Senior Warden

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.

Looking around my yard, it is apparent that spring is coming. The abundance of colors around Marion County provides a warm and soothing inspiration.

What a great time to invite prospective members to Marion Dunn for Brother Bring a Friend Night. Worshipful Mark Shaffer, Worshipful Jarvis Johnson, Worshipful David McConnell and Worshipful Herbert Collins have been preparing and will make the evening extremely informative and interactive.

If you have not provided Brother Paul Ferguson or myself with a prospective member please do so at your earliest convenience. A prospective member may be an individual at your current or previous job, your neighbor, doctor, dentist, banker, insurance agent, letter carrier, accountant, attorney, or anyone that recently serviced or repaired your property. If you think of someone even the day of March 20th please bring him.

In February, I visited Belleview Lodge No. 95. Worshipful Paul Sullivan and the brethren are always extremely hospitable like all the other lodges I have visited. The brethren at Belleview have a lot of activities coming up, a Fish Fry on March 15 and a Child I.D. Program on April 12. I will be visiting Morning Star Lodge No. 94 on March 13. Morning Star Lodge is located in Silver Springs and I will depart Marion Dunn’s parking lot at 6:00PM. I encourage all the Brethren to accompany me.

In anticipation of the up coming workday in April, I have taken some photos of furniture and equipment being considered for disposal. The photos are posted on the bulletin board. If you have comments about any of the items please let me know. — Ken Shaw

The year 2008 has started out very well for Marion Dunn Lodge. Brothers Paul Copenhagen and Louie Franklin Wise were raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason and Brothers John Macias and Jason White became our newest Entered Apprentices. Congratulations brothers, I look forward to seeing you in Lodge.

This year, we are starting our lodge visits with Belleview Lodge No. 95 on Feb. 14. R+ W+ Bill Furse and his committeemen will be in attendance. My goal is to schedule the lodge visits for their first meeting of the month, which is usually their Men’s Night. If any Brethren have not visited a lodge I encourage you to join me; it is an excellent way to be introduced to Masons in our district and become more familiar with the history of Masonry in Central Florida. If anyone would like to travel with me I will be leaving the Marion Dunn parking lot at 6:30 p.m. Please be at Belleview Lodge before 7:00 p.m.

Brother Bring a Friend Night has been scheduled for March 20. If you know of someone that has been curious about Masonry and is a good candidate, encourage him to attend. The program will consist of four speakers. Each speaker will be will spend five minutes talking about their topic: “Masonic History and Famous Figures”, “Community Service”, “Masonic Youth Activities”, and “What Masonry Offers You and Why You Should Join Marion-Dunn” will be the topics. The speakers will be Past Masters of Marion-Dunn, all terrific communicators and excellent mentors of Masonry, and they encourage questions and answers.

I would like to request the names of guests in advance so we may send them a formal invitation, but in the event it not possible we will still have plenty of dinner and literature.

The 15th District Master Mason Outdoor Degree has been scheduled for Oct. 25 and will start at 3:00 p.m. I know this announcement may appear early, but I want to make sure the Brethren who travel north during the summer have ample notice so they can be sure they return in time to participate. I also want to provide all the lodges in the 15th District with the date so them can plan for the degree.

We are planning a Lodge Work Day in April/May. We would like to clean the kitchen, secondary offices, preparation room, and back storage room. A lot of stuff has accumulated over the years. Some items in the kitchen are no longer used due to sanitary concerns and some furniture that has been storage has become rusty and dangerous. I will take pictures of the items the officers recommend be disposed and post them in advance of the workday. If you has questions or objects to their disposal I encourage you to contact me. We will also contact our appendage orders for their comments.

I want to thank everyone for electing me the 2008 Senior Warden of Marion Dunn Lodge No. 19. I greatly appreciate everyone’s confidence and will be faithful in the discharge of my duties. I look forward to working with Worshipful Master Elect Paul Duscher, the officers of Marion Dunn Lodge No. 19, and all the brethren.

This year my responsibilities will involve the Finance Committee, Lodge Committee on Charity, Lodge Committee on Public Education and Primary Schools, Lodge Board of Relief, and the Committee on Lodge Property. 2007 was another great year for Marion Dunn and I look forward to everyone’s suggestions to make 2008 even better.

I hope everyone had a wonder Holiday and wish the best to all in the New Year.

We were lucky enough to have our whole family around Mom’s table for a great meal and a chance to visit. I hope that you were all able to have your loved ones with you.

To all of you with family serving in our military, my thanks goes to you and them. When one serves, the whole family serves. You are all in my prayers.

Our family night, Thanksgiving dinner was well attended; thank you all for being with us. It was great to see all of our brothers and sisters who have been away for too long. The meal was very good and thank you to all who brought those wonderful side dishes.

I hope that you will continue to join us and ladies please keep those special dishes that only you can fix coming.

Our next family night we will have our Christmas dinner and I heard a rumor that there will be a surprise visitor for the kids and the young at heart. I hope to see you all at lodge.

Brothers, be at lodge December 6th to vote for the officers you want to work for you in 2008. The officers you elect will be installed December 29th at 5pm with dinner to follow.

It has been an honor to serve as Senior Warden this year and I thank each of you that have whispered wise counsel in my ear throughout the year.

The year continues to fly by. By the time this Trestleboard arrives the Grand Master Official Visit will be behind us and I hope that our lodge made a strong show of support.

Saturday, Nov. 3rd is the 15th District Annual Masonic District Outdoor Degree at Brother Hale Stancil's farm. As Worshipful John Story has traveled the district with R?W? Bill Furse, he has promoted this degree and ask for help. The Grand Lodge has sent out notice to all the lodges in the state and the information is posted on our web site.

Most Worshipful Richard Lynn, Past Grand Master, will be King Solomon and I am hoping for a large turnout as we raise seven brothers. Please join us and remember to come hungry.

The camping trip was a great success and I urge those who missed out to come the next time. A big thank you to Brother Randy Strong for starting what I hope will be an annual event. The campground was one of the best I have ever been to and the weather was great. Relaxing with my brothers and getting away was great.

We have only four regular meetings left this year. I look forward to seeing all my brothers at all of them. Those of you that are not able to be with us send a note, call the office, or send an email and let us know how you are doing.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and are able to be with family and friends. —

Paul D. Duscher,
Senior Warden

We have another busy month ahead of us, and Marion-Dunn Lodge will again host the State Committee on Work Sept. 22.

R+W+ Fred Latsko, an Honorary Member of our Lodge, Grand Orator and Chairman of the Committee on Work, will bring his committee members from across the state to the Lodge to discuss our Floor Work and other parts of the ritual presentation.

They will meet from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., so we are moving Open Books to that date. Come and have breakfast with the Eastern Star, and then spend some time going over the Open Books and seek more Light in Masonry.

Brothers, our plans for the Outdoor Degree are taking shape, and once again, it promises to be an outstanding event. Being Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason is always a very important and impressive occasion, but to be Raised in the Woods is something never to be forgotten.

Our thanks once again to Brother Hale R. Stancil for the use of his farm west of Ocala. The setting is perfect for our Outdoor Lodge Room, and We hope you can come help us get it all set up and can then attend.

Meanwhile, to our candidates, work hard on your proficiency studies and be ready for an outstanding afternoon and evening. We promise to be ready for you!

Our normal summer weather seems to be here at last hot humid and wet. I can’t seem to keep up with how fast the grass grows. I also don’t seem to be able to get my column to Brother Paul Ferguson on time as he reminded me Thursday night while a large group of us were visiting Belleview Lodge.

Worshipful Master John Story called me early in the week and ask if I was able to go to Belleview Lodge for a Master Mason Degree. I have to tell you brothers that I am glad I was able to attend and participate as Belleview Lodge Raised three new brothers to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason, one of them from Dunnellon Lodge. There was a large turn out and I believe everyone had a good time.

On Friday night I plan to visit Ornan Lodge to attend the 15th District Association Meeting. Brothers there is always something going in Masonry, something you can be part of.

Congratulations to Brother Kenny Jones, Brother Dale Moss and everyone involved in forming the Tylers Sword Motorcycle Club. They attended Open Books Saturday morning and ate Brother Ken Shaw completely out of breakfast. After the food was gone they got on their bikes and went out for some fun and fellowship. Then, they returned to the lodge where some of the brothers studied Masonic Work and enjoyed fellowship. This was the largest turn out I have seen for Open Books, and I urge you to keep coming out.

Brother Randy Strong is planning a Masonic campathon in October and invites all masons to attend. Marion-Dunn Lodge is hosting the 15th District Outdoor Master Mason Degree November 3rd starting at 3 pm at Brother Hale Stancil’s Farm. Come on out and join us for food, fun and fellowship. I know that every brother remembers that special day you were raised. Please plan to be there to help make a memory for our new brothers to remember.

June already, the first half of 2007 is behind us. By the time this Trestleboard arrives our new Grand Master and Grand Officers will be installed. Congratulations to all.

Thank you to all of the outgoing officers that have served Florida Masons in the last year. Well Done, my brothers.

I enjoyed having our brothers widows in lodge to visit family night and hope to see the ladies at dinner more often. Thank you to the Eastern Star and Rainbow Girls for preparing and serving that excellent meal.

Brother Hale Stancil has offered the 15th district the use of his pasture for our “Raised in the Wood’s” Master Mason Degree November 3rd. We plan to start at 3 PM and will finish by the light of tiki torches.

Junior Warden Ken Shaw has a great meal planned. I think it would be great if every lodge in the 15th district could bring a brother to be raised.

Thank you to all who worked together to make Brother Bring a Friend Night a success.

It seems we have been going at a fast pace this year and the month of May is full. Please check the calendar and attend when you are able. Family night this month, we will have our Widows Night program. The Eastern Star will be fixing a special dinner and we are looking forward to a good turn out.

On Wednesday May 23, Brother Randy Strong and his degree team will put on a EA degree at 6:30 p.m. Please come to lodge, help if you can and welcome the new brothers.

On Saturday May 26, Worshipful Master John Story has scheduled a “Short of Time Degree” we will be doing a Fellowcraft and Master Mason degree starting at 9:00 AM I think Worshipful John has most of the chairs covered but we always need help and sideliners.

Sunday May 27, we will be off to Grand Lodge in Orlando with a report to follow on men's night in June.

I am planning for the “Raised in the Woods” degree the first Saturday in November, Nov. 3. In the next few weeks I will be checking with the all lodges in the 15th district and hope to have an update in the next Trestleboard. I hope to see all of you in lodge soon.

Spring is here and the first quarter of the year has past. Before you know it we will be bidding farewell to our brothers and sisters who spend the winters with us.

I hope before they go that they will find somebody who has the desire to become a Mason and bring them to Brother Bring a Friend Night April 19, 2007.This is the chance for all of us to show our friends and families the place we have chosen to spend a lot of our free time. It is a challenge for all of us to find good men to join our fraternity.

At Marion-Dunn Lodge, we are very lucky to have new Masons joining every year. This is not the case for many lodges, the numbers of masons as a whole is shrinking.

Please look around and see if there is someone you would like to sit next to in lodge and invite them to join us for dinner and a short program. If you have someone in mind please give there names to our brother secretary, myself or any officer as soon as possible and we will send your friend an invitation for him and his family to join us.

In January the 2007 Goal was set to find your replacement. You cannot be replaced but you can help us grow. Thank you for all your labors.

Having MW Robert Trump in our lodge to present a 60 year pin and to be able to present an honorary membership to MW Trump made me proud to be a member of Marion Dunn Lodge.

And now it is full speed ahead into March. Come to men’s night on March 1st and then join us on the 7th at 6:30 pm when we will initiate five new Entered Apprentice Masons. You can help with the degree or fill the sidelines. Your participation will help make this a night these five worthy and well qualified men who have asked become a part of our fraternity will long remember.

Thank you for electing me to the West. I will do my best to perform my new duties. I failed to get my article in for the January Trestleboard so my thanks to you is overdue.

We have started the year at the same fast pace that we were traveling at the end of last year. Worshipful John has a firm grip on the reins and we are moving ahead with a full calendar.

Congratulations to our four new Master Masons. Thanks to all of the brothers who participated in the degree work and filled the sidelines.

Please come to our meetings and get involved when you are able. With all of us working together, we will have another successful year.

I hope to see you on Men’s Night, February 1^st, when the Grand Master of Connecticut will visit or Lodge and again on February 15^th when Grand Master Robert Trump of Florida will join us for dinner and a pin presentation.

We will be taking Valentine’s pictures with our wives or girl friends and provide them to you.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. The holiday season and lodge officer installation are behind us and I send congratulations to all of the officers installed into their new stations. We have a good line of officers and it sure looks like the new year is going to continue to be busy. With so many active members helping when asked, I am sure that Marion Dunn Lodge is heading into another successful year.

I am looking forward to Brother Ken Shaw's dinners and being able to sit with my brothers in the dining room. I know Brother Ken and his kitchen crew have big plans.

I believe Worshipful John Story has a Master Mason Degree scheduled on January 12th. Please come out and help or fill the side lines.

It is not too early to start planning for degree competition. As regional champions, a lot of lodges will try to unseat us. I hope that Marion Dunn is able to go to state competition again this year. Remember, brothers, it is what we learn, not where we finish.

Happy Holidays! We have arrived at that time of year again and this has been a very busy year for this lodge. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our Worshipful Master on an outstanding year. I know I speak for all the officers in saying that this truly has been a great year.

But, we are not done just yet. We have an Enter Apprentice degree scheduled for December 12 at 6:30 and a Short of Time degree scheduled for December 16 at 4:00 for the Enter Apprentice and Fellowcraft degrees, with the Master Mason degree scheduled for December 19 at 6:30.

Worshipful David McConnell, who is Chairman for the Child ID program, needs volunteers for December 9 at E-1 Christmas Party. Anyone wishing to assist in this important event should contact either Worshipful David McConnell or the lodge.

I would like to congratulate all the new Brothers who have been raised to Master Mason this year and the new Fellowcraft Masons. Everyone has worked very hard this year and special congratulations should be given to all the catechism instructors.

On our men’s night this month we will be having the election of officers for next year and all Brothers should come and vote. This is our most important meeting of the year. On family night we will be having our Christmas dinner and I have heard through the grapevine that Santa will be making a visit, so bring the kids and join in.

One of the biggest events of the year for Marion-Dunn Lodge is the Outdoor Degree --”I was Raised In the Woods” -- will be presented at 4 p.m. November 4 as we host the event for the 15th Masonic District. We anticipate Raising about a dozen new Master Masons from Marion-Dunn and other Lodges in a most picturesque venue on the ranch of Judge Hale Stancil, a Brother in our Lodge.

Each year, we have a Brother or two or three attend for the first time and they all say, “I wish I had come before.” The setting does present a different atmosphere for the serious event taking place, the Raising of a new Master Mason Brother, and you are most welcome to attend to be on the sidelines or even to assist by perhaps serving in one of the many parts of the Master Mason degree.

If you need directions to get to the Stancil Farm, please call the Secretary. We will have signs on U.S. 27 west of the Interstate.

I want to urge Brothers to be on hand for the Stated Communication on Nov. 2 when we will have two very important decisions to make.

One will be to change our By-Laws to authorize an increase in the fees for the three degrees from $75 each to $125 each to pay the full cost of bringing new Brothers into the Lodge. While this may seem like a large increase in the fees charged, your officers have determined that with the purchase of the books, materials, Master’s apron, and large Masonic Bible and other items required, it should be implemented. And this does not make Marion-Dunn Lodge the most expensive lodge in the district.

The second important ballot to be taken will be on the proposed lease of the Lodge property exclusive of the Lodge Building to the City of Ocala for continued operation of the uses they have been making for years -- for park and recreational purposes. In return for the use of the property, the city has agreed to clean up the old fence line and treed area at the back of the Lodge, and maintain the property, thus saving the Lodge considerable funds each year.

In addition, we will be covered by the city’s insurance if there are any claims for injuries that might be suffered by the children playing football, soccer, cheerleading or other activities.

To allow Brothers to see how the lease will work, the time for the proposed lease is one year. The lease allows a renewal if both parties agree. I hope to see you in Lodge to vote on these important issues, and at the Outdoor Degree on Saturday.

Fall has finally arrived and we can finally turn up the air conditioner, and this means we will save some money on utilities, both at home and the Lodge.

In an effort to save on utilities, last year Bro. Patrick Stone converted the outside lights to a new type, lower energy bulb, and they operated on dual timers, one for the north side and one for the south side. He also installed lower energy bulbs in the Lodge room, and with good results.

A firm specializing in energy savings has recently surveyed the Lodge and will soon be making a report with recommendations if their equipment will produce savings sufficient to warrant its use.

October promises to be another busy month for the Lodge. We continue have petitions to join our Fraternity, our newly initiated and passed brothers are winding up their proficiencies to warrant their Raising in the outdoor degree, and there is much activity to present the proposed lease with the City of Ocala to the membership. We will honor 50 ands 60 year Masons with presentations this month, and on Family Night, we will honor our Past Masters of Marion Dunn Lodge.

There are 30 living Past Masters, and about 20 of them living in the Marion County area, and we hope all will be able to attend this special night in their honor.
It will be a special night, for we will have special Halloween activities. Please come as your favorite ghost (that is spouse, significant other, children or maybe they will be the ones to bring a Brother!)

Don’t forget the “I was Raised in the woods” outdoor degree on Nov.4. We need lots and lots of help for the second section, including conductors for the candidates, so please Brothers, feel free to volunteer!

I would like to thank all the brothers of Marion-Dunn Lodge for all the cards, visits and telephone calls during my recent hospitalization. It sure meant a lot to myself and Beverly. I still have some more doctor visits to attend to, but I am feeling much better.

August was a busy month for the lodge: we had a Fellowcraft degree at the beginning of the month and a Short of Time class at the end of the month, which included 4 brothers from Marston Lodge No. 49. This was a very successful month for our lodge.

September promises to be another busy month with an EA degree on the 6th and a FC on the 13th. Brothers, anyone wishing to participate in either of these degrees, please let me know at our next lodge meeting. We can use all the help we can get.

Speaking of degrees, our annual outdoor degree is not far off. It will be November 4 starting at 4:00 pm. Anyone wishing to have a part in this degree, please let me know.

Again, thanks to all the brothers for their concern, it has helped me with my recovery knowing that there are people who really care.

The end of summer is coming quick and the kids will be returning to school this month so everyone should slow down again while driving thru the school zones.

July was a busy month for us. We had another EA degree with 3 new brothers for our lodge. I would like to thank everybody that helped out in this degree.

August promises to be a very busy month. We will present a Fellow Craft Degree on Aug. 9 and a “Short of Time Class” on Aug. 26. We need all the help from the brethren that we can get to conduct the degrees, so please volunteer.

Just a reminder that the 15th District Annual Outdoor Degree will be the presented on first Saturday in November and it is time to start getting ready. If anyone would like to have a part either in the first or second section of the Master Mason Degree or maybe participate in both parts, please let me know.

Hope to see everyone at lodge: if you have not been in a while, come in and say hello. We are always glad to see you.

Most of you have learned by now of the May 27 advisory from the Veteran’s Administration that 26.5 million records on veterans had been stolen.

A VA employee downloaded 26.5 million records on veterans to a lap-top computer and took the computer home with him and his home was subsequently burglarized and the computer was stolen. The employee has been cooperating with the FBI in the investigation and has been placed on administrative pending the outcome of the investigation.

The Veteran’s Administration has sent out letters to all veteran’s advising them of this matter. For detail information concerning this, you can go to the web site -- www.first.gov.

I have been on this web site and it gives a lot of information but does not ease my fears completely. The VA has a toll free phone number is you want to speak to someone - 1-800-333-4636.

The VA web site states that the VA does not know all the contents of the information that was stolen, but they do not believe any medical or financial records were included in the download. However, VA did state that your name, date of birth and social security number was included in this information.

It is suggested that you watch for any unusual activity concerning your financial matters. They recommended that you obtain a credit report from one of the credit reporting companies; this can usually be obtained free of charge the first time.

I suggest you wait until the end of this quarter before obtaining a credit report, because if the information was stolen in May, any illegal activity will not show up until the next quarter which begins in August 2006.

Today's Date --May 1, 2006

I would like to thank all the Brother’s who brought in a guest to our Brother Bring a Friend night on April 20.

It was a real success for the lodge with a large turnout of prospective members and their families. Hopefully, we will get some petitions from some of the guests.

Grand Lodge is this month and I am looking forward to attending as one of the three voting delegates of Marion-Dunn Lodge..

We will present an Entered Apprentice degree on May 9, so please mark your calendars to attend. We need brothers on the sidelines as well as brothers in the chairs. There will be at least three candidates going through on that night.

It’s time for me to begin reminding all of you about the outdoor degree coming up in November. Please make plans to attend: everyone who attends the Outdoor Degree agrees this is a very dramatic presentation with a deepening understanding of Freemasonry.

That’s about all that I have for now except . . . I am looking forward to seeing everyone at Lodge. See you there!

Spring has arrived and it's that time year when we should be thinking about this month's Brother Bring a Friend night. It will be on family night April 20. There will be a short movie and presentation. If you know someone who you think will be a good mason please give his name and address to either myself or our secretary and we will send him an invitation.

On April 15 we will be competing in zone competition for the degree team. At District competition we were thrown a curve ball but everyone responded in an outstanding manner. We sure would like to have some Brother's on the sideline for encouragement on that day. So, if you have time please come out and support the degree team.

Fraternally

John R Story

Senior Warden

Hickory Dickory Dock - The Mice ran up the clock - the clock struck one - and the rest got away with minor injuries. Isn't that the way it goes? By this time of the year, I think that's how some of us feel after being so busy since the first of the year. We're still in fantastic shape compared to the pounding the people took in our gulf coast states. That Hurricane Katrina showed no mercy on them. Those people need every bit of help and prayers that anyone can give them.

Again my wife Julia and I want to personally THANK EVERYONE Who helped us in some small or big way with the souvenir tent at The Shrine Rodeo. You know who you are and there is just too many of you to list so again many many Bows and Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMPORTANT DATES TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDERS

Oct. 15th - Scottish Rite Reunion at 7:00 am

Oct. 20th - Family Nite Halloween Theme with COSTUMES (please make it fun & participate)

Oct. 22nd - Official visit by Most Worshipful John Kavanaugh at Scottish Rite dinner 5:30pm meeting 6:30pm

HERE WE GO AGAIN !

Nov. 5th 4:00 pm Master Mason Outdoor Degree in "Da' Woods"

Nov. 19th Open Books at Marion Dunn Lodge 9:00 am

And The Wardens Workshop at Scottish Rite 8:00 am

AS ALWAYS ; HOPE TO SEE YA IN LODGE !

FRATERNALLY

Ladd Poehlman

Senior Warden

FROM THE WEST:

Brothers, this year is winding down fast, but our calender seems like it keeps filling up just as fast. That's O.K. though, because when we're busy time goes by quicker and we're getting things done!

Thru all the hustle and bustle my wife and I were able to make a trip out to Las Vegas to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Yep, we got married out there on Aug. 4th 1995 at the Candle Light Wedding Chapel and stayed at the Riviera Hotel & Casino. This trip we stayed at the Riviera again but the little wedding chapel was no more! It was all grown up in weed's and fenced off. I guess Las Vegas wedding's aren't such a big thing anymore., maybe quickie divorces are gonna be the big deal out there now (ha, ha) who knows? We did have a good time and did some sightseeing out at Red Rock Canyon ( beautiful scenery and wild donkey's ) and then up to Mount Charleston which was a mountain snow ski resort in the middle of the desert. It was 70 degrees up there when it was 102 down in Vegas and only a 40 minute drive. Both places were worth the entire trip out there.

Enough of that! Brothers, I'm gonna wear this out, But;

NOV. 5TH 4:00 PM Annual Master Mason Outdoor Degree!

Get you butts ready for 1 great event because that's what it's going to be! So plan on being there! In the mean time visit Lodge, because we love to see each and everyone of you there!

HAVE A GREAT MONTH MY BROTHERS

FRATERNALLY

Ladd Poehlman

Senior Warden

FROM THE WEST:

Can it get any hotter? WOW! The other day I was at an old farmers house up past Hawthorne and we were standing out side talking about how hot it was. I was asking him questions about farming and how the weather affected his operation and he told me about all the rain that we were getting was great for the hay fields but too much rain was bad for his watermelons and peanut crops because it caused to much saturation and made fungus grow out of control. While we were talking I noticed that all of his cows were laying down under the trees in the shade, so I commented on how smart they were to get in out of the hot sun. He agreed and then started telling me about and old mule he had that would stand out in the hot sun and would get that frothy looking sweat on his coat and all most pass out from the heat. Well he said he got worried that the poor old thing would have a heat stroke and die, so he put him in the small barn with big fans blowing to keep him cooler. The barn was next to a big grain silo that he said was full of prime popping corn that he had raised up earlier in the year and was waiting for the market value to go up before he sold it off to some bigger company. Then he proceeded to tell me that after all he had done to keep that old mule more comfortable and keep him alive, he still died sooner than he thought he should have. I said; well, old age just caught up with him and his time was up! The old man looked at me and said "NO SIR"! It was the much more than that! So I asked him what he meant. He said that it had gotten so hot that summer that the metal on the grain silo heated up so bad that it made the corn start popping inside and blew the top off of it. And when all that pop corn started falling down to the ground, the old mule thought is was snow and froze to death. Ya know, I still wonder why he didn't put a heater in that barn to save that old mule.

Brothers mark your calendars for Nov. 5th at 4 p.m. Annual Master Mason Outdoor Degree. Brother Judge Hale Stancil's woods. It's gonna be good! So you don't want to miss it!!!

Good story don't you think? See Ya at the barn...........................

Fraternally,

Ladd Poehlman

Ya know what? Writing these Trestleboard articles is gettin’ harder and harder to do! After awhile you start running out of things to say and when a wind bag like me runs out of things to say it’s getting pretty bad.

I want to thank the Eastern Star ladies and men for an outstanding breakfast on the 18th; it sure was yummy! The only problem with eating like that on a rainy day is... all you want to do is go back home and nod out again!

How about that Brother Ken Shaw jumping in the hot seat and doing a Entered Apprentice Degree? "Ken, You Th’ Man!" This guy knows how to grab the bull by the horns and get things done. We’re all proud of you Brother!

I’m proud of all my Brother’s that step up to the plate and offer to help in degree work or anything else that needs to get done!!!

Brother’s we’re over half way thru this year and the other half looks like it’s going to still be full throttle so lets ride this baby like a nitro burning, fuel guzzling, rip snortin’, mean machine and have some fun doin’ it!

Saturday Nov. 5th at 4:00pm, Brother Hale Stancil’s woods... need I say more?

Fraternally,

Ladd Poehlman

Senior Warden

AAAHHHHH....Spring Time, Beautiful Sunshine, Clear Blue Skies, Mild Temperatures, Blooming Flowers, Budding Trees, isn't it just Wonderful! Yeah... then there was nasty tornado's, downed trees and power lines, no phone or cable and another huge mess to clean up. Ain't livin' in Florida GREAT? YOU BETCHA!!!

Needless to say I got caught up in part of the Tornado ordeal and couldn't get out of my neighborhood to make Men's Night in April. Everything is back to normal and the weather has been excellent.

April always seems to be super busy and this year sure hasn't been any different. In fact it got so busy that some of the things that we were supposed to do just didn't happen! Oh well we can't be in 2 places at the same time, can we?

I've had the chance to get in a little more golf than usual. The Shrine tournament was another blast back on April 9th and we're getting ready to tee up again on May 7th to support the Rainbow girls tournament. So grab your clubs, polish your putter and come join us at the Ocala Palms on the 7th of May at 11:30 am.

Our Brother Bring A Friend Night went really well. We had 10 potential candidates show up for dinner and a nice presentation of stories and jokes by the GREAT ONE W.: Russ Poehlman. Thank you Dad for your help it is very much appreciated!

Looks like May is kicking into high gear already, so grab hold and hang on it's gonna be fast and furious, but hey living in the fast lane ain't so bad, we just get there quicker.

Grand Lodge is coming up at the end of this month and I'm looking forward to attending again this year. For any of you Brother's that has never been to a Grand Lodge Legislation you can't imagine how huge it is. I'd wager to say that they get a pinch more Brothers to show up than we do on Family Night. But only by maybe a thousand or more, so it's real close! Yeah Right!!!

Anyway Brothers do your best to get to lodge and show that you're proud to be a Mason. We'll even be like Motel 6 and "leave the light on for ya"!

Shift into a higher gear, mash the gas wide open, faster, faster, faster, that's what this year seems like has started out! Boy the days, weeks and months blow by like a blur at two hundred mph.... we must be busy! Brothers March and April ain't lookin' no different either. Brother Randy Strong is stepping up to the plate and is sitting in the East to initiate his Dad, Brother and Son plus one other candidate in an EA Degree on March 9th at 6:30 pm. My hats off to you Brother Randy! Come out and give the ol' boy alot of support, as this is his first time sitting as Worshipful Master.

ATTENTION... ATTENTION... RED ALERT... RED ALERT...
Now that I've got your attention Brothers, mark your calendars for April 21st Family Night. 'Cause it ain't gonna be just any 'ol Family Night, it's gonna be "Brother Bring A Friend" Night. So any of you that know some good men that will make great Masons get 'em here and lets hope to see more new petitions get filled out. I feel this will give us pretty good time to start talking to potential candidates and shoot for a really good turn out. Brother John we're gonna need you to fix up some special vittles to help lure 'em in!
It looks like we're in for another busy year. That's OK though we all love to see Marion Dunn prosper through new membership and I feel that's the direction we're headed.
Brothers, for those of you that hasn't been to Lodge for some time, I can't express hard enough to come to a meeting or two and see what new and innovative ideas that has evolved in the past few years. I bet you'll be surprised.
Family Night; February; Valentines; Bring that special Lady and treat her to a special evening!

Today's Date --May 1, 2006

Send mail to jpchem@msn.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 Marion Dunn Lodge 19

Today's Date --May 1, 2006

Send mail to jpchem@msn.com with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2006 Marion Dunn Lodge 19

Send mail to jpchem@msn.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 Marion Dunn Lodge 19