Presently the Junior Warden and Senior Steward are planning our Annual Picnic, which is scheduled for June 15th.   They are trying very hard to make this an event all ages will enjoy at a location everyone will feel safe at.   On the preparation table are horseshoes, badminton, softball, pie throwing, moonwalk, swings, slides and of course hamburgers and hot dogs.  They are trying to pick a Park centrally located to everyone.   If you have any picnic ideas or suggestions please call Dennis Pope at 795-5008 or Greg Howard at 639-2678.

After great discussion we have decided to bring back an event to DeSoto Lodge that everyone seems to like, the Riverboat Dinner Cruise.   The fee this year is $15 per person, which is non-refundable and payable when you turn in your reservations.   This includes the 3-hour air-conditioned riverboat cruise, a B-B-Q buffet dinner with music and dancing.   There will be an open bar, however the Lodge will not pay for alcoholic beverages.   If you have any questions please call the Junior Warden Dennis Pope at 795-5008 or the Senior Steward Greg Howard at 639-2678.
 

Happy Birthday to the following members: Steven Chow, Swayne Merrell and Calvin Millner, Jr.

If you have a birthday in May 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.

The father of our secretary's wife Joan Martz, Richard Dotts, is still gravely ill and we wish to extend our thoughts and prayers to them in their time of need.   We did not receive any communications in April advising us of any deaths.   If you lost a family member recently our heart felt sympathy goes out to you and your family.   Brother Byron Wilkinson would like you or a member of your family to notify him of anyone that is sick, housebound, or in the hospital; so he can check on the brother.   You can reach Brother Wilkinson at 386-9914.
 

Our Supper theme for the month of June will be "Dagwood Bumstead" with an assortment of meats, rolls, side items and an assortment of delicious deserts.   The Ladies of DeSoto Lodge and our Junior Warden are doing an outstanding job.   The food so far this year has been fantastic, so please attend the dinner and see for yourself.   If you have a favorite receipt and would like to participate please contact our Junior Warden, Dennis Pope, at 483-6111 or our First Lady, Mary Cook, at 681-0858.

The Publicity and Charity Committees are currently looking at sponsoring a hospitality house for Memphis.   This house would give families a place to stay, eat and sleep while their relatives are in the hospital here in Memphis.   These houses are already in Nashville and Jackson.   We are in the process of researching the cost. Any other charity ideas would be greatly appreciated and considered.   You may contact Brother Curtis Phillipy at 569-5069 or Tim Cook, Jr. at 753-2256.
 

The Annual District Meeting is scheduled for Saturday May 25, 2002 7:00 pm at the Shrine Auditorium located at 5770 Shelby Oaks Drive.   Registration is open until 6:45 pm.   All DeSoto Lodge Officers will meet in the Shrine Auditorium lobby at 5:30 pm.   This year we are trying very hard to have ALL of our Officers present so we may receive our plaque next year at the Grand Lodge.
 

DeSoto Lodge's Past Master's Dinner was a grand success with several couples arriving and bringing guests.   The Rainbow Girls out did themselves this year and not only was the service superb, but the steak dinner was fantastic.   We were very pleased to honor our new 50-Year Members: James Robert Clement our current Chaplain, James Calvin Ingram, Jr. and William Francis Johnson.   After dinner Brother Swayne Merrell graciously gave our visiting guests a tour of our beautiful Lodge.   Congratulations Brothers Clement, Ingram and Johnson!