Greetings Brethren, Ladies and Friends – Please note, some of the dates listed within the chips may change due to repair status – the dates listed are proposed dates, and will be confirmed once the repairs have been completed. I appreciate your patience. A HUGE thank-you to brother Mark Thie who helped with the production of the chips this month, and on behalf of Hollywood Lodge a heartfelt thank you to Wo. David Sylvester who has had the daunting task of getting this done for several years now.

Stated Business Meeting will be held on May 12, 2011

Greeting Brethren, Ladies and Friends,

Regretfully, I must once again inform you that the Hollywood Lodge will remain dark until repairs to the lodge room are completed. We will however be holding an abbreviated stated business meeting on Thursday May 12, 2011 at 7:30 PM. THERE WILL BE NO DINNER OR ENTERTAINMENT. Please note, this is not a type-o, the business meeting will not be held on the first Thursday, but rather the second Thursday of May (special dispensation has been granted by Grand Lodge)

Repairs are commencing, and we are hopeful that we will once again be meeting weekly by the first of June. We look forward to welcoming you to a repaired and newly renovated Lodge Room.

If you have any questions – I invite you to email me!

Fraternally,

Wo. Steve
wo.master.355@gmail.com

Hit-And-Run Damage to the lodge

Greetings Brethren,

First, let me apologize for the long delay in posts from the officers of your lodge – I have no excuses short of saying that life is busy.

We had a great meeting last Thursday – and one fo the main topics of conversation was communication> I thought I would put up a quick post to let you all know what is going on with your lodge, and how we are looking to improve our outreach to you:

As Wo. Art mentioned in his December Chips, we are reducing the frequency of the Chips in an effort to save money. That being said – I have heard from a lot of you – we will be reaching out to you on a monthly basis again using the following mediums:

• Monthly Calendar of events to be emailed the first of the month (are you on our email list? Click here to send us your information)
• Monthly Digital Chips
• Monthly Hard copy to all of those brethren who do NOT have an email address on file. If you do have an email on file, and we see that you are not opening the emails we send you, we will add your name to that list as well!

As I am sure you can imagine, implementing all of this will take some time. Please feel free to contact me via email (wo.master.355 (at) gmail (dot) com) if you have any questions, comments or concernes.

Fraternally,

Wo. Steve

This year is finally winding up and coming to an end. The November election of officers went smoothly and the line officers have moved forward. The Secretary and Treasurer have also accepted their posts for another year and we will be adding an Assistant Secretary to our lineup. The installation is slated for the Saturday, December 11th. I hope you can come to attend. Invitations were sent out as well as a notice in this month’s chips.

Please note that this may be the last paper chips sent. In order to keep the dues the same this year, we are still cutting costs. Since most members are already using the online version the cost for the mailing is not justifying itself. This was keenly observed over this last month since our printer’s building actually burnt down delaying the chips but members and activities continued on schedule. Please let the secretary know your e-mail address so you can get your copy sent to you. If you do not use e-mail, go directly to your Lodge’s website at www.hollywoodlodge.org for the most current information and calendar.

Thank you again for your support this past year.

Fraternally,

Arthur Melendez
Master

November is here and the Holiday Season is in full swing.  My wife has started the Holiday shopping and the kids are already looking forward to their Holiday vacation away from school.  Time flies and I find it hard to believe that the year end is so rapidly approaching.

Qualifications are wrapping up and plans for 2011 in coming along nicely.  Elections are this month so please attend and show your support for your new incoming officers.  As a Lodge we have accomplished quite a bit, however a lot still remains.

It appears degrees will continue throughout the balance of the year and I wish to particularly thank the Past Masters and Brothers who managed to help out when a vacancy occurred.

I also want  to thank all of you who have called in advance for your reservations for dinner. October’s dinner came out quite well. To ensure you are provided for when you come to the stated dinner, please call before noon, the Monday preceding the stated meeting and reserve your place.  Please remember that children under 12 are half price and have a special table now with game and such appropriate to all age groups.

Fraternally,

Arthur Melendez

Master

Hollywood Lodge #355

With October’s arrival, winter is upon us.  All Hallows Eve reminds of our mortality and All Saints day November 1^st reminds s that our mortality is physical.  The Holiday Season has started and kids are already planning their costumes for Halloween.  Hopefully the evenings will be cooler as the Hawaiian shirt season is officially over.  Please remember to come to Lodge in a coat and tie.

At this time, your officers have qualified for the First Degree and Second Degree rituals.  The Third and hardest Degree qualification scheduled for this month.  All line positions have been spoken for at this time but if you have interest in serving your lodge in an officers capacity, please advise Worshipful Russell Jaeger.  As positions become available in future years, having a pool of interested Brothers available also makes it easier to fill positions and keeps your lodge running smoothly.

Due to the administrative change at Grand Lodge, the 50 year pin acknowledgements luncheon planned must be postponed.  The current Grand Master is required to sign each acknowledgment that is to be awarded and the change in September has thrown a wrench in that.  We are attempting to move this forward into November but we have not yet been advised if that is feasible as of yet.

As we begin the final quarter of this year, I would like to just point out the tremendous jobs done by the various Brothers and in some cases their Ladies in their service to the Lodge.  The list would take up pages and my compliments ten times that.  Whether you have helped at the Stated Dinners, in one form or another, Helped with the Child ID booth or our Information Booth over the summer, you deserve more thanks than is possible to give.  If you have a desire to do more in the Lodge or want to know more about the services we are providing our community, please call or e-mail any of the officers, we will happily be available.

I wish to again thank all of you who have called in advance for your reservations for dinner.  To ensure you are provided for when you come to the stated dinner, please call before noon, the Monday preceding the stated meeting and reserve your place.  November reservations will be especially important as we will be having BBQ baby back ribs.  If you do not or cannot eat pork, fish skewers will be available on request only.  Please remember that children under 12 are half price and have a special table now with game and such appropriate to all age groups.

Fraternally,

Arthur Melendez

Master,

Hollywood lodge #355

As we roll into September the kids return to school, summertime vacations are over and people are returning to work.  The month of September is also going to be packed for Lodge business and activities as well.

We start out the month with our Stated Meeting on the 2^nd , and Brother Bertolli will head up a Constitution Night event.  Degrees are planned for the 9^th and 16^th as usual but we will be dark on the 23^rd as your officers head off to Grand Lodge to attend to the annual business.  The 3^rd degree of the month will be on the 30^th and is a Past Master’s event.    Brother George Mitru is scheduled to be raised.  A steak dinner is planned for all in attendance but RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST in order to have a steak ready.  No surprises please.

Your officers for next year  have qualified for the First Degree and Second degree and qualifications are expected to go off without a hitch.  The Third and hardest Degree qualification being scheduled in October.  If everything goes as planned, they will make the cut for the ensuing year and all that will remain will be the formal approval of the Lodge for them to proceed to their next stations.  All line positions have been spoken for at this time but if you have interest in serving your lodge in an officers capacity, please advise Brother Russell Jaeger.  As positions become available in future years, having a pool of interested Brothers available also makes it easier to fill positions and keeps your lodge running smoothly.

I wish to thank all of you who have called in advance for your reservations for dinner.  To ensure you are provided for when you come to the stated dinner, please call or e-mail before Monday preceding the stated meeting and reserve your place.  Due to the updated systems, it will no longer be feasible to reach out to you by phone as we have.  Making 400 phone calls on a weekend is just too much even for several people.  Please remember that children under 12 are half price and have a special table now with game and such appropriate to all age groups.

Fraternally,

Arthur Melendez

Master

July is here and summer is in full swing.  The days are longer and hotter and the children are out of school for the summer.  As we relax at the end of these hot days and reflect on our blessings, please let us also remember our responsibilities as Masons to our communities and also let us remember the examples of our predecessors and emulate them so our future brothers may look to our efforts and services similarly.

July is the month we present the Scholarship Awards to the chosen students and although this is an important event, I will stick to the casual attire for the day.  Hawaiian Shirts will still be the norm for the stated meetings only.  Please remember brother, heat or no, formal attire only for the degrees with the usual exceptions.

As this is the month of vacations, we have several fun events planned. I am hoping this article can reach you early so we can get in a final reminder of the July 3^rd event in the Woodley Park.  Section 1 at noon.  Brother Sheldon Mowry has an exciting day planned for us.

Due to city cutbacks, we will be unable to obtain bussing for events as in the past and since 3 other lodges in the valley were also doing the same event, the Dodger game will be cancelled.

The Hollywood Bowl event planned by Brother Mark Thie has secured a whole section for us.  The event will be featuring, “Looney Tunes” music and fireworks.  Tickets are only 27.00.  We park away from the bowl and shuttle in to avoid the parking mess that occurs with the popular shows.

Another movie night is planned for the 18^th lead once again by Worshipful Rudy Bauer.  Look to our website at HollywoodLodge.org for more info if you miss the State meeting.

Fraternally,

Arthur Melendez

Master

Hollywood Lodge #355

Brethren and Ladies,

In lieu of entertainment and because of the birthday of our Nation, entertainment for July is to be turned into a service project in honor of our troops fighting abroad.  A number of bulk items will be purchased and we will be making care packages to send to our soldiers serving abroad.  These packages will be sent to our local military representatives who will forward on to the most needed areas.  If you have or are inclined to purchase any of the items listed below, we will be able to make additional packages.  Please remember to consider individual size items only.

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Dental Floss
Hand Sanitizer
Hand Lotion
Baby wipes
Travel games
AA batteries
Cookies
Candies
Hot cocoa packets
Apple cider packets
Zip Lock bags to fill

There are not a lot of care packages that come with female related items. They appreciate sweet smelling lotions (sweet pea), body wash (tone body wash), room spray (Febreze – apple/cinnamon) and more. However, these things are not readily available there for purchase.

Thank you all for your participation and service.

Arthur Melendez

Master