From the East
My Brothers, Ladies, Friends, and Families,
I would first like to thank all those that attended the Installation of Officers last month. It was a great Installation led by Worshipful Tom Colgan, Worshipful Tom Handell, and Worshipful Peter Krickhuhn. We also had a wonderful dinner catered by Ranch Catering.
This month, the Stated meeting is on February 9th starting at 6:00pm. This month is our annual Chili cook off. We will have awards and prizes and hope that we have a great turnout of different types of Chili.
I would like to wish the following Brothers a Happy Birthday for this Month:
Russell Stevens - 02/02
Jesse Rook - 02/07
Fred Pratt, PM - 02/11
Dale Smith - 02/11
Chase Murray, PM - 02/23
Bruce Smith, PM - 02/25
Gabriel Zabrosky - 02/26
I would also like to wish the following Brothers A Happy Masonic Anniversary:
Joe Denham - 02/09/1981 (45 years)
Tom Mountain Sr. - 02/17/2000 (26 years)
Melik Meshedijan - 02/22/2010 (16 years)
Carl Muse - 02/22/2010 (16 years)
Robert Collins - 02/24/1997 (29 years)
Joseph Elmore - 02/24/1966 (60 years)
Bruce Smith, PM - 02/25/2002 (24 years)
Dennis Spelts, PM - 02/27/2006 (20 years)
I would love to see the brothers who live locally come back and visit the lodge to meet the new officers and to get back involved with our fraternity and the Lodge.
This month we celebrate Valentines day. Did you know:
While rooted in Roman and Christian traditions (potentially replacing the fertility festival Lupercalia), the day was brought to America by British settlers.
The industrial revolution allowed for cheaper printing, causing Valentine's cards to become popular in the U.S. by the 1840s.
In the 1850s, Massachusetts native Esther Howland revolutionized the industry by creating ornate, mass-produced valentines featuring lace and intricate designs.
The holiday expanded to include flowers, chocolates, and jewelry, with Hallmark producing cards in 1911.
As for me, you should celebrate the ones you Love everyday and not just 1 day a year.
This month in Masonic History:
The 1996 recognition between the Grand Lodge of California and the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of California, ending a major jurisdictional divide.
In 1977 the introduction of the Hiram Award which is the highest honor that could be bestowed to a brother by his Lodge.
In 2010 the introduction of Allied Masonic Degrees to the Philippines
I hope you all have a safe and blessed February!!
Fraternally yours,
Pete Johnson - Worshipful Master 2026
From the West
Greetings Brethren and Ladies
Thank you all for coming to our Installation and congratulations to all the installed officers and especially to Worshipful Pete Johnson on being Installed Master for 2026! It was a wonderful installation and agreat meal afterward!
Another round of congratulations are in order for our newly raised Master Mason, Gabriel Zabrosky! It was an excellent degree and a huge shout out to all who participated! As we all know, it’s a lot of work and time invested, and everyone truly made it a degree to remember. If you weren’t there, you missed a good one!
Have a very Happy Valentines Day! Don’t forget to snag your special someone a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates and spend some quality time together!
Please keep all our members, but especially the ones sick or suffering, in your thoughts and prayers.
If you know of a brother or honored lady in distress, is ill, or in need, please contact me so we can help.
Fraternally,
Ken Bychak
Senior Warden
From the South
Dear Brothers, Wives, Families and friends;
This Masonic year has started off with some fun times; An installation and reception with refreshments, dinner and widescreen football. This coming stated meeting we are going to enjoy our annual "Chili Cookoff" with fun and prizes for the third, second and first place entries. So bring your best chili recipe and enjoy the festivities.
Have you ever wanted to talk to the President and tell him how you feel ? Any suggestions for him? I'm not trying to be political, but it just dawned on me just how inaccessible the President is for the ordinary person. Just as inaccessible as a King would have been to the average person in the Middle Ages. I rejoice in the fact that we can talk/ pray to our God, King of the vast universe, any time or place. Think about it !!!
Don Ruch, PM, Junior Warden.
Secretary’s Corner
Welcome to February. The Masonic Year is in full swing. Worshipful Pete has many activities planned for the year and it should be a very good one! As the new year starts and I am recording dues and sending out dues cards, I am still finding issues with addresses, emails, phone numbers, no listed spouse etc. Every Brother should have made an account in the system so that you can ensure that your personal information, your contact information and Masonic record is up to date. 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 the account and entering your information.
I am slowly receiving Dues payments, however, there are still 31 Brothers that are in arrears. Remember, you have an obligation to pay your dues. If you have not paid your dues, you are officially late. They were due by December 31, 2025. Please get them paid. The Lodge needs the support of the Brothers. The dues for 2026 are $133.00 (Per our By-Laws the calculation is $60.00 + Per Capita rounded up to the next whole dollar). Per Capita for this year will be $72.50 giving us annual dues of $60.00 + $72.50 = $132.50 rounded up to $133.00. This is also your time to catch up on last year’s 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!
Remember, if you send a payment in and are in arrears, that payment will go to the past due amount. You will still need to come back to good standing for the current year to receive your Dues Card. Please contact the Master or myself to discuss this if you have any questions.
There are several ways that you can pay your dues:
Send a check to the Lodge at:
Santa Maria #580
PO Box 68
Ramona CA, 92065
You can log in to the Lodge website, www.santamaria580.org, and pay by credit card. Use the link in the Grand Lodge email and pay through the Grand Lodge or you can bring a check or cash to me at the Lodge.
Having to pay your dues at the end of the year can be tough. If you go to the Grand Lodge, you can sign up to have monthly payments taken so that at the end of the year, your dues are paid and you do not have a large bill waiting for you. I have done this for both of my Lodges, and it makes life much easier.
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 dues for 2026 are $133.00. 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 $133.00 for a total of $2,394.00. Please contact me if you wish to pursue this.
If you are financially unable to pay your dues, please contact the Master to discuss.
If you have paid and have not received your dues 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 - Pete Johnson
Senior Warden - Ken Bychak II, PM (Laura)
Junior Warden - Don Ruch, PM (Vicki)
Treasurer - Chase Murray, PM
Secretary - Bill Graham, PM (Teri)
Chaplain - Mark Lantz (Kim)
Marshal - Elijah Descoteaux
Senior Deacon - Wade Hendry (Marianne)
Junior Deacon - Ken Bychak Sr. (Robyn)
Senior Steward - Rex McCray
Junior Steward - Gabriel Zabrosky (Annie)
Tiler - Bob Weldon, PM (Brenda)
(858) 943-1079
(707) 328-9617
(619) 787-3858
(619) 607-2935
(951) 970-4294
(858) 231-4646
(619) 987-1004
(760) 535-3176
(805) 264-1711
(760) 788-4957
(619) 931-4314
(760) 807-2883
Santa Maria Masonic Building
Association (SMMBA) Directory
President - Ken Bychak II, PM
Vice President - Pete Johnson
Treasurer/Secretary - Elijah Descoteaux
Member - Don Ruch, PM
Member - Bob Weldon, PM
Member - Wade Hendry
Member - Bruce Smith, PM
Member - Gabriel Zabrosky
(707)328-9617
(858) 943-1079
(619) 987-1004
(619) 787-3858
(760) 807-2883
(760) 535-3176
(760) 788-9475
(619) 931-4314