Communication

March 2010

Brethren:

You and your Masonic friends are cordially and fraternally invited to attend the following stated communications of Smithtown Lodge No. 1127 F.&A.M at the Masonic temple located at 34 River Road, Smithtown N.Y. for the transaction of regular business and other business that may constitutionally be brought before it.

1098th SUMMONED COMMUNICATION
Wednesday March 10, 2010 at 7:30pm
Vote on Bylaw changes
Conferral of the 1st Degree
Officers: Formal Attire

1099th SUMMONED COMMUNICATION
Wednesday March 24, 2010 at 7:30pm
Vote on Bylaw changes (If Necessary)
Conferral of 2nd Degree
Officers: Formal Attire

Is it True? Absolutely !! Each Smithtown Lodge meeting this year will have Degree work. What a tremendous opportunity for each and every brother to take part in performing in the degrees. I am personally challenging each and every brother in the Lodge, to take part in each Degree. Remember, every part in the degree, even filling the chairs on the sideline, is important.

Like the industrious beehive, we have a window of opportunity this season. The beehive has but one season to ensure it’s success for the next year. And like the industrious beehive, we have the opportunity to ensure the success our lodge for years to come. How? By raising the next generation of brothers for our lodge. The size of this years class of candidates rivals those seen for many years. Drawing upon a 70 year history of raising Master Masons in Smithtown Lodge, it is our responsibility to ensure that the Lodge initiation experience is memorable for each and every new candidate.

And special invitation to those brothers that have not attended lodge recently. Come be part of the growth and rejuvenation of the lodge. Once a Mason, always a Mason.

Of course, many of you will be called upon to mentor a new brother. I consider the mentoring and counseling of the new brother to be one the greatest honors bestowed upon a Lodge member. The lodge is entrusting you with our greatest asset. Not money, not gold, not silver, and not the diamonds from the mines of a famous king. The greatest asset of the lodge is the mind and soul of a new brother. Invest the time. Invest the energy. Not only will that new brother remember you for a lifetime, your investment in the lodge will payback dividends for years to come.

Brothers, as Master of the Lodge I can say that each and every request for assistance has been met with overwhelming interest and participation. The sole exception was my request, in the last communications, for assistance in improving our building. I believe our goal should be to improve the facilities, for the purpose of being able to market the facility for events. Cost of the facility is high and drains monies away from Masonic charities and other good works. With improvements and a bit of marketing prowess, the cost of maintaining the facility could be offset.

I have always felt that Masonry in action was about making things on earth better. Real, Tangible, hands-on, making things better, not wishing things were different.

So again I reach out to the Brothers of the Lodge for assistance. The building committee will be draw up a series of mini-projects, each of which contribute to the lodge upgrade. We will ask for funding and leadership for each project from the Brothers

So, if you are out there asking “What can you do? “, here is a list of things you may be able to do.

• Lead an effort to improve a portion of the lodge.
• Donate materials to the project.
• Donate funds to the project.
• Donate your special skill to the project.
• Break out that toolset that is gathering dust in your basement. You know, the one you had to have last Christmas?
• Donate your labor to the project.

So will you be sitting in the lodge this year “wishing” the facility was cleaner, brighter or nicer? Or will we be sitting in a lodge this year “knowing” that it is nicer, cleaner, brighter and is able to be marketed for events?

Brethren this year’s GRAND LECTURERS CONVENTION will be held March 13th beginning at 2:30pm at The Lodge of Antiquity No. 11 in Brentwood New York. The Potts award recognizes the lodge(s) where all of the officers of the lodge are in attendance. Last year marked the first time Smithtown Lodge was awarded the Potts award. Stop by the secretaries desk to see the award. I would like Smithtown Lodge to take the Pott’s award this year as well. I am personally asking every brothers and all my officers to make this meeting. The Grand Lecturer Convention is not a long event, so you should be able to continue your day with family and friends after the event. Lets make sure that Smithtown shines once again at this years Grand Lecturers’ Convention. As usual for events, car pooling will be available if needed.

Other Dates of Note:
03/13/2010 - GRAND LECTURERS CONVENTION

Mar 7th 1st Degree practice
Mar 14th 2nd Degree practice
Mar 21st 2nd Degree practice