IONIC LODGE #31 REGULAR MEETING - FEBRUARY 9, 2018

Brethren, we held our regular meeting on Friday 9th. at 7:30pm. We were fortunate to have 3 Visitors form Unity/Kilwinning #73, Unity, including their W. Bro. Bill Swiderski, who was invited to sit in the East with our W.M. Always to have visitors.  During our opening, our W.M. ordered the Pass Grip and Pass Word in the Second Degree, be taken by our Deacons. During Good & Welfare, the annual exchange of the Principal Officer Lapel Pins took place.

Our annual Temple Co. Meeting was conducted after the Lodge Meeting. The problem of  a steady increase in City Property Taxes was discussed.  We are being Taxed as a Commercial Property, when in fact, we are not a Commercial Property, and need some relief from the City in this regard.

Lapel Pin Exchange: J.W.,  Bro. Art Galman; S.W., V.W. Bro. Bernie Meisner; W.M., W. Bro. Mark Barclay; I.P.M., R.W.Bro. Kevin Monsebroten.

IONIC LODGE #31 REGULAR MEETING - JANUARY 12

Brethren, at our regular meeting, January 12, our first of the New Year, conducted by our newly installed Master, W. Bro. Mark Barclay and his Officers, conducted the Second Deg. on Bro. Adam Naciri.  Congratulations Bro. Naciri.  Good Work.   R.W. Bro. Dan Olmsted, Grand Jr. Warden was in attendance at our meeting.

Bro. Adam Naciri on his being Passed to the Second Degree, with W. Bro. Mark Barclay, Master of Ionic Lodge & Bro. Rob Feist, Bro. Naciri's Sponsor.

IONIC LODGE INSTALLATION NIGHT - DECEMBER 8, 2017

Brethren, we Installed our new Master, W.Bro. Mark Barclay and his slate of Officers for 2018, at our Regular Meeting, December Congratulations to Bro. Barclay and his Team.  Congratulations also go to the Installing Officers for a job well done.  It was a Great Evening and thanks to Bro's Finan, Barclay and their Wives, for the fine Lunch at the Festive Board.

Thanks also to R.W. Bro. Kevin Monsebroten and his Officers for a very successful year.

 Brethren, Behold your Master for 2018, W.Bro. Mark Barclay.

 W. Bro. Barclay with his Friend & Mentor, W. Bro. Norm Tarsoff from Unity/Kilwinning Lodge.

Brethren, it is not often that we have four Past Grand Masters sitting in the East of our Lodge, but that was the case on Fiday Evening. From left to right; M.W. Bro. Bill Fitzsimmons; M.W. Bro. Don Finan; M.W. Bro. Pat Hutchison & M.W. Bro. Rick Galloway. With them is Bro. Art Galman.

 Bro. Marlon Francisco, our new Inner Guard, with the Grand Masters
 

Bro. Mariano Ong, our new Senior Steward, with the Grand Masters.

IONIC LODGE #31 REGULAR MEETING, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017

Brethren, we're back from our Summer break.  We began the evening with a B.B.Q. hosted by  the Battlefords Shrine Club.  Our D.D.G.M.,  R.W. Bro. Cliff Oriss, Northern Light #203, presided over our District Meeting.  Further information will be forthcoming at our next Lodge Meeting.  Ionic regular meeting was then held, with V.W. Bro. Jim Ramsay sitting in the East.  During Good & Welfare, Bro. Oriss presented the Golf Trophy to Bro. Ramsay.  Bro. Al White was on the District Golf winning team.  The trophy is to be shared with the members of the winning team and will eventually be presented to Bro. White.

 

IONIC REGULAR MEETING & 300 YEAR ANNIVERSARY UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND

Ionic Lodge held our Regular May Meeting on the 12th. with a 3rd. Degree for Bro. Grant Russell.  Congratulations Grant.  Job well done.  The following Evening, May 13,  our Lodge celebrated the 300th, year anniversary of the United Grand Lodge of England, with a Roast Beef Supper, followed by a video presentation of interesting information concerning the Grand Lodge of England. Bro. Mark Barclay was the M.C. for the evening.  A parade of the various costumes as worn by members of their particular concordant bodies was also displayed.  Guests were given a tour of the upper Lodge Room, with commentary. Thanks to all those members who helped to make this a very successful evening.

R.W. Bro. Kevin Monsebroten, Master of Ionic Lodge; Bro. Grant Russell & M.W. Bro. Pat Hutchison, Bro. Russell's Sponsor,  on Bro. Russell's being Raised to the 3rd. Degree.

M.W. Bro. Hutchison presented Bro's Mark Miller & Grant Russell with Masonic "Forget Me Not" lapel pins, a standard symbol used by most charitable organizations in Germany, with a very clear meaning: “Do not forget the poor and the destitute“, and also as a means of identifying Bro. Masons during the 2nd. World War in Nazis Germany. 

In our small we in Ionic, help to celebrate the 300 years since the founding of the United Grand Lodge of England. 

Freemasonry is a fraternal society whose approach to life is based on integrity, tolerance, kindness, honesty and fairness. It means different things to each of its members. For some it's about making new friends and acquaintances. For others it's about being able to help deserving causes – making a contribution to family and in the community. For all of us, it is an enjoyable and fulfilling activity.

The Grand Lodge of England was founded in London on 24th June 1717, when four existing Lodges gathered at the Goose and Gridiron Ale-house in St. Paul's Churchyard in London and formed a Grand Lodge; the first in the world. Today, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) has over 200,000 members who meet in 6,800 Lodges across England, Wales and the Channel Islands, and in a number of Districts and Lodges across the world.

 

IONIC LODGE MEETING APRIL 12, 2017 & RED COAT DEGREE AT ELFROS APRIL 22

We held out Regular Meeting on April 12.  It was a regular business meeting, with no Degrees.  It is customary for our Lodge to name a Mason of the Year, for 2016.  A Member who has been  Active in the Lodge and has demonstrated an above average involvement in the Fraternity.  Our Recipient this year, as named by our W.M. Kevin Monsebroten, was Bro. Kevin Garner.  Congratulations Kevin.  Well deserved.  The award was initiated by R.W. Kevin Monsebroten, who just happens to be our W.M. this year.

Bro. Tony Francescone, our long serving Treasurer, related some of his  History in the Merchant Marine, during the Second World War, as presented by Bro. Kevin Garner.  Very interesting and Emotional.

M.W. Bro. Finan  invited Bro's Francescone & Garner to attend at the Alter for the Closing of the Lodge.

 

 Our Red Coat Degree Team accepted an invitation from Elfros Lodge to conduct a Third Degree at their Lodge on April 22.  

The following Members traveled to to Elfros and conducted the Degree:

Master: - V.W. Bro. Bernie Meisner
S.W.: -     M.W. Bro. Bill Fitzsimmons
J.W.; -      Bro. Mark Barclay
S.D.: -      R.W. Bro. Glenn Hunter
J.D.: -       W. Bro. Al White
S.S.: -       M.W. Bro. Pat Hutchison
J.S.: -        Bro. Kevin Garner
P.G.M.:-   M.W. Bro. Don Finan
D of C:-   M.W. Bro. Rick Galloway
I.G.: -       V.W. Bro. Richard Gibbons

The Candidates were, Bro's Blain Kachur & Shawn Doherty. Congratulations.  Thanks to the Master of Elfros Lodge, R.W. Bro. Dwayne Joannson for the invitation and great lunch.  

It was also good to see our Grand Master, M.W. Bro. Dave Polachek in attendance, as well as Past Grand Master, M.W. Bro.  Francis Hester.

A very enjoyable time was had by all.

 

IONIC 31 ROBBIE BURNS DINNER - JANUARY 28, 2017

Our Lodge put on it's annual Robbie Burns Dinner last evening, January 28.  The event was a sell out.  The food and entertainment was first class.  Congratulations to the organizing committee and all those who helped put this event together.  A special thanks to the Dancers.  They were enjoyable to watch.  Here are some photos from last evening.