Happy New Year 2022

 Wishing you a safe, healthily and prosperous New Year

MSA Calling for Disaster Relief-Kentucky

Red Wing Lodge Installation of Officers and Christmas Pudding

On December 6, 2021, Red Wing Lodge held its annual Installation of Officers. Before the Installation the members and guests gather for social time, and a wonderful dinner. Gary Thomas makes his traditional English Pudding for dessert. 

The lighting of the pudding is a very fun time. You will note that this year he used a flameproof pan. A couple of years ago the flames caught the tablecloth on fire.   

Most English puddings are very small and there is just a small flame, very small. Ours is about the size of a volleyball, and Gary used a very healthy cup of holiday cheer for the flames. 

The Installing Master was WB Nick Johnson of Corithian Lodge, and the Installing Marshal was Jason Lavoi the Grand Lodge District Representative. They did just a marvelous job.

It's going to be a great year. I know everyone says that at every Installation. But Red Wing Lodge already has a full calendar of events planned, and Officers who are knowledgeable and committed to doing it.  

 

Candlelight Dinner

Red Wing Lodge Officers 2021-2022

Christmas Pudding with brandy butter

St. Paul #3 2021 Hiram Award Recieptant Christopher (Kit) Cusick

On November 9, 2021 St. Paul Lodge- Traditional Observance awarded its 2021 Hiram Award to Christopher (Kit) Cursick. The event was held in the historic Triune Lodge Room that provided an evening of Masonic fellowship, an excellent dinner and the honoring of the great work and commitment of Worshipful Brother Kit Cusick to the Craft. The Grand Master of  the Grand Lodge of Minnesota  Rolf M. Widstrand, and Senior Grand Warden Dayton Berg joined us for this great event. Worshipful Master Carl Andersen had the distinct pleasure of presenting the well deserved Hiram award.Kit has had a Masonic career that has been filled with much hard work with a keen eye to the details with every matter that he has taken on. From the position of Worshipful Master to the Manager of the Lodge building itself. His most recent accomplishment as Building Manager has over saw the massive exterior preservation project of the building. He seemed to also squeezed in enough time to design and build enough very handsome bookshelves, with glass locking doors to house 5,000 Masonic books. Last night Kit stated that he has to build a few more shelves for 3,000 more books to complete the project. Though Kit has accomplished a vast amount of work. He stated last night that he has much more planned for the Lodge building, and is waiting to talk more about it in the near future. It was a wonderful evening had by all. Everything done with that St. Paul #3 touch of class. 

Veterans Day 2021

Thanks to the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs

 

Minnesota Masonic Charities 16th Annual Gala

 

On September 25, 2021, the Minnesota Masonic Charities held its 16^th Annual Gala at the Heritage Center-Evergreen Hall in Bloomington, Minnesota. In the past this this event has been held at the Landmark Event Center at the Minnesota Masonic Home. Due to COVID-19 and necessary precautions to protect the Masonic home residents who reside in the Elder Service wing, this necessitated a change in venue.

The Heritage Center is a wonderful place filled with many Masonic items which created a welcoming atmosphere for the 180 guests in attendance.

For those of you who are not aware, the purpose of the Minnesota Masonic Charities Gala is to gather Masons and guests for a social occasion once a year.  It is an opportunity for everyone to dress up, enjoy socializing with old and new friends while enjoying an evening of drinks, dinner, and conversation while raising money for wonderful causes supported by Masonic Charities.

My favorite part of the evening was the after-dinner program. The speaker was introduced by Masonic Charities President and CEO, Eric Neetenbeck.  Eric announced that the Minnesota Masonic Charities has made a gift of thirty-five million dollars to the University of Minnesota for the purpose of establishing the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. This will be “an interdisciplinary initiative focused on the early diagnosis and treatment of the neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and adolescence.”  This is cutting edge stuff folks.

The guest speaker was Dr. Damien Fair, the new Co-Director for the Masonic Institute. Dr. Fair is a leading national expert in behavioral neuroscience and brain imaging. He was very recently recruited from the Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Fair is originally from Minnesota.

Dr Fair provided an overview of his prior research and work which lead him to his current position. He also provided some insight on why he recently chose the University of Minnesota for his future work, while recruited by several universities.  He gave all in attendance, a glimpse of the interdisciplinary work and research that will occur at the new Center.  This will be a “one stop shop” for children and families. He also noted that he will enter the new building for the first time in the coming week, which was made possible by Minnesota Masonic Charities.

In closing, Eric Neetenbeck reminded all attendees of the good causes supported in the past and all the worthwhile ongoing efforts supported by Minnesota Masonic Charities which include Masonic Cancer Center-University of Minnesota, Masonic Children’s Hospital-University of Minnesota, Minnesota Masonic Home, the thousands of scholarships provided, community services such as the Minnesota Masonic Home and now the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain.  

Minnesota Masonic Charities has given one hundred million dollars in the past ten years, and MMC is the largest contributor to the University of Minnesota.

All of that is something for Minnesota Masons to be very proud of and the more reason to support these wonderful endovers that impact the lives of Minnesotans and beyond our states border.

President and CEO Eric Neetenbeek  Minnesota Masonic Charites

John Schwietz Director of Institutional Advancement MMC

Happy Birthday Prince Hall

photo St Johns Lodge #5 Baltimore MD