On Da Wa Lodge #820 Questionnaire Answers

2010 On Da Wa Lodge #820 Questionnaire Answers

Present Location
1) Are you satisfied with the Comfort Suites location? YES 100% NO 0%
2) Any amenities you wish were added? The following items were listed.
• Use of DVD Player
• Additional Storage
o In Hotel
o Small Trailer
o Rental in Local Storage Locker
• Store all Meeting Minutes, all items from Mechanicville Lodge, for acquisition of furniture, degree work needs, etc.

Future Location
3) If we can financially afford a Lodge Room with more amenities in the next couple years are you agreeable? YES 70% NO 30%
4) Within a 1 mile radius? YES 70% NO 30%
5) Within a 5 mile radius? YES 70% NO 30%
6) Do you feel the Lodge should remain within Mechanicville? YES 30% NO 70%

Meeting Special Presentations (20 minutes or so)
7) Invite the concordant bodies to address our members? YES 90% NO OPINION10%
8) Public Speakers that would inform or enlighten our membership? YES 90% NO OPINION10%
Comments – Many expressed the need to keep the content Masonic in nature. I will ask Troy Derouin to suggest, research, and manage these presentations as part of Presentation Committee.

Lodge Trips
9) Would you be interested in Lodge arranged day trips? YES 60% NO OPINION 40%
10) Would you be interested in overnight trips, such as Gettysburg? YES 60% NO OPINION 40%
Comments – Many stated cost may be a factor.

Membership Extras
11) Sam’s Club or BJ’s Club Memberships YES 90% NO OPINION10%
12) Lodge joining Southern Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce? Previously Voted On

Regular Business Meeting

Our District Deputy Grand Master, R.W. Gary Bolster was on hand to present Bro. Thomas Svendsen with a 50 Year Apron. Congratulations Tom! We deeply appreciate your 50 years of service.

Regular Business Meeting

ON DA WA LODGE #820 - 17 Brothers in attendance with major new business - Lodge voted to join Southern Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. Next meeting on 9/28, we will reveal statistics from the Summer Questionaire. Should be an interesting program. All master masons are encouraged to join us.

2010 Lodge Questionaire

2010 On Da Wa Lodge #820 Questionnaire

The future of the Lodge demands input from all the members. We will tally up the answers and present our findings for open discussion. Thank you for your time.

Present Location
1) Are you satisfied with the Comfort Suites location? Yes No
2) Any amenities you wish were added? ____________________________________________

Future Location
3) If we can financially afford a Lodge Room with more amenities in the next couple years are you agreeable? Yes No
4) Within a 1 mile radius? Yes No
5) Within a 5 mile radius? Yes No

Meeting Special Presentations (20 minutes or so)
6) Invite the concordant bodies to address our members? Yes No
I believe our younger members should be aware of them.
7) Public Speakers that would inform or enlighten our membership? Some Lodge members have expressed interest in presenting. Yes No

Lodge Trips
8) Would you be interested in Lodge arranged day trips? Yes No
9) Would you be interested in overnight trips, such as Gettysburg? Yes No

Membership Extras
10) Sam’s Club or BJ’s Club Memberships
11) Research the benefits of the Lodge joining Southern Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce? I will be researching this one for more information. Remember, when our Lodge started in Mechanicville the ranks were full of businessmen. Perhaps joining them will bring some to us again. Also, there are perks for members that might prove valuable to Lodge members.

Community Outreach
12) Sponsor a softball team Yes No
13) Expand our scholarships Yes No
14) Setup join events with other community organizations Yes No

Upcoming Degree Work – What parts are you willing to undertake to benefit the Lodge?

1st Degree ____________________________________________________________________________________
2nd Degree ___________________________________________________________________________________
3rd Degree ___________________________________________________________________________________
If needed, can we call upon you to learn a part? Yes No

Special Events – If we can present an event budget that proves it will not cost the Lodge anything, can we consider developing the following events.
15) Wine Tasting Event Yes No
16) Holiday Gala Event (District-Wide Masonic Event) Yes No
17) The Lodge hosting Concordant Body Events @ Comfort Suites Yes No
18) Other ideas to follow.
Obviously, any profits from these events will be passed along to the Lodge. Perhaps an Entertainment Committee is warranted.

NOTE 1: Membership – We collectively strive to grow our Lodge. As a short-term goal, I would like to increase by twenty. Ten from new members and ten from affiliates lets pull out all the stops.
Note 2: Our long-term goal should include restoring On Da Wa Lodge #820 as a leading Lodge in the District, eventually expanding our influence Regional-wide.

Comments ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5/25/2010 Installation of Officers

13 members in attendance.
Officers for 2010 - 2011
Master - W. Bro. Arthur M Palmer Jr.
Senior Warden - Bro. Craig W. DeVoe
Junior Warden - Bro. Alan T. DeVoe
Secretary - Bro. Edwin W. Faulkner
Treasurer - W. Bro. R. Allan Offenbacker
Senior Deacon - Bro. Paul Kahian
Junior Deacon - Bro. Troy R. Derouin
Chaplain - RW Bro. Lewis O. Slocum
Tiler - W. Bro. Meredith L. Vanderwerken

Great meeting and discussed plans for ensuing year.
Summer picnic @ Brookwood Manor 6/27/2010 @ 1PM

5/22/2010 Past Masters Assoc. - Investiture Service

4 On Da Wa Lodge members attended the Investiture Service.
V.W. Jason Dzembo was Investing Officer and the evening's speaker. He did an excellent job.
Great time with around 50 Brothers in attendance.
We are ready for another exciting year!

2010 Lodge Committees

Committees
• Financial Committee
a. Treasurer
b. Master & Wardens
Responsibilities: Stated in By-Laws, plus a full financial report, a minimum of two times a year or as requested.
Note: *Ed Faulkner as is to attend all meetings

• Property Committee (Senior Deacon, plus two members)
a. Paul Kahian
b. Volunteer
c. Volunteer
Responsibilities: To build upon existing Lodge furniture, regalia, and props required for degree work.

• Committee for the Instruction of Candidates (5 members)
a. Arthur Palmer
b. Craig Devoe
c. Arthur Devoe
d. Volunteer
e. Volunteer
Responsibilities: To collectively train our next generation of members.
Note – Brothers we will start conferring degrees next year. We are seeking volunteers that know or are willing to learn parts of all three degrees. It’s time to grow the Lodge.

• Special Committees
a. *Independent Advisor – Financial Records
i. Ed Faulkner
Responsibilities: To maintain copies of all financial monthly statements

b. Independent Advisor – Archival Documentation (Lodge History)
i. Alan Devoe & Ed Faulkner
Responsibilities: To review and catalog all Minute Books, memorabilia, records, photos, and historical accounts for the generations to come.

c. Brotherhood Fund
i. Ed Faulkner & Alan Devoe
Responsibilities: To foster a giving spirit in our membership. This does not really mean large dollars; if each Brother gave a minimum of $20 our ranking would be high.

d. Scholarship Fund
i. Craig Devoe
ii. Calvin Thayer
Responsibilities: To promote the next generation of our Lodge membership through providing scholarships to both Lodge members, their families and as a basis of a community outreach program. After 114 years, who in Mechanicville is not our family?

e. Community Outreach Program
i. Arthur Palmer
ii. Craig Devoe
iii. Troy Derouin
1. Parades
2. Educational and Sports Outreach
3. Business and Civil Organizations
Responsibilities: Promote Freemasonry throughout the region. Two goals: promote visibility of the Lodge and increase membership.

f. Past Masters (Volunteers)
i. Seniors Dues Relief
Responsibilities: To review circumstances of non-payment of dues to determine whether the Brother deserves our assistance.