North Star Lodge #23 retires current Bible

On October 10, 2011 North Star Lodge #23 retired its current Bible that has sat on the alter since 1940. North Star Lodge #23 had a special evening to honor all of the Past Masters from the lodge to come for a special dinner. WB Jack McKenna prepared Beef Stroganoff for dinner.

The Bible has sat opened on the alter for 71 years during regular stated meetings, special meetings for degree work , and for Installation of Officers. The pages were becoming fragile and torn from usage, therefore it was voted upon at a meeting before the lodge went dark in the spring to hold this special meeting.

WB Mike Yankovec called out all of the names of brothers who had served as Master of their lodge with their year they were in office. As as the names of the Past Master from North Star Lodge #23 present were called, they went to the alter and signed their name in the Bible.

Their were 16 Past Masters from North Star Lodge #23, two Past Masters from Unity Lodge that from Sauk Rapids before it merged with North Star in the late 1980's, 1 Past Master from Olivia Lodge, and one Past Master from Colorado. MWB Alyn Dull was the oldest Past Master in attendance based on the year he served as master for North Star Lodge in 1963. He stated he knew all but a couple of the Past Maters even though he was in lodge during the earlier years.

It was a great evening and great fellowship was had by all in attendance.

Ask Me How - Plymouth Lodge #160

"Ask Me How" is a membership recruitment tool Plymouth Lodge #160 is currently using. This is the third and last article in a series I choose to write about after attending the Metro West Masters and Warden Association on August 30, 2011.

I was very interested in hearing about this program that they were using to attract new members and follow-up on the leads they received. It is a newer version of a old program called, "2 B 1 Ask 1."

The lodge had buttons, cards, T-Shirts and other items made for their program. The main two items are the buttons and the cards. The buttons are blue with a Masonic Symbol and the words Ask Me How! The cards are pocket size when folded and printed on both sides of the cards.

Members of the lodge will wear their buttons at masonic functions or while out in public. When a potential member starts talking about the button and the phrase, Ask Me How, the member will do their best to answer the individuals questions. When they start inquiring more about the lodge and potential membership, the lodge member will present a card and ask the individual if they would like to fill it out and they are informed someone will follow-up with them on further questions or membership information.

The cards are two sided and are designed to fold in half and torn apart when the completed by both the lodge member and the potential member. The potential member receives one half of the card with information about what is a mason on one side and the lode member name he spoke with and a telephone for that member. The other half that was completed by the potential member has the individuals name and contact information on one side and notes with a date and initials of the member who turned in the card. There main focus is to insure someone follows-up with that individual.

I feel this was a very interesting program they are using and the cards would be a great tool for other lodges to use with the "State wide Open House Program on Saturday, October 15, 2011.

Worthy Matron (Mother) Initiates Daughter into OES

Lisa Cherry, the Worthy Matron for Granite Chapter #5 of the OES initiated her daughter, Katie into the order last evening. It was a great event as Granite had all the Officers Chairs filled for the ceremony.

I was delighted to be asked to serve as Sentinel for the evening. It was a great pleasure to visit with Katie while she was waiting to enter the chapter room. She expressed how excited she was to be joining Star and to have her mother be the installing Worthy Matron. I previously had met Katie and Lisa through Job Daughters events such at their Installation of Officers and Honor Masons night. She will be a great asset to Granite Chapter. I was at her installation when she was installed as Honor Queen for Bethel #11. Katie is currently a senior in high school and recorder for her Bethel Chapter.

Lisa was part of the Bethel Council and I am not for sure if she was a Bethel Guardian or not. I remember her always being very active and assisting with the Bethel meetings and events.

It shows that the youth of our fraternal organizations are vital in keeping our membership alive and will help shape our future. Please help support your local youth groups and OSE Chapters whenever possible. It will make the whole Masonic Family stronger. The next time you are invited to a youth event, please attend and help support them. They might just become a bother or sister in the Masonic Family as they grow older.

Ribs, Ribs, & Blues

Series #2

Ribs, Ribs, & Blues

September 10th, 2011 Time: 12:00 - 4:00 pm

Anoka Lodge #30

1900 3rd Avenue

Anoka, MN 55303

Anoka Lodge #30 will be hosting a Ribs, Ribs, & Blues Event on September 10th at the Lodge Hall from 12 - 4:00 pm. The event will include tasty BBQ Ribs by the Famous Bones Brothers, Blues music by Big Walter Smith, MN KidsID - A Child Safety Program, and tours of the Lodge will be available.

All proceeds will go to the local ACBC Food Shelf. Please help support this worth while event if you are able.

We Can Ride

This is the first article in a series of topics that were covered at the Metrowest Masters and Wardens meeting held on August 30th at Anoka Lodge #30.

Anoka Lodge #30 and the Bones Brothers BBQ Team have joined up with We Can Ride Organization to support them and help with a fund raiser. The fund raiser event will be held on October 13, 2011 from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at the Minnetoka Community Center located at 14600 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN. This is the 4th Annual Make the Impact Event. There is no cost for the event and the BBQ buffet is served between 5:30pm -6:30pm with the program from 6:30pm - 7:30pm. The photos attached are both sides of a post card with more information.

The lodge is asking other lodges or individuals to be a table captain and ask 6 other individuals attend the event. Again there is no cost for the event, but they will be asking for donations or pledges to the organization. It looks like a great way for a lodge to do community service work and be recognized for their participation with the masonic emblem on the back of the postcards.

We Can Ride was founded in 1982 and provides Hippo therapy, Therapeutic Riding, and Horse-drawn Carriage programs for children and adults living with disabilities. The first class started with six individuals and today they have over 300 riders and 600 volunteers on a annual basis.

We Can Ride has developed into a Premier Accredited Member Center of the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). Their web address is http://www.wecanride.org/.

One individual commented, "When I'm riding my horse,no one can tell I have a disability.

Back in the Saddle

Wow, I am back in the saddle figuratively speaking. I knew I hadn't written an article for some time. My apologies to those brother or individuals who were following my blog. I know I might have lost some followers, but hopefully with time I can earn their respect by posting new articles on a regular basis.

The next article I write has do with saddles, so that is how I came up with the title. On Tuesday, August 30th I was invited and attended the MetroWest Area Maters and Wardens Meeting held at Anoka Lodge #30.

A great BBQ dinner of pulled pork made by the Famous Bones Brothers was served. It was fantastic.

Several lodges from Metrowest area were in attendance. The agenda included several items for discussion. Each item had great input by all of the brothers in attendance. I have chosen to write about each item in a separate article to try and give them their just do!

They discussed programs such as the following:
WE Can Ride.
Ask Me How
Masonic Float
Ribs, Ribs, and Blues
Senior Warden Summit

The first article I am choosing to discuss is a program that Anoka Lodge #30 and the Bones Brothers have decided to help sponsor. That program is called "We Can Ride".

It was a great evening of food and fellowship. Thanks for those who invited me and stated they would be happy if I would come to their next meeting on November 29th to be held at St. Louis Park Masonic Center.

The photo is the pan of BBQ Pulled Pork that was so delicious it made you mouth water for more!

Sibley Lodge #209 honors MWB Steven R. Johnson with the Hiram Award

On March 26, 2011 Sibley Lodge #209 AF & AM of Winthrop, MN honored Past Grand Master MWB Steven R. Johnson with the Hiram Award. There were approximately 100 brothers and guest in attendance who participated in the Charles A. Wetter Table Lodge. WB Charles A. Wetter was the Master of Sibley Lodge.

MWB Steve was Master of Sibley Lodge #209 twice and served as the Grand Master of Minnesota in 2006-2007. MWB Steve was appointed to the Grand Lodge Line by Past Grand Master MWB Phillip G. Soderberg, his Masonic Father. Past Grand Master MWB Verne E. Long who was Grand Master in 1973-1974 was also present. MWB Phil stated MWB Verne was his Great, Great Masonic Father.

The table lodge consisted of Chicken Kiev for the main course (without the masonic vegetable - green beans), cheesecake for desert (mine was chocolate and I loved it), and great fellowship. MWB Thomas McCarthy was the MC for the event, with MWB John L. Cook, the current Grand Master in attendance to help present the award. There were a total of six Past Grand masters in attendance, plus the current grand master who was reminded by MWB Tom he only had 14 for days left in his term. MWB Steve gave a moving talk about having his breath taking away on several occasions with this being the most recent one.