Manatee Lodge No Officers. Question: Can I solicit a friend to join the Craft?

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1 Manatee Lodge No th Street East Issue Bradenton, Florida August 2014 Florida Grand Lodge Officers M W Danny R. Griffith, Grand Master R W Allen Sorbie, DDGM R H Ron Baber, District Instructor Worshipful Master Senior Warden Junior Warden Treasurer Secretary Chaplain Marshal Senior Deacon Junior Deacon Senior Steward Junior Steward Tyler Assistant Tyler Lodge Instructor Funeral Committee Publicity Chairman Lodge Chef Assistant Chaplain Manatee Lodge No Officers W Joe Fenton John Steiner Doug Dobbs W Mike Olson, PM R H George Benjamin, PM Stan Preston W Les Ruggiero, PM Kyle Bachman Tom Carter Brody Katt Matt Steiner R H Ron Baber, PM Ken Ammons R H Ron Baber, PM W George Vomvoris, PM W George Vomvoris, PM Ed Kieffer W George Vomvoris, PM Question: Can I solicit a friend to join the Craft? The answer to that question is yes, and no. Until recent years, any type of solicitation for membership in the Fraternity was strictly prohibited and frowned upon. Anyone seeking to become a Mason was always required to make the first move toward obtaining an application. Essentially, this is still basically true in the sense that all must join our ancient Craft of their own freewill and accord without any undue influence. However, contrary to the opinion of some, we are not a secret society. Our meeting times, officers, and activities are openly advertised, and our buildings are wellmarked and quite visible. And there are many legitimate ways in which we can encourage men to become interested in membership without improper direct solicitation. One very effective method is to wear your Lodge shirt in public as much as possible. This will often lead to comments and opportunities to explain the Fraternity, its purpose and workings, and method of joining. And, certainly, every member should always have a petition on hand to give out to any who show interest in membership. Also, the Secretary of the Lodge has numerous information tracts and a short DVD available to give out which gives an excellent overview of the Fraternity and the method of obtaining membership in it. This video as well as printable petitions are also available at our Website at Many Brothers carry Lodge business cards with them which can be given out to individuals expressing interest in joining the Fraternity. However, all of these excellent tools are only as good as the number of Brothers taking advantage of them and getting them into the hands of prospective members. The membership of our Fraternity is very diverse in occupations, backgrounds, age, and cultures. Consequently, our opportunities to display our Craft and its virtues are almost endless. In short, don t hide your Fraternity from the community. Visibility and publicity is a key ingredient in membership growth. Get out there and be seen! Growth will follow naturally.

2 Sickness & Distress Please let our Chaplin, Master, or Secretary know of any who are sick or in need so that the Lodge can respond accordingly. Without Brothers reporting cases of distress, there is usually no other way we can know when our help or support is needed. And as always, please keep all those in sickness and distress in your thoughts and prayers. Perpetual Members Mark A. Atkinson Kenneth E. Ammons Wilbert L. Anders, Jr. Ronald E. Baber George V. Benjamin Brady W. Chapman John G. Collins Robert B. Coverdale Earl W. Dennis, Jr. Douglas W. Dobbs Michael R. Dobbs Joseph K. Fenton Earl M. Grimes John E. Hokanson Edwin T. Holman Ryan P. Johnson Hutton G. Lewis Stanley Preston Kenneth Reese, Sr. Joseph S. Rowland Alessio Ruggiero Thomas A. Simpkins Theodore R. Simpkins, II Robert J. Springer Billy Staffiles Nicolas A. Ruggiero Special Announcements There will be no Stated Meeting on September 1, 2014 in observance of the Labor Day Holiday All Brothers are requested to invite their wives to dine with us on the 3rd Monday in August. The Order of the Eastern Star will be making a presentation about the structure and purpose of the Organization. This will provide an excellent opportunity for member s wives (and girlfriends) to learn about the OES and to meet and get to know its members better. Please RSVP Doug Dobbs. The Special Olympics will be having their annual Bowling Tournament from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, September , at Cortez Lanes. They will need as much help as possible. If you can help out, please see Bill Dunning, Bill Dalgarno, or Doug Dobbs for more info. The craft voted to raise our potluck dinner to $10.00 and the whole dinner will be provided by the lodge. Masonic Birthdays Ernest A Calande 8/1/1994 Kenneth C Terryberry 8/8/1963 Charles M Brown, Jr 8/9/1976 Joshua L Baumgard 8/19/2006 Parker R Biery 8/19/06 Gire D Hill 8/19/2006 Freddie A Augustin 8/21/1967 Arnold R Stanaland 8/21/1967 William H Nuttle 8/24/1948 Richard A Cade 8/25/1975 Braxton R Ezell 8/27/1979 Thank you to our Trestle Board Business Sponsors!!

3 Haven t Been To Lodge Lately? We miss you! Please join us for a meal or stated meeting, and enjoy some fellowship with your fraternity Brothers! BUSINESS DIRECTORY ADVERTISE HERE AND SUPPORT THE TRESTLE BOARD. FOR ONLY $25, YOUR LISTING WILL RUN FOR ALL OF 2013! SEND CHECK AND YOUR DESIRED LISTING INFORMATION TO: Manatee Lodge #31, P.O. Box 9304, Bradenton, FL or bring them to the lodge and see the Worshipful Master, Secretary, or Trestleboard Editor Antiques Clifford s Antiques & Collectables Timothy F. Clifford Certified Appraiser home: (941) cell: (941) manacuda@yahoo.com Computers Home Care Anders Home Services, Inc. Home Care For Snowbirds th Ave Cir E Bradenton, FL voice: (941) voice: (941) andershomeservices@gmail.com Photography Automotive Financial Michael H. Smith Investment Advisor 6350 Gulf Of Mexico Dr. Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL voice: (941) Michael@LongboatKeyFinancial.com Legal George Benjamin Social Security Disability Specialist 2027 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, FL voice: (941) George@LeglerFlynn.com Plumbing Banking Funeral Sammy Simpkins Funeral Director Griffith-Cline Funeral Home 720 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, FL voice: (941) sam.simpkins@griffithcline.com Medical Travel

4 Manatee Chapter 14 Order of the Eastern Star Regular meetings on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm Worthy Matron Worthy Patron Secretary Patty Kunkel Robert Mallard Diane Nourse Chaplain Sentinel Mary Hancock Douglas Dobbs Warder Daughters of the Nile NYLA Temple #152 holds its regular meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. 11:30 am for lunch and 1:00 pm for session. Queen Princess Recorder York Rite Council Bradentown Council #9 holds its regular meetings on the 3rd Thursday each month at 7:30 pm Illustrious Master Deputy Master Principal Conductor Palmetto Lodge #110 Holds its regular meeting on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm. Our Masonic Family Bill Dunning Kathy Rodd Albert (Butch) Thurman, PM William A. Sorbie, PM Richard Coles Worshipful Master Kevin Bergquist Sr. Warden Donna Kay Duffy Richard Coles Announcements The following men have submitted Petitions for the Three Degrees of Masonry to be read in Lodge: None at this time The following men have submitted Petitions for the Three Degrees of Masonry and are currently under investigation: William Allen Dickey, III, and Zachary Joseph Humphries, The following Brothers have submitted a Petition for Affiliation and are currently under investigation: None at this time. Candidates to be balloted upon: None at this time Candidates to be initiated: None at this time. Brothers preparing for EA Proficiency: Warren Glenn Bergstressor, II, Jason Michael Bileth, John Michael Cronen, John Alderman Freeman, III, Tracey Junior Martin, James A. Miller, and Dennis Warren Neihart. Brothers to be Passed: Richard K. Benn and Donald Ray Simmons. Brothers preparing for FC Proficiency: None at this time Brothers to be Raised: None at this time Brothers preparing for MM Proficiency, pursuing their Apron: James Jackson Albritton, James McConnell Bell, Lazaro Diaz, Robert I. Hammer, Steve Hopkins, Nicholas Jared Ierulli, Anthony Thomas McNair, Michael Albert Rogers, and Chadwick Terrell Brothers recently presented their Masonic Apron: Derek James Berry, Matthew Steven Steiner Jr. Warden Russell DesErmia Go Paperless! Help Support Our Lodge by choosing to receive your copy of the Trestle Board by . Contact: Trestle Board Editor Bro. Rob Hunt, caddcid@gmail.com The Manatee Lodge #31 website is Featuring: Up-to-date Calendar, Photos, Monthly TrestleBoard and a Downloadable Petition. Visit Local Masonry on the Internet at :

5 2014 Lodge Committees FINANCE COMMITTEE Sr. Warden: John Steiner VIGILANCE COMMITEE Jr. Warden: Doug Dobbs PETITIONS COMMITTEE W Mike Grimes mg5010@aol.com EDUCATION COMMITTEE Worshipful Master: W Joe Fenton nuiilio63@gmail.com BOARD OF RELIEF Worshipful Master: W Joe Fenton nuiilio63@gmail.com COMMITTEE ON CHARITY W Mike Grimes, PM mg5010@aol.com W George Vomvoris, PM keymaster5050@yahoo.com COMMITTEE OF LODGE PROPERTY Sr. Warden: John Steiner jsteiner4@tampabay.rr.com INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE Jr. Warden: Doug Dobbs doug.dobbs61@yahoo.com Sr. Deacon: Kyle Bachman FUNERAL COMMITTEE W George Vomvoris LODGE INSTRUCTION R H Ron Baber, PM LODGE CHEF Bro. Ed Kieffer Edward.kieffer@gmail.com TRESTLE BOARD & WEBSITE EDITOR Bro. Rob Hunt caddcid@gmail.com Win A Perpetual Memebership! Series 2!! Only 80 Tickets will be sold! Tickets are $25, and you can purchase more than 1 ticket (depending on availability). Members of other Lodge s can play, but a maximum value of $ will be awarded for a Perpetual Membership in their particular Lodge. $25 A TICKET These tickets are selling fast, and the odds are great! We will hold the drawing when all 80 tickets have sold. Tickets can be purchased at any Manatee Lodge meeting, or by mailing a check to Manatee Lodge No. 31, F&AM to P.O. Box 9304, Bradenton, FL Your ticked will be issued as soon as your check is received, and sent to you by return mail. Win An Annual Memebership! Raffle tickets are on sale at the Tylers station at every Stated or Called meeting of Manatee Lodge. 50 tickets will be sold at $2.00 each, and then a drawing for that batch of 50 tickets will be the same evening if it is a Stated Communication, or if it is a Called Communication, the drawing will be held at the next Stated Meeting. Prize is a certificate redeemable for the following year s dues ($80.00 value). For example, tickets currently being sold are for 2015 dues, and ongoing raffles for 2015 dues will continue until dues notices for 2015 are mailed out in October of After that date raffles will continue, but will be for certificates redeemable for 2016 dues. In addition, because of the low value of each ticket, records of individual sales will not be maintained as in the Perpetual Membership raffles. Therefore, the winning ticket holder must present his stub to win. If he cannot produce the ticket stub after the drawing or within 30 days of publication of the winning ticket number in the Trestle Board, the drawn ticket will be considered void, and a new ticket will be drawn from that same batch.

6 Do you have your Masonic License Plate Yet?? IF you did not receive the Trestle Board by , please go to and click the Trestle Board link, then choose what ever month you wish to view. If you do not get a printed Trestle Board by USPS, you can pick one up at any stated meeting. The Chaplain s Corner Should anyone hear of a Brother or family member in sickness or distress, please don t hesitate to contact our Chaplain at , or any other Lodge Officer. Want to serve on a committee? Chaplain Stan Preston is looking for some Brothers who can serve on a visitation committee. Sometimes a visit to a shut-in or sick Brother is better than medicine! See our Chaplain if you can spare a little time to help out. Chaplain: Bro. Stan Preston Support Our Lodge Dinners! Steak Night 1st Monday at 6:00 pm $10 Ribeye Steak Dinner Typically includes: mushrooms & onions, mashed potatoes w/ gravy, vegetable, tossed salad, & dessert. Jr. Warden s Choice Dinner 3rd Monday at 6:00 pm $10 The Lodge now provides the entire meal!

7 July 2014 August 2014 Lodge Dark For Labor Day

8 Manatee Lodge No. 31 Free and Accepted Masons of Florida P.O. Box 9304 Bradenton, Florida RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Manasota, FL Permit No. 183 If you move, please inform the secretary at the address above so service will not be interrupted (and save costs to the Lodge). All returned mail will be deleted from mailing list. Remember our Masonic Home in your Will Remember in your prayers the men and women in uniform, who are serving our country. Have you Considered a Perpetual Membership? Ask why and how it benefits both you and the Lodge Trestle Board Sponsors Help your Lodge with a yearly contribution. Contact the Worshipful Master or Secretary for details SILVER CLUB ($25.00 $49.99) GOLD CLUB ($50.00 $74.99) Your Name Here! Herbert and Joan McGuire PLATINUM CLUB ($ ) Les & Carol Ruggiero and Edwin & Carol Holman Living Past Masters 1960 Milton M. Stewart 1989 Gary E. Carter 2004 Wilbert L. Anders 1965 John G. Collins 1990 George J. Vomvoris 2005 Richard A. Cooper 1967 Wallace R. Davis 1993 Byron P. Barton 2006 John E. Hokanson 1968 Glen E. Boeschen 1994 Marc B. Gilner 2007 Charles A. Keeler 1973 James P. Sellers 1996 Ronald E. Baber 2008 Robert Coverdale 1976 George V. Benjamin 1998 Earl T. Hasenflu 2009 Albert Thurman 1978 John G. Breese 2000 Charles M. Reibold 2010 Brian Johnsen 1983 Riley M. Hardy 2001 Elwood H. Williams 2011 Earl Dennis 1984 Dozier K. Walker 2002 Joseph S. Rowland 2012 Mike Grimes 1987 Thomas A. Simpkins 2003 Theodore R. Simpkins 2013 Les Ruggiero The Scottish Rite, York Rite, Eastern Star, Grotto, and the Shrine Need You Why not Join and Gain New Light. Contact the Lodge Secretary for Contact Information