Greetings Brothers,
Our "Books for Bicycles" program is in progress in several of our Rapid City elementary schools. The goal of this program, started by Worshipful Brother Ben Kirkland, is to get the children interested in reading and build an atmosphere of fun competition. Each child from kindergarten through 5th grade is given an opportunity to have their name entered into a drawing once for each book they complete with the teacher's approval. At the end of each school quarter, a drawing will be held and four students will be awarded a new bicycle and riding helmet courtesy of Mt. Rushmore Masonic Lodge #220 of Rapid City. One bicycle and helmet is given to a child from kindergarten through 2nd grade and another is awarded to a child between the 3rd and 5th grades. The Rapid City Journal, in addition to KOTA and KEVN television stations have expressed an interest in this program and will cover the presentations. The first presentations will be made on Friday, April 17th beginning with an assembly at Wilson Elementary School starting at 10:30 a.m. followed shortly after by a second presentation at Grand View Elementary School. All members of the Masonic Fraternity are invited to attend and support this fun and important program. Questions can be directed to WB Ben Kirkland, 716-2189 or WB Lee Mai, 393-9850. Hope to see you at school!
Mt. Rushmore Lodge #220 will be presenting an Entered Apprentice degree for two new candidates on Thursday, April 23rd beginning at 7:00 p.m. Worshipful Master Ben Kirkland would be pleased to welcome all Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Masons who would like to attend and help us welcome these two new brothers.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Lodge of Instruction
On Thursday, March 26th, at 7:00 p.m. MDT, Mt. Rushmore Lodge #220 will hold a lodge of instruction. This meeting is open to all Master Masons in the area who would like to brush up on their ritual work and learn something new. Bro. Jeff Simmons, one of the members of the Board of Custodians, will be present to assist with the instruction. You are invited to bring your toughest questions about the ritual so that they can be answered. Refreshments will be provided and the evening promises to be a night of learning and fellowship.
The lodge building can be found at 618 Kansas City Street in Rapid City, SD. We hope to see you there!
The lodge building can be found at 618 Kansas City Street in Rapid City, SD. We hope to see you there!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Working Together, We Can Succeed
Over the last several months, I've been contemplating as I'm sure many brothers do from time to time, the reason our members lose interest in attending our local Lodge meetings. I've recently had the opportunity to visit with a number of the members of several different Lodges from the surrounding area. There seems to be a general consensus among those members that there just isn't anything interesting enough going on at those meetings to make them get off the couch, get dressed up and brave the world outside the comforts of home, especially following a hard day at work.
One brother I spoke to early last week, stated he had been raised in the mid 1960's in another state, and hadn't attended a lodge meeting in over 15 years. When I asked him to tell me why he had never visited one of the many lodges in the Black Hills, he could only say that he didn't really have a reason. He just seemed to lose interest after a while, and didn't see a need to show up just to listen to someone read the minutes of the previous meeting, and then shake a few hands and go home. We continued to visit for some 40 minutes or so and discussed all the usual reasons that some brothers have become Masons, and why some complete one or two degrees and then disappear. I believe there are as many various reasons for this as there are lost candidates or brothers.
Perhaps one of the problems lies in a lack of attention some give to the important task of making the new candidate or newly raised brother feel like a part of the group. None of us is perfect, and there are always things we could do better. If we have done our job properly, and have truly done a proper investigation on the candidate, we should know something about him, his career, family, hobbies, leisure time activities, etc. Perhaps when we agree to sign a candidate's petition, we don't really take the time to find out why he wishes to join our fraternity. On a number of occasions, I have been asked to sign a petition for a candidate who knows only that he needs to be a Mason to be accepted into the Shrine and the potential Masonic Candidate knows almost nothing about Masonry. This is when we should be willing to set down and visit with the candidate and attempt to share with him, our own knowledge of our fraternity. Only after we are sure that the candidate is informed and is able to make a commitment to the tenets of our fraternity, should we be willing to add our name to his petition.
Once a brother is raised, the important work should begin. If the new brother is given the opportunity to not only attend our meetings, but to stay in contact with a knowledgeable brother who is willing to become a source for information and a source for answers to his questions, he will then perhaps begin to feel like he is an important member of the Lodge. Some brethren have suggested the best way to retain a new member is to put him right to work and give him a responsibility. This idea may have some merit, but perhaps it is just as important to make him feel comfortable in the Lodge, invite him to attend our meetings and to set with a knowledgeable brother who can explain the procedures which take place during a meeting. In this way, the new brother is given an opportunity to experience the meeting and thereby become more comfortable in his new surroundings. Eventually, the new brother will begin to feel like an equal among the brethren, and will hopefully begin to express his interest in assisting in the Lodge.
Maintaining a brother's interest in attending our meetings is equally important. If a Lodge can work together to plan and complete special projects, visit other Lodges as a group, become involved in community affairs and activities, and find new things that excite it's members, perhaps then will that Lodge be able to count on the continued attendance and participation of all it's members. Mt. Rushmore Lodge #220 is trying to turn that corner this year. With the creation this year by our Worshipful Master Ben Kirkland, of a new reading program for Rapid City's elementary school aged children, we have an opportunity to do good things in our community. This program, combined with the SDChip program, is giving us a new opportunity to increase the community's awareness of the good and positive tenets which we subscribe to. With the recent input of the members of the Lodge over our last two meetings, Mt. Rushmore #220 is attempting to re-awaken itself. I for one, have felt the new excitement and exuberance which seems to have been present at our recent meetings, and I would ask every local member of this Lodge, to attend our next meeting. Come see and feel for yourselves, the renewal we are attempting to generate. As we continue through the 55th year since receiving our Charter, we have new hope, new ideas and a renewed interest in this great fraternity. I leave you with my simple wish, that you will join us and help us make Mt. Rushmore #220, a great place to belong. Our next meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12th at the Rapid City Masonic Center, 618 Kansas City Street.
Fraternally,
Lee A. Mai, PM
Your Humble Secretary
(605)393-9850
One brother I spoke to early last week, stated he had been raised in the mid 1960's in another state, and hadn't attended a lodge meeting in over 15 years. When I asked him to tell me why he had never visited one of the many lodges in the Black Hills, he could only say that he didn't really have a reason. He just seemed to lose interest after a while, and didn't see a need to show up just to listen to someone read the minutes of the previous meeting, and then shake a few hands and go home. We continued to visit for some 40 minutes or so and discussed all the usual reasons that some brothers have become Masons, and why some complete one or two degrees and then disappear. I believe there are as many various reasons for this as there are lost candidates or brothers.
Perhaps one of the problems lies in a lack of attention some give to the important task of making the new candidate or newly raised brother feel like a part of the group. None of us is perfect, and there are always things we could do better. If we have done our job properly, and have truly done a proper investigation on the candidate, we should know something about him, his career, family, hobbies, leisure time activities, etc. Perhaps when we agree to sign a candidate's petition, we don't really take the time to find out why he wishes to join our fraternity. On a number of occasions, I have been asked to sign a petition for a candidate who knows only that he needs to be a Mason to be accepted into the Shrine and the potential Masonic Candidate knows almost nothing about Masonry. This is when we should be willing to set down and visit with the candidate and attempt to share with him, our own knowledge of our fraternity. Only after we are sure that the candidate is informed and is able to make a commitment to the tenets of our fraternity, should we be willing to add our name to his petition.
Once a brother is raised, the important work should begin. If the new brother is given the opportunity to not only attend our meetings, but to stay in contact with a knowledgeable brother who is willing to become a source for information and a source for answers to his questions, he will then perhaps begin to feel like he is an important member of the Lodge. Some brethren have suggested the best way to retain a new member is to put him right to work and give him a responsibility. This idea may have some merit, but perhaps it is just as important to make him feel comfortable in the Lodge, invite him to attend our meetings and to set with a knowledgeable brother who can explain the procedures which take place during a meeting. In this way, the new brother is given an opportunity to experience the meeting and thereby become more comfortable in his new surroundings. Eventually, the new brother will begin to feel like an equal among the brethren, and will hopefully begin to express his interest in assisting in the Lodge.
Maintaining a brother's interest in attending our meetings is equally important. If a Lodge can work together to plan and complete special projects, visit other Lodges as a group, become involved in community affairs and activities, and find new things that excite it's members, perhaps then will that Lodge be able to count on the continued attendance and participation of all it's members. Mt. Rushmore Lodge #220 is trying to turn that corner this year. With the creation this year by our Worshipful Master Ben Kirkland, of a new reading program for Rapid City's elementary school aged children, we have an opportunity to do good things in our community. This program, combined with the SDChip program, is giving us a new opportunity to increase the community's awareness of the good and positive tenets which we subscribe to. With the recent input of the members of the Lodge over our last two meetings, Mt. Rushmore #220 is attempting to re-awaken itself. I for one, have felt the new excitement and exuberance which seems to have been present at our recent meetings, and I would ask every local member of this Lodge, to attend our next meeting. Come see and feel for yourselves, the renewal we are attempting to generate. As we continue through the 55th year since receiving our Charter, we have new hope, new ideas and a renewed interest in this great fraternity. I leave you with my simple wish, that you will join us and help us make Mt. Rushmore #220, a great place to belong. Our next meeting will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12th at the Rapid City Masonic Center, 618 Kansas City Street.
Fraternally,
Lee A. Mai, PM
Your Humble Secretary
(605)393-9850
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Review of a night of ideas
Following the opening of our stated meeting held at the West Hills Village retirement community complex at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 9th, and the completion of necessary business procedures, WB Ben Kirkland opened the floor for a round table discussion.
His idea was to solicit input from all present regarding things we can do to increase interest in our meetings and thereby increase attendance. He also asked what the members of this Lodge hoped to gain from Masonry.
All brothers in attendance voiced their opinions and many great and worthwhile ideas were presented. Following this very positive discussion which lasted close to an hour and a half, it was agreed that we had made good progress in stoking the fires of interest, fostering very positive attitudes about where this Lodge is heading for the future.
A number of new ideas will be adopted and some old traditions will be given new life in how we conduct the business of comradeship and Masonic brotherhood. For those who were not able to attend this meeting, and for those brethren who have not attended your Lodge for some time, this brother would like to personally invite you to join us at our next stated meeting and experience the changes, new attitudes and ideas which will become evident immediately.
As we begin the 57th year since our charter was granted, Mt. Rushmore Lodge #220 is poised to turn the corner and renew the excitement of this great fraternity, and re-focus on the ideas given to us by our founding brethren. We hope you will join us and help us in that re-building.
Our next stated meeting will be held on Thursday, January 22nd at the Rapid City Masonic Center, 618 Kansas City Street, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the meeting.
His idea was to solicit input from all present regarding things we can do to increase interest in our meetings and thereby increase attendance. He also asked what the members of this Lodge hoped to gain from Masonry.
All brothers in attendance voiced their opinions and many great and worthwhile ideas were presented. Following this very positive discussion which lasted close to an hour and a half, it was agreed that we had made good progress in stoking the fires of interest, fostering very positive attitudes about where this Lodge is heading for the future.
A number of new ideas will be adopted and some old traditions will be given new life in how we conduct the business of comradeship and Masonic brotherhood. For those who were not able to attend this meeting, and for those brethren who have not attended your Lodge for some time, this brother would like to personally invite you to join us at our next stated meeting and experience the changes, new attitudes and ideas which will become evident immediately.
As we begin the 57th year since our charter was granted, Mt. Rushmore Lodge #220 is poised to turn the corner and renew the excitement of this great fraternity, and re-focus on the ideas given to us by our founding brethren. We hope you will join us and help us in that re-building.
Our next stated meeting will be held on Thursday, January 22nd at the Rapid City Masonic Center, 618 Kansas City Street, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments and fellowship will follow the meeting.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Next Stated Meeting: Thusday, January 22, 2009 at 7:00 PM
The second stated meeting for the month of January will feature an exciting agenda as we are currently working to improve the content of our meetings. We are working to take a minimum amount of time to finish the lodge's business matters so that we can turn our focus on education and fellowship. The next meeting will feature:
-Masonic education presentations by Bro. Satchell and Bro. Wilford
-A discussion of our mentoring program and how we can properly mentor our new Brothers as well as develop mentors
-Fellowship after lodge which is being planned by Bro. Evans
We would love to see you at our next meeting, whether you are a member of Lodge 220 or any other Masonic lodge. Please join us for some Masonic education and fellowship!
-Masonic education presentations by Bro. Satchell and Bro. Wilford
-A discussion of our mentoring program and how we can properly mentor our new Brothers as well as develop mentors
-Fellowship after lodge which is being planned by Bro. Evans
We would love to see you at our next meeting, whether you are a member of Lodge 220 or any other Masonic lodge. Please join us for some Masonic education and fellowship!
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