April - May

Everett Lodge #137, Free and Accepted Masons of

The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Washington

Welcome Brethren.

First, let me apologize for being tardy in getting the Trestle Board to the WEB / E-mail. Between the Degrees, Visitations and work (oh!, there’s a bad word) there’s just been enough time for family and keeping up with house maintenance.

A quick reminder that the Lodge will be dark in July and August, but there are lots of activities and events going on during the break, not all of which have been finalized. Picnics, Day Trips, Events…… .so check the WEB site often to keep up on what is going on.

Masonry- Every Day, Every Way

One of the characteristics that distinguishes a Mason is that they rarely, if ever quench the thirst for more knowledge. Not only about Masonry or things Masonic, but for knowledge for it’s own satisfaction. Whether it be history or philosophy or whatever, the journey often ends only by being called by the Supreme Architect. What surprises me is that our Brethren are often surprised to learn that there are Masons or Masonic foundation to their study. This really should not be surprising, looking at the amazing number of famous, pioneering and globally recognized Brethren who have blazed a trail in practically every discipline.

We, too, can be trail blazers if we so choose; Lighting the way for the non-Mason and our younger Brethren. How? Live, Walk, Talk, BE the principles of Free Masonry……

Every Day, Every Way

PS: Notes, articles, contributions can be submitted through the http://www.everett137.org/ web site, through the Master or Secretary, or sent to the Lodge through the Everett Masonic Center.

What you missed - (April)

• April 1 - Master & Wardens Competition (Everett Masonic Center) After SLOC
• April 4 – Officers Meeting, 4 pm
• April 10 – Stated: 50 Year Award, P. Rentner, Military Recognition, Proficiency
• April 24 – Special: Pot Luck Dinner, 6:30. White Elephant Bingo, MM Degree Br. Brooks
• April 29 – Yard Sale, CHIPS program at the Everett Masonic Center

• May 6 – SLOC @ Centennial, in Snohomish
• May 6 – Special: MM Degree Br. Nippard @ Centennial #25 , immediately after SLOC
• May 20 – Roache Harbour outdoor FC Degree
• May 22 – Special and IceCream Social

What you might miss… if - (May / June)

May 26-28 - Skykomish Garage Sale, nice drive, historic Lodge

June 3 - SLOC, Everett Masonic Center, Everett Lodge #137 Hosts. Breakfast 8 am, SLOC 9am

June 4 – Officers Meeting, 4 pm, WMs home

June 5 – Everett Lodge Closes at Langley Lodge. Casual! (no jeans) Meet at WMs house after 5 to catch 5:30 Whidbey Is Ferry. Dinner @ 6:30, Lodge @ 7:00 followed by Strawberry Shortcake

June 12 – Stated. Langley Lodge closes. Dinner @ 6:30. Lodge @ 7:30 followed by peach cobbler. Hawaiian Shirts.

June 19/26 – special, EA Degree, Mr. Anstey (watch for update)

June 29/30 – Peninsular/Everett/Alpha/Rbt Burns Table Lodge (watch for update)

July 15 –Peninsular/Everett/Alpha/Rbt Burns/Langley Picnic (watch for update)

July – Aquasox Night

July – Movie Night

Aug – Day Trip – LaConner

Aug – Live Band trip

Birthdays- And a Happy May, June and July Birthdays to:

May: Br. J. Billebock ’37; JD. J. Earl ’32; Br. L. Foster ’18; Br. G. Horsman ’48; Br. J. Kaylor ’25; VWB. S. Lascano ’47; Br. R. Racela ’72; Br. S. Westerlund ’25; June: WB. J Farris ’55; WB S. Juntwait ’45; Br. L. Ostlund ’22: July: Br. Jose Afable ’65; Br. C. Brown ’24; Br. R. Dick ’44; WB J. Dorrance ’38; Mar. R. Elkins ’73; Br. A. Hascal ’14; Br. D. Latshaw ’50; Br. L. Nelson ’19; Br. J. Skillen ’51

Masonic Anniversaries: May, June and July – Br

May: Br. J. Benecke; Br. A. Hammons; Br. S. Haupt: Br. E. Leathem; WB. H. North; Br. N. Valencia; Br. S. Westerlund; Br. L. Wyatt: June: WB. J. Dorrance; JD. J. Earl; SW M. Fenlin; WB. L. Francisco; WB. W. McDanold; WB. W. Werner; WB. J. Paul; Br. G. Rose; Br. W. Bowen; WB. E. Hasson;

Sunshine –

The Softer Side -

The Broken Column – The Moses Lake businessman/Great Depression-era hobo/sheepherder/scrap metal tycoon/rail line owner/former Moses Lake city councilman/House of Poverty museum owner/mural subject, Longtime Everett Lodge Member, Monrad "Monte" Holm died Wednesday, May 13 at 1:12 p.m. He is survived by his wife of nearly 67 years, Ruth; his daughter Karen and her husband Wayne Rimple; two grandsons and their wives, Larry and wife Rika and Steven and wife Carmen; and five great-grandsons.

Holm spent his youth in Clarkston, the son of a Lutheran minister. He left home when he was 13. His date of birth was 5-13-16, passing just days short of his 89^th birthday, and was made a Mason on 6-7-54, making him a 52 year mason

What’s new –
Master and Wardens Competition - Everett Lodge 137 won the District 8 2006 Master & Wardens competition. Unfortunately, work and other conflicts prohibit us for competing at the state level. However, SW Frank has given notice to look out for next year.

Degrees- On April 24^th, the Memebers of Everett Lodge conferred the MM degree on Br. Brooks. Offer Br. K. Brooks your congratulations next time you see him. Be quick, he is being deployed in June/July and will be away from us for some months. Br. K., we’re looking forward to your safe return.

Visitation - We requested and received Grand Lodge Dispensation to move the Everett Lodge Charter to the location of Centennial Lodge # 25, in Snohomish for a MM degree on May 6th for Br. C. Nippard. The degree was conferred immediately following the SLOC (Symbolic Lodge Officers’ Council) meeting. With the following exceptions, Centennial Lodge # 25 SW B. Schlumpf as SW and Everett Lodge # 137 SW F. Keithahn as Secretary, ALL the other stations and places were filled with current Worshipful Masters and current or past District Deputies. Br. Nippard set the tone by returning the full proficiency exam in a most proficient manner! My warmest congratulations and appreciation to Br. Nippard for all his had work and dedication. My heartfelt Thanks to the WBs and VWBs for their participation and support in this Special Conferral for Everett Lodge. Excellent pizza and soda was the wages for all attendees.

One day Degree Conferral – Mr. Dean Johnson, escorted and mentored by WB. B. Bork, received the degrees of Masonry in a Grand Lodge one day conferral at Landmark on the Sound (Washington Masonic Retirement Center) on May 13^th. I understand from both of them that the day was a “Grand” success and they enjoyed the experience. Though they both work 2^nd shift, we’re looking forward to their next visit to lodge for a report.

New Affiliations – Also offer your congratulations to WB. B. Bork, WB. W. Hood and Br. P. Rentner as the newest affiliated members of our Lodge. Welcome Home!

2006 District 8 Calendar books are available. Contact me if you want a copy of the District Eight Calendars ; cost is $3.00.

FC Degree – WM S. Roberts, SW F. Keithahn and Br. G. Brown, representing Everett Lodge at the 37^th annual Roache Harbour outdoor FC degree. If the weather deterred you from attending, you will be sorely disappointed to know that right after the excellent salmon lunch, the clouds moved out and the sun shone down on the degree. Shirt sleeve weather suited both candidates and all that attended. Brethren, if you have not attended this event, you are really missing a treat and should mark your calendars now for next year!!

Yard Sale – April 29^th. The Everett Masonic Center Parking Lot Yard Sale. In conjunction with the Olympic View Historic Neighborhood Association, Everett Lodge roped off most of the Everett Masonic Center parking lot for spaces for individuals to set up for sales. We reserved and filled 4 spaces for EMC use.

I think we have to declare the Yard Sale a success, but wish that the weather had been a bit more cooperative. Even so, the 3 dry hours we had proved to be enough that the Neighborhood Association has requested that we plan for this event for next year. We provided 47 spaces. 45 had been reserved by sales day. 6 of the reserved remained empty by opening time (I suspect because of the threatening weather). Sales were often brisk and the aisles were at times crowded. The Neighborhood Association had requested a donation for the spaces and at the end of the day (at 11:30 when it really began to rain) they made a $50 donation to CHIPs.

Many, many thanks to the Lodge members and friends that donated items. Monies raised for Everett Lodge will be used to purchase new candidate clothing. Through the dedicated labor of Br’s R. Elkins and WB G. Haage, we made $126 in those few short hours. Please extend your thanks to them for their (cold / wet) efforts.

The Rainbow Girls offered refreshments and I understand that they did fairy well. Jobes and DeMoley assisted with the CHIPs (Child Identification Program). I am most pleased to announce that in the 3 hour period, 51 children were registered. So successful and beneficial was the program, that the neighborhood has requested that CHIPs participated in their annual picnic later in the year.

Thanks again to all that donated, worked and supported the Yard Sale. A Well Done to all.

Soap Box - …for anyone that has been “in charge”, the most important aspect of the job is commitment. Not for themselves, they committed when they took on the job; but for the people that they count on. So, maybe “dependability” might be more suited…. .after the team commitment has been made. We all have been caught having to scramble and improvise because someone or something we were counting on, depending on, didn’t do what was promised, wasn’t delivered on time or at all. I won’t list them here, but remember those feelings?

The Lodge relevancy is simply this. Lodge Members are counted on to attend… when possible. When they don’t, the Lodge suffers: officers don’t feel the need to excel for an empty lodge; the Master feels little desire to provide interesting / entertaining / educational meetings; the remaining members don’t feel a need to attend either.

Lodge Officers commit to and are especially counted on to attend…….. unless absolutely necessary. When this occurs… and it will, every attempt should be made to (1) contact and inform the WM with as much advance notice as is possible….. and (2) with the name of your replacement for the evening / meeting / event. Consider the WM as he is busily setting up the Lodge, preparing for the evening’s agenda and refreshing (hopefully) to be proficient in the work, how your non-attendance or last minute announcement only adds to the stress and confusion that you will not be in your station and have made no other arrangements. Not your problem? Well, think a moment how this only puts the whole Lodge off balance… distracting the WM having to find and fill a position, the Brother that may not be prepared to fill that position, the other officers having to cover any other duties, and lastly, all the other brothers, who now may be reluctant to attend lodge because that feel uncomfortable that they be tapped to fill in a station or place that they are not prepared for… or officers that drop out because of the un-necessary stress of not having dependable team mates.

Classifieds: Buy/Sale/Trade

Contact WB Hernan for time and dates for the Lodge Proficiency training classes. Tentatively, 3 Sunday afternoon sessions ( 4pm ) are planned.

See you at the Picnic. Think Sunscreen!