MWSA District No. 108 - Issue No. 40
April 2022
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District Service Team
Your District Service Team is here to assist our Lodges in any way they can.
R:.W:. Chris Ryland - District Deputy Grand Master (Brookshire No. 1066)
Past Master Cody Cockroft - District Instructor (Morton No. 72)
Past Master Carter Sharbrough - District Communications Officer (Katy No. 1439)
Past Master Stan Kitzman - District Education Officer (Brookshire No. 1066)
MWSA Vision
EXCELLENCE BY VIRTUE: Lead with our HEARTS; Think with our HEADS; Work with our HANDS
MWSA Mission Statement
Through education and in consequence of our streamlined focus in pursuit of Masonic excellence, Masonic District No. 108 will work in harmony as a common mass to reinforce our District Lodges in support of the Grand Lodge of Texas.
Contained in this Issue
President's Message
Called from Labor
Vanguard Award Application
Sugar Land Lodge Service Awards - April 20, 2022
Cornerstone Instruction Seminars
Rosenberg Lodge BBQ - June 3-5, 2022
Officer Leadership Training
Ritualistic Certificate Presentations
Upcoming Degrees/Proficiency Exams
District 108 Upcoming Stated Meetings
DDGM Official Visits
Lodge Suspense Dates
Kumntakit Grotto
Grand Lodge of Texas App
MWSA Business Meeting Rotation Schedule
Morton Lodge History Book
Other Upcoming Events
Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay
Newsletter Archive
"It is noble in its administration: to think and let think, beyond the narrow contracted prejudices of bitter sectarians in these modern times. It is general or universal language, fitted to benefit the poor stranger, which no other institution is calculated to reach, by extending the beneficent hand." - Harry S. Truman
President's Message
Brethren,
We hope that you will be able to join us for the MWSA Quarterly Business Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at Brookshire Lodge. A meal will be served at 6:30 PM with the meeting to follow.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Chris Choat
eMail: chris.choat@comcast.net
Mobile: (713) 206-4242
Vanguard Award Application
Link to download the application:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aCVbJk6eaYwhAU-XUBf0MEjWQMeYpYgy/view?usp=sharing
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Cornerstone Instruction Seminars
Past Master Doug Hudson, Southeast Cornerstone Coordinator, will be working with R:.W:. Young, Past Master Murchison, and Past Master Cockroft to present multiple seminars on the details of opening a Representation of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas for the purpose of leveling a cornerstone. The date and location details are below. These seminars are open to Master Masons only.
Wednesday March 30, 2022
Oak Wood Masonic Lodge No. 1444
8314 FM 242
Conroe, TX 77380
Snacks @ 6:30 PM, Program @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday April 6, 2022
Huffman Masonic Lodge No. 1428
2306 Third Street
Huffman, TX 77336
Snacks @ 6:30 PM, Program @ 7:00 PM
Wednesday May 18, 2022
Temple Masonic Lodge No. 4
4055 West Bellfort
Houston, TX 77025
Snacks @ 6:30 PM, Program @ 7:00 PM
Rosenberg Lodge BBQ Cook-Off
Rosenberg Lodge's BBQ Cook-Off Fundraiser is returning! The event is tentatively scheduled for 3-5 June 2022 at the Needville Youth Fair Parking Lot. The maximum number of teams is currently capped at 35.
Entry fees:
$50 for Fajitas and Margaritas on Friday Night (or $25 for each event)
$150 for Brisket, Chicken, Pork Spareribs, and Pinto Beans on Saturday.
IBCA judging rules will be followed.
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Officer Leadership Training
Note: Registrations will not be accepted via mail. They must be completed through Grandview. If you need assistance registering, please contact the Grand Secretary's office.
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Ritualistic Certificate Presentations
Our District Instructor, Past Master Cody Cockroft, will be coordinating an event to be held to present esoteric certificates to all Brothers in District 108 who earned one in the previous year. More information will be forthcoming as becomes available.
Upcoming Degrees/Proficiency Exams
Lodge Suspense Dates
May 31 – W. B. and Brandon Carrell Award nominations may be submitted to the Grand Lodge committee on Public Education for evaluation and recommendation to the Grand Lodge Trustees (Article 14b).
Mid-June – Look for Annual Returns Format from GL. (Downloaded from the Grandview System after June 24th. Notify the GS staff if you need the returns mailed as a printout).
June 23 – Lodge elections must be completed at the last stated meeting prior to midnight of June 23 (Art. 292). Notify us of new Lodge Officers immediately so they can be printed in the Directory of Constituent Lodges (do not wait for installation). Submission will be available on the Grandview System from May 24 through midnight June 23.
June 23 – Endowed Membership checks must be in the Office of the Grand Secretary by June 23 to start earning interest in order to receive returns by the next year (Art. 318a). Changes to the amount of endowments must be voted on at the same meeting as the Lodge elections, and notification to Grand Lodge must be before June 24th. Endowed Membership applications received at the Grand Lodge on or after June 24 must be for the amount that the Lodge reported.
July 15 – Statements of Availability due GS Office. (6a).
July 31 – Lodge installations must be performed from June 24 to prior to midnight July 31 (Art. 298).
August 15 – Annual Returns Report due to Grand Lodge (Art. 493).
August 15 – Resolutions due in GS Office (Art. 172).
August 15 & August 31 – Vanguard Applications are due to the DDGM NLT August 15 and to the Grand Secretary NLT August 31 (refer to Vanguard Application Instructions).
September 1 – Lodge By-Laws that must be reviewed by the GL Committee on By-Laws due the GS Office NLT September 1 (Art. 219).
September 15 – Lodge Minimum Audit Report 71 are due to the GS Office NLT September 15 (Art. 284).
November 15 – Form 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard), must be filed with the IRS by Lodges that have gross receipts of $50,000 or less, or do not meet the requirements for filing the IRS 990 or IRS 990EZ. (Lodges must file the appropriate Form 990 no later than the 15th day of the fifth month following the close of the organization’s fiscal year.)
December 28 – Proxy Certificates are due the GS Office NLT December 28 (Art. 4). You should always appoint a Proxy (in case of an emergency) but he would not vote if any of the top three officers were available. Remember, each brother can have no more than four votes. Therefore, a sitting Worshipful Master cannot be proxy for another Lodge.
Kumntakit Grotto
Kumntakit Grotto was instituted on Saturday 27 March 2021 at Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141 and began by initiating nearly 40 new members and installing its new Officers. The Officers and members of the new Grotto represent several of our District Lodges, bringing our Lodges closer together.
Grand Lodge of Texas App
Do you have the Grand Lodge of Texas app? It contains copies of the current law book and monitor, as well as several years worth of Briscoe Workshops. It can also serve as a communications tool between Brothers. You may find the links to the app below:
Apple App Store - https://apps.apple.com/au/app/tx-mason/id1532889175
Google Play Store - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gltx.app
Morton Lodge History Book
Morton Lodge has completed the third edition of the book on its history. Copies may be purchased from Past Master Cody Cockroft for $20.
Lodge Study Nights
Are you interested in attending a Study Night? Please join us for the following evenings of fellowship and study:
Mondays - 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Morton Lodge No. 72
Mondays - 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM - Waller Lodge No. 808
Mondays - 6:30 PM - Katy Lodge No. 1439
Mondays - 7:00 PM - Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141
Wednesday - 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM - Rosenberg Lodge No. 881
Wednesdays - 7:00 PM - Sugar Land Lodge No. 1141
If your Lodge holds a Study Night that is not listed, please let us know so that we may include it here and get the word out to more Brothers!
Other Upcoming Events
Below you will find dates for upcoming events around Masonic District #108, along with other Masonic events in our area. Full calendars for events around District #108 may be found at the District #108 website by clicking the button below this list.
**Tue, Apr 19, 2022 - Rosenberg Lodge #881 STATED MEETING - 6:30 PM**
Thu, Apr 21, 2022 - Katy OES Stated Meeting - 6:30 PM
Mon, Apr 25, 2022 - Fort Bend Commandery #74 Stated Conclave @ Rosenberg Lodge - 6:30 PM
Thu, Apr 28, 2022 - Houston Valley Scottish Rite Stated Meeting - 6:00 PM
The full Google Calendars for District No. 108 may be found on the MWSA website.
Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay
Imperial Chapter, Order of DeMolay was set to work on Saturday 31 August 2019. DeMolay is a wonderful organization for young men from 12-21 years of age. It strives to teach virtues and help young men grow into responsible and committed members of society.
You can learn more about DeMolay here: http://www.texasdemolay.com/what-is-demolay/#
If you know anyone who may be interested in membership at Imperial Chapter, please have them contact Matt Woodard, Chapter Advisor at chapteradvisor@imperialdemolay.com.
MWSA Newsletter Archive
Need to refer back to a past issue of the newsletter? Click the button below to go to the newsletter archive on the MWSA website.