From the East
Greetings from the East,
Brethren and Ladies, we had an outpouring of love in February! What a fantastic turnout for our Sweethearts Luncheon. I would like to thank our chef, Brother George Wyatt for his effort and love that he put into each and every dish we devoured!
March is Masonic Youth Orders month by declaration of our Grand Master. You may not be familiar with all of the Masonic Youth Orders. They consist of DeMolay International, Job’s Daughters International, and the International Order of Rainbow for Girls. These organizations are sponsored by Masonic Lodges to help promote the practice of our Masonic values, develop good character, learn leadership, and respect tradition.
Each order has its own membership requirements but in general, the young women must be between the ages of 10 – 20 years old. Young men must be between the ages of 12 – 20 years old. Many of these youth continue their relationship with Freemasonry throughout their lives.
It is important for us to support our youth orders for the future of our families, our lodges, and our communities. They set an example for their peers and give back to our communities that so desperately need their leadership. By learning and living our values we can rely on these youth to be the leaders of the next generation.
Please attend our March Stated Meeting and learn more about the youth order that is sponsored by Natoma Lodge 64, the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, Assembly #90. They will be giving a short presentation on what Rainbow is and how we can support them.
We are also welcoming the Masonic Outreach Services. They will be telling us about the newly expanded benefits and services that are available to us and our families and the beautiful Masonic Homes in Daly City and Covina. We will also learn about the services they can provide to troubled youth.
Does anyone play golf, even those of you who, like me, try to whack a little ball with a stick? I would like some assistance in putting together a golf outing event for April at a local course. Mostly for fun and bragging rights, but a prize will be awarded to the winning foursome.
We will also have a day of service at your lodge in the near future. We need to spruce up a couple of things both inside and outside. We will start in the morning with coffee and donuts and after finishing our work, hamburgers and hot dogs will be served for lunch. The date is TBD but please make it a point to attend when the invitation goes out. As the saying goes, “many hands make light work.”
I would also like remind you that you are always invited to participate in our Thursday night ritual practices and coaches are needed to help our candidate brothers with their work.
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Parting Upon the Square,
Stuart J. Stackhouse
Worshipful Master
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From the West
We had a good time in February, between the lodge breakfast, the stated dinner and an excellent Sweethearts Luncheon - there was no shortage of good food and fellowship. As we move into March and beyond, we will have plenty of fun events to look forward to. We also have business that needs to be attended to as well. As discussed in last months Stated Meeting, there has been some talk about increasing the dues. I would like to take a moment to break down the definition of dues based on the CMC.
§809.310. DUES.
A Lodge’s dues shall be established in its Bylaws. The minimum annual dues shall be $12, plus the Per Capita sum approved by Grand Lodge at the immediately preceding Annual Communication, with the total thus determined rounded up to the next whole dollar. The Lodge Secretary shall issue to each Mason paying his dues a receipt using, without change, the uniform receipt for dues available from the Grand Secretary.
Dues shall commence with the first day of the month next following the conferring of the Entered Apprentice Degree or as provided in Sections 804.740 or 804.750 of this Code for Masons joining the Lodge by affiliation.
If a Lodge increases its dues, the increase shall become effective upon the start of fiscal year of the Lodge following the Grand Master’s approval of the increase. Masons of the Lodge who have paid their dues in advance for such fiscal year must pay the increase.
[Amended: 2010; 2012; 2014.] [Source: Sections 27010, 27040 and 27090 of the 1991 California Masonic Code.]
Since a Lodges' dues are established by its Bylaws, it takes a change to the Bylaws to adjust them as well. This is particularly important to the brethren as this is done in a Stated meeting. Which means that Brothers of the Lodge will want to make sure they attend these meetings to ensure their voice is heard and their vote carried through.
I look forward to seeing you at the next stated meeting.
Fraternally and On the Level,
Noel Lukas
Senior Warden
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From the South
Dear brethren and ladies of Natoma Lodge 64,
This year is going fast and we are leaving the very cold, very rainy, and very windy winter season and moving into a more, hopefully, warmer month of March and Spring season, and all the fraternal events and activities we participated last month are now sweet memories to tell.
I'd like to thank all the brethren for your support attending and bringing friends and also helping in the preparation and clean up of our February breakfast, our monthly Stated Meeting Dinner (thank you Rainbow Girls for your help in cleaning up!) and our Sweetheart's Luncheon. But especially I want to extend my gratitude and thanks to our Brother George Wyatt for his hard work, long hours, and delicious meal he prepared for the Sweetheart's Luncheon and to Alyson for her time and skills to put up the beautiful decorations which made the event even more special for our widows and families in Masonry.
You do not want to miss our March Stated Meeting Dinner on Thursday, March 7, where we will be featuring a St. Patrick's Day menu complete with Brother Dennis Davis' famous corned beef and cabbage. Bring your family and friends to join us and RSVP to the Stated Meeting Dinner and Pre-pay for yourselves and guests. Also, please contact me if you are able to help with dinner preparation, cooking and/or clean up.
Also, this month, we have two opportunities to demonstrate how freemasonry is alive, thriving, and helping our Folsom community. Please check out the details about the Folsom Festival of Eggs below and volunteer if you are able.
Thank you for attending our dinners, lunches, picnics and breakfasts that are held with the sole purpose of staying united as a fraternal family - sharing experiences with each other, good and bad news, new projects and plans and supporting each other as we go through life. As Masons, these events are opportunities to sincerely promote mutual well-being and mutually rejoice in the prosperity of our brothers.
I hope to see all of you at our events. Please contact me if you can help at any of our events this month (310) 291-6399 (text preferred).
By the Plumb,
Pedro Sanchez
Junior Warden
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Join us for March Stated Meeting Dinner, Mar. 7 | |
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An egg-sellent opportunity to help our community
Brethren, Family, and Friends, we've got eggs-citing opportunities for Natoma #64 to demonstrate our community support at the annual Folsom Festival of Eggs. There are two separate opportunities where we could use your help to promote Freemasonry. Choose to do one or both!
- If you have about an hour or so on Wednesday, March 27, show up at the Folsom Community Center to fill plastic eggs with candy and toys for Saturday's Festival of Eggs. This event is from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM. Pizza is usually served. Natoma 64 attire recommended.
- On Saturday, at the Festival of Eggs, help staff our fun children's activity, pass out candy, meet attendees and answer any questions they may have about Freemasonry. Saturday, March 30, 8:00 AM - Noon. Natoma 64 attire recommended.
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From the Northeast Corner
Welcome to March. Then month of Spring and Daylight Savings Time.
Did you know that our ancient craft lodges held their meetings in the daytime.
First, because was usually more convenient and secondly, candles were too expensive. It would not be until the merchant economy had grown that lodges could meet at taverns and other buildings. Also of note, buildings were usually started on the North East Corner because once the north wall was completed it offered more light for the rest of the construction.
March is named for Mars the Roman god of war. In anctient times, the roads before the Spring thaw did not support wagons, horses, or soldiers.
Just to let you know as you march toward your 3rd degree, I am available for coaching every Thursday at 5:00 PM
Fraternally Yours,
Joe Freidson P.M.
Head Candidates Coach
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From Natoma Rainbow Assembly #90
Hello Brothers of Natoma #64,
If you have a sweet tooth or are in need of chocolates and goodies to fill in Easter baskets this month., we want to let you know about a fundraiser that we are running with See's Candies through March 15.
The money from this fundraiser is going towards the grand service project. Every year, the Grand Worthy Advisor picks a nonprofit organization to sponsor and raise funds for their year in office. This year, our grand service project is an organization called Banding Together. This nonprofit's mission is to provide music therapy to individuals with special needs in the San Diego area. They achieve this goal by providing music scholarships, free, one hour jam session music therapy events, and soundcheck jams. California Rainbow is working to sponsor two, six-week jam sessions, and three individual jam session nights with the funds we raise this year.
Please consider purchasing some delicious See's Candies to help us raise money for this very worthy organization. But HURRY! The deadline is March 15. P.S. Besides the delicious See's candy, the best part is you don't have to wait in line with holiday shoppers, your purchase is delivered right to your front door! How great is that?
Visit our Fundraising storefront to order your See's candy today!
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Congratulations, Brethren! | |
The Natoma Lodge calendar is also available to view on the home page of the Natoma Lodge website. On the lodge calendar you have the ability to save events to your personal calendar so you won't miss a beat! Another convenient feature is that you can also scroll ahead to view future months to see what's planned throughout the year. Check it out! | |
REMINDER: CA Grand Lodge Masonic education | |
2024 International Conference on Freemasonry:
"Rites in America"
Saturday, March 30
at the University of California, Berkeley
Admission: $30; optional lunch $20
The 12th International Conference on Freemasonry is returning to the campus of the University of California in Berkeley on March 30, 2024, with a focus on “Rites in America.”
This exciting and informative yearly event brings scholars and academics from a wide range of disciplines together to present new research on topics of interest to Masons. This year’s theme, “Rites in America,” examines the almost countless forms and iterations of Masonry that have sprung up on this side of the Pacific, often in the particular context of immigrant communities or other, larger social movements.
Says event organizer Susan Sommers, a professor of history at St. Vincent College, “Freemasonry is one of the oldest and most successful fraternal, initiatory societies in the Western world. Despite its reputation for secrecy, it is well known and well documented.” As different Masonic and quasi-Masonic groups formed in the Americas, they often built on Masonry’s ritual framework while adding their own features. “Why reinvent wheels when you can simply change the hubcaps?” she says. “Over the centuries, especially since around 1750, Freemasons have added, edited, and invented orders, rites, and rituals with something close to wild abandon, all the while claiming that the landmarks are immutable, and have been since Adam.”
Visit the CA Grand Lodge website to learn more about the event, topics, speakers, and register to attend.
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RSVP for a day of fishing in the Bay | |
Ahoy, Brother fishermen and wanna-be fishermen, REGISTER to attend the San Francisco Bay fishing trip on Saturday, May 11. We must fill all the seats on this chartered excursion and are now accepting reservations from Bothers from other lodges to attend. If you're still thinking about going, don't wait to reserve your seat for a great day of fun, fishing, and fellowship on the water - and lots of fish to take home! Don't let this trip be "the one that got away"! | |
2024 Natoma Lodge No. 64 Officers | |
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