Summer is quickly approaching and the weather couldn’t be better.  I hope you all have been able to enjoy it; I know I have.  Black Hawk Lodge continues to stay busy with activities and degree work.  Don’t forget about the cell phone drive, we will be collecting until we get enough to send in.  There are a few more in the box each time I check.

Since I last wrote in the blog we have had many degree nights and 3 new Master Masons come out of Black Hawk Lodge, one being a member of Honor Lodge in Dike.  We also had a successful Past Masters night and a wonderful meal as well.  There was also a field trip to the Grand Lodge of Iowa Museum & Library, a real treat if you have never been.

We had our regular stated meeting earlier this week.  The lodge discussed replacing the windows in the east end of the Lodge Room and voted for the members to replace them as they did a few years ago in the rest of the building.  Also, there have been a couple of proposed amendments to the Black Hawk By-Laws.  One pertaining to trustees spending authority and the other has to do with an agenda being sent out prior to a meeting.  Be sure to join us next month for a likely vote on these amendments to the By Laws.

Black Hawk Lodge has a busy summer in front of us here is a tentative schedule for the summer:

March 20, 4:30 pm – Sturgis Falls Committee Meeting – BHL

March 23, 7pm – 1st Degree – Jessie Armstrong

June 6, 5:30 pm – Table Lodge – E-Invites coming soon

June 11, 6:30 pm – Stated Meeting & Dollar Dinner

June 13, 7pm – 2nd Degree – Jessie Armstrong

June 16, 10am – Golf outing – Red Carpet (Porky’s)

June 20, 5:30 pm – Regional School (at Waterloo Lodge No. 105)

June 21-24 – Sturgis Falls @ Overman Park

June 27, 7pm – 3rd Degree – Jessie Armstrong

July 9, 6:30 pm – Stated Meeting & Dollar Dinner (Hawaiian Shirt Night)

July 11, 7pm – 1st Degree (2) – Marty Sherman & Sean Williams

July 14, Time TBD – Veterans Event

July 25, 7pm – 2nd Degree (2) – Sean Williams & Marty Sherman

August 1, 7pm – Officers Meeting

August 8, 7pm – 3rd Degree – Marty Sherman

August 13, 6:30 pm – Stated Meeting & Dollar Dinner – Full Treasurer’s Report

August 22, 7pm – 3rd Degree – Sean Williams

We are still looking for someone to provide the meal at the stated meeting in September.  Please get with JW Earl MacLeod if you are interested.  Thank you to those who have signed up for the rest of the year!

Keep an eye on the website and facebook for additional event updates.

See you soon.

WM – Jason M Bumgarner – 2012

1221 Calumett Dr

Cedar Falls, IA

WM Jason Bumgarner – 2012

Brethren,

It has been a beautiful spring so far and I hope you all enjoyed your spring break and Easter celebrations.  Black Hawk Lodge has been buzzing with activities and degree work.  We had a great time at movie night watching Angels & Demons.  It is a great movie and if you haven’t seen it yet I would defiantly recommend it.  The pancake breakfast and cell phone drive was a success.  The turnout wasn’t what we expected but the folks who did show up were very generous.  A special thank you to Brothers Shannon Graham, Mark Timpany, Ryan Taylor, Avery Lange, Duane Nottger & Marlin Mulnix for all of your hard work.  We also collected over a dozen cell phones to start our drive, thank you!  At this pace we should have enough by November or December to send them in to a recycler.

The Lodge continues to stay busy with degree work.  Right now we are about half way through a seven week period where we will be conferring nine degrees including courtesy work for Honor Lodge #646 of Dike, IA!  These have been quality degrees and everyone’s pride in ritual work shows.  I would like to thank all of my officers and those participating in these degrees.  I appreciate your hard work, support and devotion to the craft.  One thing we could improve on is sideliners.  At the last degree we passed two Brothers and there were only two brothers in attendance not involved with the degree; I think we can do better than that. Although, last night we did have five side liners at a 1^st Degree.

Last week was our monthly Stated Meeting.  For those interested, the Trustees presented a quote to replace the windows on the East side of the Lodge Room.  The topic was tabled and I suspect there will be discussion and a vote next month.

Next Wednesday April 25^th we will be holding a Past Masters 3^rd Degree with a dinner beforehand.  If you are still looking for a part contact Glen Holmes, last I heard he had a couple of chairs to fill.  Junior Warden – Brother Earl McCleod and his wife have graciously donated the dinner for the evening.  Dinner starts at 6:00pm and we will open on the 3^rd Degree at 7pm.  The 2012 Officers are looking forward to a night on the sidelines for the evening.

Here are some additional upcoming degrees & activities:

Tues April 24, 7pm – 2^nd Degree – Courtesy work for Honor Lodge #646 Dike, IA (held at BHL)

Wed April 25, 6pm – 3^rd Degree – Past Masters 3^rd Degree & Dinner – Steven Hesse

Wed May 2, 7pm – 3^rd Degree – Courtesy work for Honor Lodge #646 Dike, IA (held at BHL)

Mon May 7, 7pm – 3^rd Degree – Josh Tanberg

Mon May 14, 12pm – Field trip to the Grand Lodge Library, Stated Meeting & Dollar Dinner

Wed May 16, 7pm – Lodge of Instruction – We will be working in the dining room on reading the King Solomon

Keep an eye on the website and facebook for additional event updates.

See you soon.

WM – Jason M Bumgarner – 2012

I spent the last week in Flin Flon, MB @ around the 54^th parallel on a business trip.  This was my first trip so far north.  I am grateful the weather was mild up here this week but this Iowa boy was still a popsicle all week!  I heard reports the weather back in Iowa was quite pleasant, I hope it is still there when I return.  I understand there was a Lodge of Instruction earlier in the week, thank you brethren for taking another opportunity for practice & fellowship.

Monday is the Regular Stated Meeting and $3 Dinner.  I believe Steve & Lora Tupy are providing the meal, sure to be a real treat!  We also will have a special guest at our dinner this month; Mr. Glen Henry with Investors Professional Services who will be discussing alternative investments to CD’s for the Lodge’s funds.  All members are encouraged to attend to discuss potential changes to Lodge investments.  Please be assured there will be no decisions made or voting to take place this month pertaining to these topics.  I would also like to give the Finance Committee a chance to give us some alternatives and if there are any members who specialize in investments I would like to hear from them as well.  I wouldn’t expect a vote or decision to be made any sooner than June or July.

The Lodge continues to stay busy with degree work and practices.  At our next Lodge of Instruction I would like to focus on the King Solomon and how to read the code for those who are interested.  I think some of our newer members would benefit greatly from this.

We have a 3^rd Degree for Bro Spencer Walrath on Wednesday March 14^th at 7pm.  Please join us for this very special evening for Spencer.  Also on Monday March 26^th we will have two 1^st Degrees.

Movie night is also later this month.  Wednesday March 28^th at 7pm we will be watching Angels and Demons.  This will be a friendship event so all candidates, 1^st Degree, 2^nd Degree Masons as well as prospective members are welcome.  You are also welcome to bring your Lady.  The lodge will be providing some snacks so bring your favorite movie beverage your favorite movie snack too.  This will be a great opportunity for Masonic Fellowship!

Keep an eye on the website and facebook for additional event updates.

See you soon.

WM – Jason M Bumgarner

Black Hawk Lodge put on another outstanding degree this week!  Thank you to all who participated.  We also had quite a few sideliners including six visiting brothers!  I couldn’t ask for a better start to the year and couldn’t be more pleased with everyone’s initiative, support and hard work.  I truly look forward to what BHL can accomplish throughout 2012.

We have another practice next week for the 3^rd Degree, Wednesday February 29^th at 7pm; we can go through both sections if needed.

Our first Brother to be raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason for 2012 will be raised on Wednesday March 14 at 7pm.  Make sure to join us for this Brother’s special day, it only happens once for each of us.  If you are looking for a specific part, contact Bro. SW Bill Robinson who will be setting up the cast.  I plan on conferring all the degrees this year unless someone has a special request; don’t be afraid to ask.

There are still three meals left for our Stated Meeting nights in 2012.  If you are interested in providing a meal there is an opportunity to save the lodge some money.  I have sourced some pork that will be donated at no cost.  This can be for one or all of the meals; contact me for details.

Keep an eye on the website and facebook for additional event updates.

See you soon.

WM – Jason M Bumgarner

Last night was our Regular Stated Meeting and dinner.  The dinner was great if you weren’t able to make it down, thank you again Marty, Marlin and Jan & Loren for their help with the meal.  There were six openings for dinners beforehand and by the time the meeting was over there are only three left.  Thank you, to all who signed up and more especially those of you who are signing up for more than one month.  The meeting went well too; we were closed in just under an hour.    We also had another petition come in last night as well; keep them coming!

We had two visitors at the dinner, one candidate that we have already voted and another who will be petitioning soon.  Keep up the good work Brothers, I implore the enthusiasm!

There is a 2^nd Degree scheduled for next Wednesday February 22^nd at 7pm and a practice for that degree this Wednesday the 15th at 7pm.  For those interested in a part contact Earl MacLeod.  He will be setting up the cast for all 2^nd Degrees for the year.  Shannon Graham is setting up the 1^st Degrees and Bill Robinson will be setting up the 3^rd Degrees.

One of our old tenants was gracious enough to donate a very nice glass display case for the lodge.  We will be brining it in sometime this week.  If you have any ideas on what you might like see in the case talk to an officer and let them know your thoughts.

There will soon be a change in the front entrance to the lodge at the street level.  A computer has been donated and will be turned into a digital picture frame that will run a ‘loop’ movie with current events and Masonic artwork amongst other things.  Again, if there are any ideas on what you might like to see on this digital picture frame, track down an officer and let them know what you would like to see displayed.  This is going to be another great way to get in touch with the community and let them know we are an active and productive member of Downtown Cedar Falls.

Keep an eye on the website and facebook for additional event updates.

See you soon.

WM – Jason M Bumgarner

Click on the link for a PDF:     Ladies at the Table

Brethren,

February is here and if you watched Punxsutawney Phil last week on Groundhog Day you noticed we will have another five weeks of winter left by now.  If the next five weeks are anything like winter thus far, bring it on!

The annual Super Bowl Party was a success.  The event was well attended and it was a great game to watch.  I have seen better commercials in the past but there were a few good ones this year too.  If you didn’t make it this year be sure to check us out next time, there was some great fellowship that you just can’t afford to miss out on.  We also had a prospective member as well as another who is waiting for initiation, join us for the evening.

Wednesday we had our first initiation for the year!  The degree team did an outstanding job; all the hard work certainly paid off.  We are setting ourselves up for a great year in Masonry here at Black Hawk Lodge!  I am proud to see some enthusiasm and initiative with new BHL members as well.  This is a very good sign of a healthy lodge.

Two more degrees have been scheduled.  There is a 2^nd Degree on Wednesday February 22^nd at 7pm and a 3^rd Degree tentatively for Wednesday March 14^th at 7pm.  We will be having a Lodge of Instruction for each one week before the degree; Wednesday the 15^th of February on the 2^nd Degree and Wednesday March 7^th for the 3^rd Degree rehearsal.

Monday is our Stated Meeting, Marty and Marlin Mullnix are preparing the dinner.  We still have six dinners that need to be covered for the year, starting next month.  If we don’t have anyone sign up before the meeting we will have to discuss our options for the remaining dinners.  Remember that all are invited to our $3 Dinner, prospective members, 1^st & 2^nd Degree Masons and those who are waiting to be initiated.  We have a lot to offer before they get through all three degrees; let’s take full advantage of these events.

Keep an eye on the website and facebook for additional event updates.

See you soon.

WM – Jason M Bumgarner

We had a successful Lodge of Instruction last night, our first scheduled event of the year.  The practice was held for our first initiation of 2012 and everyone did an outstanding job.  We are going to have two more practices before the 1^st Degree; Wednesday February 1^st at 7pm and Monday February 6^th at 7pm.  The degree will be Wednesday February 8^th at 7pm @ Black Hawk Lodge.

The annual Super Bowl Party has been planned for Sunday February 5^th at 4:30pm at Black Hawk Lodge.  This will be our first friendship event for the year so be sure to bring any prospective members.  This event will be a snack potluck and bring your own beverage keeping in mind this is a family (kid) friendly event.  If you haven’t seen a game on the new TV, this is a great opportunity.

The lodge is off to a great start this year; we hope you choose to join us in our many upcoming activities.

See you soon.

Jason M Bumgarner – WM