Manatee Lodge No. 31 402 15th Street East (401)-338-4205 Issue 2013-9 Bradenton, Florida 34208 September 2013 Florida Grand Lodge Officers M W Danny R. Griffith, Grand Master R W Norman F. Cyphers, DDGM R H Michael Cullen, 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. 31 2013 Officers W Les Ruggiero 401-338-4205 Joe Fenton 941-232-5031 John Steiner 941-232-4927 W Mike Olson, PM 941-361-3084 R H George Benjamin, PM 941-713-7856 Stan Preston 941-792-6167 W Mike Grimes, PM 941-812-8306 Doug Dobbs 941-545-1726 Rob Hunt 941-284-8584 Kyle Bachman 941-518-6081 Tom Carter 941-993-7911 R H Ron Baber, PM 941-748-7938 Ken Ammons 941-795-4535 R H Ron Baber, PM 941-748-7938 W Les Ruggiero 401-338-4205 W George Vomvoris, PM 941-756-6298 Ed Kieffer 941-313-6760 W George Vomvoris, PM 941-756-6298 Brothers, FROM THE JR. STEWARD First I would like to thank all my Brothers for making me feel so welcome in the Lodge. It seems weird to call everyone Brothers at the beginning, but after awhile when people start picking on you it feels like you are siblings. The first couple meetings, and starting into the first degree is very daunting. I succeeded because of the support of all the great Brothers around me. To get the most out of the Lodge, it is very important to become involved early, wash dishes, come to the cleanup day, and work on the fund raisers. This is how you meet more of your Brothers, make friends, and get the most back from the Lodge. The charity collection may seem to some people as not something that they would like to do. But if you choose to help, know that you will not be pressuring people or trying to ambush people at the door. Most people come up and put money in your jar of say they will get you on the way out. The positive of this experience well outweighs the negatives. During the day several people will thank you for being there in the 90 degree sun collecting for a charity that they support. Some will see that you are a mason and tell you about their father, or grandfather being involved with Masonry and stories about their involvement. It is also a good way to meet people who have the same passion to help the community and may be good potential candidates. Talking to people who like what we are doing and want more information, or belong to a Lodge up north and do not know where to go here. I have to say I have not been regular enough at the first Saturday of the month cleanup at 8am. It is a time to get the lodge back in shape from our meetings and from the other group that use our facility. The highlight is a pancake breakfast made by R:. H:. Ron Baber. It is a lot of poking fun and picking on each other while the work gets done. We have a great Lodge. I am lucky to have been brought into this Lodge. What we all should do is think about how we can make the Lodge even better. If you have not participated lately, take a look at your cabletow and see if you have the length available to do something to help the Lodge. Tom Carter Jr. Steward
Sickness & Distress None at this time. Special Announcements The Special Olympic Bowling Tournament will be on Sat. Sept. 28, 2013 at 9 AM Volunteers Needed!! Monday Sept. 9th Scottish Rite Tampa Worshipful Master s Night. All invited or attend Officer s Meeting at Manatee Lodge #31 We will be honoring and thanking the Widow s Sons at the Sept 16 th Stated Communication Grand Master s visit & Dinner, Sat. Oct. 12th. We would like as many as possible to attend. The Lodge covers the cost of your meal!! Registration is at 5PM, dinner at 6PM, and stated meeting at Sarasota #147 at 7- ish Everyone invited to dinner including wives etc., there will be entertainment for the ladies while the stated meeting is going on. Dinner at the Potter building on the Sarasota Fairgrounds. Please make note that ALL officers should be there and as many others as possible, the GM takes a headcount of each lodge from WM right down the list! We need to make Manatee 31 look good!! Anyone wanting to go should contact WM, SW, JW or Sec. with # attending. Congrats to Hutton Lewis for being our latest Perpetual Life Member!!!! Perpetual Members 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 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 Masonic Birthdays DONALD E WILSON 9/1/1958 ANGUS MORRISON 9/4/1981 CLINTON CHAPMAN 9/7/1996 JOHNNIE W DUZAN 9/11/1972 ALBERT W THURMAN 9/11/1995 ANTHONY W DUPONT, JR 9/13/2008 WALTER R EDWARDS 9/13/2008 HARRY J KRANER 9/13/1955 CHRISTOPHER A METZGER 9/13/2008 ALESSIO RUGGIERO 9/13/2008 CLAUD E McCOMB 9/14/1981 BRUCE A MEADE 9/14/1992 SAMUEL K DODD 9/22/1984 WILLIAM C GODFREY 9/22/1994 STANLEY PRESTON 9/22/1984 RICHARD W CARTER 9/23/1974 HOWARD W WALLS 9/23/1957 THOMAS M BURTON JR 9/24/1977 DAVID E CLARK SR. 9/24/1951 WILLIAM W HORN 9/24/1977 WILBERT L ANDERS JR 9/25/1999 DAVID L DAVIS 9/25/1999 WILLIAM P DIXON, SR 9/26/1977 ROGER W HALL 9/26/1977 WILLIAM K HENSLEY 9/26/1992 Thank you to our Trestle Board Business Sponsors!!
Been away for a while??? Please join us for a meal or stated meeting, and enjoy some fellowship with your fraternity Brothers! Grand Master s Visit Fundraiser Brothers & Friends, We need 4 member teams to compete for district bragging rights. All proceeds will go towards the Grand Master s visit! See W:. M:. Les for tickets. MANATEE LODGE #31 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 34206 or bring them to the lodge and see the Worshipful Master, Secretary, or Trestleboard Editor Accounting Computers Landscaping Photography Automotive Contractors Legal Plumbing Banking Home Care NEW! Anders Home Services, Inc. 2806 56th Ave Cir E Bradenton, FL 34203 voice: (941) 941-753-3486 voice: (941) 705-0751 email: andershomeservices@gmail.com Medical Travel
Our Masonic Family Manatee Chapter 14 Order of the Eastern Star Manatee Chapter 14 holds its regular meetings on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 pm Worthy Matron Worthy Patron Donna Fleming James Fleming jdf53118@msn.com Secretary Diane Nourse 508-904-8660 merrymeetingdi@aol.com Chaplain Mary Hancock 758-5272 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 Douglas Dobbs 545-1726 Marilyn Carlsen chinookc@aol.com Bradentown Council #9 holds its regular meetings on the 3rd Thursday each month at 7:30 pm Illustrious Master Gene Lance 941-723-2075 glance1@tampabay.rr.com Deputy Master Principal Conductor Of Work Palmetto Lodge #110 Albert (Butch) Thurman PM George Cancro PM Holds its regular meeting on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:30 pm. Worshipful Master Gene Lance 941-723-2075 glance1@tampabay.rr.com Sr. Warden Jr. Warden Donna Kay Duffy mailto:cdd84@aol.com Kevin Bergquist Richard Coles Go Paperless! Help Support Our Lodge by choosing to receive your copy of the Trestle Board by email. Contact: Worshipful Master, W Les Ruggiero, les31@yahoo.com Or Trestle Board Editor and Junior Deacon, Rob Hunt, caddcid@gmail.com Announcements The following men have submitted Petitions for the Three Degrees of Masonry to be read in Lodge: Steve Hopkins The following men have submitted Petitions for the Three Degrees of Masonry and are currently under investigation: John Michael Cronen 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: James Jackson Albritton and Anthony Thomas McNair Brothers preparing for EA Proficiency: Richard K. Benn, Samuel Julian Bohn, Sr., Lazaro Diaz, Sidney M. Evans, II, Phillip Wallace Fellows, and John Alderman Freeman, III,, Donald Ray Simmons Brothers to be Passed: None at this time Brothers preparing for FC Proficiency: James McConnell Bell, Derek James Berry, Edward Alan Lutz, and Matthew Steven Steiner Brothers to be Raised: None at this time Brothers preparing for MM Proficiency, pursuing their Apron: Timothy Frances Clifford, Brody McClellan Catt, and Adam Seth Sherr Brothers to be presented their Masonic Apron: Christopher A. MacKenzie, and Jonathon R. Mitchell Brothers presented their Masonic Apron: Charles R. Bigham, Thomas D. Carter, William R. Dunning None at this time 3 rd Quarter Non-Masonic donation was to Southeastern Guide Dogs School for Paws for Patriots program. The Manatee Lodge #31 website is www.manateelodge31.org Featuring: Up-to-date Calendar, Photos, Monthly TrestleBoard and a Downloadable Petition. Visit Local Masonry on the Internet at : www.trowel.com/flamason
2012 Lodge Committees FINANCE COMMITTEE Sr. Warden: Joe Fenton nuiili@aol.com VIGILANCE COMMITEE Jr. Warden: John Steiner jsteiner4@tampabay.rr.com PETITIONS COMMITTEE W Mike Grimes mg5010@aol.com EDUCATION COMMITTEE Worshipful Master: W Les Ruggiero les31@yahoo.com BOARD OF RELIEF Worshipful Master: W Les Ruggiero les31@yahoo.com COMMITTEE ON CHARITY W Mike Grimes mg5010@aol.com W George Vomvoris, PM keymaster5050@yahoo.com COMMITTEE OF LODGE PROPERTY Sr. Warden: Joe Fenton nuiili@aol.com INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE Jr. Warden: John Steiner jsteiner4@tampabay.rr.com Sr. Deacon: Doug Dobbs doug.dobbs61@yahoo.com FUNERAL COMMITTEE Worshipful Master: W Les Ruggiero les31@yahoo.com LODGE INSTRUCTION R H Ron Baber, PM LODGE CHEF Bro. Ed Kieffer Edward.kieffer@gmail.com TRESTLE BOARD & WEBSITE EDITOR Jr. Deacon: Rob Hunt caddcid@gmail.com IF you did not receive the Trestle Board by e-mail, please go to www.manateelodge31.org 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 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 792-6167, 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 Attention All Brothers!! The Lodge is currently updating it s records. Please provide the following information to the Worshipful Master or Secretary As Soon As Possible: Mailing Address, Phone Number, & Email Address 2013 Dues Notices have been sent out and are now due. It is critical that you send your email address and phone number to the Secretary as soon as possible, so that you can be contacted in case your dues notice is returned. Failure to receive your Dues Notice does not relieve you of the responsibility to pay your dues in a timely manner. Failure to pay your dues in a timely manner, may result in suspension. Again Brothers, without a correct address, you might not receive your dues notice, current membership card, monthly Trestle Board, or other important information. (All returned Trestle Boards are automatically dropped from mailing list)
2013 Lodge Officers Front Row (L to R): W:. Mike Grimes, W:. Mike Olson, R:.H:. Ron Baber, R:.H:. George Benjamin, Daryl Leeworthy, Kyle Bachman 2nd Row (L to R): Doug Dobbs, Rob Hunt Back Row (L to R): Joe Fenton, W:.M:. Les Ruggiero, & John Steiner Photo Courtesy Of: Nick Evans Photography Please sign up for Saturday Charity Collections 10 AM -6 PM at Publix on Old Tampa Rd. in Parrish. We always need help, plus we are one of the leading lodges for charitable donations!! ALESSIO S RISTORANTE All-You-Can-Eat Pasta Dinner 5:00 PM - 7:30PM On the 2nd Friday of each month at the Lodge Building Cost is only $9.00 for Adults Please come and bring your friends and family, children under 12 free. Serving: salad, bread, pasta, coffee, & iced tea. Please feel free to bring your favorite dessert to share! Did You Forget? 2013 Lodge dues are now overdue, and delinquent notices have recently been sent out. If you have not yet paid your 2013 dues, and did not receive an overdue notice, please contact the Lodge Secretary immediately, as we may not have an up-to-date address. Failure to pay dues for any reason will result in automatic suspension of membership at the end of the dues period unless other arrangements have been made. (2013 dues are $80.00, plus $7.30 voluntary contribution to the Masonic Home) Steak Night 1st Monday at 6:00 pm Support Our Lodge Dinners! Potluck Night 3rd Monday at 6:00 pm $10 Ribeye Steak Dinner Typically includes: mushrooms & onions, mashed potatoes w/ gravy, vegetable, tossed salad, & dessert. For a small donation, the Lodge provides the Main Course, Coffee & Tea. Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite side dish or dessert to share.
SEPTEMBER 2013 OCTOBER 2013
Manatee Lodge No. 31 Free and Accepted Masons of Florida P.O. Box 9304 Bradenton, Florida 34206 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) William Dalgarno John & Roberta Collins PLATINUM CLUB ($75.00+ ) John & Carol Steiner, George & Lucille Benjamin, Ken & Karen Ammons, Les & Carol Ruggiero 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 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