Fond du Lac Masonic Lodge 26

2011-12-30T16:58:00.002-06:00

Fond du Lac Masonic Center
500 W. Arndt St.
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 922-5800 ~ MAP
webmaster@lodge26.com

BINGO: fdlbingo.com

Stated Communications: 1st & 3rd Thursdays - 7pm
Dark: July & August

Membership Information:
email: webmaster@lodge26.com
or call the Lodge at (920) 922-5800

The mission of freemasonry in Wisconsin is to teach and demonstrate a fraternal way of life that promotes brotherhood and self improvement through education, moral standards, charity, and community involvement.

Fond du Lac Lodge 26 was Chartered in 1849.
The current Fond du Lac Masonic Center was built in 1996 and is home to:

Fond du Lac Lodge 26 Free & Accepted Masons
Fond du Lac Chapter #289 Order of the Eastern Star
Friendship Court #14 Order of the Amaranth
Job's Daughters Bethel #3
Fond du Lac Shrine Club

Other uses of our facility include:

Masonic BINGO - open to the public - Every 1st, 3rd & 5th Wednesday at 6:45pm
Nonprofit Community Organization Bingos

Updated Website Information

2010-09-23T10:06:00.004-05:00

For the breaking news and information on Lodge 26 please check our facebook and Twitter Pages - which are also now linked on our regular website (lodge26.com)...

Please note that when facebook page is updated, the email notification is not triggered, so be sure to check back often.

MASTER'S MESSAGE - Summer 2010

2010-07-05T12:30:00.005-05:00

Wow - what a busy year for Lodge 26!

Candidates: we have 9 candidates at various of degrees!
Events:

- The 2010 Masonic Foundation Soccer Games are fast approaching July 23rd and 24th. As in the past two years, Lodge 26 will be providing the food for the players and staff on Friday evening and the concessions for the games on Saturday afternoon.

- The 2010 Shrine Picnic will be Sunday, August 22nd. The Potentate will be in attendance and the entire Masonic Family is welcome!

- Masonic Bingo is as popular as always - THANKS to those who tirelessly work to make our Bingo so successful and if you can help out, please contact SW Rich Petak.
Building:

- The building was broken into over Memorial Day weekend. All doors were pried open, but nothing appeared to be wrecked (other than the doors) or stolen. We are working with the insurance company to get damages repaired and we are also working with the police to get the responsible parties apprehended.

- We are planning to continue with construction on the lodge-side kitchenette while the lodge is dark this summer.

If you can help with ANY of our events, construction, degrees, etc. please contact us.

Fraternally,

Scott Bond
Worshipful Master

SICKNESS AND DISTRESS

2010-07-05T12:20:00.000-05:00

Brethren,

George Weigel felt good enough to play Sheephead at the Lodge last week!

Bobbie Enloe (PM) is home and doing fair. Bobbie would appreciate visitors, but please call ahead first.

Missing Chair

2010-07-05T11:24:00.000-05:00

At our outdoor lodge earlier this year, Jerry Schrankler brought several lawn chairs, one of which is missing.

It is described as a wide chair, with light color wood arms (it may have the letters "GWS" on the back webbing).

If you have seen this chair, please contact Jerry.

SICKNESS AND DISTRESS

2010-04-27T19:00:00.000-05:00

Brethren,

Bobbie Enloe (PM - Lodge 26, 32º, PTPM, MSA) is having triple by-pass surgery tomorrow at St. Luke's. He has three vessels 90-98 % blocked.

Please keep Bobbie and his family in your prayers.

JOBS DAUGHTERS

2010-04-11T12:32:00.001-05:00

The Jobies have been kind enough to donate a tree to the Lodge and on Monday, April 19th, 2010 they will be planting it on the front lawn.

Masons are invited to planting and the Jobie meal at 4:45 PM and are also welcome to stay for the meeting.

Thanks to our wonderful Jobies!

Scott Bond - WM

Do you know a girl who is missing out??

MASTER'S MESSAGE - April / May 2010

2010-04-10T12:23:00.006-05:00

I hope everyone is having a great spring!

Your Blue Lodge continues to be very busy.

First of all, we have a LOT of degree work going on. Almost every Stated Communication features at least one degree and we are often holding special meetings on the second Thursday of the month at 7:00 PM (after the Board Meeting) for additional degree work. Be sure and join us on the sidelines and support your new brothers!

Also work in the new kitchenette is progressing with city plan approval complete and building permits underway. If you can lend a hand with demo and/or framing, let us know.

The Lodge website is undergoing some modernization, including Facebook and Twitter. If you want to know what is going on in the Lodge, be sure and check out the calendar (it is ALWAYS current) at the top of the main website: lodge26.com

Sickness and distress - please keep PM Bobbie Enloe and Brother George Weigel (www.caringbridge.org/visit/georgeweigel )in your thoughts and prayers.

And finally, if you have not yet paid your dues, now is the time to get them in.

Fraternally,

Scott Bond
Worshipful Master

District 10 Spring Meeting

2010-04-10T09:47:00.000-05:00

The District #10 Spring Meeting will be Thursday, April 29th.

Hosted by Prairie View Lodge #95 (W14188 Hwy KK ~ Ripon, WI 54971)

Dinner: 6:30 PM ($10 per person) - meeting to follow

Special Guest: R.W. Junior Grand Warden: Dennis Siewert

Reservations should be made at d10spring.eventbrite.com (even if you cannot attend the dinner but will be at the meeting).

Ladies are encouraged to attend.

For more information call 262-689-2848

Grand Master Reception

2010-04-10T08:05:00.002-05:00

Lincoln Lodge No. 183 requests your presence at a Reception honoring MW Craig S. Campbell - Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin

Sunday, May 16th, 2010 ~ 5:00PM Social Hour ~ 6:00PM Buffet Dinner

Wegners' Cedar Lake Inn on Big Cedar Lake
4919 Highway 144
Harford, WI 53027

Menu

Tenderloin Tips over Noodles
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Steamed Vegetable Blend
Roasted Red Potatoes
Salad, Rolls & Butter
Dessert Bar Assortment

$25 per person - Advance
$35 per person at the door

Reservations:

Larry Wegner
W184N8216 Tours Drive
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
H: (262) 251-5534
C: (262) 844-5468

Thursday's Stated Communication

2010-03-02T17:47:00.004-06:00

The degree work for this Thursday (March 4th) has been postponed until the following Thursday.

BUT we will have a comprehensive business meeting in it's place. And while business meetings are not known for their excitement levels, this one will pack a surprise or two and should be a bit more fun than average.

Scott - WM

BROTHER GEORGE WEIGEL IS ON THE MEND

2010-02-28T11:44:00.003-06:00

Brother George has a new website: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/georgeweigel which allows everyone to keep up to date with his progress as he defeats Multiple Myeloma.

From George's website http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/georgeweigel:

George was diagnosed on Sept. 15th, 2009 with Multiple Myeloma. Thanks to our doctor who became suspicious when a couple of results on routine blood work were not normal. After being referred to two wonderful oncologists, chemo was started and treatments have continued off and on since. We are so thankful to our family and friends, our church family and to God for helping us this far.

Be sure to stop by George's website, register, read his journal, and sign his guest book!

MASTER'S MESSAGE - Feb - Mar 2010

2010-01-25T07:02:00.007-06:00

Brethren –

it is a very EXCITING YEAR !

CANDIDATES:

Already in 2010 we have NINE candidates in various stages of membership. To accommodate this influx of membership, we will be holding degrees at 7:00 PM the first, second and third Thursdays of February and March... with additional Lodge dates to be added and announced as needed.

Please support your lodge and our new brethren by filling in the sidelines at these exciting events!

BUILDING:

We are excited to announce that there is a large community interest in the use of our banquet facility and to aid in this interest, the Board of Trustees has enacted a phased approach to transform the Masonic Center into a true “dual use” building.

The beginning phases of this transformation have been completed and include:

Re-keying of the building to include a rental key level.
A Building use analysis which includes better and more efficient use of the storage rooms, the planned relocation of the Jobie room and a planned warming kitchen/lunch room to seat a minimum of 24 in the fraternal end of the building (utilizing the current Jobie room, part of the lobby and a storage room).

All information regarding building use and/or rental (including possible dates available and procedures to reserve dates) will be posted in real time on the Lodge website: lodge26.com and monthly in the Lodge ante room… (the website calendar currently reflects all events occurring at the building EXCEPT for bingos. Bingos WILL be a part of the calendar by mid-February).

To request a building reservation for an event, please email (this this the fastest method) SW Rich Petak (richard.petak@lodge26.com) or WM Scott Bond (scott.bond@lodge26.com) or call the Lodge (920-922-5800) and leave a message. Please note that the building – banquet facility, lodge room, etc – will not be considered reserved for ANY event other than normal state communications until a representative of the building committee has submitted to you a written contract for your event.

NEW KEYS:

The new keys are much more secure than the previous keys in five major ways:

The keys themselves are not able to be copied.
The building has been keyed on a four level security approach – meaning that the lowest level security key (banquet rental key) will not open fraternal secure areas and so on.
Keys are signed out only on a yearly basis - based on the office held and not by individual, and are 100% accounted for and kept track of. (For example the key that I now hold is reserved for the Worshipful Master and next year I will turn that key over to the Key Controller who will reassign that key to the new Master of the Lodge.)
The Board of Trustees key policy has also designated that each appended group can designate up to two representatives to receive keys for the term up through their next installation. (It is my wish that appended bodies not view keys as an entitlement to those in high office, but as an aid to the appended bodies and assigned to those people most likely to utilize the keys most effectively to open/close the building, etc.)
Those who do not have a key, but who have Masonic affiliation and are preauthorized to use a portion or all of the facility will be issued a temporary key to be returned at the close of their event.

This new key policy is not intended to make things tougher or to exclude anyone. As I previously stated, Blue Lodge keys are assigned based on office or appended body, NOT by individual… there are no favorites with this new key policy. We have a great building and take its security very seriously and the new key policy reflects the responsibility and accountability that those entrusted with keys for their term carry.

DOORBELLS:

Please note that due to security, the Lodge building doors may be locked during lodge meetings. If this is the case and you find yourself locked out, there is a doorbell installed to the right of the outside doors under the carport and to the right of the inside lodge room doors in the main lobby. So if you find the doors locked, just ring the bell and the tiler will be right there to let you in!

Please email me (scott.bond@lodge26.com) with any questions, comments, or concerns and I'll be happy to get back to you.

Fraternally,

Scott Bond - WM

2010 Installation

2009-12-22T19:33:00.003-06:00

Left to right, front row: CNSLR - Rev. Gerald Schrankler (PM); JW - Scott Kreis (PM); Grand Lecturer - Kenneth C. Gorgen; WM - Scott R. Bond; Most Worshipful Grand Master - Craig S. Campbell; SW - Richard Petak; Grand Tiler - J. Patrick Storrs

Left to right, center row: JD - Phil Kifer; TRES - Burt Mayborne (PM); CHAP - Gilbert Lepien; TILER - Jeffery Keller

Left to right, back row: SEC - LeRoy Kifer (PM); SS - Gordon Anderson (PM); Trustee(3Y) - David Olson; SD - Jay Worth (PM)

PLEASE NOTE:

2009-12-22T19:14:00.001-06:00

A rehearsal for the EA degree is scheduled for next Monday (December 28th, 2009) at 6:30 PM at the Lodge.

(As for the Lodge meeting on January 7th - we will start earlier at 6:30 PM to take care of business prior to the EA degree.)

Brethren, we already have FIVE candidates for 2010 - so be sure to come out and show our newest brothers your support and what Lodge 26 Freemasonry is all about!

THIS IS AN EXCITING YEAR!

Scott Bond
Worshipful Master

PLEASE NOTE:

2009-12-20T17:35:00.001-06:00

The next Stated Communication on Thursday, January 7th will begin at 6:30 so that we can accommodate an EA degree.

Brethren, be sure to come to Lodge to show our newest brother your support!

THANK YOU!

2009-12-18T17:18:00.006-06:00

THANK YOU to everyone who came out to make our 2010 Officer Installation event a HUGE success!

I would especially like to thank:

Our Eastern Star and Amaranth for providing the outstanding desserts.
The Jobies for their OUTSTANDING table service. They certainly went above and beyond any expectations we had for the evening. I cannot express how grateful we are to them.
Senior Wardon Richard Petak for his expert contributions, ideas, consulting, and dedication.
All the Grand Lodge Installing and Opening Officers, including MW Grand Master Craig S. Campbell, for making our event truly special.
And outgoing WM Jay Worth... thank you Jay for setting the bar and standards high. The Lodge and I can only benefit from your example.

THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING! STAY TUNED...

Fraternally,

Scott R. Bond
Worshipful Master
Lodge 26

An outgoing message from 2009 WM Jay Worth:

2009-12-18T13:10:00.000-06:00

Upon my exit, I want to express my special thanks to:

Bobbie Enloe for providing such a good example in 2008.
Jerry Schrankler for being our Counselor this past year and especially for holding my hand all year to see that this ignorant WM performed at least passably.
Scott Kreis for putting on so many good, educational programs.
Phil Kifer for feeding us so well, the grub was superb!
LeRoy Kifer for the unbelievable amount of time you dedicate to the Lodge year-in and year-out.
Jeff Keller for your ability to anything and everything, the Cabinets are fantastic!
Rich Petak for your dedicated work around the lodge; the locks, the AED, the keyboard, sound system, and so much more!
Burt, Gordon, Jeff, Jerry, Rich and the rest of the Sheephead Gang for the card lessons and for shamelessly taking my money all year.
Gib and George and the rest for your ever presence, both physically and spiritually.
All the rest of my FdL Lodge 26 Brothers, for whom I have too little room here to mention individually, I can feel your kind thoughts and prayers every time I enter Lodge.
And finally, Scott Bond for your Masonic passion and drive. It's been an honor keeping that Eastern Seat warm for you. Next year is going to be an 'Excellent Adventure'.

LODGE 26 2010 OFFICER INSTALLATION

2009-11-24T10:26:00.030-06:00

The ONE Masonic event you do not want to miss...

Thursday, December 17th
6:00 PM
Fond du Lac Masonic Center

Honored guests from the Wisconsin Grand Lodge:

Most Worshipful Grand Master: Craig S. Campbell
Grand Lecturer: Kenneth C. Gorgen
Grand Tiler: J. Patrick Storrs
District 10 Deputy: David E. Tainter

6:00 PM - 6:30 PM - Pre-Dinner Social

6:30 PM - 7:30 PM - Dinner ($10 per guest)

Tenderloin Tips
Baked Gourmet Ham
Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Glazed Carrots
Cashew Apple Salad
Fresh Fruit
Dinner service provided by Job's Daughters Bethel #3

7:45 PM - 8:45 PM - Public Installation

Installing Master: Most Worshipful Grand Master, Craig S. Campbell
Installing Marshal: Grand Lecturer, Kenneth C. Gorgen
Installing Chaplin: District 10 Chaplain, Jerry Schrankler (PM)
Opening Worshipful Master: Lodge 26 Worshipful Master, Jay Worth
Opening Senior Warden: Grand Tiler, J. Patrick Storrs
Opening Junior Warden: District 10 Deputy, David E. Tainter
Opening Chaplin: Lodge 26 Past Master, Bob Enloe (PM)
Original music provided by Sebastian Petak

8:45 PM - 10:00 PM - Social

Dessert, coffee, soda, water, wine, and beer served by the 2010 Lodge 26 Senior Officers.

For dinner reservations, please RSVP by Friday, December 11th:

email webmaster@lodge26.com
or call Jerry at (920) 924-3776

This event is open to Masons, the Fond du Lac Masonic Family, Masonic affiliated groups, and their guests.

For more information on how to become a Freemason, please email: webmaster@lodge26.com

JOB'S DAUGHTERS BETHEL #3 - Nov / Dec 2009

2009-11-02T11:11:00.004-06:00

Jobie dates of interest for 2009:

November 2nd: Meeting at 5:30pm - Witch Station.

November 15th: Masonic Family Thanksgiving Dinner and Initiation 2:30 pm meeting with dinner to follow.

November 30: Council meeting... time TBD - shop for Christmas gifts for adopted child.

December 7th: Meeting at 5:30pm - Etiquette Dinner.

December 12th: Grand Bethel meeting in West Bend at 1:00pm.

December 21st: Meeting - Christmas Fun.

Student Scholarships

2009-10-28T13:22:00.008-05:00

Lodge 26 will soon be deciding which area high schools to award our 2010 scholarships...

So if you have a child or grandchild graduating in 2010, let Brothers LeRoy or Jerry know which high school they attend by December 30th 2009.

CORRECTION:

2009-10-27T17:30:00.003-05:00

The date for the Masonic Family Dinner is Sunday, November 15th.

LODGE 26 NOTES

2009-10-24T17:55:00.006-05:00

2010 Officer Elections will be held during the regular Stated Communication on Thursday, November 5th, 2009.

Please plan on attending!

MASONIC FAMILY HOLIDAY DINNER

2009-10-24T17:53:00.008-05:00

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15th
at the FOND DU LAC MASONIC CENTER

Afternoon Bethel Meeting
- with Initiation of new Jobies

Freewill -Turkey Dinner - about 5:00 PM

For the members and families of the Fond du Lac Masonic groups

SAVE THE DATE

Call or email reservations to Jerry Schrankler

(920) 924-3776 or jerlene@charter.net

2009 Past Masters Dinner is in the history books

2009-10-22T23:14:00.001-05:00

The 2009 Past Masters Dinner was held Thursday, October 22nd, 2009.

WM Jay Worth was the master of ceremonies and the special guest speaker was Joesph Harkin, Most Worshipful Deputy Grand Master.

Brother David Olson was honored as a 50 Year Member. It was a very special evening as Brother Olson related to the brethren and guests that he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Hibbing, Minnesota by his father 50 years ago and was wearing a pin that was given to him by his father on that occasion.

CONGRATULATIONS DAVE!

The Lodge also experienced outstanding entertainment that night... Composer/Artist Sebastian Petak (son of Junior Warden Richard Petak) treated us to original compositions on the keyboard... that quite frankly mesmerized the audience. Sebastian will most certainly be back!