From the East
Greetings Brethren and Ladies,
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. I want to thank the lodge brothers for voting for and installing me as Master of the Lodge for the 2021 year. It was a virtual installation, and I would like to thank my Installing Team, Worshipful Jim Rudeen, Worshipful Bill Graham, and Worshipful Don Ruch.
Here is the Line of Officers for 2021:
Master – Worshipful Ken Bychak II
Senior Warden - Dave Murray
Junior Warden, Elect – Chase Murray
Treasurer - Worshipful Bob Weldon
Secretary - Worshipful Bill Graham
Chaplin - Worshipful Don Ruch
Senior Deacon - Pete Johnson
Junior Deacon - Ken Bychak Sr.
Marshal - Michael Reher
Senior Steward - Rex McCray
Tiler - Worshipful Bruce Smith
I want to thank you all for being in my line and for your service to the Lodge.
As many other lodges are, we are going forward with a paperless Trestleboard this year. We are sending out 3 more paper Trestleboards to everyone’s address with an insert explaining this. If you desire to still receive a hardcopy of the Trestleboard, you must fill out the insert and send it back to us. We will then have you on record and will continue to send you a paper Trestleboard. If you want it by email and are not receiving it, please contact the Secretary or myself and we can add your email. As always, I am available for any questions or concerns.
Per Grand Lodge instructions, we are still meeting virtually and I will be sending out our next meeting invite soon.
Take care and stay safe,
Ken Bychak - Worshipful Master
Senior Warden Dave Murray
From The West
Brothers, I think this has directly relative to the 2020 year. With any luck, we will be together “in-lodge” soon.
“Never Forget Your Brother in Masonry”
By: Unknown Author
A young man, recently initiated a Mason, was sitting on the porch on a humid day, and sipping iced tea with his father.
As they talked about life, marriage, responsibilities, and obligations, the father thoughtfully stirred the ice cubes in his glass and cast a clear sober look on his son: “Never forget your Brothers in Masonry,” He advised, “they will become more important as you get older and continue your travels.” The father continued by saying: “Remember to meet with them occasionally, go to Lodge Meetings whenever possible, keep in contact with them somehow.”
“What strange advice!” thought the young man? “I just entered the fraternity, of course I will participate in all, where and when I can.” Yet, he obeyed his father; kept in touch with his Brothers and annually increased their number. Over the years, he became aware that his father knew what he was talking about. In as much as time and nature carry out their designs and mysteries on a person, Brothers are bulwarks of our Masonic lives.
After 60 years of life, here is what he has learned. Time passes; life goes on. And distance may separate, and we may change our courses several times. Jobs come and go as they often do. Illusions, desires, and interests may change along with that. People do not always do what they should do; some relationships fail.
But true Brothers in Masonry are true friends and are always there, no matter how long it has been since last contact or how many miles away they are. A Brother Mason is never more distant than the reach of need, intervening in your favor, waiting for you with open arms or in some other way blessing your life.
When we started this adventure called our “Masonic Journey”, we did not know about the incredible joys or sorrows that were ahead. We did not know how much we would need from each other. Love your parents, take care of your children, but keep a group of good Brothers in Masons close at hand. You might mention this to your Brothers (even those you seldom see) who help make sense of your Masonic life and journey.
Fraternally,
Your Senior Warden.
Dave Murray
Junior Warden (Elect) Chase Murray
From the South
This past year has surely been an odd one full or many trials and tribulations that have tested each and every one of us in some way or another, but we have made it to 2021. A new year full of new hopes and dreams to be strived for.
As we move forward into this frontier of new challenges, remember to keep your heads high and with one foot in front of the other. Experience everything this year has to offer as if it were new, let not the weights of last years hardships weigh you down, use the lessons you have learned to overcome any new challenges that arise along your path.
Welcome to 2021 brothers, lets make it a good one.
Fraternally,
Chase Murray
Junior Warden
Worshipful Bill Graham (PM)
Secretaries Corner
Happy New Year!!
Congratulations to Worshipful Kenneth Bychak II and the 2021 Line of Officers! This years Installation was different and a first for us, but we got through it and are moving in to the new year. I look forward to another great year working with you and helping to make the Lodge go and grow.
Dues Invoices are out and I have started to receive payments. Thank you! Remember, you have an obligation to pay your dues in a timely manner, by December 31st. By the time you read this, if you have not made payement, they are overdue. The dues for 2021 are $116.00. Per our By-Laws, the calculation is $60.00 + per capita rounded up to the nearest dollar. Per capita is $55.25 this year, which gives us our total of $116.00.
As you pay your dues and receive your dues cards, you will notice that they are different than in years past. You will now receive a mostly full sheet of paper and will need to cut your dues card from the sheet. I have cut the bottom off the page so that I can imprint the card with the Lodge Seal. You will also notice that there is no line to sign the card or for me to sign it. I have made suggestions to the Grand Lodge that in the future we make changes to make the cards more closely resemble the dues cards we are used to. We will see what happens.
This is also your time to catch up on last year dues if you have not paid. If you are 2 or more years in arrears, you may be suspended for non-payment of dues as per the California Masonic Code, Section 809.370. Suspension for Non Payment of Dues. Neither the Master, I, nor any other Brother in Lodge wishes this to happen!
iMember 2.0 is in full swing. Please go check it out at member.freemason.org. There are many things you can do there such as changing your address, your personal information, locate lodges, find resources and documents. Maintaining your contact information ensures that you will receive all notices that the Lodge sends out in a timely manner. Please go check it out!
If you are financially unable to pay your dues, please contact the Master to discuss.
If you have lost your envelope, you can mail your dues to:
Santa Maria Lodge No. 580,
PO Box 68, Ramona, CA 92065
You can also go to our website, http://www.santamaria580.org, and pay online. If you have paid and have not received your card in a reasonable amount of time, please contact me at 951-970-4294 or secretary@santamaria580.org and I will take care of it.
S/F
Bill Graham, PM
Reminder!! Have you moved? Changed your phone number? Changed your e-mail address? Have you notified the Lodge if you have done any of these things?? In an ongoing effort to ensure that all member get due and timely notice of all Lodge information, it is important that you keep your information updated with us.
I would greatly appreciate it if all of you would log in to member.freemason.org, go to the My Profile section and ensure that all of your address/phone number/e-mail is up to date. This will automatically update the i-member section that I use as the Secretary to for your mailings and other contacts.
Donations to the California Masonic Foundation when you shop Amazon!
Brothers and Families, we all shop often online and from Amazon. Use your Amazon account to make donations to the California Masonic foundation every time you shop.
What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. You can choose from over one million organizations to support.
How do I shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile simply go to smile.amazon.com from the web browser on your computer or mobile device. You may also want to add a bookmark to smile.amazon.com to make it even easier to return and start your shopping at AmazonSmile.
Can I use my existing Amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, wedding or baby registry, and other account settings are also the same.
Fraternally,
Michael Reher, Marshall
Calendar of Events
Lodge Officer Directory
Master - Ken Bychak (Laura)
Senior Warden - Dave Murray (Catheren)
Junior Warden - Chase Murray
Treasurer - Bob Weldon, PM (Brenda)
Secretary - Bill Graham, PM (Teri)
Chaplain - Don Ruch, PM
Senior Deacon - Peter Johnson
Junior Deacon - Kenneth Bychak
Marshall - Michael Reher
Senior Steward - Rex McCray
Tiler - Bruce Smith (PM) (Beverly)
707-328-9617
619-302-1223
619-607-2935
760-789-5254
951-970-4294
619-787-3858
858-943-1079
805-268-6270
760-566-6953
760-788-4957
760-788-9475
Santa Maria Masonic Building
Association (SMMBA) Directory
President - Peter Krickhuhn, PM
Vice President - Chase Murray
CFO - Pete Johnson
Secretary - Michael Rehar
760-612-1978
619-607-2935
858-843-1079
760-566-6953
