There's not much I can say this week. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to be said, but I can't say it. Let me explain...
One of the teachers at the school I've been teaching at in the evenings got her students wearing these purple wristbands to make them aware of how much time they spend engaging in negative activities. They spread like a new-age virus, and pretty soon everyone, including yours truly, was wearing one. The program, which you can learn more about at www.AComplaintFreeWorld.com is simple. Every time you complain, criticize or gossip, you change your wristband to the other wrist. You only switch when you actually say it out loud because giving a thought voice gives it power. If you see someone wearing a wristband complain, criticize, or gossip, you can point it out to them, but only if you switch yours first. The goal is to wear the wristband for 21 days without switching it.
You know me, I'm wearing mine out, but it's made me very aware of just how much time I spend engaging in these activities. I've also realized how much time I have gotten back by choosing not to do so. I've become more productive, and I realize what an energy drain being surrounded by such folks can be. So... I'm taking steps to distance myself from them and to do my best not to be one. So there you have it... I'm doing my best not to complain, criticize or gossip.
So I have nothing to say (grin). Oh, wait! Please buy ads for the ORDMA Dinner Dance journal. Now, that's it. See you next week!
DISTRICT NEWS
Masters and Wardens Meeting
The Masters and Wardens will meet at Jerusalem Temple Lodge on Monday
February 11th 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!
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 January 28th at Jerusalem Temple Lodge in Mountainville. There will be no regular meeting in December. 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!
ORDMA Dinner Dance
The annual ORDMA Dinner Dance will be held on Saturday March 15th,
2008 at Anthony's Pier Nine in New Windsor. Ticket prices are being
subsidized by journal sales again this year and will be $58 per person
or $110 per couple. We encourage you to assist us in selling journal
ads so that we can continue to subsidize the dinner and support our
District's community service and charitable programs. Forms will be
available shortly and you can direct any questions to Wor.
Bruce Klein. Please mark your calendars now!
* 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 January 23rd, 2008
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 February 23rd, 2008
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 January 2nd, 2008
Warwick Lodge No. 544
Tuesday January 8th, 2008
West Point Lodge No. 877
Thursday October 4th, 2007
SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION
The Orange-Rockland District School of Instruction is currently
in limbo because of a lack of requests to host it. If your Lodge
would like to hold a SoI program on a ritual topic of your choosing,
please contact the DDGM.
In the meanwhile, Jerusalem Temple Lodge will be hosting a monthly
School at 9:00 a.m. on the third Saturdays and Stony Point-Wawayanda
expects to start a School of their own shortly. Please contact
these Lodges for more details.
Think About This...
Complaining is not to be confused with informing someone of a mistake or deficiency so that it can be put right. And to refrain from complaining doesn’t necessarily mean putting up with bad quality or behavior. There is no ego in telling the waiter your soup is cold and needs to be heated up if you stick to the facts, which are always neutral. ‘How dare you serve me cold soup?’ That’s complaining. Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth
Copyright 2006-2008 Orange-Rockland
District, GLNY F&AM. All rights reserved.
Next ORDMA
Meeting