From the East
“When April steps aside for May,
Like diamonds all the rain drops glisten;
Fresh violets open every day:
To some new bird each hour we listen.”
Here we are “May”! It is incredible how time speeds up as we get older. I cannot believe we are already five months into this 2023 year. And, what a year it’s been so far. First I would like to welcome our newest Entered Apprentices of Santa Maria Lodge. All three of these gentleman, and their families, are a wonderful addition. Please come out and welcome them at our next stated meeting.
Gabriel Zabrosky, Klaus Zabrosky & Socrates Fernandez
Congratulations are also in order for our newest Master Masons. Both received wonderful degrees and have really shown their commitment to Masonry. Santa Maria has truly gained two gems. Again Congratulations gentlemen.
Elijah Descoteaux & Wade Hendry
With all the activities we enjoy throughout the year, we sometimes take for granted how those efforts are planned and organized. With that said, I want to say “Thank You” to a couple of hard working folks this month.
First to my wife Catheren. Friday dinners out have had great attendance this year. I really enjoy the time out and sharing a meal with our members and their families. I want to thank Catheren for her efforts in coordinating these events. Week after week the past couple of years she’s made the reservations, and ensures all that are interested are informed of the outings. Thank you Catheren.
Next to our Secretary – Worshipful Bill Graham – If you have never seen the duties and responsibilities of the Lodge Secretary, the list is long and the effort is arduous. I can tell you there is no one more critical in keeping our lodge on track, and the Master in order, than the him. Thank you Bill, for everything you do for Santa Maria, “and for Me.”
Dave Murray, PM - Master
From the West
Welcome to the month of May my Brothers and friends.
This month we will observe Memorial Day. As we gather, let us remember that this time is meant for mourning and remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the line of duty.
Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades.
The Civil War, which ended in the spring of 1865, claimed more lives than any conflict in U.S. history and required the establishment of the country’s first national cemeteries.
By the late 1860s, Americans in various towns and cities had begun holding springtime tributes to these countless fallen soldiers, decorating their graves with flowers and reciting prayers.
Each year on Memorial Day, a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 P.M. local time. It is unclear where exactly this tradition originated; numerous different communities may have independently initiated the memorial gatherings. Some records show that one of the earliest Memorial Day commemorations was organized by a group of formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina less than a month after the Confederacy surrendered in 1865.
Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War II, The Vietnam War, The Korean War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Some wear a red poppy in remembrance of those fallen in war—a tradition that began with a World War I poem.
Chase Murray - Senior Warden
From the South
Ladies, Brethren and friends, I am pleased to share with you the menu for the May stated meeting dinner. As always we will have this meal catered by Ranch Catering. They always do an outstanding job...
Tequila Lime Chicken
Beef Enchiladas Rojas
Citrus Cilantro Rice
Jorge's Peruvian Beans
Caesar Salad
Tres Leches Cake.
Come hungry because this will be a meal to enjoy.
I had an epiphany at a Bible class the other day that I would like to share with you. I hope that you find it as profound as I have:
God is eternal and lives outside of space and time. Since God is eternal he can view any moment of history as well as the future instantly. God has given us an eternal soul which dwells inside us, however... We can discuss past events but are clueless about the future. After we pass on and join God we will be able to experience eternity with God.
Don Ruch, PM - Junior Warden
Secretary’s Corner
May is here and Happy Mother’s Day to all of our Mothers and the Mothers of our children! We also celebrate Memorial Day on the 29th honoring all of those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We will have Public Schools Night on May 9th honoring students in the 6th Grade. Come support these young people that are the future of our country! We continue to meet at 0800 on the 2nd and 4th Saturday’s of the month at the Lodge for coffee and then breakfast. Our candidates and prospects 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 28 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
