I would like to thank the Brothers whom, over the last month, "stepped up" to make our events in July very successful.

OES Picnic

Kids ID Program at the Scott Co. Fair

Kolacky Days in Montgomery

Couldn’t make it, other commitments, or maybe just not your cup of tea? Brothers – that’s no problem. Pick another activity or event and "step up to the plate." This is your fraternity and nobody will, or at least they shouldn’t, think less of another Brother just because they don’t attend a meeting or an activity.

Be assured that there are brothers that are working very hard to come up with an ever-increasing range of activities and programs that will interest the greatest number and widest spectrum of the members of our fraternity.

This month our regular meeting will focus on getting a handle on just how many Brothers and/or Brother’s widows are out there that the lodge has lost contact with. For this task we need the help and input from some of the senior members of the lodge. Our mission statement specifically lists our reason for being a Masonic Lodge is to live up to the ideals of Masonry and treating each other as we would a Brother.

How about some of these events for you?

August 11 – Meeting to discuss and critique this year’s Kids ID and the Food Stand at Kolacky Days. This is for everybody, whether you participated in one of the events or not. There will be food and refreshments at Richter’s Woods Park in Montgomery.

August 21 – Annual Mason / KC Chicken Dinner – It’s been going on for over 30 years between the Masons and the New Prague 4^th Degree Knights. We have a great chicken dinner and this year we are having all the deceased brothers widows as our guests for a night out. There is also an auction of items donated by each group, which usually gets pretty exciting and amusing. Bring your wife. You could even bring someone that you would like to show just what fun Masonry can be! It’s open to all. Proceeds are donated to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

Pick one of these or come up with a new idea. This is your fraternity. You can’t get a hit if you don’t step up to the plate.

Brother Pete

Mike Kottwitz, Senior Warden

Home: Bloomington, MN

Wife: Robbin

Children: Sarah (4), Leah (18 months)

Occupation: Machinist, Manufacturing management (26 years)

Hobbies & Interests: Mike’s chief enjoyment for 20+ years has been riding motorcycles. Of the several bikes he owns, his most prized are the British made "Norton" roadsters. Repairing and restoring have been a part of this hobby, as well as involvement in the local British bike club. Mike also enjoys hunting, shooting, camping with the family, fishing and tennis.

Other organizational involvement:

-Operating Official with a Minneapolis based motorcycle GP road racing organization since 1983

-Co-Captain of his Neighborhood Crime Watch

-Member and past Worthy Patron (with past Worthy Matron wife Robbin) of Shakopee OES #90

-Serves as Treasurer on the council of Grace Lutheran Church

Masonic Career:

*Raised 1994 at King Solomon Lodge #44

*Served as Worshipful Master of King Solomon – as such set in motion the merger of King Hiram and King Solomon into MRVL #6

*Current Senior Warden of MRVL #6

*Scottish Rite Mason, Minneapolis Valley

-Submitted by Brother Dick Friend

Why do we say something is out of whack. What is a whack?

Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposite?

Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?

"I am" is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language, yet "I do" is the longest.

If you ate pasta and antipasta, would you still be hungry?

Why is it that if someone tells you there are 279 billion stars in the universe you believe them, but if they tell you that a bench has wet paint you have to touch it to make sure?

If you mixed vodka with orange juice and milk of magnesia, would you get a Phillips Screwdriver?

If Superman is so smart, why does he wear his underpants over his tights?

Submitted by – Brother Charles Richter

-Borrowed from Masonic Matters

I don’t mean for this issue of Masonic Matters to be any kind of a downer, but I would like to mention Masonic Funerals, and the death of a Brother. One of the rights a Master Mason has is the right to a Masonic Memorial, or Masonic Funeral Service. The Funeral Ritual here in Minnesota says something to the effect that it is the custom of the ancient fraternity at the request of a Brother or his family to accompany the body to its final resting place and there deposit it with Masonic honors.

Well, if a Masonic Burial Service is your wish, please let your wife, adult children, and your Lodge know what your wishes are. Many times when a Brother dies his family doesn’t know that the Lodge will conduct a Masonic Memorial Service and sometimes, the Lodge is on of the last places to find out about a Brother’s death. Also many times after the funeral is done and the Lodge is notified, the Secretary, or Master will ask and the family will say, "If we had known we certainly would have wanted the service for Dad."

Well, it is a Memorial Service that is done most of the time, and it can be done at a later time at the Lodge if that is what everyone would want, but in my opinion, it is better if it is done at the time of need.

Submitted by Brother Larry Wigfield

Let’s look at proper etiquette for hanging or displaying the United States flag so we can give Old Glory the respect she deserves.

Standards for handling and displaying the American flag are set forth by the United States Code, written into law by Congress in 1942. This federal code does not impose penalties for improper handling or misuse of the flag, but states do have laws regarding this, and most of our fellow citizens expect the flag to be treated with respect.

The U.S. Code is more strict about some aspects of handling the flag than contemporary culture demands – it states, for example that the flag should not be "printed or otherwise impressed on paper napkins or boxes or anything that is designed for temporary use and discard." Our society has interpreted some of the rules rather loosely because we’re enthusiastic about displaying our national symbol. Nevertheless, some important rules of decorum should be followed.

Here are the basics:

Ideally, an American flag on your house should hang from a staff that angles out from the front wall, a windowsill, or balcony. It’s a good idea to screw a bracket made for holding a flagstaff to the trim. Fasten it securely so it won’t become soiled or damaged. Do not allow the flag to touch the ground, floor, water, or anything else beneath it. It’s also appropriate to hang the flag from a horizontal staff.

Whether the flag hangs from an angled or horizontal staff, be sure the union or canton (the rectangle with the stars) is at the peak. (Hanging the flag with the union down signals extreme distress.) When our President declares the flag to be flown at half-staff, it is acceptable to hang the flag from a horizontal staff with the union down, though your neighbors may not understand why you’re doing this.

When the flag is displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be at the top and to your left. When displayed in a window the flag should be hung so that the union is on the left when you see it from the street.

The American flag is meant to be a flag; don’t use it for any other prupose. For example, don’t use it as drapery, ceiling decoration, or as a bed spread. And never use it as a receptacle for carrying or holding anything. Though it is customary to fly the flag from sunrise to sunset, the U.S. Code says that "when a patriotic effect is desired," you can display it around the clock. If you do, you should illuminate it with light.

If you display the American flag next to other flags or pennants, place it on the right side of a single flag or at the center of a group and slightly higher than the other flags. If an American flag is on the same staff as other flags, it should always be at the top. The gist is that other flags should not be in positions of greater prominence or honor.

When displayed from a car, the flagstaff should be fixed or clamped firmly to the vehicle, ideally on the right side. The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back. The same holds true for a flag displayed on a float in a parade. Don’t carry the flag flat or horizontally. And, because it is not meant to be apparel, do not wear a U.S. flag. If you wear a lapel flag, pin it on the left side, near your heart.

Why bother with flag etiquette when you’re excited about flying the Stars and Stripes? I figure that, for more than two hundred years, our country’s military, firefighters, police, and other service personnel have practiced these measures faithfully, treating our flag with the highest esteem. This is one way we can meet the high standard they have set.

August 5 – Regular Lodge Meeting

7:30 p.m. Lodge Hall, Shakopee

August 21 – Annual Mason / KC Chicken Dinner

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Social Hour

7:00 p.m. – Dinner

New Prague KC Hall

Cost: $8.00/person

**Will be honoring Lodge Widows

www.mn-rivervalley.org

This is your newsletter, feel free to add to it!

Any Brother that wishes to contribute any article to the newsletter is encouraged to do so. Simply contact Dave Scheffert and they will see that your contribution gets published.

Brother Dave Scheffert

802 E. Circle Drive, Montgomery 56069

(Metro) 507-364-5177

davidscheffert@hotmail.com