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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!

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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!