The first Quarterly Officer's and Committee Chairman Meeting for 2002 was held Wednesday, March 20 at Anderton's.   The meeting went very well and the Past Master's and Committee Chairmen congratulated the Officers for the fine job they have done during the First Quarter.   They also gave the Worshipful Master some very good tips for the Lodge.   One such tip was to have a Suggestion Box located in the Craftsman Room where a brother might have a place to leave any suggestions or comments.   Also add a link on our website to a Lodge Suggestion Box for members with computers.

Our Dinner theme for next month is "Cinco de Mayo" with a Mexican flavor with an assortment of delicious deserts.   The Ladies of our Lodge and our Junior Warden are doing an outstanding job.   The food so far this year has been fantastic, so needless to say there have been no leftovers.   Please attend and see for yourself.   If you have a favorite receipt and would like to participate please, contact the Junior Warden Dennis Pope or our First Lady Mary Cook.
 

Happy Birthday to the following members: Dennis Pope, Irion Pursell, George Williams, Michael Majors, David McGhee, Robert Byrd and Danny Kail.
If you have a birthday in April and it is not listed here we would like to wish you a Happy Birthday and urge you to send us your information card completed with your current information for the new database.

We did not receive any communications in March advising us of any deaths.   If you lost a family member recently our heart felt sympathy goes out to you and their families.   The Sick and Visitation Committee Chairman Byron Wilkinson would like you or a member of your family to notify him or the Lodge Secretary of ANYONE that is sick, housebound, or in the hospital; so that a member of the committee can visit and check on the brother.   You can reach Brother Wilkinson at 386-9914, and Secretary Elbert Martz at 529-4025.
 

Our Spring Dinner Dance was a great success.   We had more that 50 people present dancing and eating.   Our First Lady and our Junior Warden did a fantastic job with the food.   We had BBQ with the fixings, shrimp, finger foods, an assortment of dips and chips; and several different deserts.   The music was provided by a local Disk Jockey and it did not take him long to figure out the best music for the crowd.   If you missed the Dinner Dance you missed a great time.   If you have any entertainment ideas or suggestions please call Dennis Pope at 795-5008 or Greg Howard at 639-2678.

This Committee is 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.   Second we hope to sponsor Brother Jon Stoddard in his campaign for child safety.   Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated and considered.
Thank You, Brother Curtis Phillipy
 

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.
 

Our Past Master's Dinner has been scheduled for Saturday, April 20th at 7:00 PM in the Lodge Dining Hall.   Our honorees for this year's Dinner will be 50-Year Members: James Robert Clement (current Chaplain), James Calvin Ingram, Jr. and William Francis Johnson.   Past Masters, this Dinner is also being held in your honor.   Please make your reservations to attend by calling the Junior Warden, the Secretary, or the Worshipful Master.   Please, RSVP.