Ann Arbor
Fraternity
No.262

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 | September 2010

Well, summer is behind us.  I hope you all had the opportunity to have a vacation break away and enjoy a little time with family and friends.  I had a nice couple days up in Leland, visiting nearby Sleeping Bear Dune, and even had the pleasure of running into Bro. Mike Shehan and his family at an ice cream shop.  I had a further Masonic surprise when I walked into the Glen Haven General Store, dating to the late 1800s, which is now preserved by the National Park Service.  Its original owner, D.H. Day, was a Mason and a Knight Templar.  Carved into an archway in the store are a golden square and compasses, an eye, and a cross!  Glen Haven at the time was sparsely populated and was unlikely able to support a lodge.  Still, it is interesting to see how important Bro. Day’s Masonry was to him in that, at the time, far-flung corner of Michigan.

The first annual Tri-lodge Picnic, being AAF 262, Golden Rule 159, and St. Mary’s No. 4, Prince Hall, took place in Gallup Park on August 8.  It was a marvelous time and special “thanks” are due to our JW Clinton Bartholomew and JW Jim Lakin of 159.  Attendees, who also included Masons and their families from Jackson, Belleville, Milan, Saline, Manchester and Prince Hall brothers from Romulus, enjoyed barbecued pork and chicken and potluck side dishes.  The many children particularly enjoyed the two “tug of wars” that were held.  PM Ray Holcomb of Golden Rule crafted special triangular sounding board for the occasion.  On each side is small brass plaque with one of the lodge’s names.  It was agreed that it will serve as a trophy, much a like a traveling gavel, for AAF 262, Golden Rule 159 (where it is presently housed), and St. Mary’s No. 4.  W.Bro. Holcomb put a lot of thought into its symbolism; if you see him, you should ask about it.  I stayed to the end to help with clean up and was really excited to hear how everyone looked forward to next year’s Tri-Lodge picnic.

September will be a very busy month for AAF 262.  First, the September 1 regular meeting will NOT be taking place at Hathaway’s Hideaway NOR will there be a pre-lodge meal (there are many nearby restaurants and perhaps we can adjourn to one following our meeting).  Instead, we will be holding it at the Pittsfield Grange, located at 3337 Ann Arbor – Saline Road, just a mile or so south of I-94.  If the brethren like the space, we will make final arrangements with Grand Lodge to shift to this new location which will provide us with some much needed elbow room.  It is my hope to wrap up our MMs for the year this month.  We will have MM degrees on Sept. 15 and, it is hoped, on Saturday Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. in the Detroit Masonic Temple.  The Study Club, lead by PM Seymour Greenstone, will meet at Hathaway’s at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 to discuss “Music and Masonry.”  Lastly, Masters Table this month, on Sept. 29, will be at Knight’s Steakhouse, at 6:30 p.m.  This is an annual bring your wife and/or lady event (just kidding, please do not bring both!).  Please RSVP with PM Justin Krasnoff at 734-665-2236

We have a lot on our plate brothers.  We will have raised 14 new masons by the end of this month and STILL have a backlog of work to do!  Key to our continued growth and success is everyone’s active participation.  We want to hear from you and, if you are able to make it, SEE you.  I remain hopeful that we can put together a proper Master Mason degree team, with understudies so we can mix things up, and perhaps flesh out some standing committees.  So even if you are not in the line, or don’t want to be, there are meaningful and fulfilling ways you can participate in lodge.   Of course, we are also happy just to share a meal with you and have you on the sidelines.  Lodge should be an oasis from the headaches and responsibilities of everyday life.  Make the most of it.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Robert Blackburn, WM

UPCOMING EVENTS from Our Trestleboard

• September 1, 2010
  Regular Communication - No dinner before, meeting 7:00pm
  LOCATION CHANGE: Pittsfield Grange, located at 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road  See Trestleboard for details
• September 15, 2010
  MM Degree
  Pittsfield Grange
• September 22, 2010
  Quarterly Study Club: Music and Masonry
  Hathaway’s Hideaway 
  Masons of all degrees are encouraged to attend this event.
• September 25, 2010
  MM Degree
  Special Location: Stony Creek Lodge No. 5, Rochester MI
  
• September 29, 2010
  Masters Table Dinner
  Knights Steakhouse
  All masons, and men interested in masonry, should attend. Ladies too!