From the East
My Brothers, Ladies, Friends, and Families,
Happy August!! Now that August is here, that means the kids are going back to school and that we are dealing with extreme heat. Please do your best to keep yourself cool.
This months Stated meeting does not have a dinner. It is our dark month. I have started with what I hope is a new tradition for our Past Masters. Since most of our officers are Past Masters, they don’t get to wear their Past Masters Aprons often, so for our August Stated meeting we are going to have all Past Masters wear their aprons even if they are an officer. The gavel drops at 6:30 for this month only.
Last month we had a great Dinner at our Stated Meeting. We did a backyard BBQ style meal and I think everyone really enjoyed it.
This month’s stated meeting attire will be Slacks and a Hawaiian or collared shirt. Please no shorts or sandals.
I would like to wish the following Brothers a Happy Birthday for this Month:
John Swafford - 08/07
Bernard Boyd - 08/08
Lawrence Burns - 08/14
Dennis Connor - 08/14
Michael Looney - 08/15
Dave Murray, PM - 08/19
Michael Cox - 08/20
I would also like to wish the following Brothers A Happy Masonic Anniversary:
Cole Sulser - (14 years)
Reinhart Jaenisch - (26 years)
I would love to see brothers come back and visit the lodge to meet the new brothers 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,
August has arrived, and with it comes our annual "dark" month. Please note that there will be no dinner at our August stated meeting. The meeting will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m., so please plan accordingly.
I would also like to encourage all Past Masters to wear their Past Master's aprons to our August meeting. We seldom have the opportunity to display them, and it will be a wonderful sight to see our Past Masters gathered in their regalia.
Brother Carl Muse will be holding a Celebration of Life for his wife on Saturday, August 15, at 11:00am in the downstairs at the lodge. If your cabletow permits, your attendance and support would be greatly appreciated.
With the summer heat upon us, please remember to stay hydrated, take care of yourselves, and avoid overexerting yourselves in the sun.
Finally, if you know of a Brother or an Honored Lady who is ill, experiencing hardship, or otherwise in need, please don't hesitate to let me know so that we may offer the assistance and support that our fraternity is known for.
Fraternally,
Ken Bychak, PM
Senior Warden
From the South
Brethren, Families and friends;
A lot of our Masonic duties consist of rituals and traditions have played an important role in our organization. This is also true also in the church. While it is essential that any group of peoples adhere to rules so that everything can run smoothly, it is of utmost importance that these rituals and rules do not become the dominant factor in any Masonic or religious group.
We must surrender absolutely to God, giving God our utmost devotion, and obedience. In this way, we will be able to serve our community according to Masonic ideals and according to God's will, and in love.
Don Ruch, PM, Junior Warden.
Secretary’s Corner
August is here and the year is rapidly winding down. The Lodge is Dark this month. There is no meal at the Stated Meeting. Remember, per our By-Laws, the August Stated Meeting starts at 6:30PM. Even though we are dark, we will still be having coffee on the 2nd and 4th Saturday’s of the month. Come join us and have some great fellowship with our newer Brothers, our older Brothers and some of our prospects. Come join us and get to know these fine men that are joining our Fraternity.
We should be voting on a couple of our candidates at this meeting and also have a Proficiency. If all goes well, we are looking at two 1st Degrees and one 3rd Degree in the upcoming months! Big things are happening! If you have not been to the Lodge in a while, come back and check it out!
The proposed Legislation for 2026 Annual Communication has been sent out by the Grand Lodge. I have printed it and placed a hard copy in a binder on the Tyler’s Desk. Please feel free to read through it and if you have an opinion as to how the Lodge should vote, discuss with the Master or the Wardens.
I continue to slowly receive Dues payments, however, there are still 14 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