The Trestleboard. Venice Masonic Lodge No. 301 F. & A. M. Chartered on the 18th day of April, 1951

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1 The Trestleboard Venice Masonic Lodge No. 301 F. & A. M. Chartered on the 18th day of April, 1951 AUGUST 2013 Volume 63 Issue 8 Stated Communications Held on the 1 st and 3 rd Mondays at 7:30 pm Family Dinner on 3 rd Monday at 6:00 pm Venice Masonic Lodge No. 301 F. & A. M. 118 E. Venice Ave., Venice FL W... Jeff Pick, Worshipful Master Tel: (941) master2013@Gmail.com

2 1 VENICE LODGE NO. 301 F.& A.M OFFICERS COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN W. Master: W Jeffrey Pick Sr. Warden: Br. Steve Murphy Jr. Warden: Br. Derek Lynn (703) Treasurer: W Dwight Ridgeway Secretary: R W Barry D. Hart Sr. Deacon: Br. Mark Baltimore Jr. Deacon: Br. Scott Steelman Marshal: W G. Rocky Kearney Chaplain: Br. John Lewis Sr. Steward: Br. John Greene Jr. Steward: Br. Gene Scheuring Tyler: Br. Walt Milne Organist: Br. Ron McLeod APPENDANT ORDERS Scottish Rite/ Master of Kadosh: ILL Barry D. Hart York Chapter Excellent High Priest: George D. Hernandez, Sr York Venice Council 41 ILL Master: Jeffrey T. Lawrence Commandery/ Eminent Commander: Dwight Ridgeway Recorder for Commandery: Gerald E. Goacher, PEC Recorder for Council & Chapter John F. Wermann, KYCH MEGHP Board of Relief W Jeffrey Pick By-Laws: R W John Wermann Co-Chefs: Br. John and Lady Marilee Greene Education: W Hampton Crimi Electronic Media: (Facebook) W Hampton Crimi Finance: Br. Steve Murphy Funerals: W Lou Ortt Greeters: Br. Steve Murphy Investigations: Br. Mark Baltimore Lodge Instruction & Catechism: W Lou Kelly Lodge Property: W Lou Kelly Mentors Chairman: R W Rodger Craig Petitions: W Hampton Crimi Publicity: Br. Blair Post Scholarships: Br. Blair Post Telephone Tree: Br. Steve Murphy Transportation Coordinator: W Lou Ortt Vigilance & Charity: Br. Derek Lynn (703) Assistant to the Chaplain: Br. John Greene DDGM: R W Norman Cyphers District Instructor: R H Michael Cullen All telephone numbers are area code 941 unless otherwise indicated.

3 3 Brethren: FROM THE EAST 4 Our Stated Communication on July 15th was the DDGM official visit by R W Norman F. Cyphers. He said he was pleased with our Lodge. Thank you to all those who attended. Congratulations to W B. John Ross who just received his 60 year Service Award and pin from R W Rodger Craig. Congratulations to Bros. Shauan, Sims, and Fowler for their Fellow Craft Proficiency. They worked hard under Br. Mark Baltimore and it showed. Br. Steve Murphy has scheduled a Master Mason degree for Saturday, August 17th at 9 am. W B. David Harris has agreed to sit in the East for the 2nd part. If you can attend, please do so, to support the degree team and your newly raised Brothers. The Sun Fiesta is approaching and Br. Steve needs Brothers to fill the work slots. Please help make his job easier by contacting him to volunteer at least one shift. Please remember to make your dinner reservations for the meal served on the third Monday of the month. Contact Br. Steve, no later than noon on the preceding Friday, preferably via at: steve.murphy654@gmail.com or by phone at (941) Thanks for your cooperation. Remember, those who make reservations will be eligible for the door prize! Please try to remember to bring your old cell phones and used ink cartridges into the Lodge to be recycled. The Master Masons Association is having a fund raiser to help offset the Grand Master s visit. It will be a bowling tournament on Sept. 7th at Sarasota Bowl. The cost is only $20 which includes 2 lines, shoe rental, hot dogs, etc. If you want more information or tickets please see me. On July 23rd seven members of our Lodge went to the Sarasota Lodge and reclaimed the traveling Gavel. Those members were: W Jeff Pick, Bros. Steve Murphy, Derek Lynn, Mark Baltimore, Scott Steelman, Gene Scheuring, and R W Barry Hart. If you come to the next Stated Communication you can see it on display. Fraternally, W Jeff Pick Worshipful Master CHARITY OF THE MONTH Venice-Nokomis Rotary Foundation Fellow Craft Proficiency L to R: Bros. Fowler, Sims and Shauan July 15, 2013 Official DDGM Visit R W Norman Cyphers (right) with W Jeff Pick July 15, Year Service Award Presented to W B. John Ross (center) by R W Rodger Craig (right) and W Jeff Pick July 15, 2013

4 5 FROM THE WEST FROM THE SOUTH 6 Brethren, August already! Where does the time go? I trust that everyone is enjoying their summer with family and friends. This month we are planning a Master Mason Degree for three Brothers who have given back their Fellow Craft proficiency at our July Stated Meeting. Brothers Ed Shauan, William (Rick) Sims and John Fowler did an outstanding job with their proficiency and it was accepted unanimously by the Brothers present. Accolades are due to Br. Mark Baltimore for the fine job he did instructing these Brothers with their Fellow Craft catechism. Many hours of study and preparation were spent getting ready for their proficiency and that time preparing was duly noted as the Brothers did an exemplary job. The Master Mason Degree is scheduled to be held on Saturday August 17, 2013 at 9:00 am in our Lodge room and I am looking for some Brothers to participate in the degree work so that practices can be scheduled. I am also hoping to see the sidelines full when these Brothers are raised to the Sublime degree of Master Mason, as this degree is the pinnacle of their journey in Masonry and should be remembered by them as being very well attended. Just around the corner is the Sun Fiesta. I will be heading up the working schedule for the Sun Fiesta Belly Buster Hotdog and Brat stand. If you are willing to put in a few hours for a good cause see me or W:. Lou Kelly before or after our meeting in August and we will add your name to the list. The Sun Fiesta is our Lodge s best opportunity to generate some cash for our repositories and the more Brothers that we have working in the booth the easier the work is for everyone. On a personal note I would like to congratulate W:. B. John Ross on receiving his 60 Year Pin at our July Stated Meeting. What an accomplishment! W:. B. John was an instrumental part of my journey in Masonry as he worked with me on all my catechism lessons as I was advancing, and W:. B. John raised me to The Sublime Degree of Master Mason, a memory that I will always hold dear to my heart. I hope to see some new faces at the upcoming meetings. If you haven t been to the Lodge in a while please come to our Monthly Dinner and bring your family members or a guest and we will all enjoy the Fellowship. The Lodge is also in need of Brothers to help with Catechism classes and with Mentoring. If anyone is interested in assisting with Catechism class instruction please contact W:. Lou Kelly, and R:.W:. Rodger Craig is always happy to receive help with his Mentoring Corps. See you in the Lodge. Fraternally, Br. Steve Murphy, Senior Warden Brethren: I would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers who assist Br.John Greene and Lady Marilee with our lodge dinners, by serving and cleaning up. Br. John Greene and Lady Marilee work hard preparing the dinner, and Br. Jim Malmfeldt and Br. Gene Scheuring should be mentioned for their assistance in the kitchen. We still need other Brethren, especially our new members, to step up to the plate and assist in the kitchen when we have our dinners. I intend to set a roster to ensure the work is spread evenly and fairly. It cannot be the same Brs. on every dinner occasion, and it is only right that the cleanup is carried out by the lodge members to assist us in a successful dinner night. The charity of the month will be the Venice-Nokomis Rotary Foundation who provide non-traditional scholarships for students of all ages in our area. On Saturday, Aug. 17th at 9 am, S.W. Steve Murphy will be sitting in the East presenting a Master Masons degree and is looking for volunteers to assist him. I will be providing a snack after the degree, please stay after the degree for fellowship with our members. Remember our next communication will be on the 3rd Monday in August, the 19th. We will be dark on the 5th of August. Fraternally Derek Lynn, Junior Warden Chief Rabban Rocky & Lady Wendy Kearney wish to invite everyone, both Shriners and non-shriners, to join them on the Sahib Shrine 2014 Spring Alaska Cruise. More information can be found at the following website: There will also be a presentation at the Sahib Shrine for all interested parties on August 21, 2013 at 7 pm. Venice Masonic Lodge 301 Like us on Facebook Monitored by W Hampton Crimi

5 7 BIO CORNER W Lou Kelly BIO CORNER W Dwight Ridgeway 8 W Louie E. Kelly was born on July 26, 1940 in Madison, Florida. He was graduated from Venice High in He attended two years of college at the University of Baltimore and three years in the U.S. Army. W Kelly met Mary Jean Dobson at 13 years of age. After dating a short time they went their different ways, but got back together 26 years ago and have been together ever since. In their family they count three boys, one daughter, and four grandkids. W Lou joined the Masons because some of his co-workers were in the Craft and that got him interested. R W Pat Patison, who was his boss at the time, sponsored him, and he was raised on June 26, Other Masons in the family are his son, Robert Kelly, and a half brother. Highlights of his Masonic history are having a son who is a Master Mason, and being installed as Master of Venice Lodge by the sitting Grand Master of Florida. Greatest benefits of being a Mason are getting to know men better and getting to know better men. W Kelly is one of those few individuals who never had to move to Florida because he was born here. That s an advantage because he s always enjoyed fishing and hunting. He s lived in this area so long that he played little league on Washburn Field which is right where our Venice Lodge is located! Most of his life he s been in the construction business and owns Lou Kelly Construction. W Lou s hero growing up was his maternal grandfather who was a man of good character. If he could meet anyone living or dead, it would be John Wayne because he was a true hero. If he won $25 million LOTTO he would give our Lodge a million dollars. Still on his bucket list; going back to Alaska. W Kelly is most proud that his kids turned out right. If he could do it all over again, he would have stayed in the Army as a career and finished his education. He also would have learned how to control his temper earlier in life. A headline he would like to see: America is back on top of the world again. If he were king of the world he would feed all of the children and make people decent. His pet peeve is fathers who abandon their children. His legacy should be; If he does somebody wrong, he make it right. And he would like people to say (when he s gone) There goes a good man and it s hard to see him go. One of his favorite sayings is: If the wagon ain t broke, don t fix it, but if it s in a ditch, do whatever it takes to get it out. Another one is; Do you love Masonry as much as I do? If so, let s go and get the job done and make it better! W Dwight Ridgeway was born on June 16, 1942 in Canton Ohio and was graduated from John Marshall in Cleveland in He went to Cuyahoga Community College for one year then on to Cleveland State University for three years. He spent four years in the U.S. Navy in electronic tech communications, followed by four years with Ohio Bell as an installer & repairman, then spent thirty years with IBM as a field & staff engineer. During the last twenty years of his career at IMB he also worked as a paramedic and State Instructor for the NYS EMS. He fully retired from both in April W Dwight moved to Florida in 2002 for the warm climate and NO state income tax. He met Ann in December 2003 when picking up his mail at his mail box at Colony Cove. They were married on July 9, He has one daughter, one son, and one grand-daughter. W Ridgeway was raised in November 2006 after being introduced to Masonry by friends and neighbors at Colony Cove. Some of his Masonic highlights so far include working his way through the chairs and becoming Worshipful Master of Braidentown Lodge No.99. He also has many highlights through the York Rite, such as; High Priest (Chapter), Illustrious Master (Council), York Rite District Instructor, York Rite DDGM, Eminent Commander (Knights Templar) and winner of the Ish Sodi Award. He has developed more tolerance and self-discipline through Masonry (and maybe helped by aging). W Dwight enjoys fishing and computers. If he could meet anyone dead or alive he would like to meet Mark Twain because of his unique perception of people and events. If he won a $25 million LOTTO he would first pay ALL of the taxes, then really enjoy retirement. One of his goals is to take time to enjoy family and retirement. If he were king of the world he would abdicate. A pet peeve is people who knowingly take on more than they have the time or ability to do. If he could do it all over again he would keep personal ambitions within the limits of his abilities. A headline he would like to see; Two term limit enacted on all elected Washington politicos. One of his favorite sayings is: He who expects nothing is seldom disappointed. He is most proud of his twenty years as a paramedic and NYS EMS instructor. When he s gone he hopes people will say: Who was that nice guy?

6 9 10 Venice Lodge No. 301 F. & A. M. August 2013 Communications and Events Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat :00 am Master Mason Degree :00 pm Family Dinner (please RSVP) 7:30 pm Stated Communication 6:45 pm Master Masons Assn. at Braidentown Lodge No. 99 7:30 pm School of Instruction :30 pm Officers Meeting and Ritual

7 11 BIO CORNER Br. Walt Milne Br. Milne was born on April 26, 1944 in Abington, Pennsylvania and was graduated from high school there in He went on to Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science and got a BS degree in Fabric Design in He entered the U.S. Navy and was a 3rd Class Parachute Rigger. He went on to a long career in fabric design and development. Br. Walt met Linda in 1965 at a local drive-in, they started dating, and the rest is history. They married on Nov. 26, 1966 and have three daughters. They have 9 grandchildren (6 boys and 3 girls) and Br. Milne gets a kick out of the boys because he missed having any. In 2000 Linda and Br. Walt sold their home, bought a motor home and drove off into the sunset. They discovered Venice in 2001 and after spending a few winters here, decided to stay. When the stock market crashed they went to work at the campground where they were staying. They decided it wasn t fun to work and live in a trailer at the same place, so they bought a home nearby. BOOSTERS We would like to thank the following Brothers for supporting our Lodge GOLD $50 Br. Mark Baltimore W Lee G. Briner R W Richard Cervi Br. Wayne Dubbs W Steve Ellis W Richard Geraci R W Barry D. Hart Br. Derek Lynn Br. John Machanska, Jr. GOLD $50 Br. Steve Murphy Br. Richard Nicholas W Jeff Pick W Dwight Ridgeway W Malcolm Ryder R W Eric West SILVER $40 BRONZE $25 Contact W Jeff Pick if you would like to support your Lodge by becoming a Booster. Costs shown are for all of Br. Milne was raised November 15, 1994 in downtown Philadelphia because his brother belonged to that Lodge. Because it was an 80 mile roundtrip commute he didn t get very involved. His Masonic highlight was joining Venice Lodge No He gets satisfaction in doing things that result in a great combination of fellowship and charity. His hero growing up was Walt Disney because he had a great work ethic and truly cared for people. If he won a $25 million LOTTO he would make sure his children and grandchildren were given some assistance and then give the majority of it to charity as he and Linda are already very happy and content. Br. Walt s goal was to visit all 50 states which he accomplished about four years ago. His new goal is to visit all of the National Parks. So far, he and Linda are about two thirds of the way there. If he were king of the world he would turn it into a democracy, then retire. His pet peeve is when people call Social Security a benefit! He is most proud of his three girls. A favorite saying is: Inch by inch, it s a cinch, yard by yard it s awfully hard. That is the way he gets though some difficult tasks. A headline he would like to see: Conservatives sweep the 2014 election. Interesting fact: His first airplane ride consisted of one take-off and NO LANDING. Since he was a parachute rigger in the Navy he had to make a jump. Since that was his first time flying he ended up not landing in that plane. Traveling Gavel Reclaimed On July 23rd, W Juan dela Rosa of Lodge 147 relinquished the traveling gavel to members of our Lodge. L to R: W Juan dela Rosa, W Jeff Pick, Br. Mark Baltimore, Br. Gene Scheuring, R W Barry D. Hart, Br. Scott Steelman, Br. Derek Lynn. Front: Br. Steve Murphy

8 13 MASONIC EDUCATION Submitted by W Hampton Crimi A young man passed a pawnbrokers shop. The money lender was standing in front of his shop, and the young man noted that he was wearing a large and beautiful Masonic emblem. After going on a whole block, apparently lost in thought, the young man turned back, stepped up to the pawnbroker, and addressed him: I see you re wearing a Masonic emblem. I m a Freemason too. It happens that I m desperately in need of $25 just now. I shall be able to repay it within ten days. You don t know me, but I wonder whether the fact that you are a Freemason and that I am a Freemason is sufficient to induce you to lend me the money on my personal note. The pawnbroker mentally appraised the young man, who was clean-cut, neat and well-dressed. After a moments thought, he agreed to make the loan on the strength of the young man being a Freemason. Within a few days the young man repaid the loan as agreed and that ended the transaction. About four months later, the young man was in a Lodge receiving the Entered Apprentice Degree; he had not really been a Mason when he borrowed the $25. After he had been admitted for the second section of the degree, the young man looked across the Lodge room and saw the pawnbroker from whom he had borrowed the $25. His face turned crimson and he became nervous and jittery. He wondered whether he had been recognized by the pawnbroker. Apparently not, so he planned at the first opportunity to leave the Lodge room and avoid his benefactor. As soon as the Lodge was closed he moved quickly for the door, but the pawnbroker had recognized the young man, headed him off and, to the young man s astonishment, approached him and greeted him with a smile and outstretched hand. Well, I see you weren t a Freemason after all when you borrowed the $25, the pawnbroker commented. The blood rushed to the young man s face as he stammered. No, I wasn t, but I wish you d let me explain. I had always heard that Freemasons were charitable and ready to aid a Brother in distress. When I passed your shop that day, I didn t need that $25. I had plenty of money in my wallet, but when I saw the Masonic emblem you were wearing, I decided to find out whether the things I d heard about Freemasonry were true. You let me have the money on the strength of my being a Freemason, so I concluded that what I had heard about Masons was true, that they are charitable, that they do aid Brethren in distress. That made such a deep impression on me that I presented my petition to this Lodge and here I am. I trust that with this explanation you will forgive me for having lied to you. The pawnbroker responded, Don t let that worry you too much. I wasn t a Freemason when I let you have the money. I had no business wearing the Masonic emblem you saw. Another man had just borrowed some money on it, and it was so pretty that I put it on my lapel for a few minutes. I took it off the moment you left. I didn t want anyone else borrowing money on the strength of my being a Freemason. When you asked for that $25, I remembered what I had heard about Masons, that they were honest, upright, and cared for their obligations promptly. It seemed to me that $25 wouldn t be too much to lose to learn if what I d heard was really true, so I lent you the money and you repaid it exactly as you said you would. That convinced me that what I d heard about Masons was true so I presented my petition to this Lodge. I was the candidate just ahead of you. 8/06/90 R W Stephen Clark 8/06/90 Br. John Winters 8/06/90 Br. John Coffey 8/13/11 Br. Jose Valderama 8/19/46 Br. William Shultz -Author Unknown - MASONIC BIRTHDAYS CHAPLAIN S CORNER Sickness and Distress 8/19/92 Br. Gregory C. Jones 8/20/94 W Lou Marchetti 8/25/67 Br. Donald Cox 8/29/09 Br. Cary Hart by Br. John Greene, Assistant to the Chaplain Br. Richard Spencer passed away Lady Marilee Greene suffered a serious steam burn Br. Mark Baltimore s brother, Jim, has been fighting a serious infection NEED A RIDE? If you need transportation to the Lodge, please call our Transportation Chairman, W Lou Ortt, who will help arrange a ride. If you would like to volunteer to be a driver, please call W Lou. 14

9 15 Venice Lodge No. 301 F.& A.M. Past Masters 1951 d Forest Chapman 1952 d C. Allen Pattison - DDGM 1953 d Elihu B. Roberts 1954 d Sanford Smith 1955 d Robert Bruce Rigby Sr d Carl Cribbs 1957 d Malcolm A. Miner 1958 d George R. Mitchell 1959 d Irvin H. Jones 1960 d Joseph Jossart 1961 d Thomas Hankins 1962 d John A. Nelson 1963 Lee G. Briner 1964 d George R. Collett Jr. - DDGM 1965 d William Hendrix 1966 Richard Geraci 1967 d Wade H. Ballard Sr d Willaim A. Cultice 1969 d Paul Lanius - DDGM/DI 1970 d A. Bradford Smith 1971 Roger Isphording 1972 d Larry Jeffrey 1973 d Hubert Palmer - DI 1974 d Joseph Bezjian 1975 d Donald A. Richard 1976 d Forest L. Foster 1977 d Harold L. Jones d Hudson W. McCoy 1979 d John P. Haus 1980 d George A. Carver III 1981 d Harold L. Jones - 2 d - Deceased DI - District Instructor Where To Find More Information Venice Lodge Website (Latest Trestleboard can be found here): Florida Grand Lodge Website: District 27 Calendar Website: Maurice M. Dalton Sr. - DDGM 1983 d James Oakley 1984 George DeNeen 1985 C. Bruce Jones 1986 d William W. Brooks 1987 Rodger L. Craig Sr. - DDGM 1988 Richard Cervi - DDGM 1989 d Ralph Wilkinson 1990 Robert B. Strayer Jr d Robert J. Lane 1992 Curtis Bradley 1993 B. David Harris Jr Stephen H. Clark - DDGM 1995 Malcolm B. Ryder 1996 Louie E. Kelly 1997 Frederick Ellis 1998 Richard Tacy 1999 Steve Ellis 2000 Eric B. West - DDGM 2001 B. John Ross 2002 John F. Wermann - DDGM 2003 Hampton Crimi 2004 Robert Kern 2005 Louis H. Ortt 2006 Donald Hixon 2007 Joseph Stella 2008 G. Rocky Kearney 2009 John Hobeika 2010 John Latta 2011 Barry D. Hart - DDGM 2012 Louis Marchetti DDGM - Deputy District Grand Master 2 - Master twice Lee Briner Philippe George V. Canlers-Mem Richard Cervi John Coffey Rodger Craig Hampton Crimi Maurice Dalton Sr. Frederick Ellis Steven Ellis David Farley Les Frisby Richard Geraci PERPETUAL MEMBERS HELP YOURSELF - HELP YOUR LODGE IT IS ONCE - IT IS FOREVER Barry D Hart Harold L. Jones-Mem. Rocky Kearney Louie Kelly Robert Kern John Latta Robert Mac Alvanah Joseph Madrak Louis Marchetti Robert Martin Gerald Maxey Clark McClelland Ronald Morrison CURRENT PETITIONERS DISTRICT 27 LODGES Earl Orth Louis Ortt Jeffrey Pick Blair Post Dwight Ridgeway B. John Ross Edward Schwenk-Mem. Glenn Miller Smith-Hon. Joseph Stella Richard Tacy 16 Robert Duane Trump-Hon. John Wermann Eric West John Winters Manatee Lodge No.31: th St. E., Bradenton, FL st /3 rd Mon. 7:30 pm Braidentown Lodge No.99: th Ave. W., Bradenton, FL st /3 rd Tues. 7:30 pm Palmetto Lodge No.110: th St. E., Bradenton, FL nd /4 th Tues. 7:30 pm Sarasota Lodge No.147: 2160 Main St., Sarasota, FL nd /4 th Tues. 7:30 pm Phoenix Lodge No.346: 240 S.Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL st /3 rd Tues. 7:30 Englewood Lodge No.360: 265 Pine St., Englewood, FL st /3 rd Tues. 7:30 pm North Port Lodge No.406: 5900 S. Biscayne Blvd., North Port, FL nd /4 th Wed. 7:00 pm

10 17 Please Support Our Advertisers Please Support Our Advertisers 18 VENICE SHRINE CLUB President Jim Fahey Meeting Place: Crossroads Restaurant 385 U.S. Hwy 41 BYP N., Venice FL Meets 3 rd Tuesday of each month at 11:00 a.m. YORK RITE MASONS Royal Arch - 2nd Thurs. At Sarasota #147-7:30 pm Council - 3rd Fri. At Venice # 301-7:30 Commandery 1st Thurs. - 7:30 pm Odd months at Bradenton # 99 Even months at Venice # 301