Two New Master Masons raised at Clearwater #28

Two new brothers were raised to the sublime Degree of a Master Mason on June 26, 201o at Clearwater Lodge #28. The two new brothers were Todd Theisen from Clearwater Lodge #28 in Clearwater and Wes Hoffman from Golden Fleece Lodge #89 in Litchfield.

The degree was put on by a joint effort with Clearwater #28, Golden Fleece #89, and Monticello #16. The three lodges have been working togther the last couple years on degrees. They have built a strong fellowship bond among the brothers. They are a great example of lodges working together to get things done. They held a practice earlier in the week and the degree work tonight was very good and impressive. A job well done by the brothers. The two new brother are in the first row. Wes is the third from the left and Todd is the forth from the left.

MN KidsID Train The Trainer Class

On Saturday, June 26, 2010 we had 42 brothers representing 30 different lodges atted the MN KidsID Train the Trainer Class held at the Masonic home. I thought this was a great turnout and a fantastic show of support for the program.

The MN KidsID Train the Trainer Class is designed to help train brothers at the local lodge level so when they decide to hold a MN KidsID Event they will be able to train the volunteers they will have to hold the event.

Today's event was conducted by John Gann,Junior Grand Deacon, Bob Holly, Assistant Area Deputy for the Northwest Area; and myself.

Benjamin Franklin Table Lodge at the Minnesota History Center

It was a great evening last night (May 3, 2010) at the Benjamin Franklin Table Lodge held at the Minnesota History Center. The setting in the great hall over looking the State Capitol was fantastic. The was a special exhibit honoring MWB Benjamin Franklin one of our founding fathers and Grand Master of Pennsylvania.

There were about about 100 brothers and guest in attendance. Most people walked through the exhibit with many original items and books that belonged to Benjamin Franklin. It is amazing to stop and think about all of his accomplishments he achieved with only a formal education that went through the age of 10.

RWB Brian Beermann, Senior Grand Warden was the MC for the event and did a very nice job presenting interesting facts and quotes from Benjamin Franklin.

MWB Ralph L Hultquist, PGM 1987-1988

It was sad news to learn MWB Ralph L. Hultquist passed away today. MWB Ralph was Grand Master of Minnesota Masons in 1987-1988.

Our prayers go out to his wife Patricia and the rest of their family and friends.

I am posting a couple pictures I took at the Annual Grand Lodge Communication in March at St. Cloud, MN. One of the pictures was taken at the Thursday night Grand Masters Banquet and the other picture was taken when MWB Ralph was presented with his 50 year membership pin.

76th Annual Lynnhurst Turkey Dinner

I attended the 76th Annual Lynnhurst Turkey Dinner at the Double Tree last night. It was a great time for fellowship and good food. There were approximately 300 brother masons there to meet a greet our Grand Master of Minnesota Masons, John L. Cook Jr. The Lynnhurst Turkey Dinner is usually one of the first major event the Grand Master attends and gives his main address for the year after his installation.

MWB John L. Cook, Jr was well received and spoke on how planning your lodge yaer should be like planning a trip and putting in way points(points of interest) into your GPS tracking System. The points he addressed were membership, mentoring, community involvement through the MN Kids ID Program, and the Lodge Recognition Program.

2010 Masonic Cancer Center Dinner

The 2010 Masonic Cancer Center/University of Minnesota Dinner was held at the McNamara Alumni Center. The annual dinner was to celebrate the partnership between the University of MN and the Masonic Charities of the Grand Lodge of MN Masons and those individuals that have dedicated theirs lives to treating cancer and the research for finding a cure to eliminate cancer. Masonic charities has pledge $65 million to the U of M for this cause over a 15 year period.

It was a great evening with Brigadier General Dennis Schulstad (retired) as the MC. There were several speakers including Dr. Douglas Yee, Director, Masonic Cancer Center; Marty Chorzemppa, donor; Kathy Heins, Patient; MWB Eric Neetenbeek, President and CEO of MN Masonic Charities; and our MWB John L. Cook, Jr. Grand Master of MN Masons.

1st Degree at Monticello Lodge #16

A first degree was held at Monticello Lodge #16 tonight. WB Dan Starks was the presiding Master for the Degree work and he did a very nice job. WB Dan is a Past Master from Cataract Lodge #2 and the current Junior Warden at Monticello. WB Chris Zalomsky is the current Master for Monticello and sat in the South for the degree work.

Brother Joel Peterson was the new brother who was initiated tonight. He had a friend a Masonic Brother who came from Wayzata to watch him be initiated. I also asked a new brother Lee Craig to attend the meeting tonight. Lee took his first degree two weeks ago at Fraternal Lodge #92 in Princeton, MN. This gave Lee an opportunity to see the entire degree from the sidelines and have a better understanding with the proficiency work.

After the lectures were completed there was a discussion on a Mentor for Joel and Brother Tim Hester volunteered to be his mentor. Tim live only a few houses away from Joel. The they asked a brother who was raised a few months ago if he had a mentor and Brother Shawn Mortenson stated he was the mentor. That was a great sign that they were following through with the new brothers and making sure they had a mentor to help them as they continue to gain more light in masonry!