From the East
Welcome to the month of June my Brothers and friends,
For this month, all is quiet on the horizon with only our Stated Meeting on 10Jun, and of course the weekend coffees on 8Jun and 22Jun.
This past month we hosted our annual 6th Grade Schools Night and had a great turn out of both students, their parents, and education staff. Thank you once again to Worshipful Weldon for taking the lead for the Schools Night event and being our Master of Ceremonies. If you have not witnessed Teacher Bob Weldon, you've missed out. Additionally, I had the pleasure of handing out three $500 scholarships to three deserving high school seniors. It's always a joy to see the happiness on the faces of seniors that receive a scholarship.
Lastly, this month the federal holiday of Juneteenth is observed. For those that are not aware of what this holiday celebrates, the Juneteenth celebration which has been observed unofficially since 1865 and commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States on the anniversary of the date on which emancipation was announced in Galveston, Texas.
Fraternally,
Chase Murray, PM. - Worshipful Master
From the West
Welcome to June Brothers and Sisters,
As we move into June, it signifies the start of Summer. Although most consider June 1st to be the start of summer, the official start is officially on June 20th witch is the Summer Solstice and is the longest day and shortest night of the year.
With Summer comes the heat. Please make sure you are prepared for the heat to come. If anyone finds themselves in need of help, please reach out to me and I will do what I can to help. Make sure if you go outside you use plenty of sunscreen and take plenty of water with you.
I would like to wish all the Dads out there a Happy Fathers Day!! For me, being a Dad is the greatest blessing I have ever received and the greatest joy of my life!!
Please let me know of any brothers, family members or friends who need prayers.
God Bless you all, and God Bless this Lodge and Fraternity.
Pete Johnson, Sr. Warden.
From the South
Dear Brethren, Families, and friends,
I am writing this article on the last day of May, already the weather is turning warm and I am reminded that this Masonic year is nearing the halfway point. As I look back over the last few months I am reminded of "Proverbs 11:24" "One gives freely yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want." I think this Proverb applies, not only to monetary gifts but also to forgiveness, love, lending a helping hand.... We have to remember that we cannot out give God. God has blessed all of us richly and I do believe that we will end this Masonic year blessed with His grace and generous heart .
Don Ruch, PM, Junior Warden.
Secretary’s Corner
Welcome to June, the ½ way point of the Masonic year. If you have not been to Lodge in a while come and see what we have happening and reconnect with your Brothers! We have a couple of Brothers working hard on their proficiencies and should hopefully be having a 2nd and 3rd Degree in the near future. We are voting on a candidate at the June meeting and will hopefully have a 1st Degree before the month is up. Please attend if you can and support our new Brother!!
We continue to meet at 0800 on the 2nd and 4th Saturday’s of the month at the Lodge for coffee and then breakfast. Our candidates and new Brothers are often there. We had another good coffee and breakfast with a couple of junior members and a new prospect. Come join us and get to know these fine men that are joining our Fraternity.
Please go to member.freemason.org and check your information. If you have not created this account, PLEASE get with me and I will walk you through creating them account and entering your information.
Remember, you have an obligation to pay your dues in a timely manner, by December 31. If you have not already made your payment you are overdue. The dues for 2025 are $129.00. Per our By-Laws, the calculation is $60.00 + per capita rounded up to the nearest dollar. Per capita is $68.50 this year, which gives us our total of $129.00. This is also your time to catch up on last year dues if you have not paid. If you are 2 or more years in arrears, you may be suspended for non-payment of dues as per the California Masonic Code, Section 809.370. Suspension for Non Payment of Dues. Neither the Master, I, nor any other Brother in Lodge wishes this to happen!
Entering June we currently have 23 Brothers that owe dues. Of these 6 Brothers are 2years overdue and 4 Brothers now 3 years overdue. If you are one of these 23 PLEASE catch up on your dues. Remember, your Brothers in the Lodge carry you when you do not pay your dues. The Grand Lodge still requires your Per Capita cost whether you pay or not.
If you are in arrears for your dues, you need to pay all that is owed to be brought back in to good standing. As an example, if you pay for 2025 only, and owe for 2024, I cannot send you your 2025 dues card. You are still in arrears and will need to bring your dues up to date first.
Please go to member.freemason.org and check your information. If you have not yet created your account, PLEASE get with me and I will walk you through creating the account and entering your information.
If you are interested in becoming a Life Member, please use the following information from the
CMC 2022
§809.320.B LIFE MEMBERSHIP
A sum of money equal to the Lodge’s annual dues at the time of purchase of the Life Membership multiplied by the factor indicated opposite the member’s age in the following schedule:
Age 49 and under, a factor equal to or greater than 24 times annual dues;
50 to 54 inclusive, a factor equal to or greater than 20 times annual dues;
55 to 59 inclusive, a factor equal to or greater than 18 times annual dues;
60 to 64 inclusive, a factor equal to or greater than 16 times annual dues;
65 to 71 inclusive, a factor equal to or greater than 14 times annual dues; and
Age 72 and over, a factor equal to or greater than 12 times annual dues.
Our current dues are $129.00. Use the chart above to calculate the amount needed. As an example, I am in the 55-59 bracket. For me to purchase a Life Membership, the cost would be 18 x $129.00 for a total of $2,322.00. Please contact me if you wish to pursue this.
If you are financially unable to pay your dues, please contact the Master to discuss.
You can mail your dues to:
Santa Maria Lodge No. 580,
PO Box 68, Ramona, CA 92065.
You can also go to our website, http://www.santamaria580.org, and pay online. If you have paid and have not received your card in a reasonable amount of time, please contact me at 951-970-4294 or secretary@santamaria580.org and I will take care of it.
S/F
Bill Graham, PM
Reminder!! Have you moved? Changed your phone number? Changed your e-mail address? Have you notified the Lodge if you have done any of these things?? In an ongoing effort to ensure that all member get due and timely notice of all Lodge information, it is important that you keep your information updated with us.
I would greatly appreciate it if all of you would log in to member.freemason.org, go to the My Profile section and ensure that all of your address/phone number/e-mail is up to date. This will automatically update the i-member section that I use as the Secretary to for your mailings and other contacts.
Calendar of Events
Lodge Officer Directory
Master - Chase Murray
Senior Warden - Pete Johnson
Junior Warden - Don Ruch, PM (Vicki)
Treasurer - Bob Weldon, PM (Brenda)
Secretary - Bill Graham, PM (Teri)
Chaplain - Mark Lantz (Kim)
Marshal - Bruce Smith, PM (Beverly)
Senior Deacon - Ken Bychak II, PM (Laura)
Junior Deacon - Rex McCray
Senior Steward - Elijah Descoteaux
Junior Steward - Wade Hendry (Marianne)
Tiler - Dave Murray, PM (Catheren)
(619) 607-2935
(858) 943-1079
(619) 787-3858
(760) 807-2883
(951) 970-4294
(858) 231-4646
(760) 788-9475
(707) 328-9617
(760) 788-4957
(619) 987-1004
(760) 535-3176
(619) 302-1223
Santa Maria Masonic Building
Association (SMMBA) Directory
President - Don Ruch, PM
Vice President - Chase Murray
Treasurer/Secretary - Elijah Descoteaux
Member - Ken Bychak II, PM
Member - Bob Weldon, PM
Member - Wade Hendry
Member - Bruce Smith, PM
Member - Pete Johnson
(619) 787-3858
(619) 607-2935
(619) 987-1004
(707) 328-9617
(760) 807-2883
(760) 535-3176
(760) 788-9475
(858) 943-1079