From the East - February

Hello everyone.

I want to congratulate all the new brothers for taking a step on their Masonic journey.
The first three meetings in January were successful.
RW Chet, thank you for your support not just in our lodge but this great fraternity.
Thank you Brother Jeff Morgan for all the hard work that went into the Highland Scottish Games.
Brother Jason Streit, thank you for stepping up and taking charge of the retail for the lodge.
Brothers, Jason would like to know if there are any items that you would like to see in the display case for purchase, please get with him.
I also want to thank Brother Nelson Bonet for helping me and Eastbrook Elementary School at their Safety Saturday event on Jan 16th at t the last minute.

Winter Park Lodge voted to cancel our credit card company and go with another company that will allow us to accept credit cards by swiping them in a machine.
Winter Park is slowly moving forward.
When the unit is up and running we will be able to accept payment of dues, retail, and other things by credit cards.

Brother Jason, Larry and W. Bill are teaching catechism classes for new brothers, if any brother would like to assist and teach a class, please call or email me.

Investigations are a hot topic for Winter Park, as we move forward in this year. Petitions are coming in quickly. February is the month of Valentines.
Brothers please do not forget February 14th. 

There are a few dates to remember:

February 6 is Master and Wardens at Mokanna Lodge with the installation of officers of Memorial Lodge to follow at 8am.
February 13th from 9am-3pm is open books at the Lodge.
School of Instruction is February 10th and 24th at Mokanna Lodge at 7pm.

Winter Park Lodge would like to email trestle boards to you if you would like, but we need emails so that we have that ability. We are not stopping the delivery of the hard copy. Communication is the key for success, providing your email to me would allow me to pass the information to you much quicker. My email is wmaster[at]winterparklodge[dot]org.

Brothers please keep in your prayers the families in Haiti.
Charity of the month is the American Red Cross. 

Fraternally,

Mark Avery, Worshipful Master

Posted by Ricardo Parente at 12:01 AM - Categories: 1. East

From the East

Hello everyone.

What happened to 2009? I want to thank every one of you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your Worshipful Master for this year.
2010 is not going to be a light year; in fact it is going to be filled with special events for the entire family.
I want to thank the installation team, the youth groups, and the York Rite for participating on this special day.
Thank you to all the Eastern Star ladies for everything you do for this lodge. 
I want to give a very special thanks to my mom (Peggy), my dad (Mark), my brother (Allen), and my grandparents for making me who I am today.
I owe it all to my grandfather (Glen) for becoming a Mason and having him there to install me was an honor. I will always treasure this memory. 
Master Mason’s wives are very special for supporting their husbands in being part of this great fraternity.  I am very blessed to have a wonderful wife and daughter, who have been there for me, I love you Lindsey and Cassidy.

Our first meeting will be Jan 12th and the dinner meeting will be Jan 26th, Jan 16th and 17th Highland Scottish Games, Jan 19 EA degree at 6:00pm, Jan 30 is the DDGM’S RW Chet King’s homecoming at 6:30pm, February 6 is Master and Wardens at Winter Park Lodge; breakfast at 8am and meeting at 9am, March 27th is the annual picnic in the park at Mead Gardens. Master and Wardens meeting is not just for Master’s and Warden’s it is for all brothers in the district.

Mark Avery, Worshipful Master.

Posted by Ricardo Parente at 10:47 PM - Categories: 1. East

From the East

As the year winds down, I am beset by mixed emotions.  I feel as though I have been blessed by having the dedicated support of everyone at Winter Park Lodge throughout the year, from the Past Masters to not-yet-raised brothers, to our sisters at Pioneer Chapter of Eastern Star, the Rainbow Girls of Hope 82, the boys of South Seminole Chapter of DeMolay and the brothers of South Seminole Lodge. 
Most of all, the officers of this year, there are not enough words to express my thanks.  I prepare to leave the East with some regret, because I know there were many opportunities where I could have (and should have) done more, yet I also believe that our Lodge is continuing to grow, not just in numbers, but in knowledge, charity and the ability to be a positive force in our community. 
My hope is that I can contribute more to the Lodge in the future, for our future, and I have faith that the future of our Lodge is a bright one.  Knowing the brothers of Winter Park Lodge, I believe that faith is well founded.

Bill Valentino, W.Master

0 comments - Posted by Ricardo Parente at 7:11 PM - Categories: 1. East

From the East

Thanks to all for the cards, letters & support on the passing of my father.  While the lessons of mortality are central to the Masonic lessons of morality, the arrival of the moment still unleashes the struggle for all involved.  The key to victory is to continue living to support the good in the world.  It may be doing something charitable for inside the lodge (Thanks again to D.F. for the beautiful furniture in the lobby!), outside the lodge (Thanks to P.B., making sure the grounds always look great!) or out into the community (Thanks to all for 4th of July, Bonneville Elementary, clothes drives and Make-a-Wish).  This is above and beyond supporting our regular Masonic events or youth events.  I have been blessed with a wonderful Masonic family, and I will be inspired to continue to live to serve. 
My Brothers, a reminder that we rescheduled our December meeting (and elections) 1st,; also,  we need to vote on going dark for the meeting of 12/22.

Fraternally,

Bill Valentino, Worshipful Master

0 comments - Posted by Ricardo Parente at 10:13 PM - Categories: 1. East

From the East

My sincerest apologies go out to RW Chuck Hayes and his wife, Carol.  We reported in our last trestleboard that Carol had passed on, which thankfully is not the case.  But it is an insensitive mistake and points out a failure in leadership – my leadership – to properly communicate.  So much of success in any area of life depends on accurate and timely communication, and in our fraternity, the very foundation of which is brotherhood, a lack of communication can be seen as a lack of caring.  I care about our lodge, and I resolve to overcome my recent missteps by insuring that I establish my connections.

My Brothers, we rescheduled our election night from December 8th to December 1st, so that our Ladies of the Oriental Shrine can have our lodge room for their official visit.  Our Grand Master said that Masons are the key to the whole Masonic Family.  We show the strength of our fraternity by proving that we can help – this is a time of turbulence and change, and the mighty oak that stands rigid in the wind is blown over, while the reed that acknowledges the wind and bends is the one that survives the storm.

We are sure to have busy month in October, come out on Tuesday night.  

Fraternally,  

Bill Valentino, Worshipful Master

0 comments - Posted by Bill Valentino at 12:01 AM - Categories: 1. East

From the East

My Brothers, we begin the last third of the year with a reminder that on Sept 20th, we have a very important vote – to reschedule our election night from December 8th to December 1st, so that our Ladies of the Oriental Shrine can have our lodge room for their official visit.  Our Grand Master said that Masons are the key to the whole Masonic Family.  We show the strength of our fraternity by proving that we can help – this is a time of turbulence and change, and the mighty oak that stands rigid in the wind is blown over, while the reed that acknowledges the wind and bends is the one that survives the storm.

We are sure to have busy month in September, with all three degrees at some point.  Come out on Tuesday nights to practice degree work, and stretch yourself.  

Fraternally,

Bill Valentino, Worshipful Master

0 comments - Posted by Ricardo Parente at 10:48 PM - Categories: 1. East

From the East

After a blur of activity in June, and a (thankfully) quiet July, it's time again to gear up for the remainder of 2009. 

While our first stated meeting is not until Aug. 25th, there will be numerous opportunities to learn and study and fellowship, starting with the Master's & Wardens meeting at Orange Lodge on Saturday the first. For our new brothers, Orange Lodge in Apopka contains the oldest Masonic structure in the state (from 1856), and is interesting in its own right.  But the Masters & Wardens Association is open to all Master Masons, and I encourage you to attend to meet other active Masons from the district. 

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0 comments - Posted by Ricardo Parente at 10:01 PM - Categories: 1. East