Master’s Letter | December 2011
Dear Brethren and Friends,
How quickly time passes! I now find it to be the end of my year as Worshipful Master of our Lodge. There have been times that were difficult, challenging, amazing and inspirational. As has been said, one’s time in the East as Worshipful Master is another degree in and of itself. I have done everything that I can to make this a year of growth and improvement with learning, fellowship and ritual. We’ve done quite a bit of work on the administrative end of the house as well - and I can assure you that AAF262 is in a very good state as I depart the East. Our new officer line, under the guidance of WM-Elect Clinton Bartholomew will be stellar! Our annual installation will take place at Zal Gaz Grotto on Friday, December 9th at 6:30PM. We hope to see you, your family and friends there to welcome them into office.
Our Food Gatherers annual benefit was a smashing
success. With the help of our friends, family, community, and matching funds from the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation, we were able to raise over $3700 in one evening for this worthwhile cause. Our evening at the Corner Brewery was full of fun!. We even needed to ask the amazing DJ to stop playing, as we surpassed our allotted time! I am proud that we are able to continue this tradition, and thanks to all that made this event possible. I think it was the best one yet!
Several of our members also made a day trip this month to the Michigan Masonic Museum & Library in Grand Rapids (PDF). This is an institution that our own W. Bro. Seymour D. Greenstone helped to create. While there, we were given presentations about what the Museum & 
Library does, examined many impressive artifacts and texts and took part in a detailed tour of the building. It’s truly an incredible resource for our Brothers across the state, one that I know we will be visiting again in the future.
I want to thank all of you. There is absolutely no way any of the accomplishments of this year could have happened without the hard work of our officers, Past Masters and the members of our Lodge. Always remember - this is YOUR Lodge. Your ideas, input and assistance are always welcomed and needed! Finally, I want to acknowledge the assistance, sacrifice and patience of my amazing wife, Debbie. She has lent many hours of support to me and the Lodge in numerous ways during these past 12 months. I am deeply indebted and truly thankful for everything that she has done during my time as Worshipful Master.
As I depart the East and my sun sets in the West, I wish you and yours the happiest of holidays and an incredible New Year!
Warmest fraternal regards,
Brian Cors
Worshipful Master
UPCOMING EVENTS - From our Trestleboard
DEC 7 - Regular Communication | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
DEC 9 - Officer Installation | Zal Gaz Grotto
DEC 28 - Master’s Table Dinner | Location TBA
JAN 4 - Regular Communication | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
JAN 11 - Degree Rehearsal [FC] | Bro. Erik Harclerode’s House
JAN13 - Family Game Night | Zal Gaz Grotto
JAN 18 - Special Communication [FC] | Pittsfield Union Grange Hall
JAN 25 - Robert Burns Birthday Dinner | Zal Gaz Grotto
Master’s Letter | November 2011
Dear Brethren and Friends,
The Masonic year is swiftly coming to a close! I and the officers of Ann Arbor-Fraternity No. 262 would love to see you in Lodge at our next Regular or Special Communication, before the busy holiday season is upon us. Our next Regular Communication on November 2nd will be productive, including our annual memorial service and Lodge officer elections.
Degree work will continue on November 16th - as we bring at least two more Brothers into the Craft. This year, we have been privileged to raise 12 Master Masons, and bring another 9 men into our Brotherhood. Our Brothers are learning, growing, staying and contributing to the Lodge, bringing new ideas and energy to our Fraternity. In October, our Musician, Bro. Steven Simpson debuted music that he has specially written for our degrees at AAF262. It was breathtaking!
Masonry is everywhere you look or travel. Our Brothers have visited Lodges all over the Midwest and beyond this year, and we have had visitors from at least 2 other countries visit our own Lodge. Our visit to Redeemer Lodge No. 53 PHA was incredible - building upon a relationship that continues to grow through the years. By being a “traveling man”, you truly get to experience the universality of our Brotherhood - and learn that Masonry is lot more than the four walls you are used to seeing at meetings.
On November 5th, we will be having our 3rd annual “Freemason Party for Food Gatherers” at Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. In our current economy, any assistance we can lend to our own community is vital. This event allows us to directly help those around us. Please bring a check and/or a food donation, and come out to have a great time! Last year we were able to contribute almost $4000. Let’s see if we can beat that!
Finally, please save the date of Friday, December 9, 2011 for our 2012 Officer Installation ceremony at Zal Gaz Grotto. It will prove to be a fun and festive evening!
From our Lodge to you and your families, we wish you the very best of health and happiness.
Warmest fraternal regards,
brian cors
Worshipful Master
UPCOMING EVENTS - From our Trestleboard
NOV 2 - Regular Communication | Memorial Service | Lodge Elections
NOV 5 - Freemason Party for Food Gatherers | Corner Brewery, Ypsilanti
NOV 12 - Day Trip | Michigan Masonic Museum & Library, Grand Rapids
NOV 16 - Special Communication [EA]
NOV 23 - Masters Table Dinner | Location TBA
DEC 7 - Regular Communication
DEC 9 - Officer Installation | Zal Gaz Grotto
Master’s Letter | September 2011
Dear Brethren and Friends,
I hope this summer has treated you all well! I know that I for one will be glad to be back in Lodge, after a short summer break. Please remember that our Regular Communication is the first Wednesday of each month, and our Special Communication is on the third Wednesday of each month. If you’ve not been to Lodge lately, please come join us - we have much going on!
This summer’s social events have been spectacular. Our families and friends have joined us at German Park picnics, a Tiger’s Game Outing - and of course, our 2nd Annual Tri-Lodge Picnic. 
Our annual September Masters Table dinner at Knights Steakhouse approaches on September 28th (Ladies too!). Please notify W. Bro Justin Krasnoff if you will be in attendance. It’s always a great night for us and our loved ones to reconnect after the summer break.
On September 7th we officially get back to work with our Regular Communication.
I am pleased to announce that we have several new candidates joining our Lodge - which will take us through the end of this Masonic year. We will be having a rehearsal for the EA degree on September 14th - as it will be conferred on three new candidates on September 21st. I expect October and November to also be busy with EA degrees. Brothers, remember the night you began your journey. Please come and personally give these new Brothers a warm welcome into Masonry.
Please keep October 8-9 open on your calendars - as we will be assisting in a Child ID program event to be held at Briarwood Mall. This is a great way for us to help families in our community, and to also let them know we are present and active. I personally assisted with one of these events and can tell you the families really appreciate what Masons do.
I am attempting to arrange a few outings for our Lodge. Destinations include Cincinnati, Ohio, a Saturday trip to Grand Rapids to visit the Michigan Masonic Museum and Library - and visitations to our Brothers at Redeemer Lodge No. 53 of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Michigan and to Windsor Lodge No. 403 of the Grand Lodge of Canada to watch them confer degrees. By traveling we see how much is the same, and always learn fascinating things from the differences between our traditions. Details about these outings will be announced as they develop.
Finally, I wish to thank Brother George Lucero for his contributions both as Senior Deacon to our Lodge and his duties to other various Masonic organizations in the Ann Arbor area over the years. Brother George has been transferred to New Mexico for his job and is currently settling in at their new home. Our Lodge will deeply miss this Brother, as he begins this new chapter far away from us.
From our Lodge to you and your families, we wish you the very best of health and happiness.
Warmest fraternal regards,
brian cors
Worshipful Master
UPCOMING EVENTS from Our Trestleboard
- September 7
Regular Communication - Pittsfield Grange - September 9
Family Game Night - Zal Gaz Grotto Club - September 20
Book Club - Location TBA - September 21
Entered Apprentice Degree - Pittsfield Grange - September 28
Masters Table Dinner - Knights Steakhouse - October 8-9
Child ID Program - Briarwood Mall
Master’s Letter | June 2011
Greetings to all Brethren and Friends!
June for most Lodges means the last month before a break in the Masonic year. Our growing and thriving Lodge will continue to be active throughout the upcoming months - particularly with Master Mason degrees in June and July. Please also note there will be a Regular Communication on the evening of July 6, 2011 - making up for the meeting cancelled in February, due to inclement weather.
In May, we were privileged to have visiting Brothers from Windsor Lodge No. 403 of the Grand Lodge A.F & A.M. of Canada in the Province of Ontario. It was an honor to be able to show them the workings of our Master Mason degree. It was a particularly heartfelt and memorable evening, as we also watched a father raise a son. Truly, an evening to remember, for many reasons.
Our Lodge has been honored in an incredible way. W. Bro. Art Davidge, PM has been named as the Grand Lodge of Michigan’s “State Mason of the Year”. Art’s dedication to our own Lodge and Masonry as a whole is selfless and steadfast. I can think of no other man more worthy of such an honor, and am incredibly pleased this has been bestowed on our Worshipful Brother Art. He was presented this award at the Grand Lodge of Michigan’s Annual Communication on May 24, 2011. Please extend your well wishes to W. Bro. Art the next time you communicate with him.
We continue to build the bonds of fellowship outside of Lodge. Our monthly Family Game Night has been a success, and we recently had a lovely dinner at the Gandy Dancer with our Brothers and their wives and partners. The first meeting of our Book Club will be on June 7th. Next month’s Master’s Table dinner will be at the Sidetrack in Ypsilanti. It is open to all Brothers - and please feel free to bring anyone you know who has been curious about Freemasonry - or interested in joining us.
Please keep our Brethren who are far away or ailing in your thoughts. In particular, W. Bro. Jimmy Green and W. Bro. Paul Contos - both who have dealt with serious health issues recently.
In conclusion - this year is amazingly already half over. We have been working hard, and have accomplished many things - with more work to be done and fellowship to be had. Never hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss what is happening in your Lodge. I’d love to talk.
From our Lodge to you and your families, we wish you the very best of health and happiness.
Warmest fraternal regards,
Brian Cors
Worshipful Master
