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From The East I want to start this article by thanking M W Robert P. Harry, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Florida, M W Richard Lynn Grand Secretary, and all of the Grand Line Officers and R W Brothers who visited Marion Dunn Lodge March 20, 2008. These brothers found time in their busy schedules to help us dedicate Marion Dunn Masonic Youth Park. The dedication was well attended by city, county and state officials. We also got to meet the city workers who are doing a wonderful job maintaining our property. Marion Dunn Lodge thanks each of you for your part in helping us get where we are today. Thank you to every member of Marion Dunn Lodge for helping to make the idea of a youth park on our property become a reality. After the dedication Brother Randy Strong and his cooking crew served a wonderful meal. We then assembled in the lodge room where M W Harry presented a 55 year service award to Huge Squitier and 50 year awards to Lester Luffman and Paul Clayton. Brother Nuby Shealy was escorted the East where he presented his brother R W Benjamin Franklin Shealy a 50 year service award assisted by Brother B.F’s son and granddaughter. Senior Warden Ken Shaw took over and presented Brother Bring a Friend Night. W Mark Shaffer, R W. Jarvis Johnson, W David McConnell, and W Herb Collins gave short explanations of what being a Mason is about. The program was short and informative. Good job brothers. Guests and members filled to lodge. With people moving it was impossible to get an exact count. I feel safe in saying that 140 people were on hand. Thank you all. Your support and participation are what makes our lodge great. On March 26, 2008 W John Story, Paul Ferguson and I attended the funeral of Bro. Russell Bryant Guynn in Fort White. The Masonic Funeral Service was performed by brothers from High Springs Lodge. These brothers provided an excellent service. This was Brother Guynn’s home lodge before he joined Marion Dunn W John Story presented Brother Guynn his 55 year service award in Monroe Hospital March 4. I hope that all of you had a wonderful Easter spent with your family and friends. I look forward to seeing you all in lodge. Fraternally, Paul D. Düscher Worshipful Master From The West: Dear Brethren: I was a wonderful sight looking around the lodge room at March’s Family night and seeing both sides full. I want to thank Worshipful Mark Shaffer, Worshipful Jarvis Johnson, Worshipful David McConnell and Worshipful Herbert Collins for their superb presentations, Brother Randy Strong for a delightful dinner, and Brother Paul Ferguson for coordinating an alluring afternoon and evening full of astonishing events. Brother Paul was successful in blending all the events into a clear cohesive representation of Masonry. One can only try to envision the amount of hours Brother Paul invested communicating with Grand Lodge, the City of Ocala, and Marion County. Brother Paul, I do not know how you did it. I appreciate everybody’s efforts involved with inviting the prospective new members. Marion Dunn Lodge would like to send them a thank you letter. Can you please contact Brother Paul or myself and provide us with the name and address of your guest. In March we visited Morning Star Lodge No. 94. It was great visiting Worshipful Keith Poole and the brethren. This was Brother Robert Stentiford’s first visit and he was excited. Brother Robert heard a lot about the architecture of the lodge and he was not disappointed. Brother Robert brought his camera and took a lot of pictures. At the end of the meeting we gathered together for a group picture to accompany my article and Brother Robert’s batteries were out of juice. In addition I left my camera at home. This was disappointing, but I believe pictures alone do not do justice to a lodge and that is why visits are so exciting. Every lodge has its owns special/unique items. This month we will be visiting Friendship Lodge No. 53 on April 1. Friendship Lodge is located at 10420 N. US Highway 27, Ocala Florida 34482. The meeting starts at 8:00 p.m. Friendship Lodge is 5 minutes from my work so I will not be leaving from Marion Dunn. I am planning to arrive at 7:00 for Dinner, please join me. The 2008 legislative meeting has been scheduled for April 29 at Marion Dunn Lodge starting at 7:00 p.m. Please try to attend In March, Marion Dunn had several brothers called to the Celestial Lodge Above. Brothers consider joining Memorial Lodge No. 15 and the Low 12 Club. The emotional and financial support these organizations provide to your loved ones is priceless. The current economy is not booming so if you cannot join both consider joining at least one. Fraternally Ken Shaw From The South: Dear Brethren, Another month has flown by and a lot has happened. On Family Night we dedicated the Marion Dunn Masonic Park sign that has been over a year in the making. We really owe a lot to our Brother Secretary Paul Ferguson and Worshipful John Story for all the hard work they put into this for our Lodge. This means a lot to our Lodge and shows the community what Masonry is all about. I think the best part of the night was seeing R W B. F. Shealy and witnessing him receiving his 50-year pin from his Brother W Nuby Shealy. I don’t believe there was a dry eye in the Lodge. I was glad to see how well he is doing. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Brother Mel Tillis at our Lodge, especially when he complemented me on my cooking! And Brothers lets not forget our 2nd Campathon on April 11-12. Please call me so I can make our reservations. April Menu April 3 - Barbecue Pork Sandwiches with Baked Beans and Chips April 17 - Something new, Pineapple Peppered Chicken, Mixed Vegetables, and Red Potato Bake - this is Red Potatoes with Swiss Cheese, Spinach and Scallions added. And Ladies, we appreciate your delicious, special side dishes and desserts! Thanks again, Ladies for all your Help. Fraternally, Randy Strong Secretaries Notes: They say that March winds bring April Showers and May Flowers. Well, my Brothers, you had to stay out of the way in March or get blown away with all of the activities, but April will rain down with much, much more, and some very important activities to show why we are Masons. So, let’s get started: Brother John Lovill, a 35 year member of Marion-Dunn Lodge this year, is welcoming his daughter and son-in-law and their children to Ocala, but the circumstances are not as we would want. Staff Sgt. John Borders was driving his Humvee in Iraq on January 5, 2005 when he hit one of those infamous IED and got blown up. He has spent the last 26 months in Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington and has undergone an incredible 54 surgeries, John’s wife, Nina reports. He lost his right leg, almost lost his left leg, and had more injuries than most people would want to read about. Sgt. Borders, a native of Columbus, Ohio (you know, Ohio State) has always loved Florida, and he wants to continue his military career. He will be stationed at McDill AFB in Tampa at this time, and will make Ocala his home, along with wife Mollie, herself a veteran of seven years service, and their two children, 14 year old Brittany and four year old Zander. On April 12, Harley-Davidson of Ocala and Rolling Thunder® are staging a motorcycle ride and other events to help the Borders family in their effort to get a handicap accessible home. Cost of the ride is $15, and you can register at Harley Davidson at 5331 N US Hwy 441, north of Ocala. In addition, there is a silent auction from 9 am to 3 p.m. with items from Jimmy Buffet, Lee Greenwood, Charlie Daniels, Larry The Cable Guy, Gary Sinise and many more. U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez will also be in attendance. There will be vendors, lots of food, a 50/50 drawing, a raffle, and loads of music, and lots for you do at the Harley Store that day. You can get information from Ray Thompson at 813-230-9750. You can also visit the website at www.rollingthunderfl7.com. We hope to have Sgt. Borders and his family and the Lovills here on April 17 at Family Night. Meantime, stop out at the Harley Store and let’s help Brother Lovill’s son-in-law. And thank you, Sgt. Borders, for your service to our country! One of the surprises of Family Night was when R W Jeff Miller showed up to Lodge with Brother Mel Tillis, the King of Country Humor and Country Music, who had dinner with us, posed for pictures, and sat in Lodge with us. Brother Tillis, who lives just east of the Ocklawaha River, is lending his name and his efforts to raise funds and awareness for the Champion of Children’s Causes, the Shriners’ Hospitals for Children, with the “Mel Tillis and Friends Fishing Tournament”. The tournament is being held on Saturday, April 12, at Steinhatchee, and Mel has invited his friends and other country stars to attend the fishing tournament, and at 8 p.m. Tillis and his band, The Statesiders will be performing a benefit concert at 8:00 p.m. at the Gulfstream Motel & Marina in Steinhatchee, Florida. Tickets are $20 and children are free with advance ticket purchases. Celebrities confirmed to be at the tournament include Ira Dean from Trick Pony, Bobby Goldsboro and Little Jimmy Dickens, plus others lining up. Check the Fishing with Mel website at www.fishingwithmel.com to see others who will be on hand and what prizes have been lined up. The entire weekend is sure to have surprises in store. New this year, is a boat raffle to benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Tickets are only $10 each, and only 3000 tickets are being sold. The boat is a ’07 Triton Boat equipped with a 50hp Mercury Motor, and a Road King Galvanized Trailer, courtesy of Millers Boating Center of Ocala. Boat rides on the beautiful Steinhatchee River are available for charitable donations to go to the Shriners’s Hospitals for Children. So come out and get a boat ride on the beautiful Steinhatchee River. Brother Tillis is a member of the Branson, MO Lodge, and has painted a beautiful history of Masonry as a fund raiser for the Scottish Rite charities. He was a big hit as he visited in our Lodge with Brothers and their wives. And if you still want something to do that weekend, stop by the Suwannee River Campground and spend a few hours with Brothers at the Second Annual Masonic Campathon. You just might get to watch Brothers Ladd Poehlman and Randy Strong argue about how to cook whatever it is they plan to cook. Just understand, no matter the argument, the food is delicious!
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