REPORT ON THE LAST FEW MEETINGS!!

By the first meeting in January Ideal Lodge received seven (7) Plural Petitions from Members of Livingston Lodge No. 160, with two being turned in, in December.  At the second meeting in January we had two new members, one being appointed to Jr. Stewart’s chair, to replace W. Bro. Dale Stout, who had demitted at the end of the year.  January’s second meeting also created an E. A. Degree Mason.  February’s meetings were prosperous, in that we voted the remainder of the Livingston Lodge Members into Ideal Lodge; making us Seven (7) Members stronger!!  In February we Passed the Candidate to F. C. Degree and planned for an Open House for the second meeting in May.  April 4^th we Raised our new Candidate to Master Mason, giving us another member.  April 18^th we had Dispensation to move our Charter to Hiram Lodge No. 70, for the 18^th Masonic District Meeting, where we obtained the Traveling Gavel!!  (District met on our meeting night.)  May 2^nd we Passed another Candidate to F. C. Degree and received another Plural Petition from a member of Amite City Lodge No. 175.  May 11^th Ideal Lodge request that Livingston Lodge conducts Courtesy Work and Initiate a Candidate that works offshore and is usually not home on our meeting nights.  May 16^th we held an Open House to honor wives, mothers and ladies of the Masons.  Approximately 22 were present for the Open House.  A SPECIAL MEETING was called for May 18^th to conduct a Master Mason’s Degree, and we received another two petitions from Livingston Lodge No. 160!  By the end of July, Ideal Lodge should have 37 members!!  This is the most members Ideal Lodge has had in over 10 years!!  Ideal Lodge seems to be doing just fine since the Hurricanes!  We all hope that the trend continues.  J

RELIEF:

• W. Bro. Zach Stanborough, PM passed away on May 18, 2006.  He just made his Fifty Years in 2005.  He had been anticipating his fifty years as a Mason for the last few years and often spoke about it.  Zach was also real active in the Eastern Star and was a member of Metairie Lodge No. 444.  All that knew Zach will miss him. 

• Brothers, please remember the above-mentioned Member in your prayers!

 Secretary’s Message:

Brothers, the 2006 Dues Cards are NOW six months over due.  If you don’t have a 2006 Dues Card, please remit your dues to IDEAL LODGE # 367, c/o: Armando Perez, 12108 Coles Creek Blvd., Hammond, LA 70403-2024.  Please send all mail to the Coles Creek Blvd. address, or I might not receive it!  Please remember to add your optional 2¢ worth a day for an additional $7.30.  Please make check in the amount of $52.80.   

We still have six (6) members that have not paid 2006 Dues!  Brethren, your dues are due at the first of the year, not the end of the year!  How do you expect us to run the Lodge, pay rent, per capita and other expenses, with some of the Brothers holding back until after September of each year? 

ALSO, PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS LETTER IS SENT BY E-MAIL TO TWENTY (20) MEMBERS AND THEY WILL NOT GET THE MAILED VERSION.  THIS HELPS KEEP THE COST OF THE POSTAGE DOWN AND ALSO PROVIDES THE NEWSLETTER TO THEM, TWO DAYS EARLIER!!  IF YOU HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS, PLEASE PROVIDE IT TO:  “skipperez@bellsouth.net".  THANKS!! 

COMING EVENTS:

Tuesday, June 6 & 20, 2006, Regular business meetings.  Meetings are held at Livingston Lodge Hall, corner of E. Morris & S. Cypress Sts., Hammond, LA.  Refreshments will precede the meetings at 6:30 p.m.; with Regular business at both meetings at 7:30 p.m., so come and enjoy the activities.