2006 The Plumb Line

http://www.mn-rivervalley.org

Minnesota River Valley Lodge #6

"Issued with the Permission of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Minnesota"

September Plumbline From the Grand Master

SUPPORT THE TROOPS, CHEER THE GOPHERS, SHOWCASE MINNESOTA MASONRY!
Join me as we salute our military members and their families with our gift to the families of 1,000 tickets on September 16th at the (Brother) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome when the Minnesota Golden Gophers face Temple University on the gridiron. The game time is 1:00 p.m. but we will be gathering on the plaza before the kickoff. I hope to see you there.
It will not only be a great chance to enjoy Big Ten football but to introduce that neighbor or friend to our fraternity so be sure to invite a prospective member to come to the game with you.
Tickets are available via the internet at: http://ev12.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/evenue/ev68/se/DisplayPromoList.d2w/report?linkID=uminn&RSRC=&RDAT=&caller=PR and then enter our promotional Minnesota Masonic Code MASONS to receive the discounted ticket price of $10.00.
Or you can get your tickets by calling 612/624-8080 or 1-800-U-GOPHER.  Be sure to give the customer service rep the promo code “MASONS” so you get the special price and the coupon for your free Golden Gopher t-shirt!
A few tickets are remaining for the picnic that includes the game ticket, t-shirt, transportation to and from the game and great tailgate food!
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact the Grand Lodge office, 651-222-6051, 800-245-6050 or grandlodge@qwest.net.
 
PARTNERS FOR LIFE CAMPAIGN
Since the constituent lodges approved the campaign to provide $15 million for the enhanced presence and our continued fight against cancer, the Masonic Cancer Fund leaders have been laboring hard to achieve that goal. In order to do so, we need your assistance. The Master of each lodge will soon be getting a letter from me asking that he appoint an Ambassador to the Partners for Life Campaign.
When making plans for the coming year, would you please consider having an additional fundraiser for this worthwhile endeavor?  Perhaps the advance that our partnership with the University of Minnesota makes in fighting cancer may be the advance fighting cancer that you or a loved one will need one day.
 
SALUTE TO THE STATE FAIR VOLUNTEERS!
A tip of the Grand Master’s hat to all of you who man the Masonic presence at the Great Minnesota Get-together!  The KIDS ID program continues to be well received by the public and a great way to let them know that the Masonic fraternity does good in our community!  This annual effort takes the work of so many to be successful that I would not dare to endeavor to thank some without thanking all. It is a huge project very year and I say thanks to all who make this program work!

STATE FAIR ENDS LABOR DAY AND ITS BACK TO WORK/SCHOOL
Just as in our normal lives, when the Labor Day holiday is over, it is back to work for us and back to school for the kids.
Many lodges find this to be the case as well, they come off of a period of darkness at the lodge hall to resume their labors. May you find yourselves reinvigorated after the time off and ready to share the light.  Speaking of sharing the light, the next One-Day-to-Masonry is set for January 20th at the beautiful Minneapolis Scottish Rite Temple. It is not too early to get those petitions in to your lodge so they can be acted upon throughout the fall season.

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
For many years the Grand Lodge board has wrestled with the location, cost and appearance of our Grand Lodge office location. Declining membership has resulted in declining revenue while rental expense has understandably increased. To examine our current situation and give counsel to the board of directors, I have commissioned three Past Grand Masters to make an evaluation and give their recommendation. They are nearing completion of their report. I am confident that they will have done their work well, that it is fair, impartial, objective and in the best interest of our over 17,000 Minnesota Masons.
 
JOB DAUGHTERS ROCK!!!!
I had the pleasure of dropping (sorry, not dripping, I missed the “water wienie” opportunity) in at the Job’s Daughters camp at Lake Hubert last weekend.  Wow, are they a fun group. I salute the adult leaders who serve our Job’s Daughters.  When you run across a Jobie leader, give them a “high five” for their fine work.
 
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE OF MASONIC LEADERS
Last weekend I also attended the NW Conference of Masonic leaders at Aurora Lodge No. 100 in Brainerd and agreed with the 64 in attendance that the program presented was well worth the time spent. The next conference will be held at Star in the East Lodge No. 33 in Owatonna for the Southeast Area on September 23rd, be sure to avail yourself of this opportunity! Also on the schedule are the the Northeast Area Conference on October 21st and the combined Metroeast and Metrowest Areas scheduled for November 18th.
 
QUOTE TO PONDER:
“It is not the big that eat the small. It is the fast that eat the slow”