Saturday April 22nd 11am Detroit Masonic Temple, Tudor Room FellowCraft Degree
Wednesday April 26th Blue Tractor 207 E Washington St, Ann Arbor 7pm
Wednesday May 3rd Regular Communication Dinner at 6pm Gavel at 7pm
Tuesday May 9th Masonic Workshop TBD
Wednesday May 17th Special Communication
Wednesday May 24th Master’s Table Conor O’Neill’s 318 South Main Street Ann Arbor 7pm
Wednesday May 31st DDI School of instruction. This is a summons for all officers
Saturday June 24th Joint Table Lodge with St Mary’s #4 MWPHGLof MI
To me the month of May is a Masonic Checkpoint. The officers should well be used to their chairs and share of ritual, with a few degrees under their belts. Grand Lodge’s Annual Session is upon us, and we shall have a new Grand Line, including a new Grand Master. We should be looking at buttoning up things before we go dark for July and August. But it should also give us pause to look at the successes and challenges of the year so far. Plus highlight some upcoming events to be excited for.
First I want to say that I am proud of all of my officers this year. It may have taken us till March to finally get everyone officially installed, but we got there. To our Junior Deacon Louie Keele, and Stewards Ben Flagg, and Justin Pagilerani, your willingness to step whenever the need arises has not gone unnoticed. To my Warden Zevi and Dakota thank you for strengthening me in and out of Lodge. And a special thank you to the rest of my officers, your counsel has been invaluable in getting the work needed to be done, done.
As of writing this we have had four regular communications, with eight masonic educations, the Passover Seder I think may be the most memorable of the year. Thank you Donald Wilson and Justin Krasnoff for putting together a great program. We have entered one new brother, passed one, and raised two brothers, and in a couple of days we will hopefully be passing two brothers to the degree of fellowcraft at the Detroit Masonic Temple. Events so far this year. Our Rabbie Burns festive board. A Master’s Table. The Past Master’s Roast and Awards Dinner. Keep your eyes open for our Third Annual St. John’s Joint Table Lodge with St. Mary’s, and 4th of July Parade, this year with 100% more float. And our Annual Lodge picnic. Grand Lodge will be this month at the Soaring Eagle Casino, and although there are few amendments this year, I am willing to bet there will still be some excitement.
As our relationship with the Grotto continues to evolve and we continue to get comfortable in our new home, I want to thank WB Bob Hospadaruk for his invaluable help in getting us more space for storage and additional furniture, including a cabinet just for degree stuff, some storage in the basement and some chairs for the master and wardens.
Going forward. There is still much to do I will need all of your strength to help the continue to achieve this lodge’s high standards in doing what makes us stand out amongst other lodges. Our recent donation to Hope Clinic has reminded me how important they are to the greater Washtenaw Community, and we should continue, if not double our efforts to support them.
This leads me to the challenge of work that still needs to be done. Our candidate pipeline has been very slow these last couple of months. Which while has enabled us to concentrate on giving more individual degrees to brothers, it worries me that we will have no work for the rest of the year. Bylaw changes are being looked into, I will be asking our BGP and Grand Lodge Lawyers for specific language to protect the lodge.
Sincerely and Fraternally
David VanDerworp WM