The Trestleboard - Acalanes Fellowship Lodge
Transcript of The Trestleboard - Acalanes Fellowship Lodge
The Trestleboard Acalanes Fellowship Lodge #480 ☉ June 2016
From the East Page 1
From the West Page 2
From the Secretary’s Desk Page 3
Hall Association Report Page 3
Anniversaries & Birthdays Page 4
Appendant Bodies Page 5
New Brethren Page 6
Golden Veteran Awards Page 7, 8
From the East Worshipful Marion P. Rogers, Master At our April Stated Meeting dinner, Worshipful Greg Thompson presented
Golden Veterans Awards to Bros. Fred Schachtman and Tommy Thompson.
See Page 7 for photos.
At our May Stated Meeting Dinner we were honored to have the Concord
Rainbow Assembly join us for dinner and afterwards perform a ceremony in
our lodge room. I am very proud of these girls and always appreciate their
dedication, poise and graciousness. My wife and I were also able to attend a
ceremony by Grand Lodge and Acacia Creek this past Saturday dedicating a
lane at the Masonic Homes in Union City. The lane that runs just in front of Acacia Creek was named Job’s
Daughters Lane. The Masonic Homes has two other lanes named in honor of DeMolay Boys and Rainbow
Girls. We should all invest more of our time and resources in our youth. They are the future of our country
and our masonic order.
At our Stated meeting that evening we welcomed a new affiliate, Worshipful Russ Kennedy, past master of
the Pleasanton Masonic Lodge No. 321. Welcome Russ! And on May 10, we initiated Mr. Jonathan
Groetsch into our lodge by conferring the 1st Degree of Masonry. We welcome Jonathan into our
brotherhood and look forward to working with him on his masonic journey.
On May 14, we along with Grand Lodge presented Most Worshipful Alvin Weis his Golden Veterans
Award. The ceremony was conducted in Siminoff Daylight Lodge No. 850 located in the Masonic Homes,
Union City. The was a most appropriate setting as MW Weis was on the Board of Directors for the Homes
for twelve years. The ceremony was attended by brothers from all around the state to honor a man who has
meant so much to them personally and for his many contributions to our craft. MW Weis, PGM was Grand
Master of Masons in California 19992000. We were pleased that his entire family could join us for that
momentous occasion and to enjoy the fabulous Hawaiian Luau afterwards.
Please see MW Weis’ masonic history biography on page 8.
We have scheduled a 1st Degree to initiate Mr. Terry Killgore at 9:30 AM,
June 11 in the outdoor lodge at the Masonic Homes, Union City. All Entered
Apprentice Masons and higher are invited to the degree. We will enjoy a
BBQ after the degree. PLEASE ARRIVE BY 8:30 am.
June 18th is our annual Spring Dinner Theater. We need all reservations paid for by the Stated Meeting
(June 7th) so we can buy the block of theater tickets for our party.
Lastly, I am pleased to announce that the 2016 Hiram Award for Acalanes Fellowship Lodge No. 480 goes
to Bro. Michael Weis. Bro. Michael has been a very active member of our Hall Association for many years
and his contributions to our lodge are most appreciated. We will be scheduling a special dinner in his honor
in the coming months.
From the West Harry G P Burt, Senior Warden In last month’s “From the West” was mentioned Sacred Geometry and I would like to share with you one
very small element, the Vesica Pisces (literally the fish bladder), to illustrate how the subject bridges the
profane and the sacred. While there are many parameters that make an object “sacred” irrational numbers
are often involved. For instance, in the diagram below, the Vesica Pisces (VP) is the overlap of the two
circles of equal radius. The ratio of the radius (the distance between the two
dots) and the vertical is the square root of three. This is a number in which the
numbers after the decimal point go on forever, without repeating.
Of great engineering interest is that the VP shape is also the shape of the
Gothic Arch. The Gothic arch is a much better form than the Roman arch or
even the Norman arch for transferring vertical loads
around openings such as doors and windows, and it is
the VP shape that suddenly allowed churches to become the soaring cathedrals
that sprang up from 1150 AD onwards. The various ratios that derive from this
shape also directed the floor plans of the great cathedrals and determined the
positioning of the supporting columns. For further research into the concepts of
sacred geometry and its influence on the design of great buildings, you may find
the following references of interest
• Chartres Sacred Geometry, Sacred Space – Gordon Strachan
• The Secrets of Solomon’s Temple – Kevin L Gest
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From the Secretary’s Desk Fred Lezak, Secretary The beat goes on. May was a very busy month for Acalanes Fellowship Lodge and June will be busy as well.
Congratulations to the degree team for an excellent first degree for Brother Jonathan Groetsch. For those
of you that missed it, you have another opportunity to see this excellent degree team in action when we
confer the first degree on Mr. Terry Killgore on June 11th at the Siminoff Daylight
Outdoor lodge at the Union City Masonic Home. The degree will begin at 9:30am. If
you are interested in going and would like to
carpool, simply be at the lodge parking lot at 7:15am
and we will all go from there. If you have not been to
a degree at the outdoor lodge, you really need to go.
It is a unique experience. For those who have gone
before, you already know.
And speaking of being there, if you have not been to
lodge lately, we miss you. If you have been recently, you know the
incredible feeling of brotherhood and fun we have at the dinner and in
the lodge. Come on down. The next stated meeting and dinner is June 7th. The social hour is from 5:30 to 6:30, dinner is from 6:30 to 7:30 and the
lodge meeting is from 7:30 on. I look forward to seeing and greeting you at the stated meeting and the first
degree.
Last month I announced the annual Masons4Mitts program. We are off to a great start. Each mitt
Is $20.You may give me the money (cash or check made out to Masons4Mitts) or make a donation
directly to Masons4Mitts at www.masons4mitts.org. Remember to include your lodge (Acalanes
Fellowship Lodge #480) so we can get credit. There will be more news about this outstanding program
for underserved boys and girls in the following months.
Hall Association Report Bob Smith, President, Hall Association
WANTED
On Saturday June 25, 2016 MASONS who know how to
use the following tools: broom, rake, mop, hammer, and
cleaning towels.
We need you for the spring clean up of our lodge from
9:00am to 12:00n. Let Bob Smith or Marion Rogers
know if you will be available.
Refreshments will be available.
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3rd Degree Anniversaries
Name Raised Years a
MM
Robert A. Richardson 6/30/1956 60
Donald L. Hoskins 6/7/1958 58
Max W. King, PM 6/9/1973 43
William C. Armstrong, PM 6/14/1975 41
William B. Simpson 6/30/1979 37
Sheldon Winnick 6/19/1979 37
Richard L. Smith 6/24/1980 36
Milton F. Bruzzone 6/26/1984 32
Edward E. Stack 6/11/1985 31
Gary G. Charland, PM 6/8/1999 17
David E. Prichard 6/26/2007 9
Birthdays
Please join us in wishing our brethren very happy
birthdays this month.
Harry G. Burt June 1
John J. Mulhall June 4
Phillip L. Mc Allister, Sr., PM June 5
Stephen P. Galop, III June 5
Gerald I. Hertz June 10
Roger G. Burt June 10
Robert S. Strohmeyer June 15
James P. Reno, III June 17
Theodore D. Zeller June 18
B. Ryder Brose June 18
Rodney K. Impey June 18
Franklin H. Shoffner June 22
Gerald E. Patchen June 23
Jeffrey A. Fesunoff June 26
Kenneth R. Crone, PM June 27
Scott D. Haile June 27
Richard A. Kellogg June 28
Richard L. Smith June 30
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Starlight News Diablo Star Chapter OES The Order of the Eastern Star is alive and well in Orinda! We meet @7:30
PM on the 2nd Monday of each month. Guests are welcome to join us for
premeeting activities.
Thinking about joining our chapter? Contact Worthy Matron Pamela
Lister: [email protected], Worthy Patron Chris Hansford:
[email protected] or our Chapter Secretary: [email protected] for a petition and details.
SAVE THE DATES
● June 13th Chapter Birthday and Awards Night. Catered dinner @6:00 PM RSVP
required.
● July 23rd Picnic in Paradise Park. WM Pamela Lister can provide details.
● August 8th Brothers Night Join us for a BBQ Potluck @6:30PM and fun to honor our
WP Chris Hansford
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1st Degree Announcement of Terry Killgore
Masonic Homes of Union City
Siminoff Outdoor Lodge
Saturday, June 11th
9:30am (arrive 8:30am)
Come help our excellent 1st Degree Ritual Team enter our newest member into Freemasonry
Robert M. Hooker July 5, 1933 – May 6, 2016
Initiated: November 13, 1986
Passed: June 23, 1987 Raised: September 12, 1987
Acalanes Fellowship Lodge #480
Lafayette, California
Soft and safe to thee, my Brother, be thy restingplace.
Bright and glorious be thy rising from it!
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Congratulations to Our Golden Veterans
Frederic S. Schachtman
Fred was born in Oakland CA. in 1924.
Fred was initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason in Fortitude Lodge # 624 on January 11, 1966, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on March 22, 1966 and raised as a Master Mason on May 24, 1966.
He and his wife Jayne were married for 60 years prior to her passing two years ago. Together they raised five children. They lived in the Moraga Country Club prior to moving to Byron Park in Walnut Creek, CA.
Fred was an architect and was a partner in the firm of Schachtman and Velokina in Vallejo and Benicia. The firm specialized in the design of schools and public buildings such as halls of Justice and fire stations. Brother Schachtman is most proud of his design of the Hall of Justice in Fairfield CA. and of the main Exhibit Building at the Sonoma Fairground.
Thomas C. Thompson
Brother Thompson, affectionately known as Tommy, was born in Minnesota in 1936. He was initiated an Entered Apprentice Mason on September 21, 1966 into Acalanes Lodge # 723. He was passed as a Fellowcraft mason on March 29, 1966 and was raised a Master Mason on August 11, 1966.
He and his wife Elaine have been married for more than 37 years and have raised five children together. They live in Rossmoor were Tommy likes to play golf with friends including our own Worshipful Orren Rupert. Prior to retiring, Tommy was a flooring contractor.
Brother Thompson is a member of the Aahmes Shrine in Livermore and a member of the Aahmes Shrine Mounted Patrol. As a member of the patrol, he has participates in many public events including several years at the New Year’s Rose Parade in Pasadena.
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Alvin J. Weis, PGM 50 Years a Mason
Al (or A.J. as he is known inMasonic circles) became aMason in Tyrian
Lodge No. 439 in Manteca in 1966. Two months later – after A.J.
received his third degree – PG&E transferred him to their Corporate
Headquarters in San Francisco. He relocated his family to Lafayette
and has been a resident in that community for 50 years.
A.J. later affiliated with Acalanes Fellowship Lodge in Lafayette and
served as Master in 1981. In 1995 the brethren honored him with the
Hiram Award.
As a youth, A.J. was active in the Manteca Chapter Order of DeMolay
where he served as Master Councilor in 1952. As a Senior DeMolay he
continued as an advisor and Chapter Dad. He also served on the
DeMolay Scholarship Committee and as a member of the Northern
California DeMolay Foundation Board of directors. He has been
honored by the International Supreme Council with the DeMolay
Legion of Honor.
A.J. has two sons, Michael and David – four grandchildren – and five great grandchildren. All are here with
us this evening. A.J. is proud of his sons – and boasts that both areMasterMasons – and that he has had the
pleasure of conferring the Master Mason Degree on both of them. Michael is a member of Acalanes
Fellowship Lodge in Lafayette and David is a member of Corinthian Lodge No. 9 in Marysville.
Along the way – A.J.’s services to Grand Lodge included membership on
the Policy and General Purposes committee and the Warden’s Retreat
Committee. He also served as a Director of the Nob Hill Masonic
Management Corporation – and as Trustee for the California Masonic
Memorial Temple. He served as a Trustee for the Masonic Homes of
California for TWELVE YEARS – and in 1983 Grand Master E. Arthur
Haglund appointed him Grand Marshal.
A.J. was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1996 – and progressed until he
was installed Grand Master on October 13, 1999.
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Brethren, Friends and Families
Time for our annual SPRING Dinner and a Show. Date: Saturday June 18th Dinner Time: 6 pm Place: Lodge “Mood lit” dining room for dinner catered by Zimm’s.
And then the Town Hall Theater across the street Dress: Business casual or 30’s style Show: Play it again Sam
By Woody Allen Curtain Time: 8 PM Cost: $60.00 per person. Theater tickets will be distributed at Lodge Menu: Appetizers
Stuffed Mushrooms & Brie Cheese with Spicy Honey & Toasted Nuts, garnished w/grapes
Main Course
Cornish Game Hen over a bed of Orzo Served w/Asparagus, Spring Mix & Pear Salad, Rolls & Butter
Dessert To be Determined All served with suitable beverages
Reservations: Must be made and paid for Prior to Tuesday, June 7th
Reserve and pay by Eventbrite link on the Lodge website, or CLICK HERE. If you wish, you can reserve on Eventbrite for free and choose the option to pay cash or check to Robert Strohmeyer at the June Stated Meeting. You may also RSVP by emailing [email protected] or calling (800) 419-0819 ext. 2 and leaving a voicemail. You may also mail checks to: Bro. Harry Burt: 958 Treg Lane Concord, CA 94518
The Show What’s the matter with me? Why can’t I be cool? What’s the secret? When Allen Felix’s wife leaves him seeks advice from the coolest guy he knows: Humphrey Bogart. Filled with the fastpaced neurotic humor you’ve come to expect from Woody Allen at the top of his game, Play It Again, Sam is guaranteed to be a mustsee! Town Hall favorite, Søren Oliver, returns to direct.
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The Trestleboard Acalanes Fellowship Lodge #480 ☉ June 2016
AcalanesFellowshipLodge.com Editor: Adam Hanin [email protected]
Upcoming Events at Acalanes Fellowship Lodge #480 June 7, 5:30pm
Stated Meeting
Reception at 5:30 pm
Dinner at 6:30 pm
Meeting at 7:30 pm
June 11, 9:30am
Terry Killgore, 1st Degree
Siminoff Daylight Lodge
ARRIVE 8:30am
Ceremony at 9:30 am
BBQ Lunch Follows
June 18, 6:00pm
Dinner and a Show
Dinner at 6:00 pm
Show: Play It Again, Sam
Town Hall Theatre
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