July 2021 Trestle Board
Brethren,
Our Stated Communication is this upcoming Monday, July 12th, at 7:30 PM.
First of all, I’d like to thank our Senior Warden for holding down the fort while I was away. I’ve heard from multiple brothers that all of the officers did a great job. Maybe I should miss more meetings…
If anyone wants to meet at the Mexican restaurant on Main St before the meeting, I’ll be there at 6:00. Starting in September, the Eastern Star will begin offering dinner at the Lodge prior to the stated meetings. I’m sure I’m not the only one excited to get back to those dinners.
The plaque for the Lodge Benefactors has arrived, and I will be unveiling it at the meeting. As a reminder, this plaque was to commemorate the members who have generously donated $500 or more to our building fund last year. Thank you to all of you who donated to our building fund! (BTW, I left a few extra spaces on the plaque for anyone who would like to upgrade to a Benefactor.)
Our next practice is next Monday, July 19th at 7:00 PM. We’ll be working on the Fellowcraft degree. Whether you are an officer, a new member, or an existing member interested in getting involved, you’re invited to come.
When we began 2020, the officers and I laid out some pretty lofty and aggressive goals before the Lodge pivoted to pure survival mode during the pandemic. Now it’s time to get back to work. Here’s a few of the things we had on the agenda that I’ll be talking about in more detail at the meeting:
- Renovating the lobby
- Esoteric and Education Club
- Updating the fellowship hall
- The Good Men Committee
- Charity drives
- Support for local events and charities as a Lodge
Finally, I believe the Secretary has a membership petition and an affiliation petition on his desk. Other good men are out there searching for the benefits of this Fraternity. It is up to you to find them and let them know you are a Mason in your conversations. As one Past Grand Master suggested, ask him why isn’t he a Mason. While we cannot induce a man to join, we can certainly illuminate the path.
Man was not built for this life of virtual isolation we’ve built with social media, tv, and the internet. Our brains thrive from face-to-face interactions with other people. Our minds notice and filter out all manner of little visual, audible, and physical cues when we’re in a room with others. We learn to better interact. And our overall psychological health is better for it. So be active in this or another enterprise. (I’d rather it was this one.) And help others find ways of joining in.
Fraternally,
Andrew Coelho
