Thunderbird Lodge No. 15
Free and Accepted Masons
Volume 13, Issue 8 www.thunderbird15.org August 2006
From the
East:
We
had a second reading of two petitions from candidates who expressly did not
want to become Masons in a one day class at the last meeting. Both petitions
were balloted on and passed. We are going to do something different for their
first degree ceremonies. We will have them on Saturday, July 29 at
Clint Molodow and the Schools
Committee made a motion and it was passed that we purchase a set of eight
bicycles each for
Michael Gattorna has begun to
work on learning the
It was good to see Bill Hill, who has not been to Lodge
for some time, at the last Stated Meeting. Welcome back, Brother Bill! We also
had a visitor from
We had an official visit from Brook Cunningham, the
Junior Grand Deacon, at the last meeting. Worshipful Brother Cunningham enjoyed
the fellowship at dinner at Bill Johnson’s the most. But we enjoyed his words
of wisdom in lodge the most. The Junior Grand Deacon stated that in order to
serve the craft, we must listen to what they say, and lately the Brethren have
crying out for more education. Particularly young Masons are looking for time
to present and discuss Masonic history, lore and symbolism. We are going to
address this as we can in our lodge. Next month I will give talk on Masonry and
the Founding Fathers, particularly the Constitution Convention, where Masonry
had a big influence. All volunteers who want to give any educational
presentations at future meetings will be gladly accepted.
Michael Gattorna has come to
the Lodge with a Christmas program he would like to work on. He has an article
on it in this Trestleboard. This will involve at will
giving on the part of the Brothers, and no funds will come from the Lodge. I
think it is a very worthwhile program, and something for us to be involved in
that is new and different, so please take a look at his article.
Fraternally, Jim Drake WM
A Stepping Stone Foundation
Christmas Angels!
Dear Brothers of Thunderbird Lodge 15. My name is Mike Gattorna, recently raised Master Mason of our Lodge. I am also a past president of “A Stepping Stone Foundation” and together with Brother Gustavo Rodriguez; we are still very involved with them. The ‘A Stepping Stone Foundation’ is a family literacy and preschool program for families and preschoolers of “limited opportunities”, also known as “at risk”.
Every year since we began funding
preschool classrooms in 1990, A Stepping Stone Foundation has provided
Christmas gifts for each of our preschool children and their siblings 12yrs old and younger. Over the last couple of
years, the number of children provided for is well over 300. Thanks to our many
angels throughout the greater
An Angel Tree will be placed in the lobby
or dining room at the Shrine on or about November 20th. Named Tags
representing a portion of our preschool children and their siblings will be
hanging from the tree. Each tag will have age, gender, clothing sizes and toy
wishes printed on them. It is my hope
that no one need spend more than $50 for a single child and that every child
will receive a toy, a book and at least one article of clothing.
Families in special need will be specially
marked as TLC. These are children
and families who would not have a Christmas without this program. There is no
limit on spending for them. A special family profile will be developed to best
be able to meet their specific needs. Teaming up with another Brother or
bringing your extended family together on a “Christmas Project” is a good match
for a TLC tag.
Another option, if shopping’s not your
bag, is to take a star off
the tree. This means you wish to donate dollars to the project which will be
used to buy gifts if some children’s tags are not chosen OR to allow us to give
families food coupons to local food stores to ease their holiday meal shopping. In years past we have been able to give all
our families $20 gift certificates to a local grocery store.
Wrapped gifts with the “Angel Tag” attached, will be due back to
the Lodge no later than December 8th!
A few days later we will have a volunteer
gathering at our Lodge where we will organize the gifts for each selected
family and bag them for delivery to the preschooler’s teacher. The teacher
distributes the gift bags to the families.
My hope, brothers, is to support at least 10 kids. For additional info on the organization,
please visit the website at “asteppingstone.org”. I am honored to represent the children and
families of A Stepping Stone Foundation, and our Lodge, in thanking you in
advance for your support and generosity.
Fraternally yours, Brother Mike Gattorna
Masonic Birthdays for July:
Dean L Ague,
Reza Farrokh,
Ernest J Gries,
Calendar:
August 2006:
Thursday 3-Aug-
Thursday 10-Aug-
Thursday 17-Aug-
Thursday 24-Aug-
Thursday 31-Aug-
September 2006:
Thursday 7-Sep-
Thursday 14-Sep-
Thursday 21-Sep-
Thursday 28-Sep-
October 2006:
Thursday 5-Oct-
Thursday 12-Oct-
Thursday 19-Oct-
Thursday 26-Oct-
Submit
information for the next publication by the 15th of each month to:
William
D. Beatty, Editor
or by E-Mail to:
beattyw@msn.com
Direct
questions or comments to me at 480-759-0253
Thunderbird
Lodge No. 15, F.&A.M.
W.M. * Jim Drake Trustee 2006 Richard Haynes Jr
PM
S.W. * Chuck Bent PM Trustee 2007 Stan
Wood PM
J.W. * Stan Wood PM Trustee 2008 Clint Molodow
Treasurer Bob Bell PM $ Trustee
2009 Bill Beatty PM #
Secretary Jeff Grayson PM
Chaplain Don Wilcox * Also Trustees Ex-Officio
Marshal Available $ Also Treasurer of Trustees
S.D. Aaron Chamney # Also Secretary of
Trustees
J.D. Gustovo Rodriquez
S.S. Clint Molodow
J.S. Available
Contact List
Master:
Jim Drake: 480-756-1105
Home, jandvdrake@aol.com
Secretary:
Jeff Grayson PM: 602-931-3158
El
Website: www.thunderbird15.org
Thunderbird #15 F&AM