From the East
My Brothers, Ladies, Friends, and Families,
This month we will be celebrating our Dad’s on Fathers Day. I thank God everyday that he allowed me to be a Dad. It is the greatest job I have ever had. The hardest one too, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I hope all the dad’s have a wonderful fathers day with your kids and your family.
Last week I got to spend time at the Leaders Retreat and it was a great experience. It was fun to get out with a few brothers from our lodge and spend a couple days with hundreds of other brothers talking about Masonry and gathering ideas on how to make our lodges better, or at least getting some good ideas on what other lodges do. I will also say, part of this good experience was to see how well our lodge is doing. We always have room for improvement, but our pride in our ritual and honoring history is top notch. We do really need to focus on how to get more brothers involved for Lodge events, but also events outside of the lodge.
This month, the Stated meeting is on June 8th starting at 6:00pm. Worshipful Pete and his beautiful Daughter Isabella will be BBQing Tri -Tip and Chicken. We will also have a Caesar salad, Hawaiian rolls, potato salad and some kind of dessert. It will be a great meal.
I want to thank all the brothers who came to our brother Van Reader’s memorial service. I know it meant a lot to Don and Vicki and their entire family. It was amazing to see the amount of brothers and their wives who came out to honor Vanny. This is what our brotherhood is all about.
I would like to wish the following Brothers a Happy Birthday for this Month:
Bill Biggs, PM - 06/07
Worshipful Pete Johnson - 06/08
George Kesler - 06/08
Peter Krickhun, PM - 06/09
Dennis Spelts, PM - 06/10
Rex McCray - 06/15
Michael Pettijohn - 06/17
James Feezell - 06/19
Shannon McKeirnan - 06/20
David Witt - 06/21
I would also like to wish the following Brothers A Happy Masonic Anniversary:
Charles Taylor - 06/01 (67 years)
James Reher - 06/21 (14 years)
Fred Pratt, PM - 06/24 (52 years)
Raymond Hartmayer - 06/26 (48 years)
Rex McCray - 06/26 (47 years)
Wayne Rhea, PM - 06/27 (21 years)
Walter Scaff - 06/29 (28 years)
I would love to see brothers come back and visit the lodge to meet the new officers and to get back involved with our fraternity and the Lodge.
Fraternally yours,
Pete Johnson - Worshipful Master 2026
From the West
Greetings Brethren and Ladies,
As we welcome the month of June, we celebrate Flag Day on June 14th, commemorating the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States in 1777.
Throughout our nations history, Old Glory has been carried to some of the most remarkable places by many distinguished Brothers. Our flag was carried to the North Pole by Admiral and Brother Richard E. Byrd, to the South Pole by Brothers Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott, and even to the Moon by Brothers Buzz Aldrin and John Glenn, whose achievements continue to inspire generations.
Our flag remains a powerful symbol of freedom, unity, sacrifice, and the enduring ideals upon which our nation was founded.
I wish each of you and your families a wonderful June and a meaningful Flag Day as we proudly honor the Stars and Stripes and all that it represents.
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, PM
Senior Warden
From the South
Brethren, Families and friends;
I want to thank our Worshipful Master Pete, Brothers, families and friends who attended the funeral and reception for our newly departed Brother Van Reeder. It was truly a comfort to my wife Vicki, our family and I to see everyone there to pay their respects.
It was so very generous of our Worshipful Master and all the brothers of Santa Maria Lodge to let our family use the dining room for the reception after the graveside funeral. There was plenty of food ,refreshments, and heartwarming fellowship. May God bless us everyone.
Don Ruch, PM, Junior Warden.
Secretary’s Corner
Welcome to June and Happy Father’s Day to all of our Father’s and to those of us that are Father’s, be it by blood, marriage, or just taking on the duties of a father. A good father is the foundation that will help to mold the future of our youth. We continue to meet at 0800 on 2 Saturday’s of the month (generally the 2nd and 4th, but due to my schedule, there is some variation) at the Lodge for coffee and then breakfast. When the date is changed, I send a text out to notify as many as possible. Our candidates are often there. Come join us and get to know these fine men that are joining our Fraternity.
I thank the Lodge for sending me to the Leadership Retreat. It is great to spend time with other Brothers from around the state and to receive training to keep my skills up to date with the Grand Lodge programs. This allows me to be the best secretary that I can and to be able to help the Lodge Brothers as to the best of my abilities.
I continue to slowly receive Dues payments, however, there are still 15 Brothers that are in arrears. Remember, you have an obligation to pay your dues. If you have not paid yes, you are overdue! 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