Greetings from the East

It is hard to believe that the year 2000 is almost over.  What an exciting year it has been for the lodge.  It is a great feeling to see how well we have combined from four Lodges into one Lodge.  Last night I experienced a wonderful event, the Table Lodge, and I had such a good time, especially after the 3^rd toast.  An event like this are where we can enjoy fellowship with one other is a great experience.  I would strongly encourage people to try their best to attend the events that the membership committee is sponsoring.  It is a great way to meet fellow Lodge Brothers. 

One of the next events that the Lodge will be putting on is the 2^nd degree work for our newest member Brother Paul Tuttle.  The degree work will take place on November 10, 2000 at 7:30 pm at the Lodge Hall in Shakopee.  Please join us that night as Paul discovers “More Light in Masonry”. 

Another event that I personally need to promote is the Parent Masonic Dinner on November 19, which the Jobs Daughters hold in honor of their Masonic ties with us.  I would strongly encourage everyone that is available to attend this event and fill the lodge hall.  We really need to show our support to these kids and let them know that we believe in what they are doing.  I have heard that they are planning on 100 people attending. Let’s exceed that number, by showing our support and attending.

See you at the next lodge meeting on November 7, 2000 for our visitation.

Fraternally Yours, 

Steven Scheffert

Sunshine Report

Remember W.B. Ed Effertz in your prayers as he goes through his surgery and his recovery.
Please let the lodge know about brothers that are sick and or confined.

Don Case

JOBS Daughters – Parent Meeting

Brothers,
Most of us have had the opportunity to be at an event with our JOBS present. They have assisted with many functions and are always willing to give a helping hand wherever needed. I have just recently been made aware of the deep love, respect,
and gratitude for their Masonic heritage that is felt by the young ladies of the Job Daughters. With that statement let me encourage all masons of this lodge that can, to come to the parent/Masonic dinner at the lodge on NOV. 19th @1:30P.M. and show by
our presents our deep love, respect, and
gratitude to these girls that represent our lodge.

Gordy Bane - P.M.

RANDOM THOUGHTS FROM YOUR LEO

Dick Friend
Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight; Just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.

Should you find yourself stuck in traffic; don't despair.  There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.

Should you have a bad day at work; think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months.

Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.

Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; think of the woman in some third world country, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for $15.00 to feed her family.

Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.

Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.

Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering; what is life all about, what is my purpose? Be thankful, there are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.

Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or
insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be them!!!

Anonymous

Halloween Party/OES meeting

A spooktacular time was had by all at the Halloween Party/OES meeting on October 19. Many members came in costume and were prepared for an evening of interesting events. Worthy Matron Robbin was kidnapped by the Bethel #85 Job's Daughter's in an attempt to get 10 people to come to their November Masonic Family Honoring and Dinner on November 19. Thankfully the meeting still got started on time.

This was a Flip-Flop meeting were the officers had to draw for the station that they would hold for the evening; what an interesting site to see Brothers holding Star point stations and a Sister in the East as Worthy Patron.

A petition for membership was read and assigned to an investigating committee. Sister Pat Vaughn reported for our Ways and Means committee and suggested that we have a bottle auction at our November meeting; it was voted on and passed. Sister Jane Ward asked for our support in her petition for the North at the next Grand Chapter Session; it was voted on and passed. According to Sister Jane the best way we can all support her is to be at the next Grand Chapter in May 2001 and vote. We all wish Sister Jane the best of luck.

Sister Betty Hopps was with us to receive her 50 year membership pin. Sister Corla Niesen researched quite a bit of information and memories were shared with everyone. Sister Betty and Brother Ed rearranged their usual fall travel plans to be with us that night and we all truly thank them for allowing us to show our appreciation that evening.

Our next meeting will be November 16, we will be Honoring Mason's and Veterans. Please remember to bring canned and boxed foods for the local food shelf to meet our challenge of collecting 192 pounds of food. Also, please remember to bring a decorative bottle with something hidden inside for the bottle auction (I've heard the Mason's like chocolate).

Hope to see you all there!

Respectfully,

Robbin Kottwitz, WM

 1st Open Table Lodge a Huge Success.

Worshipful Master Steve Scheffert presided over the first open MRVL #6 Table Lodge. Forty of the brothers, their spouses and friends were in attendance for a great evening of fellowship and camaraderie. One of the highlights of the event was attendance of the Grand Worshipful Master of Minnesota, Bob Soderberg and his wife Bobbie. 

Another event that will go down as making this fantastic activity very memorable was presentation of a 50-year certificate and pin to Brother Kermit Bishop. Grand Master Soderberg and District Representative John Loutzenhiser presented the award. Kermit has been a truly outstanding Masonic brother. In his acceptance speech he highlighted his diverse Masonic career. He was quick to point out the important role his wife, Marge, had played in 47 of those 50 years. Again, congratulations to Kermit, and thank you for being part of our lodge and this table lodge.

Mike Pierce did an excellent job of working through the many details of catering and serving a 7 course dinner. The meal and the service was impeccable, with the JOBS and their leadership supplying service to columns of the north, south and east.

Thanks to the Senior Warden Don Reick, Junior Warden Steve Sorensen, Chaplain Gordie Bane, and Keith Reick, filling in as Tyler. Each of these brothers did a great job in their role in the Table Lodge ceremony. Thank you also to Dick McKenny for his presentation on Eastern Star.

District Rep News

John Loutzenhiser

Lodges are back in full swing and there are a lot of activities going on.  Over the summer I was able to participate in tow cornerstone ceremonies.  The first was for the new Veterans Memorial in Rochester and the second was for an addition to the hospital in Cook.  If you are ever in Rochester, check out the memorial. It is in Soldiers Field Park on the south edge of the downtown area.

            I also attended a fund raiser table lodge for Minneapolis #19 which was held at the Fort Snelling Officer’s Club.  This was a very nice formal event.

            Not to be undone, our own lodge has had two great events, in addition to the regular meetings.  If you missed the Hiram Award dinner and the Table Lodge, you missed two fun outings.  MRV#6 is the only lodge I know that does a full 7-course meal for the table lodge.  Participating in social events and visiting other lodges is a great way to broaden your Masonic knowledge and to get to know some of the best people in the world.

We’re Going out for Dinner- Nov. 7 Mtg.

 The Regular Nov. 7th meeting will be a visitation and dinner.

Nov is lodge Visitation Month (at least at MRVL #6). The lodge which has been selected for this event is the Bloomington Lodge, which meets at the Richfield Masonic Center. If you are familiar with this Lodge Hall you know it sit right behind Wally McCarthy’s Oldsmobile and will suffer the same fate as Wally. This will be a great time to visit  before it’s gone. We are  guaranteed to come away with some new friends and ideas for MRVL #6. Bloomington is a very active lodge and it should result in a great evening of fellowship and camaraderie. Their lodge has a dinner before the meeting and we have been invited to attend. We can be there any time after 5:30. I am estimating a 30 minute travel time, so for some of you this could be too early.  If you plan on attending the dinner – contact Marc Peterson at 507-364-5539 or

Petemont@frontiernet.net by noon on Nov. 5^th so I can let them know.

Social Hour starts @ 5:30, Dinner @ 6:30 and the meeting @ 7:30.

HERE IS THE PLAN

PLAN #1 - The first wave will depart the Lodge hall in Shakapee at 5:30. We should get there for part of the social, dinner and the meeting.

PLAN #2 - If you can’t make the meal, meet at the lodge at 6:15 and the second wave will hit the road and make in time for the communication.

PLAN #3 – Just show up at the Bloomington Lodge Hall on your own. The address is

            7615 Logan Ave S.

            Richfield MN

PS. The Membership Committee has a budget for this event, so any charge for the meal will be paid for by the Lodge. If you have a van or a larger car, please bring it so we can car pool.

From the Financial Committee                

Charles Richter- Chair

For the next several months I shall submit articles from financial magazines which are received.  This is from Kiplinger Personal Finance Issue of November 2000.

5 Cheap Variable Annuities

Because variable annuities are destined to be held for many years, it’s vital to minimize ongoing fees, which eat into your returns.  The five           VA’s  described below offer low insurance fees and levy no front-end commission on back-end surrender charge.         

Janus Retirement Advantage- (annual insurance and expense fee, 0.65%; minimum, $2500; 800-504-4440; www.janus.com) Fans of Janus’s aggressive approach to growth-stock investing will appreciate funds run by such luminaries as James Goff, Scott Schoelzel and Helen Young Hayes.  All told, this VA contains 15 accounts, with management fees for the 11 stock accounts at 1.08% too 1.90 %.

T. Rowe Price No-Load Variable Annuity (0.55 %; $5000 minimum if you establish an automatic –purchase program; 800-638-5660;   www.troweprice.com) This no-frills product contains only seven price-managed funds.  Fund management fees range from 0.55% to 1.05% a year.

TD Waterhouse Variable Annuity (o.45%; %4000; 800-622-3699; www.tdwaterhouse.com)  The discount broker’s VA ofers 27 accounts from such managers as Alliance, Invesco, and Strong.  Some sectors and overseas funds have high expenses, but management fees for most funds are  below 1%.

TIAA-CREF Personal Annuity Select (0.3%; $250; 800-842-2776, ext 8010; www.tiaa-cref.org).  For sheer cost, it’s hard to beat this offering from the educators’ retirement system.  Annual expenses on its five fund choices (all of them stock funds) range from 0.07% to 0.29% a year.

Vanguard Variable Annuity Plan (0.37%; $5000; 800-522-5555; www.vanguard.com)

Vanguard offers 13 stock and bond accounts, including 4 index funds. No fund exacts more than 0.49% a year in management fees.

A SURVIVAL KIT FOR YOUR EVERYDAY USE!

1. Toothpick - To remind you to pick out the good qualities in others. Matt 7:1
2. Rubber band - To remind you to be flexible, things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out. Romans 8:28
3. Band-aid - To remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else's. Col 3: 12-14
4. Pencil - To remind you to list your blessings every day. Eph 1:3
5. Eraser - To remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and t's okay! Gen 50: 15-21
6. Chewing gum - To remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything with Jesus! Phil 4: 13
7. Mint - To remind you that you are worth a mint to your Heavenly Father. John 3:16-17
8. Candy Kiss - To remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday. 1 John 4:7
9. Tea Bag - To remind you to relax daily and go over that list of God's blessings. 1 Thess 5:18

Dick Friend, LEO