From the East
Brethren,
I hope your year is shaping up to be a good one. Although it feels like the strongest winter we’ve had in years, the rain is more than needed and welcome. Keep in mind, as this weather subsides, and the heat returns, there will be an abundance of weeds and overgrowth to fuel the fires this year. I recommend jumping on that “undesirable” task of clearing early before the Santa Anna winds kick in. Anyone needing assistance in clearing potential fuel for fires, please reach out.
Next I must address a topic that no Lodge Master wants to, but must deal with every year. Dues! As you read the Secretaries section below, dues are slowly trickling in for 2023. However, keep in Mind, these were due on 31 December 2022. Which means any dues not paid by 1 January of the current masonic year are actually delinquent. We currently have more than 40 members who have not paid their dues this year. This means almost half of the total membership of Santa Maria Lodge are currently delinquent for the 2023 Masonic Year. Please know, this has an impact on “your” lodge. Please submit your payments ASAP.
On to the positive. We will be raising two brothers to the sublime degree of Master Mason this year. Currently scheduled for April, your officers are working diligently to provide a great degree for these brothers. In addition, we potentially have something special in the works, you won’t want to miss. Please keep an eye out for the April trestle board for more information and come support your brothers as they continue their journey in Masonry.
As always, we hope to see you March 13th for stated dinner and meeting. As our tradition continues, we will be having Corned Beef and Cabbage with all the fixins’. In addition, there just might be a little entertainment to go with our dinner.
Fun Fact: Why is it called “Corned Beef”?
The term “corned” beef derives from the size of the salt crystals that were used to cure the meat. At the time, Ireland had a lower salt tax than Britain and could import high quality salt. Irish corned beef was considered the best on the market.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Dave Murray, PM - Master
From the West
Welcome to the month of March my Brothers and friends.
This month we celebrate the global holiday of St. Patrick’s day, but why? St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast–on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.
Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people.
In the centuries following Patrick’s death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most well-known legend of St. Patrick is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.
As always brothers and friends, be safe and aware if you travel to celebrate this holiday. Drivers may not be on their A-game when making their way home, even if you are.
Chase Murray - Senior Warden
From the South
Isn't it amazing that this Masonic year is finishing the first quarter at the end of this month? For this stated meeting dinner, Ranch Catering is providing a fabulous St. Patrics dinner . The menu consists of: Corned beef and cabbage, dijon chicken, roasted red potatoes, baby carrots, lime jello and pineapple salad, Marbled rye bread and butter. I don't know about you, but I love a good St. Patrics dinner.
I found a passage in Luke 6:37- 38 that really made me think, I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. "Judge not, and you will not be judged. Condemn not and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.
God bless you all.
Don Ruch, PM - Junior Warden
Secretary’s Corner
March is here already! This Masonic Year is moving right along! We have 1 1st Degree upcoming and will be voting on another at the March Stated Meeting. We also have a couple of 3rd Degrees upcoming that the Officer line is working hard to prepare for the Degree’s. I hope many of you can attend the ceremonies and help to celebrate with the new Brothers! We are meeting at 0800 on the 2nd and 4th Saturday’s of the month at the Lodge for coffee and then breakfast. Our candidates are often there to meet the Brothers. Come join us and get to know these fine men that are looking to join our Fraternity.
I continue to very slowly receive Dues payments. However, there are still 41 Brothers that are in arrears. Remember, you have an obligation to pay your dues. If you have not made your payment, you are overdue. The dues for 2023 are $121.00. Per our By-Laws, the calculation is $60.00 + per capita rounded up to the nearest dollar. Per capita is $60.25 this year, which gives us our total of $121.00.
If you are in arrears for your dues, you need to pay all that is owed to be brought back in to good standing. As an example, if you pay for 2023 only, and owe for 2022, I cannot send you your 2023 dues card. You are still in arrears and will need to bring your dues up to date first. Please contact the Master or myself to discuss this if you have any questions.
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!
Please go to member.freemason.org and check out your personal information. Ensure that your email, mailing address, phone number etc are correct. This is how the Lodge and the Grand Lodge contact you. It is important that this information be up to date. If you have trouble doing this, please contact me and I will assist you. Maintaining your contact information ensures that you will receive all notices that the Lodge and the Grand 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 - Don Ruch, PM (Vicki)
Treasurer - Bob Weldon, PM (Brenda)
Secretary - Bill Graham, PM (Teri)
Chaplain - Peter Johnson
Marshal - Bruce Smith, PM (Beverly)
Senior Deacon - Ken Bychak II, PM (Laura)
Junior Deacon - Rex McCray
Senior Steward - Peter Krickhuhn, PM
Junior Steward - Mark Lantz
Tiler - Jack Story, PM (Jeanne)
619-302-1223
619-787-385
858-943-1079
760-789-5254
951-970-4294
8619-607-2935
760-788-9475
707-328-9617
760-788-4957
760-612-1978
858-231-4646
N/A
Santa Maria Masonic Building
Association (SMMBA) Directory
President - Peter Krickhuhn, PM
Vice President - Chase Murray
Treasurer/Secretary - Dave Murray
Member - Ken Bychak II, PM
Member - Bob Weldon, PM
Member - Don Ruch, PM
Member - Bruce Smith, PM
Member - Pete Johnson
760-612-1978
619-607-2935
619-302-1223
707-328-9617
760-789-5254
619-787-3858
760-788-9475
858-843-1079
