From the East
Brethren,
Wow! How the time has flown this year. I want to thank everyone who helped in October, handing out the candy for Halloween.
I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! And reflect on things I’m so grateful for:
I am grateful to live in a country where we are truly free to express our opinions without the fear of government reciprocities.
I am grateful we are free to pursue our dreams and strive for a better life without strife and restraint.
I am grateful for our freedoms to express our belief in God, and share those ideas of belief freely.
I am grateful to have had a life which has given me the means to give back and help others.
I am grateful we are free to assemble as Masons and make a difference in the lives of our brothers, their families and our community.
But mostly, I am grateful for all the blessing that have been bestowed upon me through life, My family, My health and My friends.
In November, we celebrate Veteran’s Day. The freedoms we enjoy are due to the sacrifices made willingly by those that have taken up arms to defend those freedoms. Which, are at times are overlooked and even tested from time to time.
The expression “All gave some, some gave all” is truly a profound statement. To think about the men and women who volunteered to leave their families, take up arms, and run headstrong into harm’s way, is a heroic event by any measure.
Thank you to all who served and those who currently serve our country and make it possible for us to be free and enjoy a beautiful life!
As a reminder, We will be nominating officers for the 2023 Masonic Year at the November stated meeting. Please come and cast your ballot.
Dave Murray - Worshipful Master
Senior Warden Chase Murray
From The West
Welcome to the month of November my Brothers and friends.
This month we will be celebrating multiple holidays, including Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. As we progress through the month, be sure to keep all Veterans around the world in your prayers as even though their service to both our country and countries abroad are done, for many their war is not yet over.
In 1921, an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans.
Similar ceremonies occurred earlier in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day.”
Armistice Day officially received its name in America in 1926 through a Congressional resolution. It became a national holiday 12 years later by similar Congressional action. If the idealistic hope had been realized that World War I was “the War to end all wars,” November 11 might still be called Armistice Day. But only a few years after the holiday was proclaimed, war broke out in Europe. Sixteen and one-half million Americans took part. Four hundred seven thousand of them died in service, more than 292,000 in battle.
The first celebration using the term Veterans Day occurred in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947. Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, organized "National Veterans Day," which included a parade and other festivities, to honor all veterans. The event was held on November 11, then designated Armistice Day. Later, U.S. Representative Edward Rees of Kansas proposed a bill that would change Armistice Day to Veterans Day. In 1954, Congress passed the bill that President Eisenhower signed proclaiming November 11 as Veterans Day. Raymond Weeks received the Presidential Citizens Medal from President Reagan in November 1982. Weeks' local parade and ceremonies are now an annual event celebrated nationwide.
Chase Murray - Senior Warden
Worshipful Bill Graham (PM)
Secretary’s Corner
We are voting for the 2023 cadre of Officers this month. Come to the November Stated Meeting and have your vote counted! The Dues Notices for 2023 are being sent out. Check your mail. Payment is due by December 31, 2022. You can pay by sending a check in the enclosed envelope, log in to the website and pay by credit card or you can bring a check or cash to me at the Lodge.
Remember, if you send a payment and are in arrears, that payment will go to the past due amount. You will still need to come back to good standing for the current year to receive your Dues Card. Please contact the Master or myself to discuss this if you have any questions.
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 - Secretary
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.
Calendar of Events
Lodge Officer Directory
Master - Dave Murray (Catheren)
Senior Warden - Chase Murray
Junior Warden - Vacant
Treasurer - Ken Bychak II, PM (Laura)
Secretary - Bill Graham, PM (Teri)
Chaplain - Don Ruch, PM (Vicki)
Marshal - Bruce Smith, PM (Beverly)
Senior Deacon - Vacant
Junior Deacon - Rex McCray
Senior Steward - Bob Weldon, PM (Brenda)
Junior Steward - Cole Dick
Tiler - Mark Lantz
619-302-1223
619-607-2935
707-328-9617
951-970-4294
619-787-3858
760-788-9475
760-788-4957
760-789-5254
760-533-3733
858-231-4646
Santa Maria Masonic Building
Association (SMMBA) Directory
President - Peter Krickhuhn, PM
Vice President/Treasurer - Chase Murray
Secretary - Dave Murray
Member - Ken Bychak II, PM
Member - Bob Weldon, PM
Member - Don Ruch, PM
Member - Bruce Smith, PM
760-612-1978
619-607-2935
619-302-1223
707-328-9617
760-789-5254
619-787-3858
760-788-9475