Thunderbird Lodge No. 15
Free and Accepted Masons
Volume 13, Issue 1 www.thunderbird15.org January 2006
From the
East:
My full name is James Edward Drake, Jr.,
and it is my honor and privilege to serve as Worshipful Master of Thunderbird
Lodge #15, Free and Accepted Masons of Arizona for the next year. My family has
a long history in Masonry, much of which I did not learn about until I became a
Mason myself. I graduated with a B.S. in Botany from ASU in 1983, and I am a
grower for a landscape nursery in south
2006 will be a challenging year. We
are starting the year out with empty chairs to fill, but I think they will be filled
in due time, hopefully with new Brothers. In the past year we lost some
important people who were in our officer’s line, but I am optimistic we can
overcome our losses and make this a year of growth for our lodge.
In the coming year, I would like to
see us have two family activities that the brethren of this lodge, their
families, brothers from other lodges and guests who
may become Masons can come to for entertainment and fellowship. Something where
we can get together and enjoy ourselves, get to know each other and maybe even
rekindle old friendships. I think we’ve gotten into a rut of doing nothing but
ritual and lodge business-both of which are important (no one but worshipful
Bob Bell likes good ritual as much as I do)- we
haven’t been doing any of the fun things Masonry gives us an opportunity to do.
I would like to increase the amount
of charitable work we do with our schools. Maybe we can finally send some
teachers to the Children at Risk program.
Make stated meetings interesting by
having some kind of activity outside the normal business agenda like Masonic
education or history and other pertinent presentations or discussions.
Visit other lodges and let the
brethren know who we are and be more social amongst our Masonic brethren. I
think I will start this with a visit to
Introduce Masonry to potential
candidates. I think there are programs we can use to introduce the public to
Masonry, which our lodge has not employed, that can be used to help fill our
ranks.
These are some of my ideas to help
improve our lodge. Any other brother is welcome to come forward with his ideas
at any time, but if you do, be prepared to act on it. There is not a lot of
distinction in proposing an idea, but there is a lot of distinction in acting
on it.
At the Trustee’s meeting on December
8, we looked at lodge finances, and our finances are good. A presentation on
lodge finances and the 2006 budget will be made at the January stated meeting.
All building funds are intact and have been earning interest since their
inception, and none of the interest income from these accounts has been used by
the lodge yet. The next Trustees meeting is scheduled
for
Last, and not least, I want to recognize my officers.
I think you are all dedicated to the lodge, which is shown by your service.
Some of the officers in our line have been serving in their positions for many
years, while others got in at the bottom without knowing how fast that elevator
ride up is. And I would like to thank my installing officers-Bill Robertson,
PM, Installing Master, Jim Pomish, PM, Installing
Marshall, and Bill Beatty, PM, Installing Chaplain, all of whom did an
excellent job of making the installation a wonderful ceremony.
Christmas
Poinsettias
On Saturday, December 17, I helped
deliver poinsettias to some of the widows of our lodge, and it is one of the
most enjoyable things I’ve ever done. Clint Molodow,
SS, David Beacco, visitor from Wasatch
Lodge in
First Degree Scheduled in January
Hear ye, hear ye! On
Jim Drake, Worshipful Master
Missing
Historical Files: The historical files for both
Calendar:
January 2006:
Thursday 5-Jan-
the Special Election for JW is approved, this
is your last NOTICE of election.
Tuesday 10-Jan-
Thursday 12-Jan-
Thursday 19-Jan-
Thursday 26-Jan-
February 2006:
Thursday 2-Feb-
Thursday 9-Feb-
Thursday 16-Jan-
Thursday 23-Jan-
March 2006:
Thursday 2-Mar-
Thursday 9-Mar-
Thursday 16-Mar-
Thursday 23-Mar-
Thursday 30-Mar-
Friday 31Mar-2Apr06 AMLA, Casa Grande, at Pinal #30
Masonic Birthdays for January:
Ralph C Blanton,
Kent D Fults,
Robert D Hill Sr,
Robert E Lawrence,
Nicky E Lowery,
Shah Maroufkhani,
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. * Election 5Jan06 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 Vacant $
Also Treasurer of Trustees
S.D. Aaron Chamney # Also Secretary of Trustees
J.D. Gustovo Rodriquez
S.S. Clint Molodow
J.S. Vacant
Contact List
Master: Jim Drake: 480-756-1105 Home, jandvdrake@aol.com
Secretary: Jeff Grayson PM: 602-931-3158
El Zaribah Shrine
Auditorium: 602-231-0300
Website: www.thunderbird15.org