Frank M. Totton Essay Contest
The Grand Lodge Youth Committee is now accepting essays for the 2007 Frank M. Totton Essay Contest. The cut-off date is Jan 10th 2007. The topic is " How have advances in technology affected our daily lives?" The contest is open to all High school seniors who are sons, daughters, grandchildren or a member of the extended family of a Master Mason in the State of New York, and who anticipates attending an accredited college in the the fall of 2007.

The winner is customarily asked to read the essay the first day of Grand Lodge in May. The winner and sponsor are also invited to the Grand Lodge VIP Dinner with a room at the Grand Lodge Convention hotel on Sunday evening, before Grand Lodge convenes Monday. The form is available on the Grand Lodge web site (www.nymasons.org) and any questions can be directed to RW Cary Cohn and the Grand Lodge Youth COmmittee.

National High School Oratorical Contest
High School students enrolled in a Rockland County High School (9th through 12th grades), and who have not yet reached his/her 20th birthday by April 14, 2007, are encouraged to participate in the American Legion's annual National High School Oratorical Contest. Applications are available through school principals or PTA/PTSA Presidents. Anyone experiencing difficulty obtaining an application can call Wor. Bill Thorne at 845-770-6347 to request one. The deadline for application submission has been extended to Wednesday, December 6, 2006.

The subject to be used in the contest must be a Prepared Oration on some phase of the Constitution of the United States which will give emphasis to the attendant duties and obligations of a citizen of our government. Scholarship awards will be presented to the three finalists in the Final Round of the National Contest as follows: 1st Place - $18,000; 2nd Place - $16,000; 3rd Place - $14,000. Each Department (State) winner who is certified into and participates in the First Round of the National contest will receive a $1,500 Scholarship. Each First Round winner who advances to and participates in the Second Round, but does not advance to the Final Round, will receive an additional $1,500 scholarship to pursue education beyond high school.

Warwick Lodge Honors Revolutionary Heroes
On Saturday December 2nd, the Brothers of Warwick Lodge will assist in the dedication of a new Revolutionary War Memorial Plaque at the Warwick Town Hall at 10:00 a.m. The plaque, which the Lodge helped to sponsor with funds raised at their annual Lobster Bake, honors those who lived in the area which would become Warwick who served in the Army and Militias during our War for Independence. Many of these men were Masons belonging to the early Lodges of Orange County. Please consider coming out to support our Brothers in representing our patriotic heritage on this special day.

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Hoffman Lodge Hosts Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit the Goshen Science Olympiad Team
Science Olympiad offers a wide spectrum of goals in science and technology education, which includes science concepts and knowledge, science processes and thinking skills, and science applications and technology. The Goshen Central School District's Science Olympiad Team involves 50 to 60 students from sixth to twelfth grade. The extracurricular time spent by coaches and students in preparing for the invitational, regional, state, and national competitions is incredible. Hundreds of hours of intense teamwork are spent after school and on weekends to master the subject matter and prepare for problem solving events. Goshen's team currently has the best all-around performance record in New York State over the past 10 year period and has won the honor to represent the state six times in the past eight years in the junior division at the National Tournament.

On Saturday December 2nd, Hoffman Lodge No. 412 in Middletown will host a Spaghetti Dinner to benefit the Goshen team, with all proceeds going to them. The menu will include Spaghetti with Meat or Marinara Sauce, Garlic & Italian Bread, Tossed Salad, Soda, Lemonade, Coffee and Tea with Ice Cream for dessert. Take-out will be available. For tickets, information or to send a donation, please contact Bro. Bruce Wiegand. Please try to make this worthwhile event!

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Veteran's Benefits Informational Supper
Beth El Post No. 29 of the Masonic War Vets will be hosting a Pancake Supper at Hoffman Lodge on Thursday December 7, 2006 between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The supper is free but donations will be happily accepted. There will be a speaker on Veterans Benefits including health, education, and tax reduction benefits. Veterans applications for medical benefits cards will be available. All veterans and their families are invited, especially Masonic veterans. For more information, please contact Bob Clawson, the Post Commander.

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Masters and Wardens Meeting
The Masters and Wardens will meet at Jerusalem Temple Lodge on Monday December 11th at 7:00 p.m. Please note this is a return to our usual meeting location. The meeting will be held prior to the School of Instruction which will convene at 8:00 p.m. Important information about the new policies regarding dispensations will be discussed, please make sure your Lodge is represented! The trestleboard for the School will be the Fellowcraft Degree. Please bring your Fellowcrafts for this informative evening. We hope to see everyone there!

ORDMA Holiday Party
Everyone is cordially invited to join the Orange-Rockland District Masonic Association (ORDMA) as we gather for our Holiday Party at Hoffman Lodge in Middletown on Saturday December 30th. This fun-filled, family-oriented event will begin at 4:00 p.m. and end around 9:00 p.m. with an Italian buffet dinner served at 6:00 p.m. The cost is only $5 per person with children under 12 joining us for free! A full schedule of activities is planned for youngsters and oldsters alike including a magician, treasure hunt, video room, and family games. Please take this opportunity to see what our District Association is doing to promote fellowship and family involvement!

ORDMA Dinner Dance
Mark your calendars! The annual ORDMA Dinner Dance will be held on Saturday March 17th at Anthony's Pier Nine in New Windsor. The evening, which will feature a full cocktail hour, dinner, live music, and dancing is only $55 per person. We are supplementing the price with journal ads to make it easier for people to attend, but hope you will encourage your Lodge and local businesses to support ORDMA's charitable projects by purchasing an ad. For more information on tickets or ads, please contact Wor. Bob Morlang or Bro. John Gebbia.

ORDMA Calendars Now Available!
When we said 'mark your calendars' just now, did you have to stop to remember where yours is? Well, look no further, the 2006-2007 ORDMA Calendars are here! These handy pocket calendars contain all of our District's Lodge and Concordant Bodies meetings, important events, Lodge and District officers, and directions to our Lodges. The calendars cost $5 each and the proceeds go to support our District's community service and charitable efforts, including our new District child ID system. To obtain a calendar, contact any of ORDMA's officers. They make great stocking stuffers for your Brothers!

Warwick Lodge Revolutionary War Plaque Dedication	Saturday December 2, 2006*	contact
Science Olympiad Benefit Spaghetti Dinner to Hoffman Lodge	Saturday December 2, 2006*	contact
Athelstane Lodge Entered Apprentice Degree (Again!)	Tuesday December 5, 2006*	contact
Wallkill Lodge Master Mason Degree	Wednesday December 6, 2006	contact
Masonic War Vets Informational Pancake Supper	Thursday December 7, 2006	contact
Port Jervis Lodge Entered Apprentice Degree	Friday December 8, 2006*	contact
Masters and Wardens Planning Meeting (Mountainville)	Monday December 11th at 7:00 pm	contact
District School of Instruction (Mountainville)	Monday December 11th at 8:00 pm	contact
ORDMA Family Holiday Party	Saturday December 30, 2006	contact
DDGM Visit to Jerusalem Temple Lodge New Date!	Saturday January 13, 2006	contact
West Point Lodge Master Mason Degree	Saturday January 20, 2006	contact
DDGM Visit to Cornerstone Lodge New Date!	Wednesday January 24, 2006	contact
Jerusalem Temple Lodge Master Mason Degree	Saturday January 27, 2006	contact
ORDMA Dinner Dance	Saturday March 17th, 2007	contact
Grand Lecturer's Convention	Tuesday April 10th, 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 December 11th at Jerusalem Temple Lodge at 8:00 p.m. The work on the trestleboard will be How to Memorize Ritual and Mentor Others. 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!

When asked how he came to be a Mason, President McKinley explained:

"After the battle of Opequam, I went with the surgeon of our Ohio regiment to the field where there were about 5,000 Confederate prisoners under guard. Almost as soon as we passed the guard, I noticed the doctor shook hands with a number of Confederate prisoners. He also took from his pocket a roll of bills and distributed all he had among them. Boy-like, I looked on in wonderment; I didn't know what it all meant. On the way back to camp I asked him:

'Did you know these men or ever see them before?'
'No,' replied the doctor, 'I never saw them before.'
'But,' I persisted, 'You gave them a lot of money, all you had about you. Do you ever expect to get it back?'
'Well,' said the doctor, 'if they are able to pay me back, they will. But it makes no difference to me; they are brother Masons in trouble and I am only doing my duty.'
"I said to myself, 'If that is Masonry, I will take some of it myself.' "

Master Mason Degree Assistance Needed
Jerusalem Temple Lodge requires assistance with a Master Mason Degree on Saturday January 27th. Speaking and non-speaking roles are available. The degree will begin at 9:00 a.m. with breakfast preceding it at 8:00 a.m. If you can assist, please contact R:.W:. Joe Leo.

Master Mason Degree Assistance Needed
West Point Lodge requires assistance with a Master Mason Degree on Saturday January 20th. Speaking and non-speaking roles are available. The degree will begin at 1:00 p.m. with lunch preceding it at noon. If you can assist, please contact the Lodge.