An announcement from the WM of Stichter Lodge-

One of our major projects during the year 2023 will be with District 40. This is in support of the Widows Guild program.

Stichter Lodge is hosting a fundraiser Comedy Show at Soul Joel’s Comedy Lounge at Sunnybrook, 50 Sunnybrook Road, Pottstown on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 7:00 PM.  Doors open at 6:00 PM. General entrance tickets are $20.per person and VIP tickets are $30.00. You can order your tickets at www.souljoels.com/shop/tickets/widowsguildprogram/ or by going to www.souljoels.com & clicking on the calendar and going to January 19, 2023. Their phone number is 610-686-8080.

Proceeds will be given to the Masonic Widows Guild Program..Attend and lend us your support! Thanks.

S&F,

Allan L Makins Jr WM 21-23

Stichter Lodge #254

Gents,

At last nite’s SOI we had a discussion on when we could hold our re-org meeting since Dec 7th won’t work due to the GL Quarterly Communication. It has been determined that the best nite would be Wed, Nov 30th at 7pm at SpringFord. 

Incoming Masters are needed in attendance in order to pick SOI assignments & Visitation dates for 2023. Current Masters & Wardens are also welcome. Please make sure your Lodge is represented. Masters, if your successor isn’t your current SW (included in the email) please forward this off to them.

Also, Masters & Secretaries, please fill out & return the attached 2023 Contact list so I can get started on the new Lodge Directory. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks much.

_________________________

Eric A. Bausch, P.M.

40th Masonic District Secretary

District40FAM@gmail.com

40th Masonic District of Pennsylvania (pa40th.org)

The members of Spring-Ford are once again holding a Chicken BBQ dinner at the Lodge!

SATURDAY OCTOBER 22nd—NOON TO 4PM 
MEAL INCLUDES SMOKED CHICKEN LEG QUARTER, THREE SIDES (MACARONI
SALAD, POTATO SALAD, & BAKED BEANS), A ROLL, AND A BOTTLE OF WATER.
SEE A LODGE MEMBER FOR TICKETS OR PURCHASE ON-SITE THE DAY OF.
TAKE OUT ORDERS ONLY. DRIVE-THRU SERVICE AT THE SPRING-FORD MASONIC
LODGE No. 553, 659 CHURCH STREET, ROYERSFORD, PA.

The Grand Lodge Leadership Seminar is being offered on Saturday October 15, 2022 at the Valley of Allentown at 1533 Hamilton Street Allentown, PA 18102. 

We have all heard the Grand Master’s desire that we communicate the value of the fraternity to the membership.  THIS is one of the many opportunities that we offer and our members can take advantage of it very inexpensively.  In my career, I have attended and presented at numerous leadership seminars similar to this one.  I highly recommend this one as a leadership development opportunity for our membership.  

I am asking for your assistance to actively promote this program to your Lodge officers and upcoming officers.  Many of our officers have never been in a leadership position and this course will help make them much more effective when they are running their respective lodges. 

When I say “actively promote”,  I am not suggesting you simply forward this email.  You need to personally encourage these brothers to take advantage of this opportunity.  You know which lodges and brothers are in particular need of this sort of training.  Please engage them on the phone or preferably face to face and get them signed up for this course. 

About the Course:

The Leadership Seminar is designed to be very interactive and thought provoking.  The course covers different leadership styles, the importance of effective communication, conflict management, how to motivate and persuade, and illustrates the value of embracing generational differences.  It is a combination of lecture and breakout groups for more intimate discussions on other leadership challenges and situations.

Registration will run from 7:45AM – 8:30AM with a continental breakfast

The course will be conducted from 8:30AM – 3:30PM with a lunch provided for the participants.

The registration is currently open on the Grand Lodge website (https://pagrandlodge.org/event/2022-grand-lodge-leadership-seminar-3/). There is a $25.00 registration fee that needs to be paid during the online registration process.  Lodges are authorized to reimburse this fee and mileage for any Brother that wishes to attend.

Mike Yacovelli asked me to let everyone know that Lancaster County Club of the A.A.S.R is having their Fall Dinner.on Tuesday, October 4th at 6pm. All are invited.

It’s Seafood Night at the Shady Maple Smorgasbord. Cost is $40 per person. 

Please RSVP to Dick Eby at 717-808-6752.

The WM & members of The Kite & Key would like to invite you to the Annual Burns Supper on January 21, 2023. See attached flyer for more information.

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL BURNS SUPPER
In celebration of the life of Brother Robert Burns on the occasion of his 264th Birthday
AN EVENING OF SCOTTISH MUSIC, POETRY, FOOD AND CONVIVIALITY
Saturday Evening, 21 January 2023
6:00 PM for cocktails, 7:00 PM for dinner
Shepherd Hills Event Center
1160 South Krocks Road, Wescosville, PA
Hosted by The Kite & Key Lodge No. 811, F&AM
Guest of Honour
Bro. Thomas Gamon IV
Right Worshipful Past Grand Master
MASONS, THEIR LADIES AND FRIENDS ARE WELCOME!
Dress: Coat and Tie or Scottish National Dress

Brethren, Union Lodge is hosting their Seventh Annual Sporting Clay Shoot at Oley Fish and Game on October 8th. Proceeds benefit Union’s Scholarship Fund. Please see the attached flyer for more details and registration form. Thanks.

Brethren,

I hope you are enjoying your Summer Break and are soon ready to get back to work at your Lodges.  During the first half of the year, I impressed upon all, the need to have Proficiency in the Ritual Work for the Officers; especially the Elected Officers…

The Break may be needed to “recharge our batteries”, however it is also a good time to hone your skills at a more relaxed pace.  I sincerely hope this is the case, as the Grand Lodge is adamant that ALL Junior & Senior Wardens as well as Worshipful Masters meet certain levels of Proficiency or they should be Held Back or Removed from the Chair by the DDGM or the RWGM…

To this end, please evaluate Yourselves and your fellow Officers for the needed skills and knowledge.  It is difficult for a Lodge to move forward or for a Brother to gain traction moving through the Chairs if there is a “Roadblock”.  I do not mean this in a derogatory way, but seriously, Learn The Ritual !!!

I will be examining this topic in ALL Lodges of the Mighty 40th District in the future. Also, please review the memo below regarding another Officer Workshop in our Region…

Thank You for your cooperation & your efforts.

Sincerely & Fraternally,

William L. Herz

DDGM 40

Brother DDGMs,

Our GM has authorized (3) Fall Make-up Workshop/Mentor classes for any last-minute Brethren who require training to stand in the East in 2023.

Grove City, Lehighton and Norristown have been selected for only those Brothers who missed the Spring Class. This is an opportunity for Brethren to advance in 2023.

September 10, 2022 has been approved for Region 1 and will be held at Norristown Lodge No. 620.

Workshop agenda:

This is to be a Half-day class.

Start time is 8:30 AM

Finish time is 12 noon

Registration starting at 7:30 AM

Coffee, donuts, juice and water will be served…   NO lunch

Workshop Rules are as follows:

ONLY the Officer advancing to the East; District Mentor Chairman; and each

respective Lodge Mentor Chairmen are invited provided they did not attend the Spring Class.

Brethren who wish to attend must register with their DDGM.  I must receive their names/office/lodge number from each District DDGM no later than September 5^th (via email) so that I can order refreshments.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  There will be no on-line registration for this workshop.   Register with your DDGM !

Please let me know if you have any questions.

S&F,

Dave Beaulieu, PDDGM

Regional Educator, Region 1

Attached, please find important dates for 2023.

Similar to previous years, we are no longer providing regional secretary seminars, these have been replaced by regional/District IT/secretary trainings by the IT committee. You are free to contact Brothers Bob Dunkle, PDDGM or John Cook, PDDGM to schedule training as you deem appropriate.

Please feel free to share the below information as you deem appropriate.

Thank you

Brethren,
Please mark your calendars and join us at Mt Pickering Lodge on Saturday, August 20th for a pig roast from 5-9 PM.
We will have a pig, roasted, seasoned, and pulled or cut with a variety of sides and drinks.

All you can eat, $25 per person, $10 for under 10, and free for under 5 years old. 
There will be take away dinners for $15 each at the lodge.

Mt Pickering Lodge, 218 Byers Rd, Chester Springs PA 19425