Hello Good Brothers,

We are pleased to have produced a newsletter every month for quite sometime now.

I want to especially remind our brothers who may no longer attend meetings that the newsletter can be a powerful tool. All the brothers would enjoy hearing what Masonry was like. Please consider telling us some stories of yesterday. Also, if you have a request you like your brothers to consider let us know. If you would like to have your name considered to help with a calling committee we could use your help.

Next month STEERING COMMITTEE SUBJECTS:

Should we start a section in our newsletter for our LEO entitled "Letters from Our Readers" where comments and questions are addressed?

Should we open our newsletter to advertising? Would you consider advertising in Minn. River Valley # 6's newsletter?

Do remember to share your thoughts, suggestions, Masonic puzzles or whatever with our webmaster Steve Scheffert or email them to me.

May God keep, protect and give us wisdom.

Mike Sullivan

Worshipful Master

612-849-9912

mpsullivan@berkleyrisk.com

Masonic Identity is:

Community based on shared Masonic values A positive environment for personal growth Education; idea sharing and open discussion Growing leadership ability Establishing Masonic values to contemporary life Concern for the well-being of other Masons and their families.

Kids-ID Booth   

Minnesota River Valley Lodge # 6 has once again committed to work the Kids-ID booth at the State Fair.   We have again committed to two (2) shifts this year, on Friday August 25, 2006.   We need 8 volunteers for each shift.  The first Shift is from 9AM to 1PM and the second is from 1PM to 5PM.  Please contact Lew Price if you are interested in filling any of these slots by either phone (952-895-0820) or email (Lew.Price@Target.com)

HWY 212 Clean-Up

The road clean up went well, we had 5 "picker-uppers"  plus Jim E who delivered us all to the starting point up the hill.  It was a beautiful morning, and we were done by 11:00 am.

Those participating were: Bill Allen, Marc Peterson, Mark Hafen, Mike Sullivan, and myself, plus Jim Eshleman.

Submitted By:

Dick Friend

Golf Event

Minnesota River Valley Lodge is planning a best shot golf day at Cleary Lake Golf Course in Prior Lake.  This is open to brothers and ladies of all golf levels.  Whether you can out drive the pros or think you are just a beginner you are welcomed to join in the fun.  The date is Saturday July 22nd with a start time around noon.  We do plan to gather for a light meal following the golf round.  Donna Nelson, Bill Allen along with Carolyn and John Loutzenhiser are planning this activity.  Please let any of us know your interest in this event so we can plan for a successful and fun day.

Thank you,

John and Carolyn Loutzenhiser

Mason for 50 Years

Memorial weekend took on double significance for our Brother Ed Effertz. Both for his being a veteran of WWII and for his fifty years of proud membership in the Masonic brotherhood. We had the honor of presenting Ed with his 50 year pin, Alan Greene, our beloved Chaplain made the presentation of the certificate and Brother Daryl Bren pinned the 50-year pin on Ed.

Ed was raised on February 23^rd, 1955, in King Solomon Lodge #44. Ed noted that he had gone through all of the chairs and was Worshipful Master of King Solomon in 1966-1967.

We had a good representation from the Lodge to share in this celebration: Daryl Bren, Alan Greene, Dick Friend, and Jim Eshelman. In our conversation with Ed, we learned that he served in the Army Air Corp, and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

Ed shared with us some of his pictures from war. One particularly caught our attention – a picture of a much younger Ed standing in front of a bunker where a sign read “Hitler don’t live here any more”.

When we arrived at Ed’s home, we had remarked that the flag he had flying looked a bit tattered and faded. Brother Bren did not leave it at that. After our visit was over, Daryl went on to the American Legion where he exchanged their old flag with a new flag, then taking the old flag back to Ed and mounting it for him. A most fitting conclusion to a great day, both for a veteran and a Mason.

Respectfully submitted by

Alan Greene, Chaplain, MRVL#6

Historical Facts about the 1500s

Roofs consisted of thick straw piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained, it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.

Hence the saying, "It’s raining cats and dogs"

Submitted By:

Beth Erickson

Our Brother, George C. Quist, Jr., was called to join the ranks of our Lord’s workmen, on May 30, 2006 in Hermosillo, Mexico. He was Raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on October 18, 1950 and received his 50 year emblem and certificate from the Grand Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota in October, 2000. Our prayers go with him on his homecoming and we ask for our Lord’s comfort to his family. The sun shall be no more his light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto him: but the LORD shall be unto him an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

Fraternally, Alan Greene

Chaplain, Minnesota River Valley Lodge #6

Articles for the next newsletter will be due by July 14th.   You may send articles to me for the newsletter; by any method you desire (email, fax, regular mail, etc…).  Articles that are not received by the due date will be held over for the newsletter. 

Thank You,

Steve Scheffert (news@mn-rivervalley.org)

2224 Birch Circle

Blair, NE  68008

Fax: 402-533-8344

Kids ID will be at the Scott County Fair and at Kolacky Days in Montgomery and we need your assistance. This is a great chance to promote our entire Masonic Family. Help is always welcome from anyone who would like to lend a hand. Generally both venues are open from about noon to 6:00 PM, or so.

Mason's throughout Minnesota are praising a renewed interest in Masonry because of better public awareness of our fraternity. Some of it is obviously because of recent movies and books, but 30,000 families are exposed to one of the type of public services we offer in the KidsID program. That surely does not hurt our image that Masons Care about Families.

Please contact either George Miller or Lew Price if you can help.

On the Lighter Side of Things!

 For all Dog Lovers - - -

1. The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

2.  Don’t accept your dog’s admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.

3.  A dog is the only thing in the world that loves you more than he loves himself.

4.  We give dog’s time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare.  And, in return, dogs give us their all.  It’s the best deal man has ever made.

5.  If your dog is fat, you are not getting enough exercise.

6.  My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $ 3.00 a can.  That’s almost $21.00 in dog money.

7.  Women and cats will do as they please.  Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

8.  My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog thinks I am.

9.  If you think dogs can’t count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them. 

Submitted by:

Richard Friend

Another Master Mason, Another Brother

 June 17^th was a good day – we added another Brother to our ranks, Bro. Mark Hafen. He had already shown us that he was ready to learn by the excellent manner in “proving” his proficiency on the 1^st and 2^nd degree. Saturday morning was our 3^rd degree ritual for Mark’s raising, and led by WM John Curlott, was done as well as any I have witnessed.

Shown above, from left to right, are our WM Mike Sullivan, Bro. Mark Hafen, and WM John Curlott

Submitted By:

List of Upcoming Events:

June:

27^th - 6:30 P.M. Steering Committee Meeting - Light Supper Provided

30^th - 4:00 P.M. Emergency Day’s – LeCenter, MN

July:

4^th – Independence Day

6^th – 7:30 P.M. Stated Communications Meeting - It is being held at Richter's Woods in Montgomery and it is being planned as a Past Master’s night.

14^th – News Letter Articles are Due

19^th – 5:00 P.M. Masonic Family Picnic

25^th – 6:30 P.M. Steering Committee Meeting - Light Supper Provided

28^th – 30^th – Kolacky Days in Montgomery.

Visit the Lodge Website and view the Lodge calendar for our complete list of events.

In Case you could not find a Word here is

May’s Masonic Word Search Solution

S + + + + C T A S T I N G J E T + + + + + + + S L + E + + +

Y P L + + + I + + + + + + E V E + + + + + + M A + P + + + +

+ R E O + + + T + + + + + P I R + + + + + E I + H + + + + +

+ + T C G + + + E + + + + H T R + + + + L T + R + + + + + +

+ + + E U I + + + M + + + T A E + + + L S + A + + + + + + +

+ + + + M L C + + + H + + H R S + + I E + I + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + O A A + + + T + A E T + N L + M C O M P O S I T E

+ + + + + + E T S + + + I + P R G E + I G + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + G I T + + + R O I C + T + N + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + V R + + + A A + E + + I + + + + S + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + E O + + + L + + + + R + + + E + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + N + + + + + + + A + + E + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + O + + + + + + E + I + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + M + + + + + H N + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Y + + + + G + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + W + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + A + + + + + + G + + +

N A I H T N I R O C + + + + + + + + + T + + + + + N + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + M + E + + + + I + + + + +

C I R O T E H R G + + + + + + + + U + R + + + L + + + C + +

+ + + + + + + + + R + + + + E + + S + F + N E + + + I + C +

+ + + + + + + + + + A + + + B + + I + O + E A + + R + O + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + M + + O + + C + R F + + D O + R + + D

+ + + + + + + + + + + + M + L + + + + D + + + D R N + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + A G + + + + + + + + + + O + + + +

+ + + + I O N I C + + + + + R + + + + + + + + + + + J + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

D A E L I G + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

ARITHMETIC

ASTRONOMY

CELESTIAL

COMPOSITE

CORINTHIAN

CORN

DORIC

EPHRAIMITES

FEELING

GEOMETRY

GILEAD

GLOBE

GRAMMAR

HEARING

IONIC

JEPHTHA

JORDAN

LOGIC

MUSIC

OPERATIVE

RHETORIC

SEEING

SMELLING

SPECULATIVE

TASTING

TERRESTRIAL

WATERFORD

Look for a new puzzle next month.