I have no great words of wisdom this month, just a short update from the East. The 31^st annual Masons-KC Chicken Dinner in New Prague came off without a hitch. I don’t know how many Brothers were there, but it was a bunch, along with some Shriners from the Ho-Ho club.

Besides a great social event, it has become a very good fund-raiser with the Masons share of the proceeds going to the Shriners Children’s Hospital. It looks like this year will be the best ever.

To make this even more special, there were 12 wives of Brothers who have passed on that attended as our guests. Brothers Dick Friend, Mike Kottwitz, Don Conn, Ned Pilling, and Dave Scheffert did a great job of contacting them and making sure they all got there. It was a great evening, so a big thanks goes out to the Brothers that donated some great auction items and helped make it a successful event.

This month there will be a new event for our Lodge. "Everybody’s Birthday Party" will be held on September 13^th. This is the brainchild of Brother Allan Greene. According to him in order to attend you have to have had, or are going to have a birthday in 2003. Something new, something different. Come and see how it works out. More details will be forth coming. This is the type of event that the steering committee is organizing to broaden the scope of activities and hopefully appeal to the broadest array of Brothers.

August was a good month for the Minnesota River Valley Lodge and its Brothers; September will be even better.

Home: Carver

Wife: Bonnie

Children: Andy (28), Shaun (26)

Occupation: Retired Railroad Agent-Telegrapher

Hobbies & Interests: Collecting old railroad equipment and artifacts. Making things out of wood in my wood working shop.

Other organizational involvement:

Meals on Wheels volunteer

Minnesota Safety Council volunteer

President of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway

Veteran Survivors

President of the Union Pacific Employee Club

(2002-2003)

Member of the Gopher State Railway Museum

Masonic Career:

Raised - January 31, 1969

32 Degree Scottish Rite – December 17, 1970

1972 Worshipful Master Carver Lodge #111

Knight Commander of Honour – October 17, 1977

Royal Order of Scotland Degree – October 5, 1996

33 Degree – November 13, 1999

Chairman Scottish Rite Properties Committee

-Member since 1971

Trustee for MRVL #6

The updated Mission Statement was presented and given the approval by the Steering Committee, to present at the next Lodge meeting for final approval.

The Master asked if the newsletter could be sent out to the Brothers before the next lodge meeting. Articles are due to Brother Dave Scheffert by Wednesday.

The different committees where asked to turn in their budgets for the coming year, 2003-2004, to the Finance Committee. Those present at the meeting turned them in. Final budget information will be given at the next lodge meeting.

Brother George Miller gave an outstanding report on the Kids ID program. He noted that at the Scott County Fair they had 719 kids come and have their picture taken. This week the program is being done at the Minnesota State Fair.

Brother Miller informed us that the demand for the Kids ID program is reaching out to many new areas. It will soon be done at all county fairs in the state. Brother Miller was asked by the Minnesota Grand Lodge to be in charge of this Masonic Program. Brother Miller has stepped up to the plate and has this program on the move.

If you would like more information on the Kids ID program, make sure you attend the regular meeting in September. Brother Miller will be giving a demonstration. Come and see what this program is all about!

This year’s Kolacky Day Food Stand was one of the best. With the great team of Jim Heyda and Dallas Horejsi as co-chairs, the food stand will be showing a profit of around $3800. The lodge Brothers really gave a lot of sweat and time to make everything work. Thanks to all Brothers!

The Mason-KC Chicken Dinner that was held on August 21, 2003 was an evening of excitement and fun for all. Our Master, Brother Marc Peterson, was the MC for the evening. A representatvie from the Shriners Children’s Hospital gave an outstanding short program about the hospital’s past and future.

KC member Larry Parson, who has the skills of getting people to bid, again handled the auction of articles. This year the widows of both organizations were honored with a flower and the meal. It was good to see so many come out for the evening. Thanks to the Brothers that brought them.

If you are interested in the white Masonic shirt you saw other Brothers wearing, please contact Brother Charles Richter.

September 13, 2003 – A Birthday Party for all Brothers. The event will held at the Lodge beginning at Noon. Lunch will be at 1:00 p.m. Each family is asked to bring a dish to pass along. Brothers should also bring a $5.00 gag gift. Come join in on the fun!

October 2003 – Friendship Night

This will be for prospective members and wives, Lodge Brothers and wives, or others. More info will follow.

November 2003 – Table Lodge & Christmas Party

No date has been set. Watch for further info.

December 2003 – Christmas Baskets for widows and shut-ins. Brother Allen will head this event.

-submitted by Brother Charles Richter

Exerpts from an email to him from Ed Halpaus

O.K. here is the interesting story I have about Brother Lyndon Baines Johnson, (LBJ). A few years ago the tapes made in the Oval Office of LBJ were declassified and released. As a consequence they were broadcast on many TV news programs here in the U.S.

One of the programs I have tuned into over the years is called Nightline. After the tapes were reviewed, Ted Koppel had some (about 3) guests listen and comment on the selected tapes for the show. One was a taped made just afte LBJ had been sworn in and he was on the phone with Brother J. Edgar Hoover (head of the FBI at the time). LBJ asked him if he had his assurance that steps and procedures were in place to protect the President. LBJ stresses in the conversation that it was imperative that no harm comes to the President. Hoover answered, "Yes, Mr. President." LBJ commented something to the effect that that was good and then said, "We are Brothers you know." To which Hoover answered, "I know, Mr. President."

At that the tape was stopped and Ted Koppel commented that it appeared that President Johnson wanted to make cerain that the assassination of JFK wasn’t followed up with one on the current President. Mr. Koppel then asked if the guests knew what was meant by the phrase, "We are Brothers, you know." The guests responded that they didn’t know what he meant by that but thought that it might have something to do with both (LBJ & Hoover) being in government service.

Well, you and I know what he meant by that phrase, don’t we?

*Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?

*Do you know that when the military honor guard folds the flag, the 13 folds they make do not symbolize the original 13 colonies? Here is what each fold stands for.

1^st A symbol of life.

2^nd A symbol of our belief in eternal life.

3^rd Made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.

4^th Represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for his divine guidance.

5^th A tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."

6^th Where our hearts lie. It is with our hearts that "We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

7^th A tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

8^th A tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we may see the light of day.

9^th A tribute to womanhood, and mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this county great has been molded.

10^th A tribute to the father, for he too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.

11^th Represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.

12^th Represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

13^th When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nations motto, "In God We Trust."

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Capt. John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges and freedoms we enjoy today.

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, MN 56069

(Metro) 507-364-5177

Or

davidscheffert@hotmail.com

August Newsletter Articles are due to Brother Dave Scheffert by Friday, September 26, 2003.