n g what is  n ecessary to pass with co n fidence the tests of the Tyler and Deacons. Pass the word to all brothers.  Please co n tact W.Br. Bill if i n terested i n more information.

I hope you have a great year a n d if able, visit us. 

Fraternally Yours:

W.Br. Eric E. Berman

Audubon Park Masonic Building Association

I'm assured by WB Floyd Morse the Church has fully paid the i n creased re n t a n d has also give n us the required damage deposit.  We've hired the housekeepers to come i n each week a n d feedback from them is very positive.

The Lodge looks very n ice, the members of the church are so far taki n g very good care of the buildi n g, a n d the extra re n tal i n come is very n ice to have a n d is helpi n g defray the extra expe n ses i n curred due to the i n creased use of the buildi n g.

The n ext Temple Board meeti n g is slated for Tuesday February 27 at 6 p.m. at the Lodge. A n yo n e is i n terested i n joi n i n g us is cordially invited. If you are i n terested i n joi n i n g the Temple Board as a member, please co n tact WM Bill Wil so n . We curre n tly have a vaca n cy o n the Board.

Fraternally,

WB Chuck Young

Happening at the Lodge

Brethren, WM Lewis Dela n o of Orie n tal Lodge #74 volu n teered to host the first floor work semi n ars o n Mo n day February 19, begi n n i n g at 7 p.m. in the Blue room at the downtown Temple .  All who are i n terested i n atte n di n g to work o n Lodge proficie n cy or degree proficie n cy are i n vited to atte n d. Depe n di n g o n how ma n y are able to atte n d will determi n e just how much we are able to accomplish. In additio n to Floor Work proficie n cy, we wa n t to discuss Maso n ic history a n d traditio n s. I n short, we wa n t these sessio n s to be fu n a n d productive for those who atte n d.

 

Bro Sam Atwood is currently in New York attending Grad School .  His email address is satwood@gonzaga.edu.

Audubon Park Masonic Foundation.

In January, Audubon Park Masonic Foundation received four stock transfers from a client. If you have a n i n terest in doing the same contact me to discuss it further. 

 

The Pension Protectio n Act of 2006 allows i n 2007 ow n ers of IRA's, who are age 70 1/2 or older, to exclude from i n come withdrawals (up to $100,000) whe n the withdrawal is donated, transferred directly, to a charity. There are many reasons to donate in this manner.  Again, please email or call me for more i n fo. 

 

Clam Chowder Feed: As chairma n of the event, I would like to thank all who came to our di n n er a n d or made do n atio n s.  We had 44 paid diners, a n d fed 17 childre n , gra n dchildre n , Jobs Daughters a n d advisors.  We received do n atio n s which helped set off the expe n ses. We cleared $135.00. 

I would like to thank our Jobs Daughters, Ladies, a n d advisers ( Bethel 3) for their assista n ce with the di n n er, service a n d clea n up.  Thank you to my crew for all their hard work: A n n e, Tami, Je n n ifer, Emma, Gra n t, Etha n a n d Jo n n ah.  Also thank you to Br. Bill Quee n , Br. Terry Fossum, Br Gary Syme and Br. Barry Rettkowski for their help. Thanks to Maryjea n , my Secretary, for her assisti n g as our greeter a n d receptio n ist.  And a very special thanks to Mr. Larry Harris, my brother in law, who served as our Chef. 

 

Audubon Park Masonic Foundation Annual Meeti n g will be held o n March 21, 2007 at 6:30 pm . This is our annual Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner. The purpose of this meeting is to report o n the activities a n d results of the previous year.  The Foundation also distributes grants to the various charities we support.  Certificates Of Appreciation will be presented to our do n ors.  M.W. Br. Charles McQuerry, Gra n d Master will be our very special guest a n d assist i n prese n ti n g the certificates to our do n ors.  The board of directors invites a n d e n courages all Maso n s, family member a n d friends to attend.

 

I have recently mailed a semi-annual fund raising letter to our Brothers.  Please co n sider remitting a do n ation to the foundation.  It will be very much appreciated as we are n ow growing!

 

The Foundation goal is $250,000!  An asset base of this size will generate $15,000 to $25,000 of a n n ual i n come with which to support our Temple , Lodge a n d Charities! We currently are at $150,177.

Fraternally Yours:
WB Eric E. Berman, Sec-Treas. APMF
Email: eeberman@hotmail.co

The Pillars
Do you find them interesting? Are they relevant? Is there too little or too much information? Would you like to see something different? Should they be sent less often? Is email an option for you? Would just a post card listing the upcoming activities be adequate?

For many years the Lodge officers have struggled with the question of how we keep our Brothers informed in relation to the expense incurred doing so. Reviewing the budget and bring expenses in line with projected revenue, one of the items being discussed is the expense of printing and mailing the Pillars. W.M. Bill Wilson has taken under consideration several proposals. He may choose to change nothing or he may make minor or major changes. The Pillars are prepared and bulk mailed to some 200 addresses 10 times a year at a cost of about $141.00 an issue. The expense is approxiamately one-fifth of the budget. The Lodge officers are very sensitive to the fact that many of our Brothers live miles from us. It may have been years since a Brother has had the opportunity to visit his Lodge, and the Pillars is the only contact he may have with us in Spokane. We want to make sure everyone still feels welcome and connected to our Lodge. Please take a moment and give us your opinion.

Famous Masons' Corner
Admiral Robert Peary, (1856-1920); Discovered the North Pole on April 6, 1909 .  He was raised in Kane Lodge No 454, N.Y., 1896

 

 

Officers 2006-2007

Worshipful Master     WB Bill Wilson

Senior Warden            B Bill Queen

Junior Warden            B Barry Rettkowski

Secretary                     WB Eric Berman

Treasurer                      WB Floyd Morse

Chaplain                        VWB Gaylon Arisman

Marshal                          B Gary Syme

Senior Deacon                -------

Junior Deacon                B Rob Queen

Senior Steward               -------

Junior Steward               -------

Tyler                            Br. Bob Shive

Senior Grand Warden    RWB Douglas E. Tucker

Deputy of District 27       VWB Chuck Young

 

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