Where is that water coming from ?!?

There are several old saws about flat roofs:

 

- It isn’t a question of if they will leak, but when.

- They are the equivalent of a “Full Employment Act” for roofers. 

- They are the Supreme Architect’s way of saying you have too much money.

By now you’ve probably heard about our roof leak, which sprung in the corner just behind our Secretary’s desk.  It might have gone unnoticed except for the soggy ceiling tile crashing to the floor.  Thankfully the only injuries sustained were to the ceiling tile and our checking account.  Professionals from Mike’s Roofing identified the issue as a leak in an old patch job.  (See photo on left.)  The good news is we are “on the list” for the repair to be completed.  The bad news is that conditions have to be dry for their fix to work.

After doing some research it appears the old patch job cost us $1625.00, which was considered a bargain years ago.  This fix, when accomplished, will set us back almost $3300.00.  Do we have the money?  Yes.  Could we use some help with this unexpected expense?  Absolutely!  If you are able to help in any way, it would be greatly appreciated.  Drop us a note, an email, or a phone call and we can discuss it further. 

For us, it is now officially Inspection Season.  We had our Pre-Inspection Visit on January 18^th for the pleasure of RWB Will Fissell, DDGM.  That night we tried to arrange all the proper documents, forms, reports, books, booklets, trinkets and accoutrements to make the audit process as smooth as possible.  We processed all his requests plus the extra credit bonus questions:

1- When, exactly, are “Minutes” considered “Minutes”?

2 – How many sheets of paper are required to demonstrate we have gone “paperless”?)

Afterwards we retired to the dining room for more serious business – pizza!  It was a great evening, and ended with an educational presentation by WB Ralph Ed Brown, DEO. 

For the record, the full Inspection Schedule for the 15^th Masonic District can be found on their web site, a link to which is on the left side of this page.

Below is our anticipated schedule for the first half of 2017.  Adjustments will be made as necessary, so check back often.

January 28, 2017                Inspection Season Starts, with Mt. Gilead Lodge #206.  Full schedule available at the 15^th District web site link on the left.

February 1, 2017                 Stated Meeting.  MM practice is anticipated.

February 8, 2017                 Special Meeting for the purpose of practice for Inspection.  Lodge opens at 7:30pm.

February 11, 2017              Inspection of La Rue Lodge in the MM degree.  Lodge opens at 11am, lunch at noon, resuming degree work following lunch.  Lunch will be a “build your own sandwich” buffet with the customary accompanying dishes, from Lynch’s Cash & Carry.

February 15, 2017              Stated Meeting

February 20, 2017              Presidents’ Day

March 25, 2017                    Grand Master’s One Day Class, 9am, at Palestine #158.

March 31, 2017                    15^th District Grand Master’s Reception, 7pm, at All-Occasions Catering, Waldo, OH.  Cost is $20 per person, with money received by RWB Larry Lance, 15^th District Treasurer, by Wednesday, March 15.

June 24, 2017                      300^th Anniversary of Modern Freemasonry

15^th District Picnic, 2pm, hosted by East Liberty #247.

That’s what we know for now.  See you at Lodge!

.

Happy New Year!

By now you have (probably) entered or completed the Holiday Recovery Stage.  Familiar symptoms are tunneling through mounds of wrapping paper, figuring out which “empty” boxes are really empty, and wondering how to fit the tree and ornaments back into their original packages.  Oh, yes, and trying to cancel that new gym membership that you know you’ll never use.  We can’t help you on the first three, but we have suggestions on an excellent stair-climbing exercise program that might make a gym membership unnecessary.

Yes, it is past the holidays, which places us on the cusp of Inspection Season, and all that comes with it.  Lodges will be announcing their schedule of dinners, practices, more dinners, Pre-Inspection Visits, even more dinners, and finally Inspections.  Some modern Lodges have few, if any, steps from the outside into the facility.  (No, we are not jealous, much.)  Others, such as ours, have enough stairs to provide a nice cardio workout (see above).  Of course, the more activities you attend, the less you need that gym membership! 

Please note:  For those less focused on a workout, or with some mobility issues, we have a wonderful alternative.  Our chair lift, which had been sidelined just prior to Christmas, is back in operation.  A set of new batteries was all it took.  That, plus our Secretary standing on his head in the stairway during the removal/replacement procedure.  He’s OK though, and is getting used to that double vision thing.

With that in mind, below is our anticipated schedule for 2017.  Adjustments will be made as necessary, so check back often.

January 9, 2017                  College Football Championship Game

                                                Even if your team isn’t playing, it is usually a good game.

January 14, 2017                15^th District Work Day, 9am, held at East Liberty #247.

                                                This is open to all members, and gives insight on how all aspects of Inspections are supposed to work.

January 16, 2017                Martin Luther King Day

January 18, 2017                Pizza Dinner at 6:30pm, prior to our Stated Meeting.

Pre-Inspection Visit by RWB Willard Fissell, who will start examining our books at 6pm.

January 28, 2017                Inspection Season Starts, with Mt. Gilead Lodge #206.  Full schedule available at the 15^th District web site link on the left.

February 8, 2017                 Special Meeting for the purpose of practice for Inspection.  Lodge opens at 7:30pm.

February 11, 2017              Inspection of La Rue Lodge in the MM degree.  Lodge opens at 11am, lunch at noon, resuming degree work following lunch.

February 20, 2017              Presidents’ Day

March 25, 2017                    Grand Master’s One Day Class, 9am, at Palestine #158.

March 31, 2017                    15^th District Grand Master’s Reception, 7pm, at All-Occasions Catering, Waldo, OH.

June 24, 2017                      300^th Anniversary of Modern Freemasonry

15^th District Picnic, 2pm, hosted by East Liberty #247.

That’s what we know for now.  See you at Lodge!

.