Well the election went very well and here are your new officers for the Year 2003:
Worshipful Master Swayne W. Merrell, Senior Warden Ryan Carver, Junior Warden Earl E. Major, Secretary Elbert E. Martz, Treasurer Donald D. Brown, Chaplain Byron W. Wilkinson, Senior Deacon Joseph Oxendale, Junior Deacon Gregory L. Howard, Senior Steward Sabe Leweyllen, Junior Steward Jack E. Downs, Tiler Richard E. Martz and Webmaster Memphis Webs Inc.   The Installation of Officers will be held at the Lodge on Saturday, December 7, 2002 at 2:00 PM.   Everyone is invited.

Happy Birthday to the following members: Gene Major, Ryan Carver, Cecil Nappier, Richard Brown, Jimmy Stafford, Karl Limberg, Otis Stewart, William Billings, James Morton, Robert Brock Sr., Kermit Blanton and Arlyn Evans.   If it's your birthday and it is not listed here we would like to wish you a Happy Birthday also, and urge you to send us your information card completed with your current information for our new database.

We lost two members this month: Huber Hill Merriam and Charles A. Meyer, PM.   The Lodge and the Officers wish to extend our prayers and our deepest heart felt sympathy to the families of these great men in their time of sorrow.   We also just learned that our Junior Warden's father died.   Our prayers are with Dennis and his family in their time of sorrow.   Brother Byron Wilkinson and the Sick & Visitation Committee would like you, a family member or a friend to notify them of anyone that is sick, housebound, or in the hospital; so they can check on them.   You can reach Brother Byron Wilkinson at 386-9914 or leave a message at the Lodge at 529-4025.
 

The theme for our January Stated Meeting Dinner will be Italian with an accompaniment of side dishes and delicious deserts.   If you would like to participate or have an idea for the February Dinner Theme, please contact our Junior Warden Gene Major at 725-7190, or our First Lady Nancy Merrell at 276-7609.

Your 2003 Dues Cards have arrived from the Grand Lodge.   Your 2003 Dues are $20.00 and if you would like to send your dues in now, we would greatly appreciate it.   This would save us a little money on the printing and the postage if we do not have to send you a dues notice.   Some notices have already been sent out.   If you have any questions please contact the Secretary, Elbert Martz at 529-4025 or 837-4579.
 

Brother David P. Johnson's name was drawn in the Fish Bowl drawing which was worth $300.   Brother David Johnson was present to win the money.   He stated the $300 will go a long way towards Christmas gifts.   The January Stated Meeting making the Fish Bowl Drawing will be worth $50.   In our Stated Meeting Dinner Drawing Terri Major won the Grand Prize, which was a $50 Gift Certificate to Wolfe Chase Galleria.   Other drawing winners were Marguerite Wilkinson, Reva Brown, and Calvin Brown.   Our Grand Prize for the January Stated Meeting Dinner Drawing will be a $50 Gift Certificate to the Home Depot.

Congratulations to Brother Byron W. Wilkinson who was the Grand Prize Winner of the Stated Meeting Grand Prize Drawing.   The Grand Prize was change from a 27" color television to a VHS/DVD Player Recorder.   Brother Wilkinson was at all 12 of the Stated Meetings for 2002, which gave him 12 chances to win.
 

The Awards and Widows Dinner was a great success.   We saw our largest crowd of the year at this dinner.   There were easily over 60 people in attendance (I lost count at 60).   None of our Widows attended, but we do understand and wish them well.   The following awards were presented by the Worshipful Master and First Lady.   One of the highlights of the Awards Presentation was the plaque awarded to Byron Wilkinson, PM.   Byron was a guiding force and wealth of information all year for the new officers.   He filled in at several different positions when Officers were sick, out of town on emergencies or hospitalized.   Byron, with Marguerite's help and assistance, visited all brothers and relatives who were hospitalized or housebound that he knew of.

Certificates of Participation:
      Mrs Reva Brown, Mrs Marguerite Wilkinson and Ms Dorothy Phillipy.
Honorary Member Certificate:   J.C. McCarley
Certificates of Appreciation:   Joe Martz, David Johnson, Jim Nichols, Gene Major,
      Greg Howard, Terry Landrum, Richard Martz and Sabe Leweyllen.
Certificates of Recognition:   Winnie Kermick-Cate, Glenda Landrum and the Rainbow Girls.
Most Tolerant for the Year 2002:   Don Brown, PM
Most Driven for the Year 2002:   Elbert Martz, PM
Most Helpful for the Year 2002:   Curtis Phillipy and Rick Perkins, PM
Most Active for the Year 2002:   Swayne Merrell, PM and Joseph Oxendale
Most Improved for the Year 2002:   Tim Cook, Jr
DeSoto Lodge Mason of the Year:   Dennis Pope
Most Everything for the Year 2002:   Byron Wilkinson