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Winter?  Not Yet!

OK, maybe not on the calendar, but don’t tell that to the weatherman.  We’ve already had temperatures in the teens, have endured the first 2 snowfalls of the season, and the area ski trails are open.  Add to that being in the official Christmas shopping season and you can understand the confusion.

With everything happening outside, we’ve been busy inside.  We had our Annual Meeting, complete with a delicious fish fry, and election of officers for 2013-14.  Our most recent candidate has progressed through the FC degree, and should give back his exam on the 18^th.  We’ve enjoyed a series of excellent dinners, with another coming up, also on the 18^th.  We’ve been preparing for our 2014 Inspection, complete with a catered dinner.  Join us!  No reservations required.

Our last post referenced the recent legislation exempting fraternal organizations from paying property taxes.  As you might expect the application process is a little more complicated than the media suggests, but we are moving forward.  Our supporting documents were gathered and are now being reviewed by Grand Lodge for completeness and accuracy.  When deemed worthy they will be presented to the Marion County Auditor for the final decision.  December 31^st is the deadline for consideration for 2014, although applications approved after that deadline will result in tax exemptions in later years.  As noted in our history, LaRue Lodge #463 - The First 100 Years, this isn’t the first time we’ve found ourselves in an interesting situation with our Lodge hall, and probably won’t be the last.  Updates will be shared as they come available. 

As mentioned above, our officers, both elected and appointed, were selected at our Annual Meeting.  On December 4^th there will be a closed Installation with WB Mark Wamack presiding.  Here is the complete list:

Dave Allman, Worshipful Master
Brian Lightfoot, Senior Warden
Gene McMahan, Junior Warden
Rick Sigrist, Treasurer
John Mathew, Secretary
Milton Lightfoot, Senior Deacon
Cedric Radcliffe, Junior Deacon
Pearl Gamble, Senior Steward
Mike Wells, Junior Steward
Richard Spracklen, Tyler
O. M. Roux, Chaplain
Rick Sigrist, Lodge Education Officer

Trustees:
Pearl Gamble
Cedric Radcliffe
Brian Lightfoot
Rick Sigrist
Richard Spracklen

Here are dates you will want to put in your calendar:

December 7, 2013.             15^th District Past Master’s Convocation.  Held at East Liberty #247 at 9am.

December 18, 2013            Dinner at 6:30pm.  Lodge opens at 7:30pm. 

December 19, 2013            LaRue’s Christmas in the Village.  This is the annual celebration in downtown La Rue. It is certainly a family-friendly event, starting with a parade at 5pm. 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 25, 2013.           Christmas.  Don’t forget the reason for the season.

December 31, 2013.           New Year’s Eve. 

It’s not too late to select a Designated Driver!

January 1, 2014.                 New Year’s Day.  The day when the resolutions meet the treadmill.  Or not. 

Normally the 1^st Wednesday of the month would be a regularly stated meeting.  Our By-Laws specify that when the 1^st is a holiday, the meeting will be held on the 2^nd Wednesday.  In this case, January 8, 2014.

January 8, 2014                  First meeting of 2014.  (See above.)

January 11, 2014                15^th District Work Day, held at Indian Lake #722, starting at 9am. 

January 15, 2014                MM practice, in preparation for Inspection.

January 18, 2014                LaRue Lodge #463, Inspection in the MM degree.  Currently scheduled for an opening at 5:30pm, dinner at 6:30pm, and the Second Section at 7:30pm. 

April 5, 2014                         Grand Master’s One Day Class, held at Marion #70, starting at 8am.

April 10, 2014                       EA Inspection at East Liberty #247.  The Grand Master will be attending, so get your dinner reservations in early.

April 25, 2014                       15^th District, Grand Master’s Reception, held at Bellefontaine #209. 

That’s all we know for now.  Stay warm, and we’ll

See you in Lodge!

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