.

We are now officially in the Holiday Season! All the usual milestones have been passed: Thanksgiving, along with the leftover turkey, is history; Black Friday and Cyber Monday passed without major incident – locally; the first day of December featured the first measurable snow fall of the year. What better time of the year could there be?

As you might suspect, we have a new slate of calendar additions, as well as new listings for birthdays and Masonic anniversaries.

Birthdays for December:

12-9…….Pearl Gamble

12-13..…Charles McConnell

12-22…..Wayne Schaber

Masonic Anniversaries for December:

12-27-55……..Donald Adams

12-4-68………Harvey Doss

Our 2010-2011 Calendar has several new listings. Make sure to check them out and plan accordingly. For those needing a pocket calendar to write them down, our SW can fix you up.

December 4, 2010, @ 9am. 15th District Past Master's Convocation, held at Indian Lake #722.

December 8, 2010. Our friends at Latham Lodge #154 will be having an Open Installation of Officers. Dinner is at 6pm, with Installation scheduled for 7:30pm.

December 14, 2010. Our friends at Senate Lodge #378 will be having an Open Installation of Officers. Installation is scheduled for 7:30pm. Dinner arrangements were not clear at the time of this posting.

December 15, 2010 @ 7:30pm. This is our regular meeting, but will also feature a MM practice.

December 16, 2010 @ 5-8pm. This is the annual Christmas in the Village celebration in downtown La Rue. This is certainly a family-friendly event. Previous years have featured choirs caroling, free refreshments, carriage rides, and the Big Guy (Santa) making a special appearance. And did we mention free food?

December 18, 2010 @ 9am. Special Meeting for the purpose of conferring the FC degree.

December 29, 2010 @ 7:30pm. Special meeting for the purpose of conferring the MM degree. If you are able to attend, you know we could use the assistance.

January 8, 2011 @ 9am. The 15^th District J.C. Musser Work Day will be hosted by our Lodge. This is an excellent opportunity to see ritual work done properly in preparation for our Annual Inspection.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

April 2, 2011 @ 10am. Annual Inspection for the pleasure of DDGM Paul Robinson, in the MM degree.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.

That’s all we’re aware of for now. As additional events and activities are scheduled, they will be posted.

See you in Lodge!

.

Breaking News!

Our meeting on November 17th featured many things. The most exciting was voting on our most recent petition. After a unanimous verdict our WM announced a Special Meeting for Saturday, November 27, 2010. That morning at 9am we will convene for presentation of the EA degree on our candidate. If you're in the area, come on down.

As noted below our installation of officers was held on the 17th. WB Mark Wamack was the installing officer, heading up a team from Latham Lodge. Over the years our Lodges have assisted each other numerous times, this being the most recent. They demonstrate a true example of Masonic fraternity.

Update!

Below you may have read our post about LaRue's Christmas in the Village celebration, scheduled for Thursday, December 16th. Originally we planned to have a Lodge Open House that same evening, and had posted to that effect. After reflecting on the scope of the celebration, we decided to schedule our Open House on a different date.

For other important dates, please check the remainder of the posts.

We had a busy night at our last meeting. A petition was read, Grand Lodge stories were told, and we had our annual election of officers. Without further ado, here is the list of officers elected and appointed for 2010-2011.

Milton Lighfoot, Worshipful Master
Brian Lightfoot, Senior Warden
Gene McMahan, Junior Warden
Rick Sigrist, Treasurer
John Mathew, Secretary
Dave Allman, Senior Deacon
Cedric Radcliffe, Junior Deacon
Larry Knapp, Senior Steward
Tim Stapleton, Junior Steward
Charles McConnell, Tyler
O. M. Roux, Chaplain
Rick Sigrist, Lodge Education Officer

For the coming year, the following will serve as trustees:
Pearl Gamble
Cedric Radcliffe
Brian Lightfoot
Rick Sigrist
Richard Spracklen
Elections are followed by installations. In our case that will be at our next meeting, Wednesday, November 17. WB Mark Wamack will be the presiding officer. All eligible are welcome to attend.

For the remainder of our schedule, just check our earlier post below.

Toward Traditional Holidays

We are obviously deep into fall. High school football has entered their playoffs and the Great Pumpkin has come and gone. The last indication that October occurred is the candy still found under sofas and beds, and little ones experiencing that deep valley after an intense sugar high. As we take our tentative steps toward more traditional holidays, it appears it is time to hang the lawn chairs in the garage, cover the grill, and put away the garden hoses. In short, it’s time to return to indoor pursuits.

Congratulations to all those who participated in our LaRue-style Masonic Trivia Contest. To our knowledge, all who correctly answered each of the 11 questions received their certificate from the Secretary. If you did not, it is waiting at the desk, and you can pick it up at our next meeting.


Here are our birthdays for November:
11-3……..Randy Blue
11-5……..Rick Sigrist
11-9……..Jack Hesse
11-17……Harvey Doss
11-19……Michael Dutton
11-22……Ted Williams
11-28……Evan Clark
11-30……Nathan Hampton

And here are our Masonic anniversaries for November:
11-3-99………..Scott Jackson
11-5-69………..Jack Hesse


We have the usual assortment of events, meetings, and observances. Mark your calendar accordingly.

November 2, 2010. Ohio’s general election. They don’t call it participatory government for nothing. Make your vote count!

November 3, 2010, @ 7:30pm. Our Annual Meeting gives you the chance to make your thoughts known on the future leaders of our Lodge. You don’t have to accept an office to enjoy the evening, so we’ll count on seeing you.

November 11, 2010.Veterans Day.This is the day to celebrate those who have placed their lives on the line for the freedoms we love. Don't take the opportunity just to thank a Veteran. Do take the opportunity to thank all the Veterans you encounter, whether in person or via social media. It will mean more to them than words can describe.

November 13, 2010, @ 9am. District Secretary Meeting at Palestine #158.

November 17, 2010, @ 7:30pm. Our second meeting of the month. Usually we hear the arrangements for installation of officers, plan our holiday activities, and learn details of the WM-elect’s program for the coming year.

November 25, 2010. Thanksgiving. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. Take time to give thanks for what you hold dear.

November 27, 2010. The Game. Since 1897 The Ohio State University has played the University of Michigan.Between them they have won 77 Big Ten Championships, and 18 National Championships. Long considered the country’s best college football rivalry, it is considered “must see TV” in both states. How can shopping possibly compare?

December 4, 2010, @ 9am. 15th District Past Master's Convocation, held at Indian Lake #722.

December 16, 2010 @ 5-8pm. This is the annual Christmas in the Village celebration in downtown La Rue. This is certainly a family-friendly event. Previous years have featured choirs caroling, free refreshments, carriage rides, and the Big Guy (Santa) making a special appearance.

January 8, 2011 @ 9am. The 15^th District J.C. Musser Work Day will be hosted by our Lodge. This is an excellent opportunity to see ritual work done properly in preparation for our Annual Inspection.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

April 2, 2011 @ 10am. Annual Inspection for the pleasure of DDGM Paul Robinson, in the MM degree.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.
That’s all we’re aware of for now.As additional events and activities are scheduled, they will be posted.

See you at Lodge!

Autumn in Ohio

It seems like just last week it was 93 degrees in the shade (91 considering wind chill), and we were in the middle of a drought. Come to think of it, that was just last week! This week managed to bring more seasonable weather and activities. Farmers harvesting crops were stirring dust clouds in the fields, the first of the hunting seasons was in full swing, and morning walkers started to experience a nip in the air. As Halloween pumpkins are set out, we are reminded that autumn is not only in the air, but in the stores too.

With the harvest, farmers play out a familiar adage, literally reaping what they sow. After harvest, although some fields lay fallow until spring, much happens behind the scenes in preparation for the coming year. As our Lodge year winds to a close, we experience much of the same. This year we were pleased to raise three MM candidates, welcome back another, and plant the seed of our fraternity with many others. We helped recognize achievements of a high school youth, now enrolled in the Air Force Academy, and assisted others with special activities and recognition.

Now, we are doing the behind-the-scenes work to carry us through the coming year. On each post we include up-coming dates and events of significance to our Lodge. This month we invite you to look at this list with a different thought in mind. Instead of meetings and activities to attend, look upon these as the steps we are taking to ensure a successful harvest next year.


October 15 & 16, 2010. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Dayton, Ohio.

November 2, 2010. Ohio’s general election. They don’t call it participatory government for nothing. Make your vote count!

November 3, 2010, @ 7:30pm. Our Annual Meeting gives you the chance to make your thoughts clear on the future of our Lodge leadership. You don’t have to accept an office to enjoy the evening, so we’ll count on seeing you.

November 13, 2010, @ 9am. District Secretary Meeting at Palestine #158.

December 4, 2010, @ 9am. 15th District Past Master's Convocation, held at Indian Lake #722.

December 16, 2010 @ 5-8pm. Tentative date for the annual Christmas in the Village celebration in downtown La Rue. In conjunction with this, we plan to have a Lodge Open House. Bring your friends and family, and show them where you’ve been spending those Wednesday evenings.

January 8, 2011 @ 9am. The 15^th District J.C. Musser Work Day will be hosted by our Lodge. This is an excellent opportunity to see ritual work done properly in preparation for our Annual Inspection.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

April 2, 2011 @ 10am. Annual Inspection for the pleasure of DDGM Paul Robinson, in the MM degree.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.


That brings us up to date with events and activities for the near future. For this next section, we thought we’d play some La Rue-style Masonic Trivia. Grab a sheet of paper out of the printer, and hold it up to the screen. Leaving only the dates visible on the left, see how many birthdays and Masonic anniversaries you can get right. No peeking!


Birthdays for October:

10-11……….Ron Phillips
10-19……….Leroy Harder
10-19……….Cedric Radcliffe
10-26……….Robert Everly
10-28……….Gene McMahan


Masonic Anniversaries for October:

10-21-64……Phillip Winslow
10-21-70……Phillip Weist
10-2-74……..Robert Lee
10-5-77……..Rick Sigrist
10-20-93……William Bennett
10-31-09……Dave Allman


If you correctly answered 0 to 3, you need to get out more.
If you correctly answered 4 to 7, you’re pretty well informed.
If you correctly answered 8 to 10, you know our membership well.
If you correctly answered all 11, you may claim your prize at the Secretary’s desk

See you at Lodge!

Open for Business!

It seems like summer gets shorter and shorter every year. The only parts that seemed way too long were the days over 90 degrees. Was it enough to be willing to usher in the snows of winter? Not a chance!

During our first meeting after our summer break, we were entertained by a variation of a traditional school assignment: What I did on my summer vacation. As you might assume, involvement in sports was a common answer. Most members participated in, attended, or played a video game version of their favorite sports throughout the summer. Travel ranked as the second most common response, with suitably exotic destinations. Among the other activities shared were adventures in gardening, using lawn mowers as dozers, being paid to attend concerts, renewing old acquaintances, and creative driving. We have a thought about the creative driving stories: One can only guess at the odds of that many vehicles having brakes go out at the same location the same week. Attend the next meeting and you'll most likely hear the rest of the story.

On the previous post (below) are the important dates to remember. If you have the opportunity, the 15th District Annual Meeting is worth the travel. At that meeting they finalize dates for meetings and inspections, and convey information relevant for the coming year. Definitely valuable information.


Birthdays for September:

9-6.......Scott Jackson
9-10.....Arthur Keirns
9-14.....Greg Rice
9-16.....Phillip Winslow
9-22.....Don Redd
9-28.....Clyde Schertzer
9-29.....Milton Lightfoot


Masonic Anniversary for September:

9-21-77.....Stephan Sigrist


Have a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!

15th District Annual Meeting - Change!

We received notice today that the location of the 15th District Annual Meeting has been changed. It remains scheduled for Saturday, September 11, 2010, at 9am. The location is now at the Marion Federation of Women's Club Home, 1126 E. Center Street, Marion, OH 43302. For those local to Marion, that is close to the K of C Hall on East Center Street.

For those not local to the Marion area, a mailing to each Lodge Secretary included driving directions from their respective Lodge. Brethern coming from the west, and possibly south, should anticipate detours. S.R. 309 through Marion is used for a portion of the Popcorn Festival street vendors. Given the time of day traffic should not be an issue. Allowing a few extra minutes should suffice.

See you there!

Welcome to August!

Whew! Did we think it had been hot in June? Had we dusted off that crystal ball in the closet we would have known the hot weather had barely begun. Makes us wonder how August will turn out.

As we come toward the end of our summer shut-down we have events and situations of note. Of course our full schedule appears below, with comments. Please check the first two, as they are of some significance.

The first meeting of the fall is always important. Usually this falls after Labor Day, but not this year. Being on the 1st day of September it is sure to sneak up on a few of us. Mark your calendars accordingly.

The second listing is for the District Annual Meeting. As noted below, the District Inspection Schedule is finalized at this meeting, along with more routine issues. The date listed on the District web site is Saturday, September 11, at 9am, with the meeting being held at Marion #70. For those outside Marion County, this might not seem like an issue. Those more local will recognize that as the final day of the Marion Popcorn Festival (September 9-11, 2010). All of downtown (beside the Lodge building) will be closed to vehicle traffic, and most parking spaces will be occupied by street vendors. If this time and place remain correct, we suggest allowing additional time for traffic detours and locating parking. We strongly suggest checking the District web site frequently for updates to either date or location.

Here are the birthdays on our list for August:

8-15......Richard Hoover
8-18......Larry Knapp
8-20......William Bennett
8-22......Don Kennedy
8-26......David Allman
8-27......Jeff Adkins

There are no Masonic anniversaries listed for August.


Here are the list of dates to remember:

September 1, 2010, @ 7:30pm. Our first meeting of the fall.

September 11, 2010, @ 9am. Annual Meeting at Marion #70. They will be finalizing the 2011 Inspection Schedule, so you might want to attend.

September 12, 2010, @ 6:30pm. District Awards Dinner at the Plaza Inn, Mt. Victory, Ohio. Cost is $13.75, including tax and tip. Reservations and checks must be received by B. Frank Egelsky or RWB Paul Hinkle by September 7th. (Note: The District web site is incorrect, as it indicates the date is September 5th.)

October 15 & 16, 2010. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Dayton, Ohio.

November 13, 2010, @ 9am. District Secretary Meeting at Palestine #158.

December 4, 2010, @ 9am. 15th District Past Master's Convocation, held at Indian Lake #722.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.

Summer in Ohio is Great!

So far we've had periods of rain, suffocating heat, high winds, a virtual drought (3+ days without rain), and cold north winds (49 degrees?). And we've just arrived at July! How could we possibly improve on this? Some porch time with a chilled beverage comes to mind.

Here are the birthday listings for July:

7-10......Dan Hicks
7-17......Stanley Foos
7-18......John Mathew
7-21......Tim Stapleton
7-24......Howard Dean
7-26......Josh Zachman


There are no Masonic Anniversaries for the month of July.


Even though we are firmly entrenched in summer, there are important dates to write in your calendar:

July 4, 2010. Independence Day. Celebrate the birth of our country. Attend a parade, watch some fireworks, host a cookout, or just relax under the shade of your favorite tree. Whatever your chosen activity, take a moment to honor the sacrifices of those who have gone before us. You'll be glad you did.

September 1, 2010, @ 7:30pm. Our first meeting of the fall.

September 11, 2010, @ 9am. Annual Meeting at Marion #70. They will be finalizing the 2011 Inspection Schedule, so you might want to attend.

September 12, 2010, @ 6:30pm. District Awards Dinner at the Plaza Inn, Mt. Victory, Ohio. Cost is $13.75, including tax and tip. Reservations and checks must be received by B. Frank Egelsky or RWB Paul Hinkle by September 7th.

October 15 & 16, 2010. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Dayton, Ohio.

November 13, 2010, @ 9am. District Secretary Meeting at Palestine #158.

December 4, 2010, @ 9am. 15th District Past Master's Convocation, held at Indian Lake #722.

March 11 & 12, 2011. State Secretary's Association Meeting, Worthington, Ohio.

June 12, 2011. Ohio Masonic Home Day.

October 14 & 15, 2011. Grand Lodge Annual Communication, held in Cleveland, Ohio.

All for now. Have a safe Independence Day!

Summertime!

It's summertime! How can we tell? School's out, someone turned up the outside thermostat, and the Lodge has had its last meeting until September. But before you think we sneaked into the summer break, we'll provide an update.

To the left is a photo of our Worshipful Master, Milton Lightfoot, welcoming our two newest members. On the left is Josh Zachman, who finished his degree work at the 15th District One-Day Class in May. On the right is Tim Stapleton, who experienced the MM degree on June 2nd. The only thing warmer than the temperature that night was the fellowship experienced. We are also pleased to report that on that night we experienced the third best member attendance of the year, behind only Inspection and the Masonic Service Award Ceremony. Our appreciation is also extended to all those who assisted with the degree experience.

Even though we won't be having meetings until September, there are activities that deserve our attention. The full list is contained in the calendar listings from earlier posts. Of these, two are coming up shortly. The Deputy Grand Master is presenting his program for the coming year through a series of presentations. The first is in Findlay on June 15th, and is described below. The Special Olympics takes place at The Ohio State University on June 25-27.

As we ease through the humidity of summer, enjoy the break. And we'll see you in the fall!

Dates to Remember

Each month we note important days on the calendar, as previous posts illustrate. These normally take the form of birthdays and Masonic anniversaries, with some special events noted. Without further ado ...

June 2, 2010 at 7:30pm. Our regular meeting, we will be conferring the MM degree on our most recent candidate. As always, we welcome all those who can assist.

June 4, 2010, at 1pm. Funeral services for John Ridgway at the LaRue United Methodist Church. Bro. Ridgway was a prominent local businessman, and a member of our fraternity for 63 years.


Birthdays for June:

6-16......Robert White
6-19......Dan Stover
6-19......Charles Randles
6-13......Phillip McCullough
6-30......Theofore McElheny


Masonic Anniversaries for June:

6-6-45......Joseph Spitzer
6-14-61.....Larry Knapp
6-6-62......Ralph Lee
6-4-75......Tom Hafer
6-7-78......Richard Peterman
6-6-79......Evan Clark
6-4-08......Nathan Hampton


Additional dates of note are included in our previous post.

Did someone turn the thermostat up?

It seems that summer is upon us, or at least the temperatures reflect that thought. But since summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21st (at 7:28 am EDT), we still have much to accomplish before taking our annual summer break. Before jumping to our calendar of events, it is appropriate to glance in the rear view mirror at a recent weekend, and highlight both an important observance and an opportunity.

On May 15th Palestine #158 hosted the 15th District Grand Master’s One-Day Class. We had one candidate among the 29 who were made Master Masons that day. Due to its structure and popularity, this has now become the traditional method of joining our fraternity. For many, such as our candidate, it is a method of completing degree work to resolve scheduling and transportation issues. Our congratulations go out to all who participated in this experience.

On May 31st, at 11am, there will be a Memorial Day service at the Price Cemetery north of LaRue. In addition, a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time across the country. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates the men and women who have died while in military service. Whether you attend an area service, watch a parade, or spend the day with friends and family, this day provides an opportunity to pause and reflect with appreciation those who have gone before us.

A future event of a different kind merits special notation, and is scheduled for Tuesday, June 15 at 7:00pm. This is the first of 10 presentations of the Deputy Grand Master’s Rollout of Programs for the 2010-2011 Masonic Year. Each year these meetings are held in conjunction with the Grand Lodge Committee on Education and Information. Findlay Lodge #227 will host the event, at 303 Osborn Avenue, Findlay, Ohio. All officers and members are encouraged to attend, and the full schedule can be found on the Grand Lodge web site. The Deputy Grand Master typically shares his plans for the coming year in an open-forum style. The format allows Brothers to ask questions and share their own ideas with him, as well as other Grand Lodge Officers in attendance. It is hard to find a better opportunity to interact with our leadership. For those planning to attend, to quote Deputy Grand Master Bradford A. Goebel, “Business casual would be the proper attire. Any Brother wearing a tie would be overdressed.”


Below is the remaining portion of our schedule. Make your plans accordingly!

May 31, 2010 at 11am – Memorial Day ceremony at the Price Cemetery north of LaRue.

June 2, 2010, at 7:30pm - Our regularly scheduled meeting. In addition to the customary activities, we will be conferring the MM degree. Come if you can!

June 6, 2010 - Ohio Masonic Home Day at the Springfield Masonic Community.

June 15, 2010, at 7:00pm. - Findlay Lodge #227 will host the Deputy Grand Masters Rollout Program. See above.

June 19, 2010, at 3:00pm - Author Christopher Hodapp is speaking at Bellefontaine #209. This internationally-known author is probably best known for his book "Freemasons for Dummies", and posts a blog at http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/ . This is a rare opportunity for Ohio Masons.

June 25-27, 2010 - Ohio Special Olympics at The Ohio State University.

September 1, 2010 at 7:30pm – Our first meeting after the summer break!

Birthdays? Anniversaries?

Below is a list of the birthdays and Masonic Anniversaries we are celebrating this month.

Birthdays for May:

5-4………..Robert Lee

5-27………Steve Sigrist

Masonic Anniversaries for May:

5-7-52……..O.M. Roux

5-23-63……Leroy Harder

5-20-64……Wayne Schaber

5-20-65……Richard Hoover

5-17-67……Michael Dutton

5-20-70……Pearl Gamble

5-20-70……Rollie McElheny

5-3-72……..Stanley Foos

5-15-74……Milton Lightfoot

5-18-78……Jeff Winslow

5-1-85……..Rod Lightfoot

And don't forget to check our calendar listings below.

Spring is a busy time everywhere. Ice and snow finally gives way to wind and rain, and temperatures rise to "almost warm enough". Across the country clouds of dust are signs that farmers are tilling and planting, and city-dwellers ponder the issues of mowers, landscaping, and flower beds. As we begin our head-long rush toward summer, our Lodge is busy too!

In an earlier post (below) are photos from our Masonic Awards Night. As noted, that night also featured an EA degree, which has caused ripples in our calendar. Please note our activities below, along with several which might be of general interest to the District.

May 1, 2010, at 1:00pm - Inspection of Marion #70 in the FC degree. Refreshments following. This is the last inspection of the season.

May 5, 2010, at 7:30pm - Our regularly scheduled meeting. In addition to the customary activities, we plan to confer the FC degree on our most current candidate.

May 15, 2010, at 8:00am - The 15th District Grand Master's One-Day Class, held in Marysville, at Palestine #158. Registration starts at 7:00am. It's not too late to be included in this event, but you need to act quickly!

May 19, 2010, at 7:30pm - Our regularly scheduled meeting. In addition to the customary activities, we plan to practice the MM degree.

June 2, 2010, at 7:30pm - Our regularly scheduled meeting. In addition to the customary activities, we plan to confer the MM degree. This should be a special evening. Come if you can!

June 6, 2010 - Ohio Masonic Home Day at the Springfield Masonic Community.

June 19, 2010, at 3:00pm and 7:00pm - Author Christopher Hodapp is speaking at Bellefontaine #209. This internationally-known author is probably best known for his book "Freemasons for Dummies", and posts a blog at http://freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com/ . This is a rare opportunity for Ohio Masons.

June 25-27, 2010 - Ohio Special Olympics at The Ohio State University.

Be sure to mark your calendars, and plan accordingly.

We have samples of the photos taken at our awards night in April. The first, above, is for our 35-year recipients. From the left are RWB Paul Robinson, Cedric Radcliffe, Robert Lee, and Terry Hafer.

Immediately below that photo is our group of 40-year recipients. From the left are Phil Winslow, Ralph Lee, Larry Knapp, John Hesse, LeRoy Harder, Harvey Doss, Pearl Gamble, Richard Spracklen, and RWB Paul Robinson.

Immediately below is the photo featuring B. Joseph Spitzer with his certificate for 65 years of Masonic service. On his left is WM Milton Lightfoot, and on his right is RWB Paul Robinson, who assisted in the presentation.


Our congratulations and appreciation to each of the recipients for their service to the fraternity.

Time has certainly been speeding by! The warm days and cool nights, combined with the occassional monsoon, remind us that spring has indeed arrived. And just as the temperature has risen, so has the activity level on meeting nights.

Our last post concerned selection of our nominee for the Grand Master's Excellence in Youth Award, and deserves an additional mention. Over the years we have been fortunate to have nominated six recipients of this award. As much as we'd like to take some sort of credit for this good fortune, the real credit goes to these young people and their families. They have provided excellent examples of the results one can expect from hard work and perseverance. Our congratulations go out to all those considered.

At the first meeting in April we had a very full evening. To start things off, B. Dave Allman orchestrated a pasta feast, the likes of which we haven't seen in recent memory. From comments overheard during the evening, it is highly likely he will be asked for several encore performances. After dinner our normal meeting started with recognition of Masonic service. RWB Paul Robinson and WM Lightfoot combined to present service awards to 13 members present. Although every year represents a milestone for a particular member, the formal awards are grouped into recognition for 25, 35, 40, and 50 years of membership. After achieving the 50-year level, additional recognition is provided every 5 years. This year we were fortunate to recognize the 65 years of service of B. Joseph Spitzer.

As if the evening couldn't become more special, we initiated our most recent candidate in the EA degree. It somehow seems appropriate that on the same evening we celebrate years of service, another starts his Masonic journey. WM Lightfoot cautioned that we should be ready for the FC degree at our next meeting. What a wonderful problem!

The activities of the past dozen days is the only excuse we can offer for not posting the birthdays and Masonic anniversaries for April. Our apologies! Here are the lists.

Birthdays:
4-7.....Arthur Knickel
4-10...James Weist
4-14....Terry Hafer
4-18....Jeff Davis
4-26....James Thuma
4-27....Joseph Spitzer

Masonic Anniversaries:
4-18-62......Howard Dean
4-2-65........Don Redd
4-19-67......Richard Spracklen
4-5-78........Arthur Knickel
4-4-79........Ron Phillips
4-4-84........Robert Everly
4-18-90......Brian Lightfoot
4-19-95......Randy Blue
4-27-02......Ted Williams
4-7-04........Tom Tucker
4-9-05........Charles McConnell
4-9-05........Robert White

Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 21st. See you then!

Grand Master's Excellence in Youth Award

It became official Friday evening at the Grand Master's Reception for the 15th District. Josiah Sayers, nominated by our Lodge, was selected as a recipient of the Grand Master's Excellence in Youth Award. A photo commemorating the event is included above. From left to right are Terry W. Posey, Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, Josiah Sayers, Milton Lightfoot, Worshipful Master of LaRue Lodge #463 F&AM, and Richard Spracklen, Past District Deputy Grand Master of the 15^th Masonic District, and grandfather of Josiah Sayers.

We are understandably pleased our nomination was selected. Even more, we appreciate this opportunity to recognize the quality of the young people within each of our communities.

Whew! Things have been busy since our last posting. Exciting things have kept our attention.

The event closing in most quickly is the 15th District's Grand Master's Reception. It will be held March 26th in Marysville at Karen's Event Center. The evening starts at 7pm, with a social hour preceding. This is always an enjoyable gathering, and provides an opportunity to meet and talk with the Officers of the Grand Lodge. Among the features of the evening are the recipients of the Community Service Award, and the Grand Master's Excellence in Youth Award. Frequent readers will recall LaRue has nominated recipients of the Excellence in Youth Award the past five years in a row, and we've submitted a nomination for this year also. While we're pleased about the possibility of stretching our string to six in a row, the real celebration concerns the excellence of the youth in all of our communities. Now that is something to get excited about!

The next event starts with a dinner at 6:30pm on Wednesday, April 7th. We've been promised a delicious pasta creation for all who attend, and we expect a great turnout. The reason to anticipate such great attendance is an Awards Night, celebrating years of service in the Masonic fraternity. Recognition for those achieving 25, 35, 40, 50, and 65 years is scheduled, involving a total of 29 members. We've even invited special guests to assist with the ceremony. It promises to be a excellent evening, even if you aren't receiving an award.

On March 20th found us visiting Senate Lodge #378 for their Inspection in the Master Mason degree. Four traveled from LaRue to Kenton, where they currently hold meetings, where we met up with another member, several of our honorary members, and two others from the 15th District. Had we been considered eligible, we would have won the 10th District Traveling Trophy. Maybe next time.

At our most recent meeting we also considered our most recent petition, voting to proceed to the next step. That makes two progressing through the degrees, with the possibility of more in the future. It makes for a busy time, for all the right reasons.

Be sure to check out the remainder of our calendar listed below. And if you anticipate attending the dinner on the 7th, let us know, either by mail, email, or phone. We sure don't want to run short on an occasion like this!

Here are the list of birthdays and Masonic anniversaries for the month of March:

Birthdays:

3-1.......Rollie McElheny
3-21.....Brian Lightfoot


Masonic anniversaries:

3-20-46.....James Thuma
3-19-52.....Gene McMahan
3-2-60.......Randall Huffman
3-4-65.......Cedric Radclilffe
3-16-66.....Arthur Keirns
3-17-71......Dan Hicks
3-29-78.....Greg Rice
3-18-81......Dan Stover
3-15-89......Rick Sims
3-29-03.....Jeff Adkins

We passed!

OK, maybe that isn't really a surprise, but it is nice to report. We were pleased to have 41 present at our inspection, 11 of which were our members. In total, there were 29 Past Masters, and three 50+ year members. All this with two Lodges unable to attend. Quite good for an afternoon event during the winter. At the conclusion of the day both DEO Frank Egelsky and RWB Paul Robinson, DDGM, gave us favorable comments. Whew!

A very special Thank You goes out to Bro. Ed Brown. Due to issues with scheduling and communication, our plans for a candidate required several revisions, the last of which occurred as Bro. Brown walked up the steps to the Lodge. On learning of our situation, his gracious offer to assist allowed us to proceed with only a minor delay. This was certainly a fine example of brotherly love and friendship for the good of the fraternity, and we greatly appreciate his generosity.


With a successful inspection behind us, there are still events ahead on our schedule. Take a look, and mark your calendar accordingly.

February 25, 2010. Palestine #158, inspection in the MM degree. Opening at 5:30pm, dinner at 6:30pm, and degree work resumes approximately 7:30pm.

February 27, 2010. Mr. Gilead #206, inspection in the FC degree. Dinner at 6:30pm, with inspection starting at 7:30pm.

March 3, 2010. Our next meeting. A little time to bask in the glow of our recent marks, then to focus on our new candidates.

March 6, 2010. Chester #238, inspection in the MM degree. Opening at 5:30pm, dinner at 6:30pm, and degree work resumes approximately 7:30pm.

March 26, 2010. 15th District Grand Master's Reception, held at Karen's Event Center, Marysville, starting at 7pm. We've been informed there have been a large number of nominations for the Grand Master's Excellence in Youth Award, as well as the Community Service Award. It is always a fun evening, with great food, and an opportunity to meet the Grand Lodge Officers. Tickets will be available soon through the Secretary's Office.

March 27, 2010. Mt. Carmel, #303, inspection in the MM degree. Opening at 5:30pm, dinner at 6:30pm, and degree work resumes approximately 7:30pm.

May 15, 2010. One-Day Class to be held at Palestine #158. Details will be posted when available.

June 6, 2010. Ohio Masonic Home Day at Springfield Masonic Community.


Thanks again to everyone who contributed to our positive inspection experience!

You're Doing What?

We've been busy preparing for degree work, Pre-Inspection visits, DEO presentations, Inspection, and a host of things that won't fit into this blog. Even the weather has been a challenge, but it is winter in Ohio, and we're up to the task.

For those not on a cruise, or wintering in Florida, our calendar has the usual items, with some updates.
Check it out:

February 3, 2010. Pre-Inspection visitation by RWB Paul Robinson, and presentation of an Education Program from our DEO. DDGM Robinson promised an answer to any Masonic-related issues during the evening. Many would consider that quite an offer. The education programs are always fun, and remind you that no matter how long you've been a member of the fraternity, there is always more to learn.

February 17, 2010. Practice for Inspection in the FC degree.

February 20, 2010. Inspection in the FC degree. Lodge opens at 3:30pm. Following our inspection, Marion #70 will be holding a dinner at 6:30pm, followed by their inspection in the FC degree, which starts at 7:30pm.

March 26, 2010. 15th District Grand Master's Reception, held at Karen's Event Center, Marysville, starting at 7pm. We've been informed there have been a large number of nominations for the Grand Master's Excellence in Youth Award, as well as the Community Service Award. It is always a fun evening, with great food, and an opportunity to meet the Grand Lodge Officers. Tickets will be available soon through the Secretary's Office.

May 15, 2010. One-Day Class to be held at Palestine #158. Details will be posted when available.

June 6, 2010. Ohio Masonic Home Day at Springfield Masonic Community.


We have quit a list of birthdays this month:

2-1......Rod Lightfoot
2-2......Tom Hafer
2-5......Philip Weist
2-19....Donald Adams
2-22....Jeff Winslow
2-24....Richard Spracklen
2-26....Randall Huffman
2-26....Richard Peterman
2-26....Tom Tucker


Here are the list of Masonic Anniversaries for February:

2-3-43...............Theodore McElheny
2-7-62...............James Weist
2-6-63...............Phillip McCullough
2-2-71...............Terry Hafer
2-6-85..............Marvin Guider
2-14-87.............Charles Randles
2-26-00............Jeff Davis

Mission Accomplished? - Phase One!

Our thanks go out to all those who left the comforts of home to assist with the EA degree. The attendance of our members was as impressive as the degree work.

As a reminder, our candidate is a college student, available primarily on weekends, or on school breaks. This means we expect at least two more Saturday meetings. We'll keep you posted.

News Flash!


We will be having a Special Meeting!

Date: Saturday, January 16, 2010
Time: 10am
Purpose: To confer the EA degree.

Come join us for a fun morning. We'll be done in plenty of time to watch football, basketball, hockey, or whatever else you schedule on weekend afternoons.

It's a New Year!

For some of us, 2010 snuck in like a shadow in the night. For others, it was more like a freight train charging through the living room. Both groups woke to a coating of snow, reminding us of a blank painters canvas. From this fresh start, we can appreciate all the promise, excitement, and joy 2010 can bring. As you start to fill your canvas, may you enjoy not just the holidays, but the blessings of a great new year.

As you might suspect, we have a new slate of calendar additions, as well as new listings for birthdays and Masonic anniversaries.

Birthdays for January:
1-5.........Rick Sims
1-9.........O.M. Roux
1-18.......Ralph Lee
1-18.......Marvin Guider

Masonic Anniversaries for January:
1-5-55......Theodore Elsasser
1-16-60....Clyde Schertzer
1-20-82....John Mathew
1-15-97.....Don Kennedy

Our 2010 calendar is filling quickly. Make sure to mark these on your personal calendar. (For a full list of District Inspections and meetings, please check the 15th District web site. For your convenience, a link is available on the left.)

January 6, 2010. Our first meeting of 2010. We will be having an EA practice, and making plans for future degree work. We have a candidate which might require some weekend meetings, as well as another petition-in-waiting.

January 9, 2010. 15th District Work Day, held at Mt. Carmel #303, starting at 9am. If you've ever had a question about words, procedure, or protocol, this is the meeting to attend. The current District Deputy Grand Masters oversee the program, the District Education Officers will be present, and the hand-written work is available for reference. In addition, there are literally hundreds of years of Masonic experience present for advise, instruction, and coaching. You can't purchase better Masonic training than this provides.

February 3, 2010. Pre-Inspection visitation by RWB Paul Robinson. We also anticipate an Education Program from our DEO. The programs are always fun, and remind you that no matter how long you've been a member of the fraternity, there is always more to learn.

February 17, 2010. Practice for Inspection in the FC degree.

February 20, 2010. Inspection in the FC degree. Lodge opens at 3:30pm. Following our inspection, Marion #70 will be holding a dinner at 6:30pm, followed by their inspection in the FC degree, which starts at 7:30pm.

March 26, 2010. 15th District Grand Master's Reception, held at Karen's Event Center, Marysville, starting at 7pm. We've been informed there have been a large number of nominations for the Grand Master's Excellence in Youth Award, as well as the Community Service Award. It is always a fun evening, with great food, and an opportunity to meet the Grand Lodge Officers. Tickets will be available soon through the Secretary's Office.

May 15, 2010. One-Day Class to be held at Palestine #158. Details will be posted when available.

To echo a phrase from a popular video, "Come join us!".