Stated Meetings are on the second Thursday of each month.

December 2008

Brethren of Home Lodge
Well I can't believe that the year is almost over. December is here and the holidays are right
around the corner. Just a few more weeks and my term as Worshipful Master will be over. I
can honestly say that even though I'm glad it's almost over, it has been a really great experience
for me to serve as Master.
Congratulations and welcome to our newest member. Brother Kenny Cummins was raised to
the sublime degree of a Master Mason on November 6th during Past Masters Night. The Home
Lodge Officers performed the 1st section and the Home Lodge Past Masters did a fine job
conferring the 2nd section. Home Lodge conferred the 2nd and 3rd Degree as courtesy work for
East Gate Lodge #630 as Brother Kenny had taken his 1st degree some time ago at East Gate.
Kenny has since affiliated with Home Lodge. Again, welcome Kenny.
I would also like to congratulate two brothers who recently received their 50 year pins and
certificates. Brother Thomas Thorson Jr. received his on October 6, 2008 and Brother Richard
W. Jones received his on October 21, 2008. Congratulations brothers.
On a sad note, we have lost several brothers recently. Brother Marvin A. Pomerantz died on
August 14, 2008, Brother Dwayne D. Law PM (more affectionately known as “Pork Chop”) died
on October 16, 2008, and Brother Vinton L. Zuck died on November 14, 2008. No Masonic
services were requested for Brother Pomerantz or Zuck. On November 6, during Past Masters
Night, Home Lodge did have a memorial service for Brother Dwayne Law. Worshipful Brother
Daryl Barnard PM conducted a very moving and heartfelt service. There was not a dry eye in the
room. May the Great Architect of the Universe look after all three of these good and faithful
servants, and welcome them into that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
We had a very good turnout for the November Stated Meeting which as most of you know, is
when we have the election of officers for the following year. Your Elected Officers for 2009 are:
Worshipful Master-Mel Moore, Senior Warden-Jerry Gymer, Junior Warden-Ron Hicks,
Secretary-Bud Erickson PM PGM, Treasurer-Wendell Shellebarger, and Trustee-Greg Spooner
PM. I am sure these brothers will serve the lodge well and I want to offer my congratulations
and wish you all the best of luck in the coming year.
Just a reminder that lodge dues need to be paid. Lodge dues for 2009 are $70.00 and are “due”
on January 1 for the following year. Please send your dues to the Secretary, Bud Erickson.
Once again, I just want to thank all of you for allowing me to serve as Master of Home Lodge
370. It is an honor and a privilege for me to be a part of the greatest fraternity on earth.
Franternally, David Minor WM

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September 2008

Brethren of Home Lodge September 2008
The days are getting shorter and the nights are cool. It’s hard to believe that summer is almost gone and fall is here. It
seems like this year is just flying by. Raking leaves and shoveling snow are not so far away. Things have been kind of
quiet around the lodge this summer, but after looking at the calendar, we have quite a few things scheduled for the next
couple of months. Remember, even if we are not having a degree or a stated meeting, we still meet every Monday and
Thursday to play cards, socialize, drink coffee and usually have school on the ritual.
As some of you already know, I recently had the honor of being appointed as Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge
of Iowa. The public Installation of Officers took place on Friday September 19th at the 164th Annual Communication of
the Grand Lodge of Iowa. I was pleased to see so many Home Lodge members in attendance. The Grand Lodge Officers
for 2008-2009 are: Jack L. Butler-Grand Master, Robert E. Breckenridge II-Deputy Grand Master, Jerry L. Levay-Senior
Grand Warden, Michael B. Aves Sr.-Junior Grand Warden, Andrew E. Schaffer-Grand Treasurer, William R. Crawford-
Grand Secretary, Dwight A. McDonald-Grand Chaplain, Tim S. Anderson-Deputy Grand Secretary, Damian Hurmence-
Grand Marshal, Jeremy N. Davis-Senior Grand Deacon, Theodore C. Wiley-Junior Grand Deacon, David R. Minor-Senior
Grand Steward, Loren J. Pierce-Junior Grand Steward, Donald G. Leedom-Grand Tyler and Robert C. Danner-Grand
Musician. This is an outstanding group of brothers and it will be an honor to serve with them this coming year.
Once again, Home Lodge 370 will host the Pleasant Hill Community Blood Drive on Saturday October 11, from 7:00 am
to 11:00 am. As always, breakfast will be served free of charge to all blood donors. To schedule a time to donate, you
can go to http://www.bloodcenterofiowa.org, or call Daryl Barnard @ 515-360-8097.
The White Shrine will be having their fall Chicken Noodle Dinner on Saturday November 1st from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Prep day will be on Friday Oct. 31st. Volunteers will be needed for both days. Let’s all plan on attending and making this
a successful dinner.
Past Masters Night will be Thursday November 6th. Social hour will begin at 4:00 pm with dinner at 6:00 pm.
Reservations will be needed for dinner so if you plan on attending please contact Bud Erickson @ 285-0880.
The secretary has also informed me that there are an unusually high number of brothers who have not paid their lodge
dues for 2008. Lodge dues are “due” in January for the year and become delinquent as of July 1. Those who have not
paid their dues by the November stated meeting will be suspended for “non payment”. If for some reason you cannot
pay your dues, please feel free to call myself or the secretary (Bud), and I am sure we can work something out.
Upcoming Dates to remember:
Oct 9 Stated Meeting Potluck Dinner @ 6:30, meeting @ 7:00 pm
Oct 11 Blood Drive 7:00 am-11:00 am
Oct 23 Possible 2nd Degree 7:00 pm
Oct 25 Halloween Party 3:00 pm
Nov 1 White Shrine Chicken Noodle Dinner 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
Nov 6 Past Masters Night Social Hour 4:00 pm Dinner @ 6:00 pm
Nov 13 Stated Meeting Potluck Dinner @ 6:30 Meeting @ 7:30 pm (Election of Officers)
Dec 11 Stated Meeting Potluck dinner @ 6:30 Meeting @ 7:30 pm
Dec 14 Calendar Meeting 2:00 pm
Jan 3 Home Lodge Public Installation of Officers 2:00 pm
Almost every Saturday-Breakfast served at 8:00 am sharp-come support the breakfast club
Fraternally, David Minor WM

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June 2008

Brethren of Home Lodge,
Summer is finally here and the rain has stopped (for now). For those of you who don't live in central Iowa, we
have been having record flooding here in Des Moines as well as Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. Our thoughts and
prayers are with all those who have been affected by the high water.
I want to welcome our two newest members of Home Lodge. Clinton Carpenter was raised to the sublime
degree of a Master Mason on April 17, and Ryan Moses was raised on May 19th. Home Lodge requested
permission from the Grand Master to temporarily move the Charter to the Shrine Temple in Altoona for Ryan's
3rd degree. Home Lodge Officers performed the first section of the degree and the Shrine Past Master's Club
performed the second section in full form. I want to thank everyone who participated as everyone did a fine
job and I'm sure brother Ryan was quite impressed. Also, I want to thank Potentate Larry Heggen and all the
Shrine members for inviting us to their Temple for this degree.
I also want to say congratulations to our newest 50 year member. Albert L. Knight received his 50 year
certificate and pin on June 23rd.
The Annual All Bodies Picnic is just a couple of weeks away. The picnic will be on Saturday July 12th at
11:00am - ?? The picnic this year will be at a different location than the last couple of years. This year it will
be held at Sunrise Park at 5400 E. Oakwood Drive in Pleasant Hill. Just look for the water tower, the park is
right next to it. There is a shelter roof and picnic tables but you may want to bring a lawn chair. There is also
playground equipment for the kids and there is a basketball court and a baseball diamond.
The Daughters of the Nile will be having a funder raiser dinner on Friday July 11th at 6:00pm at the Za Ga Zig
Shrine center in Altoona. Meal includes Iowa Chop, baked potato, baked beans, salad, roll dessert and drink
for only $10.00 per person.
The White Shrine of Jerusalem will be having their Annual Sweet Corn Feed on Saturday, July 26th from
11:00 am to 6:00 pm. All you care to eat sweet corn, plus sides, dessert and a drink for only $8.00. Everyone
come for a delicious meal and help support the White Shrine.
For those of you who have not paid your dues yet for 2008 they are now past due. The secretary is sending
letters to all that have not paid yet, so please get this taken care of. Please send your dues to: Bud Erickson
4423 Caulder Ave. Des Moines, IA 50321-1821 Home Lodge Dues for 2008 are $70.00.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
July 3rd 1st Degree for Kenny Cummings-Meal @ 6:15 degree @ 7:00pm
July 10th Stated Meeting 7:30 pm (no dinner)
July 11th Daughters of the Nile Iowa Chop Dinner @ Shrine Center 6:00pm
July 12th All Bodies Picnic 11:00am to 2:00pm
July 17th 2nd Degree Light refreshments @ 6:30, degree @ 7:00 pm
July 26th White Shrine Sweet Corn Feed 11:00am to 6:00 pm
July 31st 3rd Degree Meal @ 6:15 degree @ 7:00
Aug 14th Stated Meeting 7:30 pm (no dinner)
Breakfast is served almost every Saturday 8:00 am sharp. Come support the Breakfast Club
Fraternally, David Minor WM

©Copyright 2007 - 2008 -- IowaMasons.com. All rights Reserved

Brethren of Home Lodge --------------------- April 2008
Spring has been very busy at Home Lodge so far. Along with the degrees and schools, we've had a blood drive, chicken noodle dinner, Grand Lodge Regional School, as well as many other activities involving all the other groups that meet in our lodge.
I want to personally thank all the brothers that helped clean up the parking lot last Saturday. This was a big job due to all the snow we had this winter. Several tons of sand were spread on the lot over the winter and it was a lot of work to clean it up. As soon as it warms up, we are going to repaint the lines as they are all but gone.
On Thursday April 3rd, the custodians of the Grand Lodge of Iowa held a Regional School at Home Lodge. I was pleased to see so many brothers attend from all over central Iowa. The custodians conducted a very fine school and I am sure everyone who attended would agree.
The Daughters of The Nile held their Installation of Officers on Sunday April 6th. The event was well attended I was pleased to see so many Home Lodge members there to support them. Congratulations to Linda Moore on being elected Queen and we wish you all the best in your reign as Queen. For those of you who don't know, Linda in the better half of our Senior Warden Mel Moore.
We had two members receive their 50 year certificates recently. Brother Esahr M. Pildis became a 50 year member on February 5, 2008 and Brother Donald L. Bowman received his on March 24th 2008.
Congratulations to you both.
On a sad note, we lost two brothers recently. Brother William “Gene” Freeman passed away on March 6th 2008. Masonic services were requested by the family and many Home Lodge members attended. Worshipful Brother Daryl Barnard PM conducted a very fine service for the fallen brother. Brother Arthur W. Ferguson (50 year member) passed away on March 24th 2008. No Masonic services were requested. May the Great Architect of the Universe look after these good and faithful servants and welcome them into that House not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
April 10th Stated Meeting Potluck Dinner @ 6:30 Meeting @ 7:30
April 12th White Shrine Chicken Noodle Dinner 11am to 6pm
April 17th 3rd Degree for Brother Clint Carpenter
April 19th HAPAC Grotto Spaghetti Dinner 4-6pm
April 24th Home Lodge Fish Fry-Prospect night 7:00pm
May 8th Stated Meeting Potluck Dinner @ 6:30 Meeting @ 7:30
May 19th 3rd Degree (Home Lodge Candidate hosted by Za-Ga-Zig Shrine @ the Shrine Temple)
Almost Every Saturday, Breakfast served at 8:00 am sharp. Come support the Breakfast Club
Fraternally, David R. Minor WM

©Copyright 2007 - 2008 -- IowaMasons.com. All rights Reserved

©Copyright 2007 - 2008 -- IowaMasons.com. All rights Reserved