Orange-Rockland Masons Online

Another week, come and gone... where is the summer going? Fear not, though, there's still plenty of Masonic Excitement coming your way for you and your families! Take out your calendars, let's check out what's coming up: In August, we have the renowned Wallkill Lodge Chicken Barbecue coming up on the 5th along with several parades. September is going to be crazy, with all of the 225th Anniversary activities including the Interfaith Breakfasts in our Lodges and our Rededication Ceremonies. Hudson River Lodge will hold its annual Pig Roast on September 16th and then we will take to the grills again the next day on the 17th as our District helps out at Masonic Family Day at Tappan. September will end on the 30th with Masonic Family Day at West Point and October will kick off on the 1st with the Apron Presentations for the new District Leadership. Busy, busy, busy!

As many of you are by now aware, two Brothers from Hudson River Lodge lost their homes and everything in them during the flooding last month. The District and Grand Lodge have responded quickly to assist these Brothers, and we are grateful to all of the Brothers and Lodges who have offered assistance to them. It was especially inspiring to see Jerusalem Temple Lodge and Wallkill Lodge band together (pun intended) to raise funds to assist distressed Brothers from a third Lodge at the Coffeehouse last weekend. The Brothers of JTL presented a great evening of plentiful beverages, tasty snacks, and live music, much of which was supplied by the Brethren of Walkill Lodge and their friends who came out to play for this worthwhile cause. A special tip of the hat to Wor. Wayne Flavin and Bro. Nick Iacovitti for all of their hard work in making this a night to remember.

If our District can continue to pull together with events like this Coffeehouse and the recent joint Degrees, our potential will become boundless and Masonry will flourish. With the excitement being generated by the newly revamped Child ID program, and nine Brothers interested in the iDC course, we are seeing first hand the truth that

Communication + Community Service + Education + Ritual = Membership
(CCER=M)

It's great to pass out those new 'What is Freemasonry?' cards to potential members, to put them up at local libraries and find them gone the next day; and to have the phone ring with inquiries from the men who took them. It's even better to supplement it with rattling off a long list of successful activities happening in our District. The formula works, that much is clear... and all this on our summer break. I can't wait to see our Lodges back in Full Spring in the Fall!

DISTRICT NEWS

NETNEWS News
The July issue of the new NEW YORK MASONS NETNEWS is available now: You can view it by accessing the Grand Lodge web site (www.nymasons.org) or by clicking clicking here. As always, your comments and material for the August issue are welcome. To submit an article for inclusion, please contact Steve Koch, Editor of the NETNEWS at nynetnews@gmail.com.

Masonic Family Day at Tappan
You and your families are cordially invited to join our Grand Master and his Line as we celebrate Masonic Family Day at Tappan. Held on the awe inspiring grounds of the DeWint House at the George Washington National Historic Site, this day will have activities for the whole family to enjoy. Tour the grounds which can only be called a Masonic arboretum, visit the home used by George Washington as his headquarters several times during the Revolutionary War, and talk with costumed re enactors. Bring your kids to learn Colonial crafts and play Colonial games, and watch a puppet show. Instead of a expensive formal brunch, we'll be serving hamburgers and hotdog's at family-friendly prices. Help is needed by Brothers from the District but we're only asking for a few hours to help with set up and to man the grills. If you can help out, please contact the DDGM or come to the next ORDMA meeting if you can. We'd love to see you there!

Masonic Family Day at West Point
Join us again on Saturday September 30th for Masonic Family Day at West Point with all new activities at very old prices! We've kept the price of the day down to last year's price while providing even more fun for you and your families! Last year's price of $31 per person now includes not only your ticket to the football game of Army vs. Rice, but also seating under a huge tent with tables and chairs right alongside the scenic Hudson River. Family members who do not wish to attend the game can enjoy the day at this scenic location with crafts and activities for the kids for $10. Parking passes are $5 and you are urged to carpool as spots are limited. Coffee and pastries in the morning and watermelon and cold drinks throughout the day are included in the basic pricing, and a chicken barbecue with all the fixings is available for $7.50, or being your own picnic lunch to enjoy down by the river. For more information, click here.

225th Anniversary Activities
How are your plans coming along for the 225th Anniversary activities to be held in YOUR Lodge in September? That's right, YOUR Lodge! Each Lodge in the State has been asked to hold an Interfaith Service and Breakfast on Sunday September 10th where we will bring our communities together in remembrance of the events of 9/11 and present flags to various community groups. Your Lodge will also be holding a Rededication Service at one of it's September meetings where we will rededicate ourselves to the spirit of Freemasonry and reflect on the importance of our Craft to ourselves, our families, and our community. Special 225th Anniversary pins are being prepared for Brothers who attend their Rededication. If you have not been contacted to assist with planning these activities, wait no longer! Call your Worshipful Master and ask him how YOU can be a part of these special events.

Masters and Wardens Meeting
The Masters and Wardens will meet at (air conditioned!) Jerusalem Temple Lodge on Monday August 14th at 7:00 p.m., prior to the School of Instruction which will convene at 8:00 p.m. The trestleboard for the School will be a brief program on Balloting, DDGM Visits, and Basic Lodge Protocol followed by a social hour with cards and refreshments. We hope to see everyone there!

District Committees Forming
The District Staff has met and our District committees are forming. It is important that each Lodge provide a contact in each of the key areas so that we can assist you in conducting important programs and promoting them. A list of District Committee Chairmen can be found by clicking here. It is critical to our success and efficiency as Lodges that we cooperate with the Brothers who have volunteered to head up these committees within our District. Each will be in touch with the Masters over the summer to see who is contact is within each Lodge. By building a personal relationship with a Brother in each Lodge, our Chairmen can convey important information and receive input from the Lodge without overwhelming all of the Brothers in attendance with minutiae at DDGM Visits.

Each Lodge is asked to appoint a Brother as a liaison to the District in the following areas: 225th Anniversary, Awards, Brotherhood Fund, Communications, Community Service, Fellowship & Family Involvement, and Youth. It is also my pleasure to announce that R:.W:. George D. Blasch will be traveling with us to provide information about our Masonic Care Community, and will once more act as our District admissions liaison should any Brother require need of their services. If you have an interest in any of these areas, please contact your Worshipful master and let him know!

Brotherhood Fund Meeting
R:.W:. Robert Stack, Chairman of the Masonic Brotherhood Fund, and members of his team will be at Hoffman Lodge in Middletown, NY on Saturday November 4th to train local Lodge and District chairmen in the procedures necessary to organize and run a successful Brotherhood Fund campaign. Coffee will be served at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m., and is expected to run about two hours. It is important that every Lodge be represented by its Brotherhood Fund Chairman or another designee at this meeting.

ORDMA Web Site Updated
It is our pleasure to announce that the Orange-Rockland District Masonic Association web site (www.ordma.org) has been updated. More changes are on the way, including updates of our new Lodge officers, but you can now review contact information for ORDMA and District officers and committees. We'd like to thank ORDMA for their continued service in support of our District! Other plans in the works includes several family and formal social functions, and the publication of the ever-popular pocket calendars. If you have any special dates coming up that you would like included in the calendar, please contact Bro. Jose Cardona.

An Invitation to the Masters of Lodges
The Masters of the Orange-Rockland District and their Ladies are cordially invited to meet our Grand Master and members of the Grand Line on Saturday August 12th at noon. The event will be held in conjunction with a joint picnic being held by the First and Second Westchester-Putnam Districts at Osceola Beach in Jefferson Valley, NY. More details will follow shortly, but please mark your calendars now. We hope that all of the Masters of our District will make every effort to attend. Additionally, because of the expanded event venue, other Brothers of our District have been invited to join the festivities. Keep watching this space for details!

2006 DDGM Visits
The District Deputy Grand Master, RW Joe Leo, and the Masters and Wardens met on Monday June 12th and set the schedule for his Official Visits. To view the schedule, please click here.

Want to do Something Special to Honor Your 50 Year Members?

DATES TO REMEMBER

Wallkill Lodge Chicken Barbecue	Saturday August 5th 1:00 pm	info \| contact
Masonic Family Day at Camp Turk	Saturday August 5th	contact
Grand Line Reception for the Masters	Saturday August 12th 12:00 pm	contact
Masters and Wardens Planning Meeting (Mountainville)	Monday August 14th at 7:00 pm	contact
District School of Instruction (Mountainville)	Monday August 14th at 8:00 pm	contact
General Montgomery Day Parade (Wallkill Lodge)	Saturday September 9th 10:00 am	contact
Hudson River Lodge Annual Pig Roast	Saturday September 16th 12:00 pm	info \| contact
Walden Day Parade (Wallkill Lodge)	Saturday September 16th 10:00 am	contact
Masonic Family Day at Tappan	Sunday September 17th*	contact
DDGM Visit to Hudson River Lodge	Wednesday September 27, 2006*	contact
Connecticut FC Degree Exemplification (West Point Lodge)	Friday September 29th at 7:30 pm	contact
Masonic Family Day at West Point	Saturday September 30th	contact
District Leaders Apron Presentations	Sunday October 1st at 12:00 pm*	contact
DDGM Visit to West Point Lodge	Thursday October 5, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Cornerstone Lodge	Wednesday October 11, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Athelstane Lodge	Tuesday October 17, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Warwick Lodge	Tuesday October 24, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Port Jervis Lodge	Friday October 27, 2006*	contact
Brotherhood Fund Training Meeting	Saturday November 4, 2006	contact
DDGM Visit to Stony Point-Wawayanda Lodge	Wednesday November 1, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Goshen Lodge	Monday November 6, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Naurashank Lodge	Friday November 10, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Wallkill Lodge	Wednesday November 15, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Hoffman Lodge	Tuesday November 21, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Jerusalem Temple Lodge	Saturday December 9, 2006	contact
* Denotes a dinner will precede or follow the meeting or event. Please check with the contact for details.

SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION

The Orange-Rockland School of Masonic Instruction has returned! The School will convene on the second Monday of each month, at locations around the District. Instruction will rotate on a monthly basis between Ritual, Grand Lodge educational programs, and seminars on topics like Leadership and Communication.

Our next School will be held on Monday August 14th at Jerusalem Temple Lodge at 8:00 p.m. The work on the trestleboard will be Balloting, DDGM Visits, and Basic Lodge Protocol followed by a social hour with cards and refreshments. A brief Masters and Wardens meeting will precede the School at 7:00 p.m.

If you have any questions, please contact the DDGM. We'll see you there!

SICKNESS AND DISTRESS

Hudson River Lodge is continuing to raise funds on behalf of Brother Bruce Hess and his father, Brother Walter Hess, who lost everything in their mobile homes due to the floods in Kirkwood, NY. Walter Hess is 75 years old and has 35 years as a member of the Craft and Bruce Hess is 52 years old and has 29 years as a member of the Craft. Several Lodges have already contributed to their relief and others are making plans to do so but we still need your help. Any contributions you may wish to give should be sent to:

Hudson River Lodge #309
PO Box 1664
Newburgh, NY 12551-1664
(Please note on your check "For flood victims relief")

Cynthia Bleiwas, the wife of Bro. Howard Bleiwas of Athelstane Lodge and Past Treasurer of ORDMA, is home and recovering from her gall bladder surgery last week. Howard tells us that everything went well! We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.

HELP WANTED

Wallkill Lodge invites the Brethren of our District to join them in marching in the General Montgomery Day Parade in Montgomery, NY on September 9, 2006, and the Walden Day Parade in Walden, NY on September 16, 2006. For more information, please contact the Master, Wor. Robert Schroeder.

Masonic Family Days are Coming
Masonic Family Day at Tappan will be held on Sunday September 17th and Masonic Family Day at West Point will be held on Saturday September 30th. Both of these events, sponsored by our Grand Lodge, will take place in the Orange-Rockland District and we are looking for volunteers to help with them. Both afford opportunities to socialize with your Brethren, and to introduce family and friends to the Craft. If you can help with either, please contact the DDGM.

FUN STUFF

OK, here's a break from the cryptograms, we have some short rebus puzzles instead. These are popular word picture puzzles with hidden meanings to solve from the pictogram. For instance:

OK, your turn. Answers next week!

Last week's puzzle: Every one is entirely free to reject and dissent from whatsoever herein may seem to him to be untrue or unsound