From the South – June 2019

Brethren,

I cannot believe that we are almost half way through the year. It has been a true pleasure serving each one of you as your Junior Warden and cannot wait to show you what I have in store for the rest of the year.

      May Stated Meeting was a great success as we welcomed Worshipful Russ Hennings PM, Inspector of the 901st Masonic District. We had a taco bar with all the fixings and proved to be a delicious meal!

       May 22nd we have Past Masters night for our very own Brother Paxton Dickerson being put on by past masters! We will be having our traditional Past Master meal of Swiss steak and all the fixings, so please come and support us raising another brother to the Sublime Degree!

Fraternally,

Ash Nalbandyan, Junior Warden

From the East – June 2019

Brethren,

June is already upon us and there are few things I must inform you of as we plan for the remainder of 2019, start planning for 2020, and our quickly approaching 150 year anniversary.

As of the day that I am writing this article, our lodge is prevented from providing any meaningful programs or events intended to retain and inspire our membership or attract prospects from becoming members. The reason for this is not the mismanagement of funds or not being frugal enough for dinners. Anaheim Lodge is way below the mark we need to hit for revenue. We have a few fixed costs that we have little or no control of, such as rent and per capita payment to the Grand Lodge of California. The reason is nonpayment off dues by our membership. Of 248 current members, only 116 have paid through 2019. This provides approximately $8000 of which over half goes toward our rent and we are facing a per capita payment of over $11,000. We will be sending 25 notices of suspension, which will further reduce our membership to 223. In addition, we have 23 members, in which their dues have been remitted for health or other financial difficulties, and 22 life members that generate zero revenue but are counted in our per capita statement.

Please make every effort to attend the June stated meeting, if you have an idea for a solution, wish to catch up your dues, make some sort of an arrangement, or just want to enjoy the fellowship of your brothers. The news is not all bad as we have a very busy slate ahead of us, making new masons and advancing those that have already joined us. I look forward to seeing each and every one of you as you look to renew friendships, reenergize your Masonic connections and renew your travels searching for further light in masonry.

Fraternal Regards,

Kevin Stibich, Worshipful Master 

From the West – June 2019

Brethren,

We have a busy month of June ahead of us. This month, we have a first degree on June 12, for Mr. Mark A. Bullock, if elected. On June 19, we will be having a second degree for Brother Patrik Eskandari. In the past, I talked about giving our prospects a memorable degree. This is the time for us to make it happen. I want to invite all brethren to come on out and join us for the first and second degrees and let us give them a degree they will never forget.

On Monday June 3, we will be having OSI at Saddleback Laguna Lodge in Lake Forrest. OSI, if you did not know, stands for Officer’s School of Instruction. This is mandatory for ALL officers of the lodge to attend. Officers from different lodges in our district get together and learn about ritual, footwork, rod work, a little bit of history, and of course, we eat! Master Masons that are not officers are always welcome to attend as well, as it is a great learning experience.

Wednesday June 26, we will be having Masonic Education Night along with Candidate Night. We would like to have the Candidates come out and practice their proficiencies with us, we will be more than happy to help you and answer any questions you may have. This will be a great time for our Candidates to learn more about the proficiency and possibly stay for our Masonic Education Night. For our Masonic Education Night, Worshipful Carlos Diez, Past Master of Solomon’s Staircase Lodge #357 will be presenting. I want to invite ALL brethren to attend. We had a Masonic Education Night a few months back, it was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot about the first-degree symbolism that I had no idea. Masonic Education is important to what we do as a fraternity, and it helps to view Freemasonry in a different perspective as it goes beyond what we think the degrees are all about. There is a lot more to learn about degrees, symbols and rituals. Come out, support, and learn something new with us.

On June 29, we will be having a Masonic Service and Celebration of life to honor the passing of our Brother, Mentor, and Past Master Danny Whitherspoon. Everyone loved Danny; his presence always lit the room, and you cannot forget about the amazing lectures he would give. He was always about Masonry and had the knowledge to present at any given time. He has been called to the celestial lodge above and brighten the heavens. Until we meet again my friend. You will be dearly missed.  

Check out the calendar for the times of these events.

Fraternally,

Luciano Leon, Senior Warden