51 Newsletters

Bellevue Lodge #51 AF & AM
Email: bellevue51@iowatelecom.net
Website: iowamasons.com/51.html
563-872-3337
PO BOX 26
BELLEVUE, IOWA 52031

Meetings 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 PM
NEXT MEETING MONDAY FEBRUARY 16TH, 2009

We will be planning for the year at this meeting. If you have any ideas about what you would like the lodge to do this year please attend the meeting. I’m sure that the public schools will need our support more than ever this year. Everyone seems to be cutting budgets and cutting jobs, we will have many opportunities to help in our communities this year. If you know of a worthy project, be sure to let us know about it. We can’t help if we don’t know about it. Every Brother has an obligation to help the less fortunate.

Mark Twain's initial reaction to Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address can be found in his personal notebook for 1866:
Eloquence Simplicity -- Lincoln's "With malice toward none, with charity for all, & doing the right as God gives us to see the right, all may yet be well. -- Very simple & beautiful.
- Mark Twain's Notebooks & Journals, Vol. 1, p. 143.
Happy Presidents Day,
Dave Kendell, Worshipful Master (Written for the Worshipful Master by Charlie Struckman, PM)

BELLEVUE LODGE #51 AF & AM

EMAIL: bellevue51@iowatelecom.net
WEBSITE: iowamasons.com/51.html
NEXT MEETING MONDAY JANUARY 19, 2008
7:30 PM

Brothers,
This is a short newsletter to remind everyone, especially the 2009 Officers, that the installation will begin at 6:00 PM. The stated meeting will begin at the regular time. Please be there if you are being installed in an elected or appointed office so that we won’t have to do it again in February. Thanks!

I hope the weather is good but we will crank up the heat and make the best of it. See you all there.
Fraternally,
Charlie
Charles Struckman, WM

BELLEVUE LODGE #51 AF & AM

EMAIL: bellevue51@iowatelecom.net
WEBSITE: iowamasons.com/51.html
NEXT MEETING DECEMBER 15TH, 2008
7:30 PM
Brothers,
This is my last newsletter as Master of Bellevue Lodge. We have accomplished many things this year, charitable giving being the most important. I would like to give you a list of the charities, organizations and people to whom we have given assistance this year. When someone asks you “What do the Masons do?” You can list the following as your answer.

You will notice that there are many contributions to the veterans homes, many of these are from individual members who rather than receive wages for their labor made these contributions. Thank you to Delbert Jackson (Veterans Home) and Bob Baugh (Humane Society) for your generosity.
For those of you who couldn’t make it to our oyster supper it was great, thanks to Shirley Jackson and Wanda Koch. We had more than enough to eat.
We received two petitions from our guests. The recommenders were David Carter, Jamie Fondell SR., Ben Stanek and Don Felderman. Keep up the good work.
I have just received an email from William Crawford, Grand Secretary. There will be a One Day Class in Clinton Iowa on April 18th 2009. Further details will be coming. If you have someone in mind now is the time to get that petition in.
Since this may be my last chance to mention this in a newsletter. The KAABA Shriners are always looking for new members. Their hospitals benefit children at no cost to the families. They have fun while raising money to provide all the care these children need. Remember all these Shriners are Master Masons and hold the same basic beliefs of Faith, Hope and Charity. Contact Don Felderman or Ben Stanek for membership information they are our local Ambassadors to KAABA. After that we will talk to you about joining the Stern Wheelers parade unit.
The results of our election of officers were; David Kendell Worshipful Master, Richard (Doc) Rossmann Senior Warden, Robert Baugh Junior Warden, William Meyer Treasurer, and Arnie Jackson Secretary. Congratulations and good luck in the coming year.
Thanks to everyone who has helped this year, especially to the Officers both elected and appointed, for all your guidance. I need to thank those brothers who acted in protem positions on my request this year. We could not have had a meeting without your willingness to participate. Thanks to you all, Brothers!
Remember to bring your pocket change for Hope Lodge to the meeting!

Fraternally,
Charlie
Charles Struckman, WM

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Bellevue Lodge #51
Bellevue, Iowa 52031
Stated Communication November 17th 7:30 PM
Annual Oyster Supper
& Prospective Members Night 6:00 PM
Brothers,
This is one our most attended meetings of the year and for good reason. Good food, good friends and hopefully good weather. Our brothers from Dubuque have been invited to join us, that’s why the good weather is hoped for. If they can make it you can.
We are asking that you bring a prospective member, someone who you think might be interested in learning more about our fraternity. This would be an excellent occasion to make a positive impression.
We will be planning for the distribution of Christmas Baskets. We need to update the lists we used last year. We also need volunteers! This is your chance to see how much this program means to those who receive the baskets. We like to have two man teams, a navigator and a delivery person. So even if you can’t carry the baskets you would be a great help if you can drive or read a map.
The election of officers will be held after the regular business of the lodge has been transacted. I hope we will have some new members step up and take an office. I know that they will receive the benefit of the knowledge that our Past Masters have. They have shown me more light on many occasions this year! Be sure to let me know if you are interested in gaining more light in Masonry by taking an active part in the lodge. That goes for new and old members alike. I know the new Master would be grateful for the help.
Hope to see everyone there and don’t forget to bring all your loose change for the Hope Lodge. Every penny counts in this worthy charity. We might not set the record for collections but I know we can do better. This coin drive will be an ongoing collection until we have reached the Grand Masters goal of $250,000.00 . If you want more information about Hope Lodge let me know and I will get it to you. Thanks for your help. I just received the message on the back from our Grand Secretary Bill Crawford please pass it along to anyone who might be able to help.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day and remember our Veterans on November 11th .

BELLEVUE LODGE #51
PO BOX 26
BELLEVUE, IOWA 52031
EMAIL: bellevue51@iowatelecom.net
WEBSITE: iowamasons.com/51.html
MEETING NEXT OCTOBER 20TH , 2008
7:30 PM
Brothers,
Delbert Jackson, Arnie Jackson and I just returned from the Grand Lodge meeting in Des Moines. We will have a report on the changes of the Iowa Code that were voted on there at the next meeting. As always it was interesting to hear what other lodges are doing in the state. We are doing better than some and not as good as others. We did receive a Lodge of the Year Award and a Plus One Award. Congratulations to all of you. Especially to Past Master Delbert Jackson and Secretary Arnie Jackson and all those who participated last year in the degree work. The award guidelines helped me a great deal in keeping the lodge active and on track. Thanks for all your help.
Jack Butler from Dubuque Metropolitan Lodge #49 is our new Grand Master. Metropolitan Lodge will be giving a reception in Dubuque October 11th (see reverse side) and I will be going if anyone needs a ride give me a call 563-872-5032. I wanted to get this newsletter out in time for everyone to have a chance to go. Many of you know Jack and this is a good time to wish him well and to meet the other Grand Officers.
At Grand Lodge we were given a jar to collect change for Hope Lodge. So if you remember bring some of that loose change you all have in drawers and cans to lodge. We will be collecting change all year. The Grand Lodge of Iowa has pledged $250,000.00 to Hope Lodge and we are about a third of the way there. Remember every penny counts.
Since I am pushing this newsletter out early I really don’t have the meeting agenda yet. However, I do know we will be planning our oyster supper at the meeting.
Fraternally,
Charles Struckman, WM

BELLEVUE LODGE #51
PO BOX 26
BELLEVUE, IOWA 52031
EMAIL: bellevue51@iowatelecom.net
WEBSITE: iowamasons.com/51.html
MEETING NEXT SEPTEMBER 15, 2008
Brothers,
We will be welcoming Jamie Fondell as our newest member at our September meeting. He completed the one day class in Iowa City last month. I have also been told that Pete Lysenko will be submitting a petition for membership; many of you met him at the fish fry. Hopefully the trend will continue.
At our last meeting we had twelve Past Masters present. They were Don Felderman, Delbert Hansen, Don Carrier, Ben Stanek, Harlan Daniels, Loren Nolting, Bill George, Delbert Jackson, Willard Meyer, Jerald Ritenour, Richard Rossmann and Arnie Jackson. Thanks for making the Past Masters night a success. Those aprons need to be worn more often.
At the September 15th meeting we will be discussing the proposed changes to the Iowa Code to be voted on at Grand Lodge. We also have had an offer to buy some Lodge property. I would appreciate your input at the meeting. We will explain as much as we can about the offer and your suggestions and comments will be welcome.
We need to be thinking about our lists for Christmas baskets. They might need to be updated. Some people may have moved or new people need to be added. If you know of someone who isn’t on the list but you think should be, let us know.
I have enclosed a copy of the Masonic Last Rites Request. This form is also available at the Grand Lodge of Iowa website, Iowamasoniclibrary.org . I would like to encourage all the members of Bellevue Lodge to fill out this form now. I know it would make things easier for everyone, family and brothers, if we knew what you wanted done. Take a little time now to fill it out and give your family a copy and return a copy to the lodge secretary. Thanks.
Fraternally,
Charles Struckman, WM

July 2008 Newsletter

Meetings 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 PM

Bellevue Lodge #51
AF & AM
206 North Riverview
Bellevue, Iowa 52031
563-872-3337

Email: bellevue51@iowatelecom.net
Website: iowamasons.com/51.html

Meetings 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 PM
NEXT MEETING July 21st 2008

SPECIAL STARTING TIME FOR THE FISH FRY 6:00 PM
Greetings Brothers,
I hope you all had a great 4th of July. The July meeting will be the “Annual” John Pitlo fish fry. John needs to know how many fish to fix. Make your reservations by the 18th of July by calling me at 563-872-5032 or Arnie at 563-682-7198 leave a message if we don’t answer. Don’t miss this one.

At our last meeting we discussed the need to help some of our brothers in the flooded areas of Iowa. The Grand Master has set up an emergency fund for that purpose and he will be in touch with the lodges that need help. I don’t have anything more important to say than the Grand Master so here is his letter.

Fraternally,

Charles Struckman, WM

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June 2008 Newsletter

Meetings 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 PM

Bellevue Lodge #51
AF & AM
206 North Riverview
Bellevue, Iowa 52031
563-872-3337

Email: bellevue51@iowatelecom.net
Website: iowamasons.com/51.html

Meetings 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 PM
NEXT MEETING JUNE 16TH 2008

Greetings Brothers,
I am happy to be able to inform all of you that the Grand Lodge of Iowa has matched our donation to Logan Cram. Arnie Jackson and I presented Logan with another check for $1000.00 last week. He said he would put the check in the bank for future expenses, which I’m sure there will be many. Logan is improving very slowly but surely. He is now able to walk without a cane and he is able to get out and mow a few lawns in town. He still has a feeding tube and is not able to swallow normally. His balance is coming back but he said he kind of drifts to the right, which he said makes it hard for his wife to walk beside him. I wish all of you could meet him, I’m not sure my attitude would be as good as his in his shoes. Thanks to the Brothers who brought his difficulty to our attention, this is what Charity is all about and what Masons are all about. Thank You All.

More good news. We will be voting on the petition of a new member for the degrees after the visitation committees report. Hopefully we will have more this year but this is a start. If you have someone in mind I think we still have time to get them into the one day class on August 23 in Iowa City.

The scholarship program for members has gone to committee and they will report to the lodge when they have finished their review.

At this meeting I would like to bring up two items for your consideration. The first would be the purchase of a flag pole and flag for our courtyard. The second, moving the oyster supper night to November 17th when the weather might be better for traveling and the oysters are bigger. This would also benefit our members who go south for the winter. Think about these things before the meeting and bring your comments, for or against. See you there June 16th .

For those of you who don’t receive the Bellevue paper check out the backside. Again thanks to those who helped with the breakfast.

Thanks to John Pitlo for taking care of the memorial flags at the cemetery in Bellevue.

Fraternally,

Charles Struckman, WM

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April 21, 2008

Greetings Brothers,
The members of the Bellevue Lodge have approved the new By-Laws and they are now in effect. A copy of the new by-laws is printed on the reverse side of this letter. We do have a nicer copy of the by-laws, but you will have to come to a stated meeting to get it.

We will be discussing our plans for the teachers breakfast and teacher of the year award at our April 21st meeting. I hope all of you will participate in serving the teachers, this is our chance to show our support of our local teachers and school systems. This is a project to be proud of.

I will also be offering two suggestions at the meeting. I would like you to have time to consider before then. Number one, in addition to the teacher of the year award certificate that we also give the teacher a monetary reward to be used for his/her classroom. Number two, that the Lodge create one and maybe two new scholarships. These new scholarships would be named the P.L. Lake and/or Dr. Moulton Scholarships. These are the guidelines used by Mt Hermon Lodge #263 Cedar Rapids, IA for their scholarship program.
Eligibility
1. The children of members of Bellevue Lodge #51 in good standing.
2. The grandchildren of members of Bellevue Lodge #51 who are in good standing.
3. The children/grandchildren of deceased members of Bellevue Lodge #51, who were in good standing at the time of their death.
Re-application
A student who has previously received a Bellevue Lodge #51 scholarship may reapply.

I will have a copy of the Mt Hermon application at the meeting for you to review. For those of you with internet access go to iowamasons.com and scroll down to Mt Hermon Lodge. They have everything online.

Arnie Jackson, Don Felderman, Bob Baugh and I went to Cammanche IA for a neighborhood meeting on March 31st . There is a lot going on in some of the lodges. Some seem to be making better use of their lodges for things other than just stated meetings. Any ideas bring them to the meeting Aril 21st.

Fraternally,

Charles Struckman, WM

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March, 2008 Newsletter

Greetings Brothers,

Well where were You last month? Eight of us, including our two newest members, Darren Berthel and Bob Baugh, had a lot of oysters to eat. Once again the weather stopped us from having a full house. I am glad that no one tried to come from any distance to the meeting it was just too dangerous on the roads. Even Calvin Keil missed the oysters; he called in from Whitewater WI. to let us know he wouldn’t be coming. It was mentioned that we might want to change the date of the oyster supper to the November meeting. The oysters are bigger in November and the weather might be better.

We did work on the by-laws and we will be voting on them this meeting. We came up with following changes: 1. Delete the reference to Holiday scheduling and keep the 7:30 PM starting time. 2. The Lodge shall place $_______ in the Charity Fund each year until a maximum of $_________ is reached. 3. Change the Secretary and Treasurer’s wages. 4. Addition of the heading Committees: A minimum of two members of any and all committees must be present in order to transact any business of that committee. 5. Under Maintenance: The addition of the words: including all rental properties, after grounds. These changes and any others will be voted on at this meeting and if approved will take effect immediately.

As many of you know Mike Blitgen’s daughter has been diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). Mike wrote us a letter and I would like to quote a part of it here. Mike wrote, “I would like to ask you all for your prayers that Melissa has a complete recovery from all this and she can get back to a normal 22 year old’s routine of finishing school and enjoying life again!”. I would ask that you include Melissa in your prayers. Please let us know if you know of any Brother or family member who is not in good health so that we can include them.

This month I hope to have a Junior Warden, Richard Rossmann, sworn in. If the weather permits.

I have a little space here so I’m going to give you something to think about. From Christopher Hodapp’s book Freemason’s for Dummies. The Number Three: “Everywhere you look in a lodge and among its rituals, you come across the number three. There are three degrees, three principle officers, three candles, three primary orders of architecture, three knocks on the door, three steps leading to the Worshipful Master’s chair, three principle tenets, three stages of life- the list goes on and on. In non-English-speaking countries, the universal symbol for the Great Architect of the Universe is an equilateral triangle, often with the all-seeing eye in it.”

With that I hope you all can make it to the stated meeting Monday March 17, at 7:30 PM
Fraternally,

Charlie Struckman, WM

February 18th
Greetings Brothers,
Well we did manage to have our January meeting. Delbert Jackson did have to get on the phone in order get a quorum, but we made it. For those of you who are lying around in the sun, Don Felderman, Jack Jacobs just to name a couple, we had a snow storm that day and even our secretary could not get into Bellevue from Miles. This was really put me on the spot, because he was to be the installing officer. But we did have the installation of Officers and the election of our Junior Warden. Richard Rossman will be the Junior Warden for the coming year and John Pitlo will serve as Senior Decon. Thanks to everyone who made the meeting, it wasn’t easy and I hope we can get through the rest of this winter without another day like that. In case you were wondering why the meeting wasn’t just canceled, it was because of the special election for Junior Warden and the installation of officers. In order to reschedule we would have had to get permission from Grand Lodge and notify all members of the election within seven days. Which we had already done once before. So it was just easier to get it done. By the way we didn’t even get a meal; the ladies from OES couldn’t make it to the lodge.

Arnie Jackson, Delbert Jackson, and I attended a secretaries conference held in Colesburg, January 10th . At the meeting it was suggested that we update our bylaws. We were given a guide to use. I have written a revised version and we will be discussing it at our February meeting. Some of the items to be discussed are: MEETING TIMES, HOLIDAY SCHEDULE, COMPENSATION OF OFFICERS, and OTHER
It takes two stated communications to change the bylaws, so the sooner we get to it, the sooner we can start our meetings at an earlier hour, if that is approved, as suggested.

Now for the rest of the story. Arnie drove to the conference and Delbert and I rode along. Just as we were leaving Colesburg it started to snow and the closer we got to home the worse it got. Arnie let Delbert and me off and he headed for home. He almost made it! He went into a ditch and totaled out his van. Could be the reason he didn’t want to drive in another snow storm two weeks later.

Remember, this is our ANNUAL OYSTER STEW & CHILI SUPPER NIGHT, February 18.
We will eat at 6:00 PM the stated meeting will begin at the regular time. Everyone is invited to share in the fellowship.

Fraternally,

Charlie Struckman, WM