If you have trouble reading this message please visit http://www.masonicbulletin.org 

I will be on vacation next week in the land of Mickey and Minney so there won't be a Masonic Bulletin published.  If there is something that you would like to change or add and can get it submitted no later than noon on Friday I will publish a special edition.  Otherwise I'll be back in touch with the May 17, 2006 edition.


Joe Harkins

Masonic Bulletin
of
Central Massachusetts

A spotlight on Central Massachusetts Masonry
for Districts 15, 22, 23, 24, and 25
www.masonicbulletin.org
The new subscriber welcome message is now below the red line.

 		 Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Subscribers: 177
   ... and growing

Published every Wednesday by
Joseph Harkins Jr.

Welcome to the Masonic Bulletin of Central Massachusetts, a weekly newsletter dedicated to letting Masons, their friends, families, and communities about Masonic events taking place in Central Massachusetts.

If you would like a subscription just follow this link to the Masonic Bulletin web site and fill out the form. Your email address will never be sold, given away, or used for any purpose other than the mailing of this newsletter.

If you would like to submit a Masonic event for publication, please visit the Masonic Bulletin web site and follow the link entitled Submit an Event.

Joseph Harkins Jr.
Editor

P.S. Over the next few months the Masonic Bulletin and the Masonic Bulletin web site will be undergoing some radical changes. Some of these changes are already in place and others are close behind. If time allows, these are some of the things you can look for by the end of the year:

  • Those of you who submit events will be provided a user ID and password that will allow you to enter your events directly into the system. Once they have been reviewed for grammar and spelling I will activate them.
  • For repetitive events like the Lodges of Instruction, you may have noticed that I don't enter more than one at a time. Under the new system, you may enter as many as you like all at once. Once the date for the current one passes, the next one will automatically show up.
  • Any time you see an address there will be a link to a Google map that will allow you to easily get driving directions to that location from whereever you start.
  • If a Masonic organization referenced in the bulletin has a web site, there will be a link to that web site from any listing in which that organization is mentioned.
  • It is my feeling that every Masonic organization should have some kind of web presence. For that reason I am planning to set up organization profiles for all the Lodges in the five districts, the districts themselves, Grand Lodge (primarily as a link to the Grand Lodge page), and any other bodies that wish to be listed. This will include basic identification and contact information, location if applicable, and a list of any and all officers with optional email and phone information. There will also be room for a short message that can be put there by whoever maintains the profile for the Lodge.
The reason I mention this is that there may occasionally be times when you either don't get the bulletin or you get it and it looks different, in a negative way. If this happens, please contact me.

Also, if you have any suggestions please pass them along.

Thanks

Joe Harkins

ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Organization Boylston Lodge,West Boylston, MA
Wanted Replacement Regalia and Aprons for Line Officers
Details Donations gratefully accepted or "Let's Make a Deal"
Contact Keith Fancy at 508-835-4329 or by email, or Lou Papagni at 508-789-7842.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Date Saturday May 6, 2006
Event Masonic Motorcycle Poker Run
THE RIDE TO THE HOME
Organization Joel H. Prouty Lodge, Auburn in conjunction with the
24th Masonic District
Public Open
Details Whether you are a Mason or not, regardless of what you ride, join us for a fun-filled day and an unforgettable day for the residents of the Masonic Home in Charlton! This will be a police-escorted ride to area Lodges Webster/Quinebaug/Rose of Sharon (Masonic Home) returning to Joel H. Prouty for entertainment and a BBQ. Proceeds for the day will benefit the residents of the Masonic Home by supporting their entertainment programs. There will be a blessing of the bikes followed by the 60 mile police-escorted run. There will be bag raffles, a 50/50 mileage pool, hot dogs and hamburgers, and a motorcycle pinstriper. The cost is $15 per rider and an additional $5 for each co-rider. Raffle items are needed. Please contact us if you have a product or service you would be willing to donate.
Contact

Robert M. Baldauf at 802-258-9867 or Wayne Anderson by email or at 508-735-0807.
Date Saturday May 6, 2006 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Event Annual Spaghetti Dinner
Organization Framingham Assembly No. 47, International Order of Rainbow for Girls
Location Marlborough Masonic Hall, corner of Newton and Main Streets, Marlborough
Public Open
Details This has been the group's annual fundraiser for going on ten years.  The proceeds will help reduce the financial burden associated with attending Grand Assembly of Massachusetts, the annual state-wide convention for Rainbow Girls.  The cost will be $6 per person, $3 for Seniors and children under 6 and $20 for a family of 4 or more.
Contact

Contact Rob Jessee by email or at 774-278-0738
Date Friday May 12, 2006
Event Olive Branch Lodge 9th Annual Masonic Awareness Golf Tournament
Organization Olive Branch Lodge, Millbury
Location Raceway Golf Club in Thompson, CT
Public Open
Details Mark your calendars and put your teams together for the 9th Annual Masonic Awareness Golf Tournament.  The cost is only $95 and includes golf, cart, full breakfast, steak dinner, and a commemorative gift.  Proceeds from this tournament go toward the Olive Branch Lodge Masonic Awareness Scholarship fund. In the past eight years, with your help, we have been able to provide $25,000 in scholarships to several high school students in the Millbury, Sutton, and Blackstone Valley era.  We hope you will be able to join us at this great event.
Contact

Paul Madirosian by email or at 508-320-2256.
Date Saturday Saturday May 13, 2006 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Event Pancake Breakfast to Benefit the Marlboro/Hudson American Cancer Society's Relay for Life
Organization Marlboro Masonic Lodge, 8 Newton Street, Marlboro
Public Open
Details This is a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society. Breakfast will be pancakes, sausage, coffe, juice, and homemade muffins. Donations are $4.00 for adults and $2.50 for children and seniors.
Contact

Lou Papagni by email or at 508-789-7842 orCarol Weston at 978-618-9171.
Date Saturday May 13, 2006 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Event Grand Officer Reception, Mothers Day Tea, and Membership Awareness
Organization Spencer Assembly #72
Public Open
Location Rufus Putnam Lodge, 293 Main Street, Rutland
Details Spencer Assembly #72 is hosting a Grand Recepton for Miss Cassandra Briand P. W. A. of Holden Assembly #85, Grand Hope in Massachusetts Rainbow, along with a formal Mother's Day Tea. Anyone interested in learning about Rainbow is welcome to attend. Reservations are required by May 10.
Contact

Judy Pecha by email or at 508-867-7926.
Date Saturday May 13, 2006 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Event 11th Annual Pig Roast
Organization Matthew John Whittall Lodge, 353 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury
Public Open
Details Come for a great all-you-can-eat meal of roasted pork, BBQ chicken, hot dogs, potato salad, coleslaw, salad, beans,and watermelon. The cost is $10 per person in advance and $12 at the door. There is no charge for children 12 and under.
Contact

Bill Gibbs by email or at 508-853-7675.
Date Wednesday May 17, 2006 6:00 PM Dinner
    7:00 PM Regular Communication and Fellowcraft Degree
    Memorabilia Night follows
Event Memorabilia Night at Meridian
Organization Meridian Lodge, 24 Main Street, Natick
Public No
Details Our regular May communication will feature the Fellowcraft Degree and 'memorabilia night'. This is an invitation to clean out your sock drawer and closet to show off your accumulated Masonic collectables - lapel pins, medals, ash trays, glassware, etc. Feel free to display, trade, or just get rid of these trinkets with your fellow Brethren. Dinner at 6:00 PM, Lodge at 7:00 PM.
Contact

Rich Ames by email or at 508-245-9771.
Date Saturday May 20, 2006 10:00 AM Tee-off
Event 3rd Annual Worcester DeMolay Golf Tournament
Organization Worcester Chapter of DeMolay
Public Open to All
Location Bay Path Golf Course, East Brookfield
Details This is a Florida Style (best ball) tournament with 5 players per team. The $50 cost per person includes a chicken BBQ. Prizes will be awarded. Don't golf? No problem! Join us at the BBQ for a cost of $10 per person. Don't golf OR eat? Still no problem! Be a flag sponsor for $100 or a tee sponsor for $50. All registrations must be received no later than Tuesday, May 16. Follow this link to the Registration Form.
Contact

Ken Briand by email or at 508-886-2202.
Date Saturday May 20, 2006 6:00 PM
Event Installation of Grand Chapter of Massachusetts Order of the Eastern Star
Organization Grand Chapter of Massachusetts Order of the Eastern Star
Public Open
Location Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell
Details Bonnie J. Zumalt, Worthy Grand Matron Elect and Craig Wallace, Worthy Grand Patron Elect, and their new Eastern Star family invite all their friends to attend the installation of The Dream Weavers.
Contact

Craig Wallace by email or at 508-533-2512.
Date Saturday May 20, 2006 7:00 PM to 11 PM
Event Dance to Raise Funds for the Cancer Relay for Life
Organization Oxford Assembly #89 International Order of Rainbow for Girls
Public Yes
Location Oxford Community Center, 4 Maple Street, Oxford
Details The cost is $5 per person and is open to anyone age 11 or older. Food and drinks are available a minimal costs. Families are welcome. All proceeds go towards the American Cancer Society.
Contact

Laurie, Ashley, or Matthew Jodin by email or at 508-987-2953.
Date Thursday May 25, 2006 7:30 PM
    Dinner at 6:00 PM
    Candidate Instruction at 6:45 PM
Organization District 23 Lodge of Instruction
Public Yes
Location Boylston Lodge, West Boylston
Speaker M.W. Jeffrey Black Hodgdon
Subject Speaker's Choice
Details Dinner arrangements have not yet been finalized.
Contact

Robbie Burnett by email or at 508-755-3351.
Date Friday June 16, 2006 6:00 PM
Event Table Lodge
Organization Mumford River Lodge & Solomon's Temple Lodge
Location Mumford River Lodge, East Douglas
Public No
Details Seating limited to the first 50 Masons to respond.  The cost is $25 per person.
Contact

Glenn Watson by email or at  603-893-1418, or Rob Wilson by email at 401-821-1507

WELCOME MASONS!  The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you up to date on Masonic happenings in and around Central Massachusetts.  Regular issues are published every Wednesday.  Please forward this liberally to Masons and non-Masons alike and encourage them to take a subscription.  More people seeing this information means more support for our events and better visibility to the public.

WELCOME NON-MASONS WITH MASONIC TIES! Thanks for checking this out.  If you are somehow associated with Masons or have a friend or family member who is a Mason, you already know how active the Masons are.  Although many of the events listed here are closed to non-Masons, you will find some fun-to-do things here that are open to you.  You are welcome to subscribe.

WELCOME NON-MASONS!  If you know little or nothing about Masonry, this is a great place to get started.  Look at this schedule and see how active we really are.  The events here fall into three main categories.  Those listed PUBLIC: NO are open only to Masons.  Those listed PUBLIC: YES are open to everybody but would probably be of interest only to Masons, family members, and close friends.  Those listed PUBLIC: OPEN are really open to the public.  Please get involved in these events.  If you would like to learn more about Masonry check out What it Means to be a Mason on the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts web site.  Also, please sign up for a subscription to this newsletter.

To Subscribe click Here. Please remember that you can also unsubscribe at any time. Your email address will only be used to deliver this newsletter. It will not be given or sold to anyone for any reason.

To submit an event for the next issue please fill out the form located at the web site home page.