Our Charity Dinner with Bingo, which was held on Saturday, October 19th to replenish the "Pappy Warner Memorial Fund", was a great success. Numerous people attended and our request of a $2 contribution per person greatly was greatly exceeded. We have used this fund quite a bit lately and we were glad to be able to put a little back. If you could not attend the dinner, but you would like to contribute to the fund it would be greatly appreciated. Please send your contributions to DeSoto Lodge or call the Secretary Elbert Martz at 837-4579 for further instructions.

Happy Birthday to the following members:   Ted Green, Jack Hutchens, Prentiss McPhail, Daniel Tate, Richard Perkins, Jared Huffman, Addis Taylor Jr, Billy Wilkie, Richard Roleson, Curtis Park, Glen Page, Charles Craig Jr, Walter Stegall, William Johnson, Delmar Clayton, Byron Wilkinson and Tim Cook Sr.

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 did not receive any communications last month advising us of any deaths.   If you lost a family member recently our heart felt sympathy goes out to you and your family.   The Sick and Visitation Committee would like you, a family member, or a friend to notify them of anyone who 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 for the Sick and Visitation Committee at the Lodge at 529-4025.
 

The dinner theme for our December Stated Meeting will be homemade soups with an accompaniment of salads, side dishes and delicious deserts.   If you would like to participate or have an idea for the January Dinner Theme, please contact our Junior Warden Dennis Pope at 483-6111, our First Lady Mary Cook at 703-0500 or leave us a message at the Lodge 529-4025.

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.   We now have a House right here in Memphis, which needs our help and we are attempting to contact them to learn their needs.   Any other charity ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated and considered.   You may contact Brother Curtis Phillipy at the Lodge 529-4025.

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. If you have any questions please contact the Lodge Secretary, Elbert Martz at 529-4025 or 837-4579.
 

I would like to personally thank all those who attended Brother Carey E. Henley's Graveside Memorial Service on Saturday, October 12th at the Shelby County Cemetery.   Special thanks to our First Lady for her attendance and support in granting Carey's dying wish, and to Past Masters Elbert Martz and Byron Wilkinson for their splendid Masonic Memorial Service.

Don't forget that at the December Stated Meeting the Worshipful Master will draw a ticket from the box for the Stated Meeting Grand Prize.   For those of you who don't know or don't remember, the Grand Prize is a DVD/VCR combination.   You must be present to win.   The Worshipful Master will draw tickets from the lock box until he calls out a brother's name who is present at the Stated Meeting.   Being present at the Stated Meeting Dinner does not count.   You must be present at the Stated Meeting to win.   If you have any questions please call the Worshipful Master or Secretary at the Lodge.

The Grand Lecturer's Official Visit at our Lodge on Friday, October 11th went well considering several members had emergencies, which took them out of town at the last minute.   Congratulations are in order for Swayne Merrell and Tim Cook, Jr. for obtaining their Lecturer's Card.   They both plan to obtain their Proficiency Cards next year after practicing just a tad bit more.   We would like to thank Grand Lecturer Jim Hurt for his guidance and help while at our Lodge.
 

This year we are combining the Annual Widows Dinner with the Awards Dinner.   The Dinner will be held on Saturday, November 16th at 6:00 pm.   We will honor our Widows, and praise our brothers who have given so much of themselves this year to the Lodge.   So we will have enough food, reservations are needed.   The last day for reservations is Tuesday, November 12th.   Please call the Junior Warden Dennis Pope at 795-5008 or the Secretary Elbert Martz at 837-4579.