December 3, 2007 Stated Meeting Fried Chicken New Officers

Sometime this week it was announced our Las Vegas Valley had attained a population of 6 million people.

Our last Chicken Dinner wasn’t good enough for our Junior Warden, Frank Bolshazy. Frank found a new supplier and I must say that chicken was wonderful. Even the Potato salad was superb. I went back for seconds then had desert. On Stated Meeting nights we start eating at 6:15 PM. Tonight it was even earlier than that. We actually had Cream Puffs as part of the desert ensemble and Vanilla ice cream with real Vanilla bits in it.

Master Jim Beggs & Robert Storebo discussing events as Junior Warden Frank Bolshazy does accounting

Alan Murphy was seen arriving with a wicker basket in his possession. That is to replace the wicker basket he destroyed last week. This too was all my fault. Alan had been seated behind the Junior Steward chair. He had Frank’s basket filled with candy placed right beside his chair. For some reason he left his seat. I sat down and pushed the basket away from where I was seated. Alan came back and sat down abruptly accompanied by the sound of the wicker handle snapping under the pressure from the chair bottom. Alan said he would replace the basket and he sure enough did.

Alan must have transferred all of the candies into the new basket before Lodge opened. There was a lot of candy in that basket. The basket was three quarters full. Candies are individually wrapped, mostly hard candy. A lot of the Brothers paw through the basket contents searching for the red hot candy. Alan was circulating among the Brothers holding out the basket for everyone to help themselves. When he got over to PM Bruce Nelson candies ended up scattered all over the floor. Bruce really dove into that basket with gusto.

We had our voting on the New Officer Positions. Ballots were prepared ahead of time with the printed names of the officers who were next in line, so to speak, for the upcoming vacancies. This is a fairly cut and dried type procedure but there’s always a surprise or two that is possible.

The election committee always uses a folding card table and two or three folding chairs to sort out the ballots and do the counting. They set out the table on the dais between Master’s Podium and the Secretary’s Desk. I think it’s strange that we use that card table once a year and it remains in plane view next to the Secretary’s Desk for the whole year. It’s not exactly unsightly. It just looks a bit out of place.

All Master Masons of our lodge were asked to stand and count off. I was at the Historian’s seat and counted number four. We had 39 members eligible to vote. The round of voting was accomplished with great efficiency.

Past Junior Warden, the money machine

Our Appointed Officer line up was a bit of a surprise. I think our new Master sets a great deal of emphasis on attendance. I was surprised that some of the current officers were not named as officers for 2008. It’s almost as if you had to be present to be selected. I hope there are no hard feelings resulting from the appointments but I fear there will be.

The Appointed Officer lineup is as follows: The Senior Deacon is to be Steve Kunda. Junior Deacon is to be Michael Creason. Chaplain for this year will be James Orr. Patrick Price will be the Marshall. Senior Steward will be Jesse Heki. Junior Steward is to be David Bolshazy. Masters of Ceremony are to be Robert Storebo and Alan Murphy. The last Officer position is to be filled by Arthur J. (A.J.) Myles, that’s me. That is the position of Historian.

I’m very pleased to serve as Historian. Left to my own devices I would not be very forward. Serving as Historian I’ve had to approach total strangers and ask, “How do you spell your last name?” Then too, all the pictures I’ve taken. I’m sorry for the ones that are blurry or too dark or too red. Nevertheless it has made for a pretty good review of all that we have done in Lodge. It surely surprised me how much I had forgotten as the time slips away.

This year I find it is in my best interest to retire from my Job. I am hoping to do that in June. I own my Great Grand Parent’s property in Pennsylvania. It was purchased by my family on April 2, 1880 for $200.00. I hope to spend time there clearing brush and trees and cutting stone. If things work out for me I will be away from Las Vegas for most of the year. It’s still a pipe dream at this point but knowing this I thought it unfair to accept any appointed position in the various Masonic Organizations. Nevertheless our Own Past Master, David Laino has appointed me to be the Bearer of the Black Banner in “The Council of Kadosh” of the Scottish Rite and I am currently the Warder at the York Rite Commandry.

This week during introductions we were all very pleased to recognize our own Past Master Dan Newman as the current Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Nevada. Dan received hardy applause all around and some howling from Brother Buck Hogan.

We had to ballot on Petitions for membership. We voted for Richie Laurson, Harry Terzian and David Bechtel. We also voted for affiliation from Jay Caturay and Adam Roberts.

Master Beggs announced that The DeMolay men had been meeting in our Lodge room and noticed a leak in the new roof over in the southeast corner of the room. Many of our DeMolay showed up at our meeting offering to go up and fix the roof as a money raising activity. Past Grand Master Ovid Moore said that the roof is repaired by highly specialized man with great technical skills. PM Bruce Nelson said the liability of having the youngsters on the roof would be considerable. We discussed the issue for a short period of time. Then it was determined that the DeMolay would be offered optional tasks whereby the needed funds could be obtained. It seems that we will be paying the DeMolay not to fix the roof. Very clever.

Brother Secretary Mike Reinhardt stated that he had received an announcement that a new book has been published and is available for purchase. Our Past Master, Gerald Root (G. Irving Root) is now residing in Texas and has authored Battles East. It’s a World War II account of the battles along the Eastern Front. Quite a few of us paid for the book after the meeting. Master Root conferred the Master Mason degree upon me.

It was announced that we had a profit of $3.00 from our wonderful Table Lodge. We made a motion to allow the new Master $300.00 towards expenses associated with the upcoming Installation of Officers on Saturday December 15^th starting at 5:30PM.

December 10, 2007 Three Entered Apprentice Shoot ‘em Up Rodeo Week

This was the week a gunman entered a Shopping Mall in Oklahoma and opened fire on patrons & employees resulting in a death toll of six or eight people before the perpetrator turned the gun on himself. A day or two later a gunman started shooting up a Mission property then a church in Colorado. This shooter was killed by an armed lady security guard. It seemed a bit unusual that a church property would be protected by an armed guard and a public property had unarmed guards standing around watching the carnage. Towards week’s end there was a local shooting of six Mojave High School students here in Las Vegas as they were exiting their school bus.

Winter sunset down the street from Lodge @ Rancho & Bonanza

Snacks with symbolism

This night all new officers for 2008 served in their new capacity. Our new Junior Warden is Phil Michaelson. Phil provided a cake, animal crackers and Peanuts. I believe the Animal Crackers were a Past Master Bruce Nelson favorite. The nuts were commemorating our PM Abe Velasco’s time as Junior Warden.

Past Master Mel Rosenbloom and Junior Past Master James Beggs

PM Abe Velasco & Patrick Price indulging

PM Bruce Nelson & PM Dan Newman

Past Master Mel Rosenbloom was expecting guests to arrive at Lodge. It was about 6:45 PM and I was standing outside Lodge smoking. Mel’s cellular phone rang. It was his guests. They had just left The Stratosphere Hotel and wanted to know how to reach our Lodge. Mel turned to me real quick and asked for instructions. Generally when that happens to me I go blank. Fortunately I was able to picture in my mind where they were and relayed to Mel how they should proceed. I knew they would be late arriving. I left Mel outside to await his guests.

Mel’s guests did arrive and were admitted to Lodge

Mel Rosenbloom’s guests did arrive and were admitted to Lodge. They seemed quite thrilled to be recognized and introduced. They were then presented with First Time Visitor Cards and lapel pins.

Proud to display Oasis 41 Lapel Pin.

Mel introduced to us Brother Anthony Smith of East Lans Lodge and Clive Beetlestone of Essex Lodge.

New Brothers David Bechtel, Harry Terzian & Richie Laursen

Jesse Heki was the Senior Steward. Our Marshall, Patrick Price suggested I act as Junior Steward to guide Jesse through the motions of Senior Steward. I was thinking that would be like the blind leading the blind. Nevertheless Jessie and I ended up back in the Inner chamber. I knocked gently on the inner door and there was a fairly big crashing sound coming from inside. I never did quite figure out what made all that noise. We found the new brothers to be in pretty good shape with regards to their attire. I asked Jessie to recite the requirements for the candidates and that did turn up a fairly large metal chain being worn by David Bechtel. He removed the chain and stowed it with his gear. I made a point of showing David the door to the hallway would be locked. I told David I didn’t think anything had ever been stolen in a Masonic Lodge but I wanted him to be at ease with regards to his possessions. We were just about ready to get underway when I asked Jesse to rehearse his lines. This we accomplished in short order. In no time at all our three candidates stood properly attired and poised at the inner door ready to knock lest that door should be opened to them.

Harry Terzian had a concern that he was selected to be the first candidate to be escorted into the room. I told Harry that he had influence since his brother Michael is a Fellowcraft in our Lodge. I just made that up. I believe it’s pretty random who gets to go first.

Alan Murphy delivered the Working Tool Lecture. That was the finest first time lecture I had ever heard. I think Alan has wonderful abilities as a speaker. Our Brother Secretary Mike Reinhardt was missing. Brother Secretary had been hospitalized with Blood Sugar problems complicated by stomach ailments and a bone spur. We were all very concerned.

Our second set of brother Brothers Michael & Harry Terzian

Rick Poole delivered the Charge & PM David Laino

Masonic Memorial Temple home of Oasis 41

Our Lodge building, the Masonic Memorial Temple, has had a nice facelift as a result of Brother Arcangelo Cocco’s efforts. Mr. Cocco is a member of Nellis Lodge and is a member of the MMT Board. Arcangelo is a painting contractor and has had some of his crew painting the exterior of the building. Our decorative columns got two coats of paint because the first color was too red. Arcangelo even went so far as to have replaced all the burnt out exterior light bulbs and bought us a new flag of the proper dimensions.

December 15, 2007 Fifty‐forth Installation of Officers

Lodge opened at 5:30 PM for Instruction and Regularly Scheduled Business. Work and instruction were promptly suspended to allow for the Installation of Oasis Lodge Number 41 officers for 2008 beginning at 6:30 PM. Our Brother Secretary was still absent. Luckily we had Most Worshipful Bud Banks and Most Worshipful Dale Porray, both Grand Lodge Officers, present to pitch in and perform as Installing Officers. Regularly scheduled Installing Officers were: PM David Laino as Installing Secretary and PM Bruce Nelson as Installing Assistant Marshall. To our great honor the installing Officer was none other than Most Worshipful James G. Kelley, Grand Master Of Masons in Nevada.

David Bolshazy was not present for the Installation. He was in Disneyland. David will be hearing about this for quite some time to come.

I was very pleased that my son‐in‐law, Bob Saeger chose to attend. Bob brought along his friend Tommy. I was even more pleased that DeMolay Dad, Craig Ruby stopped by and I was able to introduce Craig to my guests. I would love to see my Grandson, Ebie begin taking part in the DeMolay. Bob informed me that Ebie is now 12 years old and eligible to become a member. Craig promptly handed Bob his card and asked that Bob call anytime.

Historian’s guests Tommy and Son‐In‐Law Bob Saeger

Grand Buffet following Installation of Officers

The Installation ceremony went very smoothly. Brother Robert Eldridge was present to make sure things went according to plan.

Brother Robert Eldridge leads line at Buffet

Worshipful Master James Beggs presented each of his officers with a gift as a part of the Farwell Address. Mr. Beggs had selected individual books for each of the officers. It was pretty obvious that Master had spent a great deal of effort selecting each volume. When he got to me he said he couldn’t make up his mind between two volumes so he presented me with two books. I think Alan Murphy got Masonry for Dummies.

When the public portion of the installation was complete our guests were invited to partake of refreshments in the Bobo Room. Our new officers were seated and Lodge began to prepare for official closing when Worshipful Mike Duncan removed the Top Hat he had been wearing and pulled out a hat with “character”. This was a Western Style Black Hat. Then Mike said he was replacing the standard Gavel with one of his own choosing. Mike reached down and pulled out a chrome .45 caliber revolver with stag pistol grips and announced that this was a gavel with “character”.

I think we have a lot of “character” in Lodge now. It will be quite interesting to see how the future unfolds.