Reminder-2005 dues are now due. If you have not already
remitted, please do so.
FIFTY YEARS ON!!!!
Recently, John Loutzenhiser, the Representative of Grand
Lodge District 19, and Alan Greene, Chaplain of our own Minnesota River
Valley Lodge #6, had the honor of presenting Eugene Dodge with his 50 year
pin. Gene is a Past Master of the (former) King Solomon Lodge which became
our Minnesota River Valley Lodge #6. Granted, it was a year or two late, but
it was nonetheless an important moment in Gene’s life. We were welcomed with
coffee and cake at his apartment in Anoka, and he had invited a friend to
share in the ceremony with him-Brother Bob Blair is Gene’s guest from the
Henry Barnes Lodge in Dayton, Kentucky, he now also resides in Anoka. Not
only is he also a member of the 50 year club, he is a member of the 60 year
club, and is about to become a 70 year member. We are honored to be his
brother.
EVENING AT THE CHANHASSEN:
On February 26, the Lodge had 26 couples and 18 widows
who traveled to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre to see an outstanding
show-"Anything Goes." It truly was one of the best, for many people said
they had tears in their eyes from laughing. This year, the seating
arrangement had our group spread out a little, but I think we have solved
the problem: The Lodge has booked ahead for the next five years with the
Lodge group seated in the middle of the area. To get this seating, we have
picked the first Saturday in March. The show next year will be "West Side
Story" which I am sure will be another outstanding show. This year we had 70
people attend. The lodge ordered 80 tickets for next year’s show, so we need
to have a few more people attend.
See You All Next Year!
Chairperson
Brother David Scheffert
On Being Rich, Famous and Unstoppable: Character
Building from the Inside Out
Mr. Bill Nelson will present a talk for us, time and date
will be discussed at the next Communication-Please come! Below is a synopsis
of what we can expect from Mr. Nelson. Although not a Mason, we should
investigate him becoming one.
Wealth and fame can be achieved using more than
traditional measures. The focus of the speech is on meeting these goals
while fulfilling a life purpose. How do we want to be remembered after we
pass? By the amount of money in the bank, or our legacy-how we have touched
other people? Being unstoppable is an outcome derived from working in
harmony with the laws of Nature, tapping the Providential abundance provided
by Nature-Natural Law. This comports with every religious belief or
non-religious philosophy The thrust is "Practical Wisdom" with a formula for
success virtually guaranteed. The content is serious but with a blend of
humor in which the audience will be entertained. The speaker will introduce
practical growth-promoting habits which will result in success outcomes.
Speaker Bill Nelson has worked in criminal justice for
the past 41 years. He holds degrees from the University of Minnesota and the
University of Michigan and works for the Volunteers of America-a national
spiritually based social service organization. He has been a speaker in
local, national and international venues and has appeared twice on national
network TV. As a talk show host, he has produced 77 local half-hour programs
for cable TV. In 2004 he received the DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster), the
highest award given by Toastmasters International. He received an award from
the archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis for excellence in teaching religious
education to middle school students. In September he was honored in Atlanta
and given a national award for innovation in criminal justice. He was also
honored by Flint Hill Resources (Koch Refinery) for service on the Community
Advisory Council. He has pioneered many innovative approaches to social
problems, including establishing the first privately-held jail in the U.S.,
the first recovery program in the world aimed at prostitution solutions, and
continues this work in Oklahoma, Illinois and Denver to develop strategic
plans with whole communities aimed at prostitution abatement. He is
currently working on a community solutions blueprint to address the
multitude of community/neighborhood problems facing the Twin Cities today.
Mr. Nelson draws on his life and professional experiences
as a railroad section hand, a boxer, former Marine, probation officer in
rural Minnesota, and from the riots in inner city Detroit in the late 1960s,
where he served as a probation officer.
He draws upon his spiritual side through experiences as a
farmer in Dakota County for the past 30 years.
He represents a very diverse, unusual history and
lifestyle.
Attn: All Brothers of MN River Valley Lodge #6
We are in the process of amending the by-laws of the
lodge. The changes have been approved by the Grand Lodge, and the procedure
now is to communicate them to all members of the lodge and to announce that
these changes will be voted on at the January 2005 communication, which will
be held on January 4, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. in the Lodge Hall, 110 ½ 1st
Ave, Shakopee, Minnesota. Your presence is encouraged.
The significant changes we are proposing are as follows:
Our monthly communication will be held on the first Tuesday of each
month. The current by-laws provide for 2 monthly communications.
The office of Lodge Education Officer is added.
The lodge shall prepare, and approve, an annual budget which shall be
the authority for the payment of expenses and an annual reporting shall
compare the actual expenses with the budgeted expenses. The current
by-laws provide that all expenses be voted on in open lodge.
Elections shall be held on the stated communication in December. The
current by-laws provide that the elections be held on the last
communication in May.
The Board of Trustees shall be the current Master and Wardens of the
lodge. The current by-laws provide that the Board of Trustees shall
consist of 5 members, each serving a 5-year period, one member being
elected each year to replace the member whose term has expired.
Any brother of this lodge who has attained 50 years of cumulative paid
membership to this lodge (or any other Masonic lodge) shall be exempt from
paying further annual dues to this lodge. The current by-laws do not
contain this provision.
The lodge shall have 2 Standing Committees, as follows: (The current
by-laws do not provide for these committees.)
- A Steering Committee, whose duties are to establish goals for the
lodge consistent with the lodge’s mission statement.
- A Financial Committee whose duties are to manage the investments,
and to assist the Treasurer in preparing the annual budget and financial
statements.
The W.M. may appoint additional committees he deems necessary to
assist him in carrying out his duties.
The order of business at every stated communication of this lodge
shall be at the discretion of the W.M. The current by-laws contain
out-dated provisions for the order of business.
My name is Beth Erickson. I work with Brother Mike
Sullivan, and I have been recruited to help with the newsletter. If you have
any items you would like to see in the newsletter, Brother Mike will be sure
I get them. I look forward to working with you.
Beth Erickson-niece of a Mason from Texas, granddaughter
of a Mason-he was also an Elk, a Moose and an Eagle-he always hedged his
bets.
