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Brothers,
It is with a heavy heart that I relay the news that V:.W:. Boysie Singh, Past Master of Potunk Lodge No. 1071, laid down the working tools of life and has passed upward to that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
May the GAOTU hold him in his hands. The Secretary will send out arrangements when they are available.
Please keep his wife Terry and their three daughters in your thoughts and prayers.
Brothers,
I am pleased to say we did a pretty well done 1st degree last night and I am very happy with all that participated from the start and at the last minute fill in.
Our new Brother, Bro. John Umina was initiated last night and a big congratulations to him.
Several members of our own and sister lodge filled in (some 10 minutes prior to start) to make the degree work and they did and awesome job. Challenges are meant to be overcome.
To add to it all, we discovered lake Potunk beginning to form in the collation room towards the end of the degree and W:. Dan jumped in and grabbed the shop vac and suctioned up all the flood waters while most of us were in tuxes and too pretty to assist. So big thank you to W:. Dan for stepping up with the vac and stepping in for the Q &As last minute.
Bro. Keith talked the apron presentation and did well for the first time out of the gate. Great work!
At our next communication we’ll present the Lecture of Reasons (whys and wherefores) for the benefit of our new EA. I will ask for 2 brothers to volunteer to learn and recite this at the May 6th Communication. If you would like to volunteer, please contact me asap.
Finally our Lodge elections are next month and there is a lot to do between now and then. After elections in May and Installations in June, we’ll have one more meeting before going dark for the summer. The Lodge really needs all members to step up and step in where needed to get through these difficult times. We’ll be looking to start doing fundraisers very soon so let’s get some ideas on the table and start planning as best we can.
Fraternally,
V:.W:. Bill Arnold
Master
Potunk Lodge #1071
Brothers,
Its been a lot of work and sometimes actually fun to have another round in the east. However the end of another Masonic season is almost upon us. June will be here before we know it. As my time as Master comes to a close and a new Master is elected and installed in my place, it is all of our duty to make sure that the Lodge is left better than we left it.
There has been a lot to discuss as of late in our Lodge and many changes both in our Lodge and out of it. I wanted to thank all the officers of Potunk Lodge that took the time and energy to keep things going and help keep the Lodge clean and open despite nobody using it between meetings. We must not slack off now as the end of season will see more changes and the Lodge being rented for occasions and parties again soon.
Our upcoming Lodge elections, just over a month away at the time of this writing. There is a lot to contemplate and the new Master elect will have quite a bit to do. We must support and assist whomever occupies the East with all our fervency and zeal.
June will have us installing the Master Elect and his Officers, most likely in a tiled installation, not by choice but by mandate. Then hopefully we’ll have our strawberry night on the last meeting in June and with luck maybe we can have our families join us to enjoy the festivities.
So please do not give up just yet brothers, there is light at the end of the tunnel and a new beginning or journey for some.
I hope all are healthy, wealthy and wise and I see more and more brothers come out to Lodge to enjoy fellowship and human contact or interaction at least in the coming months.
Fraternally,
V:.W:. Bill Arnold
Worshipful Master
Potunk Lodge #1071
Brothers,
Well the year keeps marching on and weather changes have really added to the isolation and current state of hibernation. At least that’s he feeling I am getting. I hope you are all not getting too comfortable being away from the Lodge lately.
In the Grand Master’s message as of January 29th, all meeting restrictions are withdrawn with the following exceptions.
So in light of the lessening of restrictions, our next Stated Communication on March 4th 2021 will be in person and attire will be business. We’ll be meeting upstairs for this one and there is very good reason for this. In just a few short weeks really, the Lodge will be holding elections and hopefully investiture and Installations. Our Jr. Officers really need to be back in the Lodge and practicing their ritual so they can take the reins and keep the Lodge running into the future.
I hope to bring as many back into Lodge as possible, since 50 at a meeting is unheard of, I’ll gamble that we do not come near that number, although it would be really cool to see it. Freemasonry will endure and so will Potunk Lodge and we need officers to know the work and be able to take the lead.
I have high hopes that by April we’ll be able to begin planning some fundraisers to try and get back to assuring the financial future of the Lodge as well.
I truly hope all are healthy and doing well and can come out and be with your Brothers in a Lodge setting and enjoy human to human interaction and enjoy true Brotherhood.
Brothers,
As all have been keenly aware of the ongoing situation with COVID and meetings at Lodges, I am concerned about the ongoing damage to the Craft that virtualized meetings are doing. That being said, we are Masons and we are obligated to follow the rules, edicts and laws of the Grand Lodge. That’s all I will say about that.
There are a few things going on at our Lodge that we should all know about. Mainly that although we so far have been able to keep things going regarding the building and bills etc., this situation will soon turn critical.
I discussed in the last 2 meetings (1 virtual one in person) the fact that LIPMA has setup a grant program to assist with some of the losses in revenue due to the above situation Lodges are having. I have asked the Secretary, to review the info/application packet and begin pulling together the required documentation so that we may submit an application for the Grant this month.
I am still optimistic that by March/April we’ll begin to see the light at the end of this very long tunnel and begin to operate normally again.
Going forward I will resist any virtual Lodge Communications (unless new directives from the Grand Master are released). So I will be opening the Lodge as normal starting with the first meeting in February.
I hope all are staying healthy and safe this days and as in previous posts, wanted to thank all who have been busy at the Lodge all these long months getting things done that have been needed for some time, painting, tiling and fixing.
I look forward to seeing many of you soon at the Lodge and back to the quarries doing what we do.
We have a few candidates in waiting for sometime now and we need to look to get these potential Brothers initiated and educated.
Fraternally,
V:.W:. Bill Arnold
Master
Potunk Lodge #1071
Brothers,
Many of you have been getting updates from the web, Facebook etc. on the state of the pandemic and the restrictions we are currently under. You can go on over to suffolkmasons.com and the latest video message from MW Sardone is on the home page.
By the way I am of the belief that the image in this post is more and more a reality in this era than ever before.
There are only effectively 5 months left of my time in the east and although it has been challenging to try and gather and meet as Brothers we have done OK. It seems that time truly does fly.
What we will be focusing on the next few months, restrictions or not, will be to train and educate our up and coming officers and ritual and Lodge management. I would ask that all elected and appointed officers please do your very best to attend in person meetings Feb-June 2021 so we can assure you are prepared to lead the lodge into the months and years to come.
Of course we will continue to follow all directives and edicts as good and true Brothers but although “Masonry never stops” is the current mantra, “slowing to a crawl” is not what I had envisioned at all. There are still lodges doing things here and there and some charitable giving etc. but time is that we need the Brotherhood and companionship face to face (albeit with covered faces) more then ever.
So I will say if you are feeling healthy and would like to attend please join us over the coming weeks and months as we begin our work anew to prepare our Jr officers for Mastership.
Brothers,
These is no doubt 2020 has been a year to remember or forget, depending on your perspective. The one thing that can possibly put a good light to this year is a nice, happy and healthy holidays for all.
So I would like to wish each and all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And for those celebrating Hanukkah this season, Hanukkah Sameach!
As we move forward into 2021 know that there have been quite a few improvements at the Lodge and I am pleased that we can at least take the time to get these maintenance items done while nobody of at the Lodge. If you have a little time on weekends to join in the painting, fixing, etc. grab your mask and head on down. Look for notice from the Secretary when these fixit parties will take place.
I am looking forward to getting back to normal lodge meeting, hopefully soon after the new year. In the mean time there is zoom meetings and just keeping in touch with each other. Look toward your Brothers in the Lodge and email, text, call one another now and then.
Fraternally,
V:.W:. Bill Arnold
Master
Potunk Lodge #1071
Due to the ongoing situation and the Grand Master’s edict, the Lodge has been holding “unofficial meetings” on ZOOM for any member who would like to participate. If you would like to be included in the Riverhead mailing add yourself to the Riverhead All members mailing list.
You can find that here -> Riverhead Lodge All members Mail List
Just add your email and each time the Master, Secretary or officer sends out and email of relevance to all members you will get a copy.
Stay Safe and Stay healthy.
Greetings from the East,
My Brothers I hope you are enjoying your summer. I want to thank all the brothers and our families, for all the help making our barbecue a success. It was great to see everyone and our children enjoying the day. We even had a guest appearance from our very own Jewish cowboy Bro. Meyer Segal. I want to thank the Great Architect for holding back the rain so that we could enjoy a wonderful day of fellowship.
I want to thank Bro. Wayne Lossee for putting together an evening at the lodge and for discussing Masonic values. I all in attendance enjoyed it.
I think it was a great idea. Beginning in September I plan on opening the lodge on the second Tuesday of each month allowing you my brothers to come to lodge and discuss any topics you would like. It is also and opportunity for any brother who would like to work on ritual or learn the chairs.
Looking forward, we will confer the Fellowcraft degree September 18. Starting time will be 7 PM. We will be hosting in conjunction with Dongan Patent Lodge #1134, the Apron Presentation for our own R:.W:. Matthew Dinizio, DDGM R:.W:. Kevin McCauley. Looking forward to seeing all my brothers in September.
Fraternally Yours,
W:. Daniel Dunbar
Greetings From the East,
My Brothers this is our last communication before going dark; I can’t believe it went so fast!
Starting with our 150th celebration officiated by our Most Worshipful Jeffrey M. Williamson; we conferred all three degrees on our own, qualifying us once again for the Meacham award, well done my Brothers!
We raised two new Brothers and initiated two.
We hosted the Grand Lecturer R:.W:. Richard Kessler who gave a very compelling explanation on opening and closing on the different degrees. So much so that I had our lodge closed on the first degree, allowing our new initiates to stay in Lodge for closing and walking out with their new Brothers.
My Brothers once again, Riverhead Lodge held up its reputation for having fine collation. For that a very large thank you goes out to Brothers Dominic Peppaceno and George Staudt.
I want to thank W:. Larry Pfaff and all the Brothers for their time and effort in conferring degrees.
I look forward to seeing you all at the Stated Communication May 15th, for our annual election.
My Brothers enjoy your summer, continue spreading the beneficent influences of our time-honored fraternity.
Fraternally Yours,
W:. Daniel Dunbar
Worshipful Master
