Thunderbird Lodge No. 15 Free and Accepted Masons

Temple Talk

552 North 40^th Street

Phoenix, AZ 85008

Volume 12, Issue 6 December 2005

Greetings from the East:

As we ponder the promising future and reflect on the successful past, my thoughts are with you, and in this holiday season I extend to you and your loved ones my sincere wishes for the best of everything, health, happiness, prosperity and more success in the year 2006. By glancing and reviewing our team efforts in taking various measures and undertakings in the year 2005, I see lots of successes and accomplishments in all respect, which are praised by the Brethren with His blessing for more success in the future.

The new elections will be held in the first week of November 2005, and for this occasion I express my wishes and prayers to all the Brothers, especially the newly elected Master, for the best of everything and successful achievements in their devoted services.

May the Grand Architect of the Universe bestow upon us all the blessings and grant us more power and wisdom to honorably continue guarding the noble and dignified values of “Masonry”, and may the light of the divine teachings enlighten our spirits cherishing hope and great aspiration for peace and serenity.

With all my respect, Fraternally,

Reza Farrokh PM, Worshipful Master

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From the West:

It is my honor and pleasure to accept the position of Worshipful Master for Thunderbird Lodge No. 15 Free and Accepted Masons of Arizona for 2006. I look forward to working hard for this Lodge and doing my best to not just sustain this Lodge, but to improve it. In the beginning of the Third degree, it says that Grand Master Hiram Abiff entered into King Solomon’s Temple every day at high twelve to view the work to see if any improvement could be made. I have always remembered this since I studied that degree, and use it in my daily life, whether it be for my home, my business, my hobbies or myself. There is room for improvement in everything, and we should always strive to do everything to the best of our abilities. Sometimes or quire often we just have to stop and look at the work in order to see what improvements can be made or have to be made. Anytime one accepts a role of leadership such as being a manger of officer, he has accepted that burden of responsibility for doing the best he is able.

At the January Stated Meeting I will present my plan and calendar for what I would like the Lodge to be doing in 2006. After the elections at the December Stated Meeting, I will present the full slate of officers for 2006.

At the November Stated Meeting we were honored to have an official visitation from the Junior Grand Deacon, Worshipful James Rowan, and the Senior Grand Steward, Worshipful Donald Wilson, Free and Accepted Masons of Arizona. Worshipful James Rowan talked about changes in Masonic education coming up this next year. The Lodge Leadership conference, which is open to all officers and potential officer’s is at the Sun City Lodge on January 28, 2006. This conference covers very much the same things as the old Warden’s Academy did, but is primarily to help officers move up to the next position and eventually be Master of their Lodge. Many Brothers who had gone through the Warden’s Academy said that they wished they had had that training earlier in their Masonic career, so now they will. The Leadership Academy replaces the old Warden’s Academy and will be held on March 31 to April 2, 2006. This is open to any Lodge officers, but no more than three per Lodge. This training will involve the history, lore and symbolism of Masonry, to enable officers to converse more intelligently about Masonry with the public and potential candidates. The emphasis is to do away with all the mystique about Masonry and talk more openly about Masonry. We are a society that has certain secrets, but not a secret society. We need to be out there tooting our horn, telling people about our public works such as schools programs and the like, and be inviting people to join in our public functions, tell young men what we are about and how Masonry can be a positive influence on their life. I agree wholeheartedly with this thinking. By not getting out and talking to people frankly about Masonry, we are missing a big opportunity now, with the recent positive exposure of Masonry at the Cinema and on television.

The bikes for our Bikes for Books Program have been delivered to Valley View Elementary School. Watch for news about the winners in future Trestle Boards. Hats off to W. Stan Wood and Derek Longstaff for purchasing the bikes and delivering them to the school. Also, we will be delivering Poinsettias for Christmas to our widows sometime in mid December, depending on when the poinsettias come in. Call me if you are interested in helping delivering them, because this will happen before any notice can be given in the next Trestle Board.

Jim Drake, Senior Warden

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Get Well Soon, Brother Richard

Worshipful Brother Richard Hudson, Past Master of Thunderbird #15, recently had triple bypass heart surgery. He is home and doing well now, but he also has to have kidney dialysis for several hours a day, three days a week. He will not be able to be in Lodge for some time while he is on the mend. We will miss him greatly. Lately, he has been the candidate coach, helping new Brothers learn their proficiencies as they go through the degrees. He coached me in my proficiency after my one day class. He was also elected to be the Junior Warden for next year before we learned about his condition, and will not be able to serve in that position. Our prayers go out to Brother Richard for a thorough and speedy recovery. We look forward to seeing him again as soon as the doc says he is okay, and he is up to going out again. And if he cannot come to the Lodge soon, maybe we can take the Lodge to him. Maybe we can bring him some food from the Red Fez. Jim Drake, SW

Special Election Scheduled for January 2006 Stated Meeting

The election of officers for 2006 were held at the November Stated Meeting. However, with Worshipful Brother Hudson not being able to accept the office of Junior Warden due to health reasons, further elections will have to be held to elect a Junior Warden. At the December Stated Meeting, we will entertain a motion to request approval from the Grand Master for a dispensation to conduct a special election, which if passed and subsequently approved by the Grand Master, will result in a special election being held at the January 2006 Stated Meeting for the Junior Warden, and potentially another Trustee depending on who is elected as Junior Warden. This is your notice.

Election of Officers for 2006 Results:

Worshipful Master: Jim Drake Treasurer: Bob Bell

Senior Warden: Chuck Bent Secretary: Jeff Grayson

Junior Warden: Not accepted Trustee 2006-2009 Bill Beatty

Calendar:

December 2005:

Thursday 1-Dec-05 7:30pm Stated Meeting,

Vote for dispensation request for special election of JW, NOTICE of vote

Thursday 8-Dec-05 7:00pm Trustee’s Meeting

Saturday 10-Dec-05 10:00am Installation of Officers

January 2006:

Thursday 5-Jan-06 7:30pm Stated Meeting,

Special Election for JW if dispensation is approved, NOTICE of election

Masonic Birthdays for December:

Ali Farrokh, 12/28/2002, 3 years Warren N Walker, 12/21/1972, 33 years

Daniel E Shank, 12/15/1988, 17 years Donald J Wilcox, 12/13/2001, 4 years

Francis N Tucker, 12/10/1987, 18 years

Temple Talk is Published by Thunderbird No. 15, F.&A.M.

Submit information for the next publication by the 15^th of each month to:

William D. Beatty, Editor

13409 South 40^th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85044-4503

or by E-Mail to: beattyw@msn.com

Direct questions or comments to me at 480-759-0253