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Brethren,

The Masters and Wardens Association will be holding our quarterly meeting Friday December 9th, at 6:30PM in Schenevus Valley Lodge. Dinner will be served prior, as they are hosting a pulled pork event. Please contact RW Rick Scheiner to RSVP for dinner. In the event of inclement weather, the back-up meeting date will be Friday December 16th, also in Schenevus, also at 6:30.

All brothers are cordially invited to attend and share their thoughts and ideas. Voting is reserved for all active and installed Masters and Wardens. We will be discussing our upcoming Charity Event in January, our golf tournament and our murder mystery dinner. We also need to review the upcoming changes to our district with our RW DDGM Ted Volkert.

Brother Jeff Shellenberger

Last week, Schoharie Valley Lodge #491 conferred the Entered Apprentice degree upon a new brother- Br. Rob Lediuzet. We had just shy of 30 brothers in Lodge and for dinner, it was certainly a sight to behold! We also welcomed visiting brothers from Unity and Franklin Lodge's along with being treated to a presentation from RW Jack Mulhall from Mass about the Masonic Camping Club.

I say it every year, many times a year, but special things are happening in #491. Our dinners are still good (despite our chef Paul Stoddard moving across the country), our fellowship is the BEST in the state, and our meetings are fun and unique every time we get together. If you haven't joined us in some time, I strongly encourage you to come back and check us out. Dinners are usually $10, which is a small price to pay for the amazing atmosphere you'll witness.

Our Worshipful Master, Randy Rathka, is undergoing surgery to correct a hernia and address some other smaller issues that have been plaguing him for 2+ weeks now. I expect him back at Lodge next month, ready to steal the gavel back from the usurper from the west.

Looking ahead-
Tonight 10/18- 5:30 PM
We will be hosting a practice / run through for the DDGM visit next week, along with working with Brother Rob on his proficiency. All are invited- we can chip in for a pizza or heat-up some leftovers.

10/25-
We will be hosting our DDGM for his official visit to #491. Dinner will be served at 6:00PM, the cost for this special dinner will be $20 / brother. RSVP's must be received by Todd Cipperly or Ken Zinnsar no later than Friday. Lodge will open PROMPTLY (Randy or Jeff) at 7PM. Come one, come all to hear this special message from the DDGM.

From around the district-
Tonight is the 1st degree for Otsego Lodge in Cooperstown.
Next Tuesday 11/1 is the 1st degree is Cobleskill
DDGM Visits-
10/25 Schoharie Valley
11/8 Richfield Springs
11/14 Schenevus Valley (the OTHER SVL)
11/15 Cobleskill

So that's it for now. I hope to see you all tonight and / or next week. As always- BE THERE AND BE SQUARE!

Brother Jeff Shellenberger
Warden of the West

R∴W∴Edward Newsham and W∴Bruce Van Buren presented W∴Howard A Stapley Jr with his 50 Year Service Award. Howard was Master in 1972.

Howard,

Howard & Bruce

Bruce, Howard & Betty

Our Grand Lecturer announced a new requirement that every lodge in New York begin conducting an open lodge suitable proficiency on each Brother before advancing to the next degree that follows this format:

The Brother is brought into the lodge room west of the altar and salutes the WM with the due-guard and sign. The WM asks him the first few questions up to but not including the one about how we may know him to be a mason or FC. He is then conducted to the JW who continues with the questions concerning the signs, and then to the SW for the questions about the token.

That is all. This constitutes the minimum standard, for now, of what defines suitable proficiency. This will help to new Brother in his communication skills, speaking in public, and in ensuring that he will be able to work his way into another lodge someday.

We have become slack in what we call suitable proficiency. In the old days all Brothers were required to do the entire series of questions and answers from memory in open lodge before being allowed to pass. It is now time to turn around and head back to that. This is the first step.

We had a great Communication with 15 members, 1 EA, and 3 visitors present; 19 total. Highlights:

• Rick Ranc lost his wedding ring for a few days; found it on the ball field.
• Ron Ranc jumped out of a perfectly good airplane.
• Last Monday Oneonta Chapter 277, Royal Arch Masons, received the DDGHP. Delaware Chapter is meeting with them until Delhi Lodge is repaired. There were 21 in attendance.
• 3 attended Northstar Project training.
• W∴ Bruce L. Van Buren appointed the district webmaster.
• Fred Hickein had a heart valve repaired and feels like he'll live to be 100.
• Annual Awards Dinner. Fred Hickein received special recognition and James St John received his 70 Year Service Award.
• Past Master need to make appointments at Costa Photography for pictures in our gallery. Please were tuxedo.

I propose one of of the following dates at 7:00 pm at Cobleskill:

Wed 7 Sept
Wed 14 Sept
Thur 15 Sept (with Advisor webinar at 9 pm)

We were targeting meetings for
2nd Wednesday 7:30 pm
4th Friday 7:30 pm (Advisors 7 pm)
but we have other options, e. g. Sat AM.

Please reply with what works best & 2nd best for you.

Agenda
Petitions - make sure they can meet on the nights we decide. We could invite them to this meeting along with parents.
Meeting times
Planning - additional time
Election incl Sweetheart
Degrees - contact Kevin
Installation = "

DAD Bruce L. Van Buren
607-435-7767

Meeting at 7:30 pm at Cobleskill Wed 14 Sept.

We were targeting meetings for
2nd Wednesday 7:30 pm
4th Friday 7:30 pm (Advisors 7 pm)
but we have other options, e. g. Sat AM.

Agenda
Petitions - make sure they can meet on the nights we decide. We could invite them to this meeting along with parents.
Meeting times
Planning - additional time
Election incl Sweetheart
Degrees - contact Kevin
Installation = "

Also Thur 15 Sept

• 6pm O-S M&W dinner followed by meeting
• Advisor webinar at 9 pm

DAD Bruce L. Van Buren
607-435-7767

The 2nd Annual Charity Festive Board September 23, 2016
Washington Chapter #29, 1883 Rt 13 N Cortland New York 13045
Social time 6:30 Dinner 7:30
Cost..... $30.00
We will have somethings for sale And a drawing for something special. All of those proceeds will go to the scholarship fund. All profits from the Dinner also will go to the Scholarship fund If you went last year you know how good the dinner was, You will not be disappointed.

Paid RSVP to; Wade Caler, 742 Sleepy Hollow Road, Cortland, NY 13045
Make checks to WashingtonChapter #29

Thank-you,
Kim C Dellow, DDGHP The 8th Capitular District

The NorthStar Project is The Grand Lodge of New York’s initiative for meeting and mentoring new Masons in the State of New York. At the site are files and information for Masons. A password is required and is only given to those certified in the program.

Due to impending weather (70% chance of rain) and no RSVP's, I am cancelling this years picnic.

Ted
DDGM