Volume 6, Issue 3 June 1, 2008 - Oasis Lodge #52 · fall when they resume their schedules. I...

J u n e 1 , 2 0 0 8

Vo l u me 6 , I s s ue 3

From the Ea s t W.B Bruce McLaugh l i n

G reetings From the East My Brothers!

I have sat and pondered what to write for this issue of the Trestleboard the last few days and here is what

I’ve come up with…

Our Spring Masonic Friends and Family Day at Reid Park was a big success and we had a great turnout. All

in all we sold 146 tickets and provided a Jumping castle for the kids and a Dunk Tank for the picnickers to

dunk some of the officers of the Lodge - including me. We had live music provided by “The Country Trail

Blazers” lead by WB Jerry Taylor, the Master at Builders Lodge #60.

I spoke with folks from Tucson #4 Lodge and Builders Lodge #60 as well as members from Jerusalem Day-

light Lodge #66. Also in attendance were members of the Shrine, York Rite and Scottish Rite and a few East-

ern Star members. A good time was had by all and funds were raised to support our various Lodge activities.

A big THANK YOU goes out to Bro Randy Jager, who came up with this idea at one of our planning meet-

ings. Also to his friend John Mueller who provided the pig roast barbequer to cook the Pig to perfection. I

also want to thank all of the people responsible for arriving early to set up and to those who stayed late to help

with the clean up. I envision next years “Pig Roast” to be well attended with inclusion of more members of

appendant bodies, their families, and friends. I would like this to be an annual event as long as I am a member

of Oasis Lodge #52.

By the time you read this article we will have made three Master Masons – Bros. Trent, Thom, and Buddy;

so when you see them next in Lodge congratulate them on becoming Master Masons and for all their hard

work. Now its time to put them to work!

On April 29th we put on a “Why is that Wrong?” play well attended by our members and which we plan to

sharpen up and take on the road to other Lodges in the future. Thank you WB Paul Weathers for the great idea

and for your hard work assigning the players and working on the script. I really enjoyed watching our Broth-

ers in action. They all did a fantastic job with their parts.

(Continued on page 2)

The Vision Statement Of Oasis Masonic Lodge #

52 Is That The Lodge:

� Is A Recognized Active Participant In The Ma-

sonic Community Fostering Fraternal Fellow-

ship And Masonic Teachings.

� Supports The Local Community Through In-

volvement With Public Schools And Programs

Addressing Community Concerns.

The Mission Statement Of Oasis Masonic Lodge # 52

Is To:

� Preserve And Promote The Teachings Of Free-

masonry.

� Promote Masonic Values Through Service To

Mankind And Truth In Life.

� Inspire Good Men To Seek Membership

Within Our Organization.

� Encourage The Membership To Continually

Seek The Truth.

� Promote Active Fellowship With Masonic

Friends And Family.

I also want to thank

those brothers who have

stepped up for the last

two Third Degrees and

took parts that they had-

n’t done before or were-

n’t familiar with. You

guys did an awesome job

and I know the candidates

appreciated it.

We will have had our

third Commitment to Ex-

cellence / Detailed Activ-

ity Plan Meeting under

our belts with Lodge

goals spelled out and will

have created and dis-

cussed ways to achieve

our goals for the future.

Remember Brethren it

takes ALL Lodge mem-

bers to contribute to the

success of the Lodge ac-

tivities that we have all

agreed upon.

We now begin the plan-

ning for the Fall MFFN

as well as the Annual

Veterans’ Day Poker

Run. All members help

is solicited and expected

to make these fundraisers

the successes they have

been in the past.

The May Stated Meet-

ing was “White Apron

Night”, where all brothers

were encouraged to wear their white aprons. The reasoning behind this was ex-

plained in my last Trestleboard article in April. The night was well attended and

we had a surprise speaker from New Hampshire : WB William Sawyer, Past

Master of his Lodge as well as a current DDGM of his District in the Exeter/

Dover areas in New Hampshire. It was a real treat to hear him discuss the simi-

larities and differences between the Lodges there and here in Arizona.

The past few months have flown by and I wanted to take this opportunity to tell

My Brothers how proud I am of all of you and how truly blessed I am to be given

the opportunity to be the Master of Oasis Lodge #52. I have been to degree con-

ferrals at other Lodges and I must say here that we can compete with the best of

(Continued from page 1)

(Continued on page 4)

P a g e 2 V o l u m e 6 , I s s u e 3

BIRTHDAYS

NATURALNATURALNATURALNATURAL

June Beach, Gilbert Cheatle, Scott Donohue, Raymond Edel, William Gibbons, Clayton Glenn, Jacky Horn, Jack Martensen, Jeffery Miller, Dean O'Donoghue, Robert Powlesland, Stephen Shank, Paul Shrager, Robert Silvey, Cedric Simmons, Donald Sneyd, William Stalker, Robert Thourot, Frederick

July Cohen, Alan Fletchall, Joseph Jones, James Yaiser, Timothy

MASONICMASONICMASONICMASONIC June Crenshaw, Robert Demen, John George Edel, William Franklin, George Glassbrook, Lloyd Harty, Donald Jones, James Mahoney, Donald Martensen, Jeffery Neulreich, Robert Petty, Jason Ruiz, Roy Simmons, Donald Wright, Henry

July Boucher, Albert Chuk, Stevan Erickson, Charles Hoehn, William Marr, Douglas Ian Miller, Roland Promenschenkel, David Rodriguez, Gay Seginski, William Stigers, William Thistlewaite, Lawrence Trinko, Charles Weathers, Paul Wilson, James

Features

Page 1

Oasis Lodge Vision

Statement

Oasis Lodge Mission

Statement

Thoughts from the Wor-

shipful Master

Masonic Birthdays

Page 3

Upcoming Events

2008 Officers

2008 Committees

Page 4

From the Jr Warden

Page 5

Thoughts From:

Our Surrogate Junior

Past,

Our Acting Sr Warden,

Dues and By-Laws Re-

view Committee

Page 6

Chaplin’s Epistle

Page 7

Public Schools Week

Award


OFFICERS for 2007

WM Bruce McLaughlin, 751-4615,

[email protected]

SW Jason Petty, 207-1326, [email protected] JW Roger Cousineau, 760-0358,

[email protected]

Sec. WB Timothy Yaiser, 661-3008

[email protected]

Treasurer Robert Shrager, H-296-0709, C-449-

4588, [email protected]

Chaplain, WB 9. Dean Millard, 298-0765, [email protected]

SD Bob O’Donoghue, 740-2846.

robert.o’[email protected]

JD Rady Jager

JS Philip Bousquet, 546-0865,

[email protected]

Marshal Mark Stein Tyler WB Frank Rothman, 721-8272,

[email protected]

Trustees: WB Gerald Badinger (3 year), WB Paul Weathers (2 year) , WB Frank Rothman (1 year), Bro.

Bob Shrager (Treasurer) & The Worshipful Master

Trestle Board Editor W.B. Jim Hewitt 721-4049

[email protected]

Ritual Director

W.B. Gene Scott 298-0920

Masonic Education

SW Jason Petty, 207-1326, [email protected]

Candidates, Coaches, and Mentors

SW Jason Petty, 207-1326, [email protected]

Annual Veterans Day Poker Run

WB Tim Yaiser 661-3008 [email protected]

Co-chair Bro. Bob Shrager 296-0709 [email protected]

Spring Masonic Family and Friends

Night JW Roger Cousineau, 760-0358, [email protected]

Public Schools TBD

Fall Masonic Family and Friends Night

SD Bob O’Donoghue, 740-2846 robert.o’[email protected]

Membership Committee Bro. Robert Crenshaw,

733-3883, [email protected]

Mason Of The Year

TBD

Long Range Plans SW Jason Petty, 207-1326, [email protected]

Widows / Welfare / Assistance* W.B. Paul Weathers, 290-6260

[email protected] Bro. Ray Donohue

Youth Groups

W.B. N Dean Millard, 298-0765, [email protected]

COMMITTEESCOMMITTEESCOMMITTEESCOMMITTEES

* Widows / Welfare / Assistance, shall encompass a broad range of activities deemed proper at the discretion of the committee chair. The only limitations shall be the creativity of the committee, and the budget if applicable. The pri-mary focus and objectives must revolve around Masonic widows, the general welfare of a brother, and getting assis-tance in any shape or form to brothers in need; none of whom necessarily having to be a member of this lodge in particular. Bear in mind, all activities must be presented before the Master prior to taking place.

SICK9ESS and DISTRESS If you or your loved ones are stricken with an illness or distress or any

other major concern, don’t keep it inside, let us know about it. We may

be limited in many cases to remembering you in our prayers. But I be-

lieve that the majority of us believe in the power of prayer so please let us

be informed of your troubled times.

Call WB Paul Weathers at (520) 290-6260 or Brother Ray Donohue at

(520) 290-9802.

Upcoming Events

Meetings

June

3 June -

Grand Lodge

legislation review at Oasis Lodge

5—7 June -

126th Communication of the Ari-

zona Grand Lodge,

Prescott, AZ

10 June Stated Meeting

17 June Past Master’s Night 1st

Degree

24 June

Poker Run Meeting / EA Degree

Practice

July

1 July -

CHIPs Program Presentation WB

Mike Atchley

8 July Stated Meeting

(Schedule subject to change ex-

cept Stated Meeting)

V o l u m e 6 , I s s u e 3 P a g e 4

From The Sou th Bro Roger Cousineau —Jun i o r Warden

F reemasonry “is kindness in the home; honesty in business; courtesy toward others; dependability in one’s

work; compassion for the unfortunate; resistance to evil; help for the weak; concern for good govern-

ment; support for public education; and above all, a life-practicing reverence for God and love of fellow man,”

according to the “About Masonry” section of the George Washington Memorial web site.

These are characteristics which would indeed describe George Washington, the Mason and President. While

a president today would be happy with an approval rating of 70%, or even 60% of the population, George

Washington enjoyed almost 100% support of the citizens of the newly formed United States of America. The

Electoral College, which engaged in heated disputes on nearly every subject, still elected Washington as

America's first President without a single dissenting vote. Washington was a humble man. His first inaugural

speech was a mere six minutes long, the shortest inaugural speech in the history of this country.

George Washington was inducted into the Freemasons of America on 24 November 1752, in Fredericksburg,

Virginia. He was interred at Mount Vernon 18 December 1799 with full Masonic burial rites. Washington

officiated as President of the United States in the laying of the U.S. Capitol cornerstone on 18 September 1793.

The Grand Lodge of Maryland actually laid the cornerstone. The Alexandria Lodge, of which Washington

was Past Master, also participated.

As the 4th of July approaches, we might all want to use the first president as the standard against which we

measure ourselves as Masons.

‘em! Your hard and diligent work is paying off with crisp, clean work and we will continue to strive for per-

fection in our work! Thank you for all your generous support and time to promote and participate in our ac-

tivities.

The hot summer months are here and we will continue to have degree practices so we can improve on our

ritual work. I plan on making many Lodge visitations to Lodges that are not dark this summer and then in the

fall when they resume their schedules.

I attended Anna Henry Elementary School on May 16th, with WB’s Paul Weathers and Jim Donovan for the

“Bikes for Books” program, and what a treat that was! The kids were really excited to receive the bikes and

each one of them got the appropriate bike ( Girl bike to girl, Boy bike to boy ). This was done by a blind

drawing so the principle and I did not know how the outcome would go, but it all worked out. The principle,

Ms. Ann Jackson, all the teachers, and students were very thankful and we hoped that all attendance winners

and book readers could be awarded a bicycle next year. Thanks WB Paul and WB Jim for your help. Brethren

I ask of you that if you have not yet paid your dues for this year please do so as soon as you can and if there is

a problem please contact our Secretary WB Tim Yaiser and/or myself so we can work things out with you.

And remember my Brothers with Teamwork we can accomplish anything! Focus not on the journey, nor the

destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity, but by doing it.

To all those members who may be strangers – I look forward to seeing you and greeting you in Lodge! That

is all from the East…

(Continued from page 2)

Thoughts From Our Surrogate Junior Past WB Jerry Badinger


I want to thank all who have expressed their thoughts and prayers for my bride of 30 years at her recent

“hip” experience. Thank you all! I really regret that the unfortunate event prevented us, and several mem-

bers of our family, from attending the very successful Oasis #52 Masonic Family and Friends Pig Roast at

Reid Park. I have heard nothing but goods things about it and Brother Randy Jager is to be commended for

his efforts not only in championing incorporation of this event into our Lodge Programs, but his hard work in

organizing and operating the event. Well-done Brother! So many other Masonic groups were present and have

provided positive feedback.

This event is so typical of our Vision and Mission and satisfies several of our objectives and goals. I vote on

continuing it on an annual basis. So come to our next Commitment to Excellence meeting, which I mentioned

elsewhere, and we can make it a permanent fixture in our future plans. We may be able to coax some other

great ideas like this from the brothers who attend.

And look to the Trowel my Brother.

Thoughts From Our Acting Senior Warden WB Jerry Badinger

W ell we’ve done it again. Once again, for the fourth year in a row, we have completed our Lodge Com-

mitment to Excellence Plan for the ensuing year ensuring that we will continue on our path of Lodge

self-improvement. At our last meeting, which was attended by 15 of our Brothers, we reflected and measured

how we have performed using the metrics in our current plan and upgraded the evaluation metrics where ap-

propriate. The current line of Officers has signed the commitment letter and the Secretary is submitting the

plan to Grand Lodge, again making Oasis #52 the only Lodge in Arizona which has sustained the Lodge Com-

mitment to Excellence Program for this long a period of time. Next the Master will call a meeting to review

the Detailed Activity Plan from this year’s plan and we will: identify those activities we are going to continue

to use; identify new activities we are going to add; and eliminate those we feel no longer supports our Vision

and Mission statements. With this the Senior Warden can develop his 2009 budget. As I said before, it is in

this review and modification process to the Detailed Activity Plan that the Brothers of the Lodge can best con-

tribute to this effort. So join these 15 hard working and committed Brothers at the next “Commitment to Excel-

lence” meeting. Feel free to contribute other great ideas and your thoughts on the activities in the current De-

tailed Activity Plan and let us know if we are satisfying our Lodge Vision and Mission statement

I want to properly pay wages to those Brothers who attended the last meeting and contributed immeasurably

to the process, And look to the Trowel my Brother.

Dues and By-Laws Review Committee

WB Jerry Badinger, Chairman

O ur WM Bruce McLaughlin formed a committee, The Dues and By-Laws Review Committee to analyze

and review the current dues structure and to review the By-Laws to determine if any changes were re-

quired as a result of the last GL Communications or the results of this review. Our committee has completed

its review and is prepared will present its results and any appropriate Dues and By-Laws change recommenda-

tions in the form of a By-Laws Change at the June Stated meeting to be voted on at the July Stated Meeting.

Prior to this the committee is conducting an informal review of these results for Tucson area members on

Tuesday June 3, 2008 at the Lodge starting at 6:30 PM. All are welcome to come and participate in this re-

view.

A s I sit in front of my computer to write this piece, we are rapidly approaching Memo-

rial Day (Monday, May 26th) and it strikes me how little I hear of the coming holiday other than that it is

going to give us a 3 day weekend! What a sad state of affairs when we have dropped to this level of caring!

Memorial Day was first observed as “Decoration Day” with Waterloo, New York being the “official” place

of origin, although that appears to be contested! It was changed to “Memorial Day” in 1882, but didn’t be-

come commonly called that until after World War II and was not declared the official name by Federal law

until 1967. The traditional day of celebration was originally May 30th and didn’t become the last Monday in

May until 1971. Even though this is the Federal Holiday now, not all states seem happy about it and, even to-

day, there are some that still observe it on May 30th every year. May 30th, by the way, was chosen because it

was NOT the anniversary of any battle!

In regard to the observance of this Holiday, our duties as Masons are quite clear. We must do all we can to

observe this Holiday and perform the duties associated with it. Considering the close ties of Masonry to this

Great Nation and her fighting men and women, we should consider the recognition of the fallen warriors a part

of our regular duties, not a tiresome thing that “must” be done but a joyous time when we celebrate the efforts

and sacrifices of the warriors. Now, this is not to say that we should not enjoy the other aspects of the day as

well, the BBQs, the memorials to our own families or loved ones and all of the other aspects that make up Me-

morial Day in this modern age. However, we should always consider the recognition of those who have given

their all to protect our freedoms as the most important event of the day.

As Memorial Day will already have passed when this Trestleboard is published, I hope that you had a won-

derful Memorial Day Holiday and that you DID remember those who have gone before us in protecting those

things that we cherish. Most of all, as you think back on that day, I hope that you think about and realize just

how very special this country that we live in is and how very special our freedoms are and who it is that se-

cured, and continues to secure, those freedoms for

us.

God Bless the Warriors who are the Peace Keepers

of this Great Country! May we NEVER forget!

I hope to meet and greet you at Lodge soon.

Fraternally,

Dean Millard, P.M.

Chaplain

[email protected]

V o l u m e 6 , I s s u e 3 P a g e 6

The Chaplain’s Epistle WB N. Dean Millard


O n Friday, May 16th our Worshipful Master, Bruce McLaughlin, along with WB’s Paul Weathers and Jim

Donovan attended an awards program at Anna Henry Elementary School. In attendance were the Princi-

pal, Ms. Ann Jackson, and the teachers and students of the 1st through 5th grades. Oasis Lodge #52, through

our representatives, presented four bikes to the Books for Bikes winners for the best attendance and / or most

books read during the school year. The winners were a first grader, a second grader, and two fourth graders.

The Bikes for Books program is an ongoing Oasis #52 program to show our support for the children in the

Tucson Public Schools and Anna Henry Elementary is our “adopted” school.

Below are some pictures of the event

Public Schools Week Award


Oasis Masonic Lodge #52, F&AM

450 S, Pantano Rd.

Tucson, AZ 85710

Volume 6, Issue 3 June 1, 2008 - Oasis Lodge #52 · fall when they resume their schedules. I...

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