Thanks

Quiet time of year for Masonic endeavors.  Well at least for a week or two.  The last post came while I was in our Nation's capital for work.  I am reminded how fortunate I am to live in this country and the opportunities that have been provided to me in my life.  Yes, politically, things seem to be a mess and the gap is getting wider, but we still have so many more freedoms and conveniences than many others in the world.  It reminds me that I want to tell all of our elected officials "we have a good thing, don't f* it up!".   I won't get all political on you, but you can blame whoever you want, republicans, democrats, independents, we ALL share part of the blame and the responsibility to figure out how to fix it.  There are many good people out there talking about civility and the art of compromise and working together, only to turn around and completely dismiss what someone with a differing opinion has to say, how is that helping?  Yes we need to be able to discuss things with civility, but also have to be willing to listen and compromise and relocate that middle ground.

Well onto the travel for the last week...
I returned home from Washington, DC on Friday and spent some time with my sister and family.  On Saturday we attended the remembrance service for MW Chuck McQuery.  It was a very well done service and was well attended.  MW Chuck was the epitome of "Live Respected, and Die Regretted".  He will be missed, but never forgotten.

Lake Washington District of Rainbow official visit of the Grand Worthy Advisor was next on Saturday evening.  It was a great time with a Dr. Suess theme and a couple of new announcements for the year, including the new Grand Confidential Observer!  Congratulations Destiny!

Sunday was Southside Revolution Derby Scrimmage day and taking photos there in the morning.  Then heading back to Monroe and meeting up with John and May to do some "Save the Date" photos.

Another photo shoot on Monday and Tuesday.  Monday was Frank and LaNita who hadn't done photos in many years and just wanted to get some done.  Tuesday was ballet audition photos for Hailey.  I love doing ballet photos, the strength and beauty amazes me.

Thursday was Thanksgiving hosted at Casa Martin and my sister and niece joined Robin, Logan, and I at our house for a great meal and nice to just relax and spend time with family!

Are you all in?

Steve Martin
Grand Lecturer 2019-2020

November Rain

It is November already! 

November started with my home district #8 meeting with the Grand Master.  I enjoy this meeting so much every year.  I love my district and the fact that we can all have fun together and show that Masonry can be fun!  There were presentations of a couple of 50 year pins to some amazing brethren.  WB Dean Bonar was awarded the Grand Master Achievement award.  I then spent the rest of the evening with family.

Sunday, November 3rd was the start of the Southside Revolution Junior Roller Derby scrimmages and photographing some amazing skaters and supporters.  Later in the afternoon we went and did some family portraits for an amazing family that purchased the photoshoot at a charity auction.

It was election day on Tuesday at Sultan-Monroe Lodge #160.  Congratulations to WM Elect Fred Grannan. 

Thursday was a day spent with my sister.  First stop was radiation treatment then back to the house where she took a well needed nap.  Then Lunch out and headed home.  She seemed to have a pretty good day and things were going well for that day.  Ups and downs for sure when dealing with cancer and radiation treatments.

Friday was the Bothell Rainbow Girls Elf Auction dinner hosted at Monroe Lodge.  It was a great dinner and the auction was very successful.  So happy to have the Rainbow Girls at our Lodge.

Saturday, November 9th was the Installation of officers at Damascus Lodge #199.  I was honored to install the WM Bob Carden and all of his officers that were able to attend.  Before the installation we had lunch with MW Warren Schoeben and his lovely lady Mary Joe.

Sunday was another busy day for us, we started the day shooting Roller Derby at Southside Revolution scrimmage, then lunch with the Lorrie and Danielle Brunson where Lorrie presented us with our State Mom and Dad jackets.  They are AMAZING!  Thank you is not enough!  After lunch in Tacoma, we headed over to Bremerton to celebrate a housewarming for Hassib and Eva and also to get the news that they are expecting a Baby!  Congratulations to them both and what an amazing young family that will be.  Finished off the evening at dinner at our very good Friends house, Matt and Cindy Powell.

Monday was our scheduled day off and Veteran's day so of course it was a quiet day....NOT!  We took some time for us and went to the Woodland Park Zoo.  Most of the animals were out and we had a great time taking photos of the animals in the fall colors.  Later that day we met Jake at Bothell Landing and took his senior photos.

Tuesday more senior photos with James at the museum of flight.  This senior has an amazing amount of knowledge in regards to WWII fighter jets.

Wednesday was a visit to Alpha Lodge and another lodge electing officers.  Congratulations WB Pat Marlett on being elected Master again!

Friday I traveled with the Grand Marshal to Verity Lodge in Kent for a Tiled Table Lodge.  This was a great evening and full of good company and fraternalism.  I got to sit and spend the evening with MW Jim Mendoza.  He is a wealth of knowledge and someone I respect greatly.

Saturday the 16th was another busy day.  We got up early and Robin took off to Lacey to spend time with her Mom and Sister, while I took off over the mountain to Quincy for a corner stone ceremony.  We both returned to Monroe to relax for a minute then head out to Everett to install the officers of Peninsular Lodge.  I installed the Master and gave the charge to the Master and the Lodge.  It was a rough night for me as I was more tired than I expected from driving all day and although I knew the parts, I kept doing them out of order.  It was a still a great evening and I am very honored that WB Mike Dulaney asked me to install him.

Sunday was another scimmage at SSR and then another day spent with my sister and niece.  Unexpectedly to me, my mom showed up as well so that was a nice surprise.

Monday I took off and headed to Washington, DC for work.  My flight landed at about 4:15pm and I headed to my hotel, changed, then got an Uber to the House of the Temple so I could attend the Lodge meeting of the Justice-Columbia Lodge #3 and the Official Visit of MW Charbel T Fahed, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia.  It was a fun evening and I was asked to march in with the Grand Lodge team.  I was also given the opportunity to speak about the Grand Lodge of Washington and bring fraternal greetings from our Grand Master, Charles Woods.  At the end of the meeting, I was honored to deliver the closing charge from the Grand Lodge of Washington.

I don't have a ton of wisdom to share this week because it is late in Washington DC and I have to go to work tomorrow :D

Fraternally,
VWB Steve Martin
Grand Lecturer

October Finish

Looking back at the calendar and last blog post trying to decide where I left off...

Wednesday, October 16th was the Official Visit of the Deputy of the Grand Master to Westgate Lodge in Everett.  This was my first time being able to visit the newest lodge in District 8 and I had a great time.  What a great group of brothers that have been added to our district.

Took some personal time and attended the wedding of a close family friend on Saturday.

Sunday was a trip out to Sedro Woolley to attend the Official Visit of the Grand Worthy Advisor to the Northwest Washington District of the Rainbow Girls.  We were the official photographers and it was sure good to see all the Rainbow Girls, I sure do miss them.  The NW girls are growing and put on an excellent official visit.  GWA Victoria talked about her year plans and a great time was had by all.

Tuesday, October 22nd was a pretty incredible night.  Sultan-Monroe, Westgate, and Crystal lodges all joined forces to put on a Fellowcraft degree for 6 candidates.  We rarely get a chance to meet with Crystal lodge because we meet on the same nights, and Westgate is brand new to the district, so it was a great experience to get these three lodges together to provide our new brothers with Masonic light and instruction.

The very next night was the Official Visit of the Deputy to Arlington Lodge and Past Masters night.  Got to see a lot of old friends and catch up with them.  During the evening, VWB Cary Cope and his brother Art, were presented with their 35 year service pins.  They are both moving to Hawaii and we will miss them here in Washington.

Friday morning was time to get back on the road and head to the Eastside.  First stop was Malden for the District 26 meeting.  I am amazed at the beauty of this state when you get a chance to travel around.  The drive to Malden was full of rolling hills and a beautiful sunset.  Distrcit 26 provided a nice meal and spoke about what is going on in the district.  I love that there are good masons doing great work in every part of our state.

Quick drive up to Spokane for the night and then the District 27 meeting.  District 27 meeting was held at the new Scottish Rite building in Downtown Spokane and includes a beautiful Lodge room.  we enjoyed a nice catered lunch then headed in to hear about all of the great things going on in Spokane.  The Rainbow Girls of Lilac assembly were there and our good friend Shannon Smoldt was presented with the Grand Masters Youth award recognition.  The Lilac assembly has gone from 3 girls to 18 in one year!  Way to go!

Saturday night was the annual trek up to Newport and the Logger's dinner and meeting.  We had a great time and several of us left part of our attire at the meeting.  If you ever get a chance to go, word of advice, take a tie you don't have any attachment to...

Sunday was a cooking class for Robin and I and the food and company was great.

As I travel around to the districts and have been given a chance to speak, I have talked about the need to "get back to basics" and build a better foundation in our lodges.  I see Lodges with great programs like Bike for Books, and community events, and special meetings, that are failing.  Regardless of how good or programs are out of the lodge, if we don't build a solid base in our lodge and educate and mentor our newer masons, we will continue to struggle.  One thing that was pointed out very distinctly this week was our need to bridge the gap between Generations.  I think the those of us in Generation X (40 and 50 year olds) need to do a better job of bridging that gap between millennials, generation Z, and boomers.  We have been doing a great job with our Radio and TV ads and they have been reaching a lot of people and doing great work, but the millennials and GenZ are not seeing those messages because the don't watch broadcast TV and don't listen to the Radio.  We can do more.  Social media advertising and promotions need to happen as well.  Then you have the other end of the gap and we need to continue to send regular mail to our baby boomers, many of them don't have social media and don't have any desire to learn it, we can't ignore them and leave them behind.  (As I put this in a blog that many of them will never see...)  We can do better, but it is up to us to make those decisions and provide those solutions.

Enough for this episode, until next time.
Masonry is your pocket aces, be all in

Fraternally,
VWB Steve Martin
Grand Lecturer

Fall is here

Well, Fall is here!  Sure happened fast.  Trying to remember what happened since the last blog and didn't think we were very busy...then looked at the calendar for the last week.  Damascus Lodge visit Tuesday, Family time Wednesday with my sister in Burien, Peninsular OV of the Deputy on Thursday, photoshoot on Friday, District meetings on Saturday, photoshoot on Sunday and drive to Leavenworth, Monday and Tuesday photo excursion in Leavenworth...whew, no wonder I get tired!

On Tuesday I attended the stated meeting of Damascus Lodge in Granite Falls for their Past Masters night.  The WM shared a historical slide show presentation with some History of Masonry, some history of Granite Falls, and all of the Past Masters for Damascus Lodge, it was very well done and provided an excellent look at the history of Masonry in Granite Falls.  They then held their election of officers and Brother Robert Carden was elected Master for 2020.

Wednesday was a chance to spend time with family.  Family is the most precious thing, don't waste the opportunity.

Thursday was off to Peninsular in Everett to support the lodge and the Deputy of the Grand Master at his official visit.  I had the honor of sitting in the West as the Senior Warden stepped up to the East in the absence of the Worshipful Master.  "Your attendance is essentially necessary, in the absence of the Master, you are to govern the Lodge...".  Brother Mike Dulaney did an outstanding job and was elected Worshipful Master that evening in the Lodges elections.

Friday was a fun photoshoot with Hannah and a pumpkin and some smoke grenades!  We went out to the park in Monroe and had a great time.

Saturday morning was a drive up to Anacortes and the District meeting for District 9.  The Deputy did an amazing job running the meeting and District 9 is very much on the move.  Following that meeting we headed up to Bellingham and District 10.  Another great meeting and very well presented by the District deputy.  I am definitely encouraged as I travel to all of the district meetings.

Sunday we took some personal time and drove up to Leavenworth for a couple of days to capture the beauty of fall.  The colors are so amazing from Lake Wenatchee down the Wenatchee river to Leavenworth.  It was definitely cold for Sunrise on Monday morning, but worth it.  I think it was about 35 degrees when we started, but right before sunrise it dropped very fast to probably around 25 degrees.

Well, that's it for now.  Until next time


Fraternally,
VWB Steve C Martin
Grand Lecturer

District Meetings begin

blink your eyes and three weeks go by...

It was a pretty quiet time for Grand Lodge.  I was able to attend the Reception for the Associate Grand Matron and the Associate Grand Patron at Fort Flagler on September 21st and it was a very nice event.  The location was amazing and we took some photos around the area.  Congratulations to Darlene Wiggins and Bob Wheeler!

On October 27th, we got on a plane for a super secret trip!  We were flying to Oklahoma City, then driving to Lawton to surprise a very deserving young lady.  Rainbow Girl Maddie J, moved from Tacoma to Lawton and with the move, starting Senior year in a new school, medical procedures, and Dad just returning from being deployed in Korea, Senior portraits were wanted, but not in cards.  So we decided we couldn't let that happen and we flew down there to take care of it for them!  Such a great trip and spending time with masonic family wherever you go is always a good time.

The next week was back to normal travel, Sultan-Monroe #160 stated meeting and Centennial Lodge #25 official visit of the District Deputy.

On October 4th, it was the first District meeting of the year in Okanogan and district 22.  Robin and I left early in the morning and drove over Highway 20, N Cascades Hwy because we had the time.  What a great drive.  The district meeting went very well and great discussion.  I had my first opportunity to speak about why I made myself available for the office of Junior Grand Warden.  A little nerve racking, but I got through it.  One great benefit of this meeting, I got fresh apples just off the trees!  Oh, how I miss that!  YUMMO!

After spending the night in Omak, it was off to Deer Park for the District 30 meeting.  We got to partake in a very delicious lunch of Lentil soup with sausage and pulled pork.  There were also an ample supply of homemade pie!  There was apple, cherry, and peach.  I can neither confirm nor deny that I might have tried all three!  Again I was given the opportunity to share my thoughts on the office of Junior Grand Warden.

A short drive back north to Colville for the annual Sow Belly and Beans dinner and a fun weekend was completed.

We returned to Seattle and went to Swedish hospital where my sister had been admitted for pneumonia like symptoms.  My brother, sister in law, sister, niece, and mom were all there so we got so see a lot of family.  As you can imagine, the issue is probably more severe than pneumonia, but I don't want to get into that now because there is still a lot of information I don't have and it is all just speculation for now.  Keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.

Don't forget to compete in the 2019-20 ritual competition.  First time Senior Wardens, 3 person team of any Master Masons that are members of the same lodge, and Apron lecture with Geometry lecture for any Fellowcraft or Master Mason.

That's it for now

Fraternally,
VWB Steve Martin
Grand Lecturer

Official Visits and Elvis

This week was filled with Official Visits, yard work, oh, and Elvis!

As Master of Everett Lodge #137 and past District Deputy of District 8, I was looking forward to my OV of the Deputy of the Grand Master in District 8, VWB Larry Foley.  Was I going to make it a pain in the butt for him, was I going to give him a hard time, was I going to make his first OV memorable, or was I simply going to respect him, his office, and the Administrative side of Masonry?  Of course I made what I believe is the right choice and provided him all the support and assistance that a Worshipful Master should provide to the Deputy in this situation.  We had a great meeting and had some fantastic discussion about membership.

Then I had the opportunity to be a side liner at the next OV at Damascus Lodge and of course I chose the path of giving him a hard time at that meeting!  As he would (and did) graciously do to me in previous years.  I was not disruptive of his visit, but I did give him some barbs when he was finished and at other time during the evening.

The next couple of evenings were spent power washing the wood on my deck and prepping it for refinishing.  We spent some time at the Jurisdictional Representative retreat for the Rainbow girls.  As the Assistant Director, Robin got to spend some quality time with the JReps and with the Director all while putting on a great retreat.

Saturday I picked Robin up from the retreat, after spending all morning power washing the deck, and we drove up to Lynden-Ferndale International Lodge for the Hands Across the Border celebration.  We enjoyed and excellent prime rib dinner and then got to watch Elvis for the next couple of hours.  Very nice meeting and socializing with the Brethren from that area and the Brethren from British Columbia and Yukon.

After all the travels I again get time to reflect on the days and ponder about the state of things.  Not just in Masonry, but in society in general.  One of the things I have heard a lot about, and I am very much a fan of, is civility dialogues.  We need to be able to talk about the issues facing us, we need to be able to have a conversation and not turn it into a yelling match.  I do not watch Political analyst programs because it always ends up in yelling matches and people talking over each other.  Same is true for "Sports" news programs.  I do not watch those either, and for the same reason.  The Stephen A. Smiths and Max Kellermans of the world ruin good conversation with their holier than thou attitudes that almost always turn into "I am right, you are wrong".  With all of that being said, I think we need to take civility dialogue one step further.  Not only do you have to be able to have a conversation about issues, you MUST be willing to listen, and about all, compromise.  Until we can bring back the art of compromise, we will not move forward and grow as a nation.  Without civility and compromise, our divide will continue to grow.

Food for thought, Be All In

Fraternally,
VWB Steve Martin
Grand Lecturer

Corner Stones and Storms

Kind of a quiet week for travel, but exciting storms that provided plenty of noise!

The weekend started pretty early on Saturday with a trip to Edmonds at 6am to pick up Grand Orator,  VWB Jimmy and then head on down to Mossy Rock for a Corner Stone ceremony at the local Fire Station.  I did not have my camera so I did not get any photos from the event, but I would like to thank RW Ed for capturing a great photo of my ear.  For some reason the theme from Looney Tunes was going through my head the entire rest of the day!  Those that were there will know why.

After the Corner Stone was a very unique installation for me, and I think for many others.  Centralia Lodge held its installation of officers at the Centralia fair grounds outdoors.  It was an open installation and situated right next the a major road with all kinds of signs and banners promoting the event.  It was an opportunity to invite the public and be very visible to let people know we are still here and we are not a secret society.

This is where the storms come in...on the drive from Centralia to Edmonds we kept hearing the buzz over the radio that usually signifies lightning strikes.  We never saw the lightning or heard the thunder, but it was pretty clear there was lightning somewhere close by.  By the time we got to Edmonds we were starting to see the lightning as we dropped off VWB Jimmy.  Then the drive home to Monroe was pretty eventful and once we got home, wow!  We watched and listened to one of the most spectacular and loud storms we have ever experienced.  There were several strikes that were very close to the house and shook windows and loose items.

I was very glad the storm happened on Saturday evening, because Sunday was the 4th annual Rainbow Color Walk.  This year the charity is Feeding America and they raised almost $11,000 and added over 500 items of food to donate.  The event is co-sponsored by Sultan-Monroe Lodge and raises money not only for the Rainbow Girls annual service project, but also the lodges education and charitable fund.  The numbers are not final yet, but the lodge should receive around $3000 for its funds.  Once again MW Jim came out to help add some color to the event, and he did not disappoint!  If you want to avoid getting doused with color, avoid Jim, LOL.

Sunday afternoon was a drive down to Lacey to spend some time with my Mother in Law, who is living in a memory care facility and had a bit of a struggle the last few days.

Then Monday off to Everett Lodge #137 where we had the Official Visit of the Deputy of the Grand Master, VWB Larry.  I felt like the meeting went very well and I led a discussion on membership numbers.  What are the issues and how do we fix them?  We all know the numbers are going down, but how do we change that, and as was brought up during the discussion, do we need to?  One of the primary goals of Masonry is to make good men better, do you need a lodge room or 30 or 40 masons to make you a better man?  With more people involved, you have more opportunity to receive and share those things that make you a better man, but there is also more distractions taking away from making you a better man.  One of the major benefits of membership is financial, but the basic foundation of education and fraternalism may not be directly related to the number of people involved.  Many hands make the work easier, but how much of the work is truly part of the Masonic institution?  We talk about making our members wiser, better and consequently happier.  Where do we mention cook dinners, have events, and give away stuff?  Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy those as much as the next guy, but are they truly a requirement to make a good man better?

Food for thought, until next time Be All In.

Fraternally,

VWB Steve Martin

Grand Lecturer