The Official Publication of the Audubon Park Lodge #272
March 2005
Volume7, Number 3
From the East ...
By the time you are reading this I will hopefully be sitting pool side with
an "adult beverage" close at hand, enjoying the sun, sand and surf at a resort
in Mazatlan. Before you feel too "sorry" for me, please recognize that "someone
has to do it" and this time it's Nancy and me.
We had our first initiation on Thursday February 24. Our newest Mason is Brother
Cliff Miller. Cliff is a good and long time friend and colleague of Senior
Deacon Allan Jones. I have also known Cliff for many years. He is an auditor
with American West bank. When you see Brother Cliff at Lodge or one of our
many family gatherings, be sure to welcome him to Audubon Park Lodge.
By now you all should have received my notice that we are revising the Articles
of Incorporation and By Laws of the Northwest Blvd Temple Association. These
changes have been mandated by the Grand Lodge of Washington to insure that
Temple Associations (Temple Boards), which hold title to the buildings and
other capital assets of the Lodges, are written in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the Internal Revenue Service and applicable state statutes.
These revisions have been "in the works" for well over two years and we recently
received the templates to make the revisions. All Temple Associations are
501(c)(2) organizations. By insuring the Articles of Incorporation and By
Laws are written in the correct format we will fall under the "protection"
of Grand Lodge for tax purposes. I'm telling you all this, again since the
changes will be summarized in Stated Meeting March 9 so we can approve them
at the April 12 stated meeting. They will then be sent to Grand Lodge for
review and approval, before being forwarded to the Secretary of State's office.
Please be sure to attend Stated Communication March 9, when Brother Bill Wilson,
as pro tem Master, will review the changes. We'd be happy to see you at Stated
Communication at ANY time!
Next time you are in the Lodge be sure to notice how much nicer the kitchen
looks. Seven brothers spent several hours on February 20 cleaning, sorting,
tossing, and cleaning in the kitchen. It is now much better organized for
those who use it. Anyone interested in a steam table should speak to me or
Brother Allan Jones. Any reasonable offer will be accepted.
That's all for this month, please think kind thoughts of me while in the sun
and fun of Mexico.
Chuck Young
Worshipful Master
From the West...
I would like to thank WB Bob Good for pro-teming as Senior Steward, and VW
Gaylon Arisman for filling in as Junior Steward. It was on rather short notice
as WB Eric Berman has a case of the Spokane Bug and is in no condition being
out and about. Sorry you couldn't make it Eric. Thanks also to WB John Smith
for being our Tyler and assisting around the Lodge. As usual Brother Bill
Queen had some very nice refreshments for after the ceremony.
In a different vein, Brother Bill Queen and his "better half" Libby laid out
quite a nice spread for Family Night Pot Luck Wednesday the 23rd. The theme
was chocolate, and boy was there chocolate galore! It was a dessert-a-holic's
dream come true! Everybody brought a dessert of some type, and there was even
a plate of ham salad sandwiches that were heart shaped. The motif was Valentine
centered with red heart baskets on all the tables, candy hearts were scattered
around for the snacking, and everything was red as far as the eye could see.
Everybody enjoyed themselves immensely, I know of several people that left
with a Chocolate and sugar high that will last a week! Thanks again JW Bill
Queen and Libby.
Bill Wilson
Senior Warden
I want to thank everyone for attending the Family
Night on 02/23/05. We enjoyed an evening of soft music, soft lights and wonderfully
delicious deserts. They ranged from sinfully good chocolate brownies to coconut
cake to coconut cream pie. We even had sugar-free cookies & deserts for those
watching their calories and or waists! The desserts were served with coffee's
and tea's to compliment the evening. The evening of "Sweets for the Sweet"
was truly delicious. The "door prize" was given to the Shrine Hospital for
the children to enjoy due to that fact that the "Lucky" chair happened to
be empty!!
One little surprise that Lib and I had not planned for....next potluck will,
as the Girl Scouts say "Be Prepared"...We are looking forward to seeing you
at the next Family Night on 3/16/05 for the corned beef and cabbage dinner.
Be sure to wear a "Bit of the Green" for the evening.
The following month the Family Potluck will be on 4/27/05 at 6:30. This potluck
will be a "Spring Fling"! Lib and I will be barbequing hamburgers and hotdogs.
Please bring your favorite salads or desserts to top it off! We'll bring spring
in! Libby and I want to thank each of you again for making the potlucks a
success and always "Remember to share your smiles as you never know who might
need one".
Bill Queen
Junior Warden
The Temple Board met Tuesday, February 22. The Board
reviewed the Temple Board Association finances, projected income and budget.
For February the Temple Board Association had monthly expenses of $3,100,
monthly income of $2,000 and an account balance of $17,000. For the purpose
of Internal Control we now require two (2) signatures on all checks we issue
from the Temple Board Association Accounts.
We have agreed to reduce the rent from $100 per month to $50 per month for
the Ivanhoe Chapter 80 Order of Eastern Star. We will review their rental
rate in September.
Sunday afternoon, February 20, we had a workday at the Lodge. I especially
want to thank Brothers Chuck, Franz, Jerel, Bill Wilson, Barry, and Floyd
for their help. We got the kitchen cleaned and organized, hauled a few things
off and set some items aside to be sold at our yard sale later this year.
Our next workday will be March 24. This will be on a Thursday evening, and
WM Chuck said he would provide the pizza. We will be preparing walls for painting.
There is plenty of work, so please plan to join the fun!
The contractor expects to begin work on the ceilings on March 2. The furniture
will have to be removed from the rooms to be worked on before he arrives.
We have a nice ad in the Yellow Pages for renting our building for special
events. Check it out, and tell your friends and family if they need a place
to have an event.
To learn more about what is happening in our Lodge visit our web-page at www.audubonpark272.com.
The current schedule of activities is posted there.
Happening at the lodge
See what you are missing… Plan to attend the next Lodge meeting.
Audubon Park Masonic Foundation.
APMF "Twelfth Annual Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner" and "Annual Meeting" will
be held at 6:30 on March 16, 2005. The By-laws require the Board of Directors
of APMF to hold an "Annual Meeting." Please RSVP to join us for a fun evening.
Memorial Fund: The APMF Memorial Fund is a restricted fund. Donations received
are invested in a permanent fund and only the earnings can be used for the
purpose of preservation or improvement of the Temple Building. APMF received
contributions this past year to honor the memory of our departed Brothers,
Family Members and Friends. At a Stated Meeting of APL 272 the members voted
to merge the Lodge Memorial Fund into APMF Memorial Fund. The combined invested
assets are now $2773.83. Value is added from knowing: where the money is going;
that it is being invested and not squandered; and knowing the Temple Building
will annually benefit by such generosity. Should one desire to have APMF receive
Memorial Contributions in their memory, it is necessary to make your wishes
known to family members, friends, and those responsible for your last wishes;
and inserting APMF in obituary notices.
Bequests: In February APMF received a bequest in the amount of $500.00 from
the estate of a deceased Brother, upon the passing of his Wife. APMF has now
received a total of $15,500.00 in bequests.
At the bottom of the list of priorities remain several very important items:
Kitchen updated; Bathrooms updated; an elevator is installed; and air condition
installed. Because of the magnitude and expense of these projects AP Masonic
Foundation would need benefactor(s) before it could ever consider such expensive
projects. By doing these projects our aging members and public would have
access they don't currently have. With an updated building we would be able
to rent our facilities at more favorable rates and attract first class events.
As a reminder to all of our Brothers and friends APMF restates its Policy
and position regarding "Fund Raising." APMF has taken the position it is an
individual and personal decision whether or not to donate, the amount and
or the timing. Therefore a donation is appreciated and a no is equally respected.
Phone 509-328-2910 Email: eeberman@hotmail.com.
Fraternally Yours: WB Eric E. Berman, Sec-Treas. APMF
Famous Masons' Corner
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) English physician and author who created
the characters of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Raised in Phoenix Lodge
No 257, Portsmouth, England, 1887.
Masonic Quiz
Q: How many Masons signed the Constitution of the United States?
A: 13 Masons
Q: What part did Masons play in the famous "Boston Tea Party?
A: See the April issue of the Pillars for the answer.
Calendar of Events
March 2005
3/1 Bethel #64 Job's Daughters Meeting 7:00 p.m.
3/9 March Stated Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
3/10 Ivanhoe Chapter #80 - Order of Eastern Star - 7:30 p.m.
3/15 Bethel # 64 Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
3/16 Corned Beef and Cabbage Feed - 6:30 p.m. Visit by Grand Master
3/22 Temple Board Meeting - 6:00 p.m.
April 2005
4/5 Bethel #64 Job's Daughters Meeting 7:00 p.m.
4/13 April Stated Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
4/14 Ivanhoe Chapter #80 - Order of Eastern Star - 7:30 p.m.
4/15 Bethel # 64 Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
4/22 Temple Board Meeting - 6:00 p.m.
4/27 Family Night - 6:30 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
WB Eric Bermen
Tyler
B Rob Queen
Grand Lodge Lecturer VWB Douglas Tucker