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October Message from the Master
Brethren and friends, We have a busy October at Alki and you are all invited. First our stated meeting will be on October 5., the first Monday as usual, pot luck supper at 6:15 with labor at 7:30. It will be the official visit of our new District Deputy VWB Dick Syson. Please join us in welcoming him officially to Alki and District 6. The Saturday following, October 10, will be our fall Pancake Breakfast. It begins at 8am and runs till 11am. $5 for adults and $4 for the kids under 12. Come one come all. The end of October will be even busier, with Wednesday night lodges on Oct. 28th, when our Brethren from the southend brave the elements to join us in fellowship. Oct. 30 will be All Alki Night, with the Brothers and Sisters of all the Masonic groups that meet at Alki enjoying an evening together. The highlight will be a film that WB Don Carlock says is one of the most beautiful and inspriational films he has ever seen, featuring the beauty of God's glory throughout the world. Join us. On Oct 31st we switch gears for the annual Halloween party sponsered by District 5. This year we will have entertainment upstairs for the adults while the kid's are downstairs, properly chaperoned of course, dancing their legs off. Hope to see you all for one or more of this months activities at ALKI!
WB Rick Dusatko, WM
Alki Lodge #152
From The East:
Monitor Entry
Greetings Brethren, Alki's 103rd Installation was a resounding success, despite the fact that the pesky Grand Lodge decided to celebrate 150 years of Freemasonry in Washington, on the same day and at the same time as our installation! However, good friends, good food and good music equaled a great time for all. I have never been in a room with more people that I love and respect. I was humbled by the show of Brotherly Love and Affection given me by the assembled Brethren. I was inspired by their show of support. Special Thanks to the Installing team for a job well done, and in particular thanks to WB Jeff Tosh, who at the last minute helped to fill key roles for me. Special thanks also to my lovely bride Jane, without whom, well you know. Last but not least my undying thanks to WB Isagani "Sonny" DeJesus, coach, mentor and friend.
I have high hopes for this year. We are blessed with an energetic, motivated and dedicated team, and I am looking forward to building on the foundation that the pillars of this lodge have bequeathed to the brethren.
I urge you to visit our website at Alki152.org, and check our calendar periodically. Come visit us often.
Stated meetings are on the 1st Monday of the month, and we always feed. Tell your friends. Hope to see you soon!
Fraternally, Rick Dusatko, WM
District Deputy’s Message – Alki Lodge May 5, 2008
My brothers, the strength of Masonry is the strength of individual lodges. The lodges support the brothers and the brothers support each other and the lodge. It is to his lodge that a brother feels kinship first. It is his lodge that raises him, teaches him, and eventually it is his lodge that mourns him.
One of the primary function of a Lodge is to train and educate its members on the basic truths which its rituals and its ceremonies are designed to inculcate; to develop its members as benevolent men; to cultivate social virtues and to propagate the knowledge of the art. And if many of us find ourselves unconcerned with proper Masonic education and development, our membership will decline significantly, unqualified members will assume roles of leadership and will make an attempt to govern the lodge only to have the lodge in an even worse condition than when they had inherited it. It’s been this way in many lodges in this jurisdiction. Some lodges consolidate and many lodges cannot even open and close the lodge without the help of the visiting brethren. I know that the brethren of this lodge wouldn’t want this to happen.
Brethren, the basis of a good Masonic foundation is sharing knowledge and proper training. I know that the Worshipful Master has already been doing this especially for the officers of this lodge. You cannot substitute top quality training and so I strongly suggest to the future officers of this lodge to examine and investigate your options.
Let me share with you some ways in order to attain our objectives:
1. Act as if you are part of the team, not always the head of it. Dig in and do actual work. The brethren will appreciate that you are personally knowledgeable about the efforts needed to get the work done. They will trust your leadership because you have undergone their experience.
2. If we make a rule or design a process, we need to follow it, until we decide to change it. Why would anyone follow the rules if we ourselves don’t?
3. Help the brethren achieve the goals that are important to them, as well as the goals that are important to you. Make sure there is something for each of us that will result from the effort.
4. Do what you say you’re going to do. Don’t make rash promises that you cannot keep. The brethren want to trust you and your leadership. And more importantly …
5. Model the behavior you want to see from others. There is nothing more powerful for the brethren than observing their leaders do the actions they are requesting from others.
My brothers, it is true that Freemasonry is a volunteer organization. Depending on our commitments and priorities, we may or we may not attend lodge meetings and other activities. But it is also true that the moment you become an officer of the lodge you are not a volunteer anymore, but rather, you become an involved member because the position you assume carries with it responsibility – responsibility that requires time and efforts to do something special for the betterment of the lodge.
The brethren who are aware of their responsibility are likely to see things very differently. They are more active and independent. They usually make choices that lead to the growth and fulfillment of their lodges. They are faithful and tireless. Their outlook in life is full of hope. In other words, these brothers are alive and truly responsible.
My brothers, all of us have qualities that are easy to accept within ourselves and all of us have qualities we had rather be without. As long as we deny an aspect of our own personality, it can never come under control. And so the more aware we are of our own qualities, the better equipped we will be to make use of them. It will give us more options to open up in every area of our lives. It is, therefore, my earnest hope that the future officers of this lodge should be truly aware of the responsibility awaiting them and should accentuate more with the positives.
Thank you!
VWB Alden D. Sarmiento
DDGM in District 6
Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of F &AM of WA.
