Masons in Motion

Greetings Brothers,

This year Sir Winston Churchill Lodge asked me to be involved in a program called Masons in Motion. I was very happy to get involved in this group from the ground floor. Their purpose is to promote a positive life style and to help Brothers prepare and train to run a Marathon. Not just any marathon, but the Twin Cities Marathon, which many say is the most beautiful marathon in the United States. I may be little biased but I couldn’t agree more and I am very moved to be apart of this.

I have not been a “runner” per se, I have never really considered myself to be a runner, much less a marathoner. Never the less, I happily accepted the challenge to train for this event and I will tell you I put forth a great deal of effort, I had lots hours and, yes, lots of pain in the long training regimen. I had to make some lifestyle changes in order to prepare to run 26 miles. It requires a great deal of time to complete all the training runs to build up strength and endurance to complete an event like this. I would run after work or after attending lodge functions. My local police department often saw me running in the wee hours between midnight to three AM, that was the best time for me to find the time to log the training hours I needed.

I’m proud to say that I now consider myself to be Runner.

One day I was running what we call a long training day. I was entering my 18th mile when I heard a pop, and felt a sudden sharp pain in my knee. I didn’t know it then, but I had just torn my meniscus. I was in a considerable amount of pain, and I wound up hobbling home. I tried to work thru the pain and continued to train, but it was really difficult. I finally saw a series of Doctors and was given the bad news that the Twin Cities Marathon was not in my immediate future.

The Brothers of Sir Winton Churchill Lodge took my news as motivation to recruit other runners and volunteers, and l’m proud to say that we were able to not only provide marathon runners for the event, but we were also able to gather many volunteers from other Lodges to help staff one of the water stations along the route. We had a very nice representation from many lodges in the Twin Cities; Braden, Lebanon, Macalester, Hastings, Tussler-Summit, Star in the East, Wayzata, Shakopee, Lake Harriet and Cataract. It wasn’t just brothers, we also had a few wives and kids.....Total of thirty five were on hand to staff the water station with me.

The Masons and OES Women who ran the marathon should be congratulated. They are; Andy Rice, Daniel Akins, Chris Taylor, Roberto Gardiner, Peter Hulbert, Krista Benninger, Leslie Collins and Stoffel Reitsma

It was a wonderful day and the eight listed are all Champions and Victorious in their personal efforts. While I may have been personally sad that I couldn’t participate in the event in the way I wanted too, I was energized and excited to be able to support and encourage my Brothers and Sisters and all the members of our community who ran in the event and displayed a commitment to their own well being. Well done everyone.

Wont you join me?

“Take me out to the Ball Game”!
Minnesota Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star
Cancer Benefit Dinner & Social
Benefitting WGM, Doris and WGP Ralph’s Cancer Project
To provide for research detecting potential Lung Cancer

Saturday, October 15, 2011
Golden Valley VFW, 7775 Medicine lake Road, Golden Valley, MN

Games, Dinner, Music, Silent and Live Auction
Dress is casual. Baseball attire is encouraged.

Tickets $25


We need your help to reach our goal of raising $10,000 to help strike out Cancer

You may also make a cash donation to the Cancer Score Board.
$25 = base hit; $50 = a double; $75 = a triple; $100 = a HOME RUN!
Send payments for reservations and/or cash donations –to:
Sue Bay,
1695 4th Avenue,
Newport, MN 55055
651 459-6620 ivorymastersue@hotmail.com

Checks should be written to MN Grand Chapter OES. “Cancer Dance” in the memo.
Reservations must be received on or before October 8, 2011.

Ill be there! Show up lets talk, if you shake my hand you can have a GrandMasters Pins or a pint or a cup.

Are you having this much fun?

The Grand Master of Minnesota (me wearing the Maroon Minnesota jacket) and Minnesota DeMolay at their annual Paint Ball outting.
What a great time I had with the young men.

Now this sure beats talking about the light bill or snow removal from the parking lot. Are you doing something like this? Why not.

The DeMolay from across the State and their perspective members and the Brothers of Minneapolis #19 and their perspective members ,met for a day of running thru the woods sharing a game of combat and great food.I saw much exchange of information and Brotherly love.

Young Men and old Men love to do the same things.....What a great day!

A tradition was started a few years ago. The Sitting Grand Master and the Past Grand Masters travel to Morgan Minnesota and have lunch with Past Grand Bill Tiffany. Bill is the oldest living Grand Master. He was in office in 1968. During his year we had 268 lodges and well over 60,000 Master Masons. Bill is famous for his saying" We make Masons out of Good Men not members"My how some things don't change.
In contrast during my year there are 160 lodges and barley 15,000 Master Masons. My how things do change.

In this photo back row is my Masonic Great Grand Father John Peterson-1981, Ward Sonsteby-1989, Me, Sam Dickinson-1978

Front Row Verne E Long-1973, Bill Tiffany-1968, Tom McCarthy-2009

So there you have a picture of the youngest Grand Master and the Oldest and a few points in between.

It was a great day of Brotherhood. Oh man the stories that were flying! I learned more over a slice of home made pie than a year sitting in a Grand Lodge Chair.It was an experience Ill always remember.

I attended the Ice Cream social at the Chateau the possible new home of Zuhrah Shrine. It is located at 10715 S Shore Drive in Plymouth Minnesota.
It was a wonderful evening..hot but a great time. There was grilled Hot dogs,Brats, Ribs,and of course ice cream.But what we all really love is the social get together. I love to see everyone and get caught up .

This photo of Tiny the Clown and me( can you pick the real clown? or Cop? ha) was taken very early for as the evening progressed the place was packed.

I took a good look at the new place. I believe that this new faculity will serve us well and allow the Divan to get back to working on membership, program development, and important things that matter and what makes a Shrine Temple Great Again.

The membership will vote at the next stated meeting which I believe will be on August 12th. Its also the night of the Corn feed and grilled steak dinner.

YA new place, new Day and Zuhrah with a great tradition building a new future

Minnesota River Valley Lodge #6

I was talking to my Brother Rich Hervieux of Minnesota River Valley Lodge a few nights ago.We were just checking in with each other. Rich mentioned he was helping his lodge with their big annual parade and fund raiser of the year. OHHHH we all know that it is the annual Kolacky Days in Montgomery Minnesota. So as Grand Master, I twisted his arm to invite me. So I had to bring my beautiful wife and middle daughter to experience Kolacky days.

The lodge has one of the best food booths of all of Minnesota....period the best! They serve a beautiful pork burger and a ear of corn dripping in real butter (in Minnesota Winters we dream of food like this is heaven sheer .....heaven baby!).

You can see the evidence in my hand and upon my face.....maybe even on my shirt.

Look at those smiles -- isn't that a priceless photo?

Well I'm not like any other Grand Lodge Officer. If I come to your event, I'm washing dishes or whatever it takes to help, and as you can see, today I'm filling balloons -- lots and lots of balloons. I think I filled a couple hundred myself. It was great fun.

One of the newest members James. What a great guy.....He is in the Air Force Reserve and going to College on the GI Bill. It was nice to spend some time and get to know him alittle better.

Hey I'm moving as fast as I can.....ok My daughter was also filling balloons and she was kindly advising or ribbing me I'm maybe not as fast as she was.

This is the Fire Truck owned by the lodge. They use it just for parades like today. The driver is Rich Hervieux. He is the brain child behind the 700 to 1000 balloons we filled and gave away. To children along the parade route.

You want a true awaking experience in this life.....you give a balloon (or hundred) to a young child. When they smile you think the heavens have opened and you are looking upon the face of the Angels.

This is the fire truck just before we left for the parade...how did we do?
Don't you want them to come to your town? WELL IF YOU ASK I KNOW THEY WILL.

Now did I tell you about Rich.......well he is my official photographer. He has taken my portraits...all three. His work is absoutely beauitful and he pays attention to every: yes every detail. Rich has been traveling with me across the state and documenting my official duties by taking wonderful photos. He provides beauitful images to those who cannot be with us.

OHHHH well today guess what....the photos you see here were taken by my beauitful wife Jane and myself. Why you ask??? Haaa thats because the Official Photographer Rich Hervieux forgot his camera.

Rich has a heart thats made of GOLD and I could not let him live this one down. Rich and I have many miles yet before us and if he brings his camera I'm sure you'll see the images.

Now what is a parade without a Shriner and a miniature car? Oh gosh a parade be without
them? Here is the HO HO Zuhrah Classic car guys.
These guys are a blast to watch. Some day I'd like to join them.

Ya know if a Cop or a Shriner eats at a place its gotta to be good. This is the food booth of the Minnesota River Valley #6.

My Daughter Sarah on top of the Fire Engine with all those balloons.

In my life I am surronded by women (Lucky me) and these are two who have stolen my heart. My beauitful wife Jane and my middle daughter Sarah.

Hawaiian Shirt Night

My home lodge and our Brother Lodge Minnehaha host an annual joint July Lodge meeting.
This year theme was Hawaiian Shirt Night,and the meal was the best bar b que around. Provided by The Bones Brothers of Anoka Lodege.
It was truely a night to remember!