September 8, 2008

Brethren:

The next stated communications of Ideal Lodge No. 367, will be on Tuesday, September 16, 2008 with regular business and possibly an Entered Apprentice Degree.  The meal will be at 6:30 p.m. with our business meeting commencing at 7:30 p.m.

Monday, September 29, 2008, Graham-Washington Lodge No. 413 will host the 18th Masonic District Lodge at Indivisible Friends Lodge No. 404, 39 Fairfield Dr., Gretna, LA.  (Lodge phone: 504-393-7011.)  Recommendations for DDGM & DGL at this meeting.   We need to leave the Lodge in Hammond, LA at 4:30 pm.

Saturday, October 4, 2008, we will hold a fund raiser/garage sale in the parking lot of Channell Drugs, 1812 W. Thomas Street, Hammond, LA, (across from Albertson’s).  We need all our Brothers to look around the house and anything that you have gotten tired of, or have no need for, please bring it to the garage sale.  If you can’t make it on that date, please call and we will be glad to pick up anything you have to donate.  (Items to donate: dish ware, clothing, bed spreads, and sheets, working appliances, shoes or any other type items from your home that are appropriate to sell.) 

 Tuesday, October 7, 2008, will be an OPEN HOUSE/Past Masters’ Night, (rescheduled due to the hurricane).  This is the function to bring your family and friends.  The meal will be at 6:30 p.m. with our business meeting and Past Masters’ Night commencing at 7:30 p.m., so come and enjoy the activities.  We hope to have most of our Past Masters present for this annual event. 

Master’s Message:

We were successful in raising our dues at the July 15, 2008 meeting.  We are waiting on Grand Lodge for approval and will take affect for the ensuing year 2009.  My Brothers, I thank you for the one hundred percent of your commitment to keep Ideal Lodge solid in our finances for many years to come.  Another item that may help our finances is the garage sale that our Senior Warden, Herman Keller is chairing.  We need as many items as you can donate for this fund raiser.  Please try to attend and help with the sale, or if not, then please contact Brother Herman (985-386-2429) and he will be glad to set up a time and date to meet with you and obtain anything that you have to contribute to this worth while cause.  Hope to see you at the meetings.  y

 REPORT ON LAST MONTHS’ MEETINGS

On July 15^th Ideal Lodge met with 10 members and one visitor present.  Regular business was conducted and we voted on a man that works offshore and we are waiting for him to be able to take his Entered Apprentice Degree.  We voted on this same night to raise our annual dues from $26 to $51 plus Grand Lodge Per Capita, which if approved by Grand Lodge, will place our annual dues at $71.50 for the year 2009.  Our degree fee was also raised $5 to $50 per degree.  On this business night Brother Herman Keller, S.W. brought up a discussion to create a Brother-to-Brother Fund, which would help pay for an Ideal Lodge member’s dues, if necessary, funded voluntarily by the membership.  $250.00 was pledged by the members present, to this fund, if passed at the next meeting. 

August 5^th Ideal Lodge met with 9 members and 3 visitors present.  Regular business was conducted and Herman Keller, SW asked if we could hold a garage sale to raise money for the Lodge.  Worshipful Master Terry Cooper placed Brother Herman as Chairman of that committee.  We received a Petition for Affiliation by Transfer from a Brother and also had a report on winning second place at the District Lodge for having 10 members present; first place had 11 present.  The Brother-to-Brother Fund was discussed and became a reality and $100 was donated on this night.  Now when Ideal Lodge covers a members’ dues, we can take it out of this fund and it will not cost the Lodge anything!  Brothers, please donate to this fund.  George Faulkner, PM, Martin Day and David Bachemin came in from St. Bernard Parish and was in attendance on this night.  WB Faulkner acted at Junior Warden on this night and did a fine job as usual.  He also said that he was happy to see Ideal Lodge doing so well in their new home. 

August 19^th Ideal Lodge met with 11 members and 8 visitors present.  Regular business was handled and a Fellow Craft Degree was conducted.  WB Fred Falgout stated that one of our E.A. Candidates would be ready soon and to prepare for another F. C. Degree! 

RELIEF:

• Rt. WB George Lupo is doing well and out and about after his bypass surgery.  Welcome back Rt. WB George Lupo!

• Spanky Byrum, JD is out of the hospital and has a new knee!  I hear that he will be dancing soon!  Welcome back Bro. Spanky!
• J.P. Allen, PDDGM is still in the hospital.  He has been transferred to North Oaks Hospital again and is having a minor problem with an infection.  He is expected to return to the rehab center in a few days.  When I visited him last in rehab, he looked GREAT!  I expect to see him soon in the Lodge! 
• Brothers, please remember the above-mentioned Members in your prayers!

Secretary’s Message:

We still have five (5) members that have not paid dues for 2008!  Brethren, your dues are due at the first of the year, not the end of the year!  How do you expect us to run the Lodge and pay rent, per capita and other expenses, with some of the Brothers holding back until after September of each year? 

Brothers, the 2009 Dues Cards will be mailed soon.  Please remit your dues to IDEAL LODGE No. 367, 12108 Coles Creek Blvd., Hammond, LA 70403-2024.  Also, due to the Lodge By-Laws change to raise the annual dues to $51 plus per capita assessment and the resolution to raise the per capita one dollar a year for the next ten years, the dues for 2009 are $71.50.  In 2010 your dues will be $72.50, etc.  Please remember to add your optional 2¢ worth a day for an additional $7.30.  Please make check in the amount of $78.80 for the year of 2009.

ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS LETTER IS SENT BY E-MAIL TO THIRTY THREE (33) MEMBERS AND THEY WILL NOT GET THE MAILED VERSION.  THIS HELPS KEEP THE COST OF THE POSTAGE DOWN AND ALSO PROVIDES THE NEWSLETTER TO THEM, TWO DAYS EARLIER!!  IF YOU HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, PLEASE PROVIDE IT TO:  "skipperez@bellsouth.net".  THANKS!! 

COMING EVENTS:

Tuesday, September 16, 2008, Regular business meeting and possibly an Entered Apprentice Degree.  The meal will be at 6:30 p.m. with our meeting commencing at 7:30 p.m. so come and enjoy the activities. 

Monday, September 29, 2008, Graham-Washington Lodge No. 413 will host the 18th Masonic District Lodge at Indivisible Friends Lodge No. 404, 39 Fairfield Dr., Gretna, LA.  (Lodge phone: 504-393-7011.)  Recommendations for DDGM & DGL at this meeting.  

Saturday, October 4, 2008, we will hold a fund raiser/garage sale in the parking lot of Channell Drugs, 1812 W. Thomas Street, Hammond, LA, (across from Albertson’s).  If you can’t make it on that date, please call and we will be glad to pick up anything you have to donate.  (Items to donate: dish ware, clothing, bed spreads, and sheets, working appliances, shoes or any other type items from your home that are appropriate to sell.) 

Tuesday, October 7, 2008, will be an OPEN HOUSE/Past Masters’ Night, (rescheduled due to the hurricane).  This is the function to bring your family and friends.  The meal will be at 6:30 p.m. with our business meeting and Past Masters’ Night commencing at 7:30 p.m.

Please mark your calendars with the above dates!!