Wow, everyone is back and working except this web site. We had some technical issues over the weekend, but everything seems to be up and running now... like our Lodges! We had two very successful Child ID programs over the weekend, and our first Official Visit of the season was held last Friday. That's right, the Dog and Pony Show will be coming to your Lodge soon, are you ready? We sure hope so. The Grand Master has an exciting message to be shared with all of you. It was also inspiring to hear MW Bidnick speak at Masonic Family Day at Tappan, and I reinterate his thanks to Naurashank, Athelstane, and Hudson River Lodges, as well as ORDMA, for all their help at that event.
By now, all of our Lodges should have received the new Lodge System of Masonic Education (LSOME) DVDs and booklets; they're amazing! Please arrange to show the DVD to everyone at an upcoming meeting and remember to order addidional booklets to present to your newly Raised Brothers. The Walkabout Program, which should always be performed at the first meeting after a Third Degree is included in the white booklet. Check this DVD out, you will be surprised and enlightened!
With regrets, I have almost as much bad news as good news to share with you this week, beginning with the passing of RW C. Reed Holden, Past DDGM of the Orange-Rockland District, last Monday. Reed will be remembered as a decorated veteran, an outstanding ritualist, and for his years of outstanding service to our Fraternity. He will be sorely missed. We also extend our deepest condolences to Wor. Bruce Klein on the passing of his father and Bro. Christos Spanos on the passing of his mother. R:.W:. Joel Rosenwasser has also been in the hospital as is Casey Flavin, daughter of Wor. Wayne Flavin. We ask you to keep all of these people and their loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.
I have been asked to provide a head count for the Meet Your Deputy Grand Master session in Tuckahoe on Wednesday. If you are planning to attend, please let me know. Finally, please be sure to get any applications for DDGM or Staff Officer to me ASAP, as detailed below. That's all I have for now, see you next week!
DISTRICT NEWS
DDGM and Staff Officer Applications
Applications for the positions of DDGM and Staff Officer (2008-2010) have been sent to the Masters and Secretaries of Lodges. If your Lodge did not receive these, please contact the Grand Secretary's Office at Grand Lodge, I do not have copies. If you have any interest in serving in one of these positions, you MUST get your application in to the DDGM by October 1st. Applicants are expected to meet with the Masters and Wardens on Monday October 8th and with the Selection Committee on Tuesday October 23rd. If you have any questions, please contact the DDGM.
Meet Your Deputy Grand Master
You are cordially invited to join R:.W:. Ed Gilbert and his team for the Meet Your Deputy Grand Master session on Wednesday September 19th at the Tuckahoe Masonic Temple. While all Brothers are welcome to attend, it is especially important that
your Lodges be represented by your Masters and Wardens so that they can hear what R:.W:. is planning for his term and communicate your Lodge's needs to him. This is an important oportunity for you to help shape our Craft in the coming years, and I hope every Lodge will take advantage of it.
Masters and Wardens Meeting
The Masters and Wardens will meet at Jerusalem Temple Lodge on Monday
October 8th at 7:30 p.m. It is important that all of our Masters and Wardens attend. Please remember that these meetings and
this newsletter are the primary coordination and communication venues
in this District and each Lodge is responsible for the information
disseminated therein . If your Lodge is not represented, the officers
are still responsible for obtaining the information from other Lodges
in attendance. Thus attendance is expected of Masters and Wardens
but everyone is welcome to attend and we hope to see other elected
and appointed officers there!
Masonic Family Day at West Point Tickets are still available for Masonic Family Day at West Point, which will be held on Saturday September 29th on the grounds of the U.S. Military Academy. The highlight of the day is, of course, will be watching the Army's Black Knight football team beat on the visitors from Temple University, but there's so much more! OUR day will begin with a continental breakfast under our huge tent with tables and chairs for everyone overlooking the scenic Hudson River. Then it's off to the Grand Lodge wreath laying ceremony and the parade of cadets on the Plain before we return to the tend for lunch. As always, you are encouraged to bring a tailgate lunch or you can purchase tickets ($8 in advance) for the chicken barbecue prepared by our own Bro. Tom Jones before heading up to the game. Tickets for the complete day with the game are $31 each. For those who do not wish to attend the game but want to enjoy all of the other activities, including breakfast and the children's activities, site passes are available for $10 each. Additionally, parking is VERY limited and parking passes are required. These are $5 each and carpooling is requested as we have a very limited number of passes available. To purchase tickets, or for more information, please contact RW Hank Stoveland..
Orange-Rockland Central Chapter, Order of DeMolay DeMolay is a Masonic youth program for boys ages 12-21, which teaches leadership within a fun, moral framework in line with our own principles and tenets. The local Chapter, which meets at Wallkill Lodge in Walden, is in desperate need of advisors, Brothers willing to give up a few hours a month to mentor and work with these inspiring young men. There’s no commitment required to obtain information, give us a call and see what it’s all about. For more information, please contact R:.W:. Hank Stoveland.
UPCOMING CHILD ID PROGRAMS
Child ID System
The District Child ID System is available to Lodges who have two Brothers
trained in its use. These Brothers may sign out the system by contacting
Wor. Robert Morlang, Jr.. Please allow
a month in advance to reserve the system and allow the District Committee
to order the necessary supplies for your program. Please remember
that all unused materials must be returned with the system, there
is to be no stockpiling of supplies for future programs.
ORDMA NEWS
Next ORDMA Meeting
The next meeting of the Orange-Rockland District Masonic Association
(ORDMA) will be held on Monday September 24th at a location to be announced. A light supper will be served at 6:30 p.m. followed by the meeting and program
at 7:30 p.m. All Brothers of the District are invited and encouraged
to attend!
2007-2008 Calendars ORDMA is collecting dates for next year's District Pocket Calendar, which will be available in early Fall 2007. 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 submit events for inclusion in the calendar, please contact any of ORDMA's officers.
* Denotes a dinner will precede or
follow the meeting or event. Please check with the contact for
details.
2007-2008 DDGM Visits
Athelstane Lodge No. 839
Tuesday October 16th, 2007
Cornerstone Lodge No. 711
Wednesday December 12th, 2007
Goshen Lodge No. 365
To Be Rescheduled
Hoffman Lodge No. 412
Tuesday November 20th, 2007
Hudson River Lodge No. 309
Wednesday November 14th, 2007
Jerusalem Temple Lodge No. 721
Saturday January 12th, 2009
Naurashank Lodge No. 589
Friday October 12th, 2007
Port Jervis Lodge No. 328
Friday September 14th
Stony Point-Wawayanda Lodge No. 313
Wednesday September 19th, 2007
Wallkill Lodge No. 627
Wednesday December 19th, 2007
Warwick Lodge No. 544
To Be Rescheduled
West Point Lodge No. 877
Thursday October 4th, 2007
SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION
The Orange-Rockland District School of Instruction is on a hiatus for the summer. We did not re-open in August to review the Opening and Closing because no Lodges volunteered to host us. HINT. Who's up for September? If you have any questions, please contact the DDGM.
LEADERSHIP ESSENTIALS
There are still spaces left in this year's Individual Development Course (iDC).This IS, in many ways, a leadership essential! For more information, please contact R:.W:. Dave Blasch ASAP.
Copyright 2006-2007 Orange-Rockland District,
GLNY F&AM. All rights reserved.