Orange-Rockland Child ID Training *NEW*
It is regrettable that our Community Service chairman, Wor. Wayne Flavin, was the only Brother from the District who was able to attend the training on the new Child ID system last weekend. With the new system now in place, it is imperative that every Lodge participating in the Child ID program have a team trained in the use of the new computer-based system. To facilitate this, a training session will be held on the morning of Saturday October 28th at the Cornwall Masonic Temple in Mountainville, NY at 10:00 a.m. All Lodges are encouraged to send a team to the training, and some other local service and law enforcement organizations have been invited to join us for this training.

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District Apron Presentations
The new District Deputy Grand Master and Grand Director of Ceremonies, our two Assistant Grand Lecturers, and new Grand Reprsentatives will be honored at a District Apron Presentation which will be held on Sunday October 1st at the Walden Fire House in Walden, NY. The Grand Master and many members of the elected and appointed Grand Line will be present for the festivities which includes a luncheon beginning at noon. The price is $15 per person, with children under twelve invited to attend for free.

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Masters and Wardens Meeting
The Masters and Wardens will meet at (air conditioned!) Jerusalem Temple Lodge on Monday September 11th at 7:00 p.m., and we look forward to hearing reports about the 225th Anniversary Interfaith Services and Breakfasts being held around the district on September 10th. The meeting will be held 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!

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Athelstane Lodge and the MDA
Once again, Athelstane Lodge will be assisting with the annual Labor Day Telethon in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. They have some positions open to answer phones (live on TV!) during their shift which starts at 8:40 a.m. on Monday September 4th.

To help get the ball rolling, literally, the Lodge will be holding a Bowl-a-Thon to raise funds for the MDA on August 27th and September 3rd at 1:00 p.m. on both days. The entry fee of $12 covers three games of bowling and shoe rentals at Pearl River Lanes, which is next door to the Prearl River Masonic Temple. You can download a sposnor form by clicking here. We hope you will join the Brothers in raising funds and offering your time to support this very worthy cause!

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The 50th Empire State Mason Cruise
The 50th Empire State Mason Cruise will be held from January 28th to February 11th, 2007. Join our Grand Line and Masons from around the state for fourteen days from Valparaiso, Chile to Buenes Aires, Argentina on board Celebrity Cruise's MS Infinity. Unusual shore excursions are available for this special cruise including a pre-cruise package in Santiago, a post-cruise package in Buenos Aires, and an Antarctica Flyover from Punta Arenas. There are a wide variety of accommodations available including full suites, outside mini-suites with balconies, outside and inside cabins. Prices start at $2,100 per person and does not include air, insurance, or port taxes.

Brochures are available from the DDGMor you can e-mail Cruise Enterprises Inc. for more information or call them toll free at (888) 727-8922.

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Masonic Family Day at Tappan
You and your families are cordially invited to join our Grand Master and his Line on Sunday September 17th at noon 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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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
Entered Apprentice Degree at West Point Lodge	Saturday August 19th at 1:00 pm	contact
Athelstane Lodge MDA Bowl-a-Thon	Sunday August 27th at1:00 p.m.	contact
ORDMA Meeting - Location TBA	Monday August 28th at 7:30 p.m.*	contact
Athelstane Lodge MDA Bowl-a-Thon	Sunday September 3rd at 1:00 pm	contact
General Montgomery Day Parade (Wallkill Lodge)	Saturday September 9th 10:00 am	contact
Hoffman-Port Jervis Joint Interfaith Service and Breakfast	Saturday September 9th	contact
Hudson River-Jerusalem Temple Joint Interfaith Service	Sunday September 10th	contact
Naurashank Lodge Joint Interfaith Service	Sunday September 10th	contact
Masters and Wardens Planning Meeting (Mountainville)	Monday September 11th at 7:00 pm	contact
District School of Instruction (Mountainville)	Monday September 11th at 8:00 pm	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
Port Jervis Lodge Master Mason Degree	Friday September 22nd*	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
Wallkill Lodge Entered Apprentice Degree	Wednesday October 4, 2006	contact
DDGM Visit to West Point Lodge	Thursday October 5, 2006*	contact
Masters and Wardens Planning Meeting (Mountainville)	Monday October 9th at 7:00 pm	contact
District School of Instruction (Mountainville)	Monday October 9th at 8:00 pm	contact
DDGM Visit to Cornerstone Lodge	Wednesday October 11, 2006*	contact
Jerusalem Temple Lodge Entered Apprentice Degree	Saturday October 14, 2006 9am	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
Child ID Training	Saturday October 28th 10:00 am	contact
Wallkill Lodge Fellowcraft Degree	Wednesday November 1, 2006	contact
DDGM Visit to Stony Point-Wawayanda Lodge	Wednesday November 1, 2006*	contact
Brotherhood Fund Training Meeting	Saturday November 4, 2006	contact
DDGM Visit to Goshen Lodge	Monday November 6, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Naurashank Lodge	Friday November 10, 2006*	contact
Jerusalem Temple Lodge Fellowcraft Degree	Saturday November 11, 2006 9am	contact
Grand Master's Ball - Long Island	Saturday November 11, 2006*	info
Masters and Wardens Planning Meeting (Mountainville)	Monday November 13th at 7:00 pm	contact
District School of Instruction (Mountainville)	Monday November 13th at 8:00 pm	contact
DDGM Visit to Wallkill Lodge	Wednesday November 15, 2006*	contact
DDGM Visit to Hoffman Lodge	Tuesday November 21, 2006*	contact
Wallkill Lodge Master Mason Degree	Wednesday December 6, 2006	contact
DDGM Visit to Jerusalem Temple Lodge	Saturday December 9, 2006	contact
ORDMA Family Holiday Party	Saturday December 30, 2006	contact
ORDMA Dinner Dance	Saturday March 17th, 2007	contact
* Denotes a dinner will precede or follow the meeting or event. Please check with the contact for details.

The Orange-Rockland School of Masonic Instruction 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 September 11th 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!

Entered Apprentice Degree Assistance Needed
West Point Lodge requires assistance with an Entered Apprentice Degree on Saturday August 19th. Specifically, assistance is needed with the Apron Presentation, Bible Presentation, Questions and Answers, the Lecture of Reasons, and the Historical Lecture. The degree will begin at 2:00 p.m. with lunch preceding it. If you can assist, please contact Wor. Russ Anderson.

Master Mason Degree Assistance Needed
Port Jervis Lodge requires assistance with a Master Mason Degree on Friday September 22nd. Speaking and non-speaking roles in the Drama are required. The degree will begin at 8:00 p.m. with dinner preceding it at 6:30 p.m. If you can assist, please contact Wor. Joe Ryder.

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.

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 Humor

It seems that a Master of his Lodge, went to Heaven and met with St. Peter. He identified himself as a member of the Craft and St. Peter asked, "What Lodge?"
Proudly the Master replied, "Old Adage Lodge #1." St. Peter immediately took him to the Masonic Clock Room.
The Master, in puzzlement, looked around the room which was filled with clocks. Each clock had a Lodge's name on a brass plate and, strangely enough, each clock was at a different time.
He asked why and St. Peter informed him that the hands only moved when someone in that Lodge made a mistake in the Ritual.
The Master then asked where his Lodge's clock was as he couldn't see it. St. Peter replied, "Why, it's in the kitchen, of course."
"The kitchen," said the Master?
"Yes, you see, we needed a new fan."

Is your Lodge's clock in the kitchen? Come to the School of Instruction, Second Monday of every month!