LaRue Lodge #463 F&AM: May 2018

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Summer is Here ! ! !

OK, not really, but kind of. The trick is how you define “summer”. Purists will point out the summer equinox will occur on Thursday, June 21, at 6:07am. That, of course, will be the longest day of the year, unless you are waiting on a cable TV repairman.

But we digress. Back to our “summer” reality. We adhere to the thought that Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. No, we aren’t seaside shop owners counting tourists, although that doesn’t sound so bad. Instead, we are a community closely tied to agricultural pursuits. One of the byproducts of that reality is a membership unlikely to attend meetings during this period.

We finished the month of May with a FC degree practice. Not a bad conclusion to a transitional month, considering the possibilities. “What comes next?” you ask. Well, we have answers, but first an explanation.

Masonic Lodges are not permitted to cancel meetings. This is similar in thought to the unofficial Post Office motto:

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds

The exception in our case is that we don’t have appointed rounds, only appointed days and times. When conditions make travel or attendance unsafe, uncomfortable, or inconvenient, we advise members to attend to their necessary vocations and welfare. “What does this mean to me?” It means that if you arrive for a Lodge meeting before September 5^th, you will most likely be alone – unless you brought a friend.

As always, there are many items on the calendar. The last of the Inspections has been held for the year, so we are able to concentrate on lighter news and events:

May 28, 2018 Memorial Day.

Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates all men and women who have died in military service for the United States. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on Memorial Day and it is traditionally seen as the start of the summer season.

June 3, 2018 Ohio Masonic Home Day, Springfield, Ohio. See schedule link on the left side of this page.

June 16, 2018 La Rue’s “Oorang Moorang”, otherwise known as La Rue’s Village Festival. Activities include a duck race on the Scioto River, music, food, and a parade at 2pm. It’s the kind of thing only a small town can do right. See poster below.

June 22, 2018 Opening Ceremonies of the Ohio Special Olympics. To be held at the OSU campus, Columbus, Ohio.

July 4, 2018 Independence Day. Celebrate the birth of a nation!

As of this date, 242 years and counting.

August 18, 2018 15^th District Past Presidents Golf Tournament. Held at Kings Mills Golf Club (2500 Berringer Road, Waldo, OH).

September 3, 2018 Labor Day. Although many view this as the unofficial “last day of summer”, it was created to celebrate those who do the heavy lifting that keeps our country going. Whether you are firing up that grill, or muttering under your breath about traffic, don’t lose sight of the effort and dedication it takes to provide us the comforts we enjoy.

September 15, 2018 15^th District Annual Meeting, held at Palestine Lodge

at 9am.

September 16, 2018 15^th District Annual Awards Banquet, held at The Plaza Inn, Mt. Victory, OH, at 6pm.

October 8, 2018 Columbus Day.

October 11-13, 2017 Grand Lodge Annual Communication.

Held at the Kalahari Resort and Convention Center, 7000 Kalahari Drive, Sandusky, Ohio.

November 6, 2018 Election Day.

If you are reading this, you have plenty of time to register and be eligible to vote. Polls are open from 6:30am until 7:30pm. Vote!

November 7, 2018 Annual Meeting.

In addition to the normal business of the Lodge, this is the meeting where we elect Officers for the coming year. Come and make your voice heard!

November 11, 2018 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 17, 2018 15^th District Fall Education Meeting, held at Mt. Carmel Lodge at 9am.

December 1, 2018 15^th District Past Masters Convocation.

Held at Boggs #292, starting at 9am.

That’s the schedule as we know it for now. See you at Lodge!

Thursday, May 3, 2018

It is finally Spring !

The long-awaited warm weather has finally arrived. No longer do we have wear a parka while mowing, and dodge snow drifts. Or at least we hope that is the case.

We have been busy (don’t we always say that?), but we have several indicators that is the case. Our most recent activity is illustrated below.

Frequent readers will recall that several months ago we were tasked with updating our member contact information, and determining which of our members have served in the military. A special thanks go out to all who assisted and participated. After receiving the responses, the results were both pleasant and surprising. We managed to reconnect with Brothers who hadn’t kept us in the loop (Moved 5 years ago? Really?), plus some who have had significant life changes. We also learned that 34% of our members are serving, or have served, in the military. Wow !

MWB Rick Schau created a pin to recognize those Brothers who have served in the military. A special recognition ceremony was scheduled, preceded by a scrumptious dinner. Each Brother who has served was introduced West of the Altar, asked to share some recollections, and were presented the Grand Master’s pin by RWB Willard Fissell. It was a proper and fitting recognition of their service. The evening was capped with a viewing of the Grand Lodge “Replace Yourself” video (http://replaceyourself.org/).

With this post should appear photos of the veterans who were present, documenting the event.

During the evening, RWB Fissell provided some insight into the 15^th District Grand Master’s Reception for 2019. In discussions with the 15^th District, DGM Jess N. Raines had many favorable comments on the 15^th District picnic held last year. Frequent readers will recall it as a well-attended event which included the entire family. Consideration is being given to using this model as the Grand Master’s Reception. As March and April has some undependable weather, the thought is to schedule the event for a more suitable month, like June. More will be posted on this as plans are solidified.