Noah Lodge #357 Trestleboard

Greetings Brothers,

It looks like summer is coming upon us quickly which means traffic will be getting better after Easter.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter and are looking forward to an enjoyable summer of fun, sun, and Masonic fellowship.

At our May 9th meeting it will be UGLY SHIRT night, so dig up that old favorite ugly shirt before your wife donates it to a rummage sale, and wear it to lodge that
night and maybe win a prize.

Saturday May 14th will be another fantastic Spaghetti Dinner from 4 to 7 P.M. This one may have some music along with great fellowship. So keep that date open
for another fun evening. (may a surprise or two)

The 23rd Of May will be a Family Night with a pot luck dinner, entertainment, and of course, good fellowship. This dinner will start at 6 P.M.

The end of the month we will be at Grand Lodge and will be voting on the proposed changes to Grand Lodge Digest of Masonic Law of Florida that was decided on at
our April 25th meeting.

I'll be looking forward to sitting in Lodge at NOAH with you. Be safe and enjoy being a MASON.

In Brotherly love and fidelity,

Larry Newton,
Worshipful Master

Greetings, Brethren and all,

       As April slowly slips from our calendars and May slips upon us, we look back to see what have we accomplished this year with the first quarter now gone. Have you been a productive Mason or are you sitting and watching it all slowly pass by? Noah #357 has had 3 meal functions this year thus far and 90% of the proceeds have been used to help poor or distressed Brethren. Isn't this what we are here for? If you were present and helped us with the kitchen duties or supported Noah by buying a ticket to help in our relief efforts, I thank you for your time and support. If you weren't there maybe next time you can step up help in the kitchen, help sell some tickets, anything you do in moving us forward is a big help and I thank you in advance for your help.

       Noah #357 raised 4 new brothers to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. I would like to thank all the Brothers and other Lodges who assisted in this degree. Brother Mike Gardner has stepped into the Junior Deacon station and Brother Robert Sabo has filled the Senior Steward chair. Bro Mike is coming along real well in his new found duties and Bro Sabo is excelling in the Sr. Steward's chair. Bro Sabo outdoes himself every meeting with some new meal that we are just waiting to enjoy and savor. So if you haven't been to Lodge for a while you don't know what you are missing.

       As May makes its way onto our calendars we find we are voting on a lot of changes within Grand Lodge, the Masonic Home and within our own Lodges. These laws and resolutions were read and discussed in open Lodge on April 25, 2011. The Brethren present voted for the good of the Brotherhood and will send representatives to vote as such at Grand Lodge. Come to Lodge on May 9th to find how your Lodge voted and if you agree, come on out and voice your view - it is important.. Hope to see you there.

       May 9, 2011 will be ugly shirt night at Noah 357 I am not sure if there is a prize for this however their most certainly should be. May 14, 2011 is our second spaghetti dinner, the first one was so good we are anticipating the second to come. One last thing in May is our Family night which will be held on May 23, 2011 (regular Lodge night), but no Lodge, just family stuff, cant wait. Main meal will be 2 Turkeys with everyone else bringing side dishes and deserts. Bring the one you like and prepare the best.

       And that is how we will start our second quarter of the year. Doesn't it sound exciting and wouldn't you like to be apart of this and all to come? Well, if you do, all you have to do is show up and be a part.   Relax and set back talk to old friends and enjoy Masonry.

       I almost forgot - we also had a Past Master night in February and if I remember right Noah had 23 Past Masters in attendance. Where would we be without Past Masters?

Fraternally,

Lawrence A.Tomlinson
Your Senior Warden

Our Secretary has been playing Doctor Pinball (he's the pinball) this month, so his article will be delayed a bit.)

My Brothers,

Living in Florida at this time of year, we miss the changing of the seasons. We miss seeing God's hand in the renewing of the earth. We do of course have the beautiful sunrises and sunsets of South West Florida and the flowering trees, beaches and rivers that surround us. If we would only take time to open our eyes and see, we would feel God's presents in our lives every day.

My Brothers let us be thankful for God's creations, the beauty that surrounds us and God's presence in our lives.

May God bless you every day in every way.

John McKinney
Chaplain