Manatee Lodge No. 31 402 15th Street East Issue 2014-7 Bradenton, Florida 34208 July 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. 31 2014 Officers W Joe Fenton 941-232-5031 John Steiner 941-232-4927 Doug Dobbs 941-545-1726 W Mike Olson, PM 941-361-3084 R H George Benjamin, PM 941-713-7856 Stan Preston 941-792-6167 W Les Ruggiero, PM 401-338-4205 Kyle Bachman 941-518-6081 Tom Carter 941-993-7911 Brody Katt 941-704-9567 Matt Steiner 941-742-8784 R H Ron Baber, PM 941-748-7938 Ken Ammons 941-795-4535 R H Ron Baber, PM 941-748-7938 Stan Preston 941-792-6167 W George Vomvoris, PM 941-756-6298 Ed Kieffer 941-313-6760 W George Vomvoris, PM 941-756-6298 Brothers, FROM THE SECRETARY We are again closely approaching that time of the year when the Grand Lodge requires all Lodges to send delinquent notices to Brothers who have not yet paid their 2014 dues. Our Lodge records indicate that better than 50 of our members are currently unpaid and therefore technically delinquent. In most cases, this is just merely an oversight. If so, please send in the $87.30 Dues and Voluntary Contribution to the Masonic Home as quickly as possible to P.O. Box 9304, Bradenton, FL 34206, to avoid the embarrassment of receiving a delinquent notice. If, on the other hand, you are currently experiencing financial difficulties that have prevented you from being able to meet this annual obligation, please contact me at once so that we can make other arrangements to keep you current. Manatee Lodge sincerely cares about all of its Brothers, and will do whatever is necessary to avoid losing any members simply because they are having some financial problems. Also, the Grand Lodge per-capita assessment has been raised from $14.50 per member to $20.00 per member effective for 2015. This is the first increase in per-capita assessment in many years, and necessary because of the increasing operational costs experienced by the Grand Lodge. This increase will be reflected in the up-coming 2015 Dues Notices. The actual Lodge Dues will remain the same as Manatee Lodge is still operating adequately within its current budget and able to provide all necessary services to its members and tenants. The increase on the Dues Notice will represent only the increase levied upon the Lodge by the Grand Lodge of Florida. Fraternally, R:.H:. George Benjamin
Sickness & Distress Gil Pierola is home from the hospital and doing well. Judy Owen is improving. Ken Ammons father suffered a broken hip and hip surgery, but is recovering. Please keep these and all other is sichness and distress in your thoughts and prayers. Special Announcements The craft voted to raise our potluck dinner to $10.00 and the whole dinner will be provided by the lodge. Manatee Lodge #31 has scholarship money to give out. If you have a child grandchild that is actively enrolled in college and would like a scholarship please contact our Treasurer or The Worshipful Master. 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 Mark A Atkinson 07/09/1994 Dorwin A Pulford 07/09/1994 Charles M Reibold 07/09/1994 Ronald W Smith 07/09/1994 Steven J Hodgkinson 07/11/2009 Rabun G Moss Jr 07/11/2009 John Neri 07/11/2009 Michael D Terrell 07/11/2009 Leroy J Burns 07/19/1997 Tommy L Workman 07/19/1997 Edward H Kieffer 07/21/1979 Earl M Grimes 07/21/2007 Ray E Oxendine 07/21/2007 Donald C Steele 07/22/1975 Thomas E Jacobs 07/23/1983 John F Sheffield 07/23/1983 Frederick W Edwards 07/26/1980 Michael H Smith 07/26/1986 Anton J Sardo 07/27/1985 William H Hawthorne Jr 07/28/1975 Paul Kramer 07/28/1975 Philip Mandzik Jr 07/28/1979 Charles O Staigerwald 07/28/1979 Matthew J Kiernan 07/30/2005 Norman L Bush III 07/31/1971 Thank you to our Trestle Board Business Sponsors!!
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 34206 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) 896-5120 cell: (941) 807-6416 manacuda@yahoo.com Computers Home Care Anders Home Services, Inc. Home Care For Snowbirds 2806 56th Ave Cir E Bradenton, FL 34203 voice: (941) 753-3486 voice: (941) 705-0751 andershomeservices@gmail.com Photography Automotive Financial Michael H. Smith Investment Advisor 6350 Gulf Of Mexico Dr. Suite 101 Longboat Key, FL 34228 voice: (941) 383-2300 Michael@LongboatKeyFinancial.com Legal George Benjamin Social Security Disability Specialist 2027 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, FL 34205 voice: (941) 748-5599 George@LeglerFlynn.com Plumbing Banking Funeral Sammy Simpkins Funeral Director Griffith-Cline Funeral Home 720 Manatee Ave W Bradenton, FL 34205 voice: (941) 748-1011 sam.simpkins@griffithcline.com Medical Travel
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 Patty Kunkel pattykunkel@verizon.net Robert Mallard jdf53118@msn.com Secretary Diane Nourse 508-904-8660 merrymeetingdi@aol.com Chaplain Mary Hancock 758-5272 Sentinel Douglas Dobbs 545-1726 doug.dobs61@yahoo.com Warder Bill Dunning bill@gatorstamping.com 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. Go Paperless! Help Support Our Lodge by choosing to receive your copy of the Trestle Board by email. Contact: Trestle Board Editor Bro. Rob Hunt, caddcid@gmail.com Our Masonic Family Kathy Rodd Albert (Butch) Thurman, PM butcht31@peoplepc.com William A. Sorbie, PM dotbat@hotmail.com Richard Coles Worshipful Master Kevin Bergquist 941-807-1734 dojoacademy@gmail.com Sr. Warden Jr. Warden Donna Kay Duffy mailto:cdd84@aol.com Richard Coles Russell DesErmia 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 Humphties, 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: James Jackson Albritton, Sr., Robert I. Hammer, Steve Hopkins, Nicholas Jared Ierulli, Anthony Thomas McNair, and Michael Albert Rogers Brothers to be Raised: None at this time Brothers preparing for MM Proficiency, pursuing their Apron: Lazaro Diaz, James McConnell Bell. Brothers recently presented their Masonic Apron: Derek James Berry, Matthew Steven Steiner 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
2014 Lodge Committees FINANCE COMMITTEE Sr. Warden: John Steiner jsteiner4@tampabay.rr.com VIGILANCE COMMITEE Jr. Warden: Doug Dobbs doug.dobbs61@yahoo.com 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 TBA 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 $1600.00 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 34206. 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 2014. 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.
Do you have your Masonic License Plate Yet?? 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 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 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 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!
July 2014 August 2014
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) Your Name Here! Herbert and Joan McGuire PLATINUM CLUB ($75.00+ ) 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