From the East
My Brothers, Ladies, Friends, and Families,
Happy September and Happy Labor Day!!
Last month was a nice break for all as it was our Dark month. Now that we are in September, we are back at it and ready to go. This year has flown by, but I am looking forward to what will come next. We will be having 2 1st degrees in the next couple months, and a 3rd degree for brother Jake. We hope to continue to help brothers advance in their Masonic Journey.
This year we will be handing out the Mason of the year award. This award will be given out at our October Stated meeting dinner. The announcement of who will be receiving this award will happen at our September Stated meeting.
This year we will also be awarding a Hiram Award. This ceremony will happen at our November Stated Meeting dinner and the winner will be announced at our October Stated meeting dinner.
This month’s Stated meeting dinner will be hosted by Beverly, Brenda, and Vicki. I am sure their husbands will help in some way:) Thank you ladies for putting on what I know will be a great spaghetti dinner. We hope to see everyone for dinner.
This month’s stated meeting attire will be Suits for the Pillars, and business casual for all other officers and brothers attending.
I would like to wish the following Brothers a Happy Birthday for this Month:
Jack Story, PM - 09/10
Mike Meandro - 09/13
Jason Terry - 09/17
Kevin Bonner - 09/21
Ken Bychak II, PM - 09/24
Douglas Regnier - 09/26
I would also like to wish the following Brothers A Happy Masonic Anniversary:
Thomas Sparling - (31 years)
Russell Stevens - (43 years)
John Petrovich - (45 years)
Eric Guenther - (16 years)
Dennis Calton - (13 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,
I hope everyone had an enjoyable and restful August. As we come out of our annual dark month, we are ready to begin another month of fellowship, Masonry, and Brotherhood.
September is a time of renewal and a wonderful opportunity for us to come back together, reconnect with our Brethren, and continue the important work of our Lodge.
As Masons, we are reminded that our fraternity is built upon the principles of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. These principles are not simply words we hear within the Lodge; they are values we should carry with us into our daily lives.
Let us continue to support one another, strengthen the bonds of our fraternity, and remember those Brethren and families who may be going through difficult times. A simple phone call, a visit, or a kind word can make a meaningful difference.
I look forward to seeing everyone in Lodge this September. Let us begin the fall season with renewed energy, fellowship, and a continued commitment to making our Lodge the very best it can be.
Fraternally,
Ken Bychak, PM
Senior Warden
From the South
Brethren, Families and friends;
After a long hot summer and a Masonic dark August, it is a cool(er) September morning as I write this input. We will be having a spaghetti Stated meeting dinner, with some sort of desert. I'm sure it will be a good time to socialize.
Vicki and I are still having an Estate sale at the dearly departed Brother Van Reeders home. We are letting his treasures go at a very reasonable price. We are planning to renovate his home so that we can rent his home (at a reasonable price) to a good, honest family. If you know of a family in need of a rental, this home will be available in early to late Spring of 2027. I hope you all have a very blessed day.
Don Ruch, PM, Junior Warden.
Secretary’s Corner
Welcome to September. The Grand Lodge will be holding the Annual Communication in October. They have sent the proposed Legislation. 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 it with the Master or the Wardens. We continue to have 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 voted on two of our candidates at the August meeting and will be having a couple of 1st Degrees in the very near future. Brother Jake Morris gave an excellent 2nd Degree Proficiency and we will also be preparing for a 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!
There are still 14 Brothers that are in arrears for 2026 dues. Remember, you have an obligation to pay your dues. 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