DECEMBER 2011 TRESTLEBOARD

ANTIOCH-BRENTWOOD LODGE #175 F&AM

FROM THE EAST
Installation The election of our 2012 officers took place last month. The installation of our new officers will be held on January 8th at 12:00 pm with dinner following the ceremony. If any of the officers wish to invite guests, please provide me with a head count for planning purposes. Congratulations! Congratulations to the new officers for 2012: Chuck Collondrez Gregory Smith, PM Mike Vickerman Brad G. Talmadge Don Scott Bell Allen Anderson Tim Veneck Ben Whitner Al Fontes Shawn Hughes Master-Elect Senior Warden-Elect Junior Warden-Elect Treasurer-Elect Senior Deacon-Elect Junior Deacon-Elect Marshall-Elect Senior Steward-Elect Junior Steward-Elect Chaplain-Elect

The lodge still needs a Secretary for the coming year. If anyone knows of a brother that is willing to accept this responsibility, feel free to contact me. Year in Review As stated in last months article, we accomplished some incredible things this year. For instance, we raised over $5,000 and was able to pass along $2,000 of these funds to our Youth Groupswho dedicated a huge number of hours to support our fundraisers such as the Blue, Brews & BBQ. We also have experienced growth in our membershipwe initiated 7 men, passed 6 and raised 2 so far! In the coming year, we have 9 men ready to be raised. Poinsettias Run On December 17th @ 8:30 am we will be meeting at the lodge for coffee and donuts. After some socializing, we will head out and deliver the poinsettia plants to the widows. We need as many brothers to come out and lend their support to this important endeavor. In closing, Id like to thank everyone that helped me this year. I also want to take this moment to thank Ed Stack for graciously serving as our lodge Secretary this past year. We will miss you. Have a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, Solstice or Kwanzaa! Fraternally, Chuck Collondrez Master

FROM THE WEST

With this being my last trestleboard article as Senior Warden, I have looked back over the year and thought what we could do to improve our lodge for the future years to come. The suggestions are as follows:

Make Masons!! Carry the Pass it Along cards to hand out when a prospect asks about Masonry. Invite them to lodge for a Stated meeting Dinner. Learn your Work!! Attend practices and help with the degrees whenever possible. Take pride in your ritual and floor work. Be proud to be a Mason! Lastly; and unfortunately there are some brothers in lodges that you see bashing the lodge, trying to humiliate and embarrass the officers and Master, putting brothers down by degrading their character and conducting themselves negatively towards the brotherhood. Just remember the Three Principle Tenets of Masonry that were taught to us in the First Degree..... Brotherly Love...Relief...and Truth. It is the True Mason that tries to live by these tenets!!

Get our Child ID program up and running and get involved with local Police and Schools who could benefit from our program. Be consistent with our Fundraising efforts in our communities to generate much needed capital for our lodge. Network with our Concordant bodies to help the grow, and support our Youth Groups whenever possible. Take pride in our lodge!! Maybe have work parties for the brothers to do repairs, painting, etc. and sit with them during dinner and introduce him to brothers at the table.

Louis R. Koch, PM & HA Senior Warden

Stated Meeting Dinner

Join us for the Stated Meeting Dinner! The dinner is held before the monthly Stated Meeting. Dinner begins at 6:30 pm

Save A Tree!
Provide us with your e-mail address and well send your monthly trestleboard by e-mail rather than regular mail. E-mail WM Chuck Collondrez at Collondrez@att.net and well update our files

Rainbow GirlsSoup, Sandwich & Shop

Saturday, December 3rd 2011 Antioch-Brentwood Lodge @ 11 am to 3 pm Lunch is $7.00 Several vendors will be there for Holiday shopping!

Upcoming Events & Dates to Remember

Saturday, December 3rd Rainbow GirlsSoup, Sandwich & Shop Antioch-Brentwood Lodge @ 11 am3 pm Lunch: $7.00 per person Wednesday, December 7th Antioch-Brentwood Lodge Stated Meeting Dinner @ 6:30 pm Meeting @ 7:30 pm Sunday, January 8th Installation of Officers Antioch-Brentwood Lodge @ 12:00 pm Lodge Dinner (following ceremony)

FROM THE SOUTH

Tyler Joke: A man was checking into a small hotel on the outskirts of town when he saw a sign on the wall which read, "HIRAM LODGE, Meetings every Wednesday at 7PM." The man said to the lady at the front desk, "I wonder what they do in there. Do you think they'd ever let me join?" "I don't think so." "Well why not?" "I don't know. That guy there," she said pointing at the man sitting outside the door, "has been knocking on the door for weeks and they won't let him in."
By Brother Grierson www.masonic-lodge-of-education.com

Recently I was asked that all important question "how do I become a Mason?" easily answered, the correct process popped into my mind and I was able to point the man in the right direction. He later asked "why did you become a Mason?" There was no easy answer, the ritual words did not seem to suffice to express what Masonry has meant for me. Every individual is drawn to our fraternity for various reasons. I pointed out the things Masons do for the community, I mentioned the fraternal aspects, I even reflected on how the process of our degrees imparts a better understanding of ourselves and of those we call brother. In a complety opposite encounter, I witnessed a very knowledgable brother disillusion a young lady who had heard of the "evils" of our "secret society". He calmly rebuffed and refutted the disinformation this young lady had heard. The transformation of her demeanor from accusatory and damning to one of interest and acceptance was inspiring. A little crack of light pierced the hard shell of hearsay and rumor that had surrounded her free thinking mind. Some knowledge, and calm and reason, can be all it takes to transform those who inquire about masonry. For the stranger or friend to ask about our craft takes a fair amount of curiosity or interest, the manner in which YOU reply has an effect! Be knowledgable, be sure of yourself. "It's a secret" doesn't work.

Greg Smith, PM Junior Warden

MASONIC EDUCATION
Masonic Education and the Public Perception As the holidays approach it brings family and friends together. Curious relatives or friends can ask some very interesting questions about Freemasonry-getting caught flat footed or at a loss for a sufficient answer. A well rounded and in depth understanding of the purpose, scope, history and grand traditions of our craft will allow you to respond appropriately. On a personal level, examination of your private reasons for being a Mason, or how being a Mason has changed your life allows you to bring forth the depth of meaning when discussing Masonry with others.

Don Scott Bell Masonic Formation Officer

1.

Its SNOW-ing!
This puzzle contains 22 words that begin with snow-. How many can you find?

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

December 2011 Activities

National Health Awareness December 1-31 Safe Toys & Gift Month www.preventblindness.org

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY 1

THURSDAY 2

FRIDAY 3

SATURDAY

Rainbow Soup, Sandwich & Shop 11 am3 pm 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Masons Stated Rainbow Pledge @ 6:30 pm Dinner @ 6:30 pm Meeting @ 7:30 pm Meeting @ 7 pm 11 12 13 14

Royal Arch @ 7:30 pm 15 16

JOBS

17

JOBS Meeting @ 7 pm 18 19

DeMolay Meeting @ 7 pm 20

Masons Degree or Practice @ 7:30 pm 21

Hall Association @ 7:30 pm 22 23 24

OES Anteroom Meeting @ 7:30 pm Christmas Party 25 Christmas 26

Rainbow Meeting @ 7 pm

Masons Degree or Practice @ 7:30 pm 28 Masons Degree or Practice @ 7:30 pm

DeMolay Meeting @ 7 pm

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30

31 New Years Eve

Antioch-Brentwood Lodge #175 F&AM 521 W. 2nd Street P.O. Box 451, Antioch, CA 94509 (925) 757-5561 301st Masonic District