Here we go again. Another year that I’m sure will go as fast as the last. With the interruption in the line, we felt this was the best way to keep it going. I want to thank all the people involved that came out to elect all the new officers. I’m sure it will be another exciting year.
The city of Minneapolis has done it again. They are in the works to revamp Central Avenue with new street and sidewalk lighting. These upgrades will be passed on to the business and residents on the avenue and Arcana Lodge will be hit with a $7,000 tax increase. Luckily this will be amortized over 20 years, but with interest it still means our property tax will go up several hundred dollars a year. The cost of staying in our building is going up and our only options are to raise the rents, have more fundraisers, and/or raise our dues! I don’t like any of these options, but what else are we going to do? Please come down to lodge, write to me or call me, and give us your ideas. We, as members, need to put a financial plan into effect so we can stay here or move to a more cost effective place.
Again, thanks for an outstanding year. I hope to see a lot of you at Lodge meetings and degrees, and again dinners are served before the second meeting of each month by our favorite chef WB Doug.
Hope to see you soon,
Dave Sibben, Master
A new year has started as well as a new century. I hope everyone had a good and safe holiday season. Arcana Lodge installed our new officers for the year 2000 on December 27th, 1999 during our stated meeting. We are looking forward to the first set of degrees at Arcana Lodge in the new millennium. The First Degree is scheduled for Monday, February 7th, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. Our new Junior Warden, Bernie Wiklund, will be presiding in the East, and I’m sure he will do a fine job.
Plans are in the works now for our Third Annual Ides of March Spaghetti Dinner, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 11th, 2000. We will be serving from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and are asking for a $5.00 donation. Letters and tickets will be mailed soon to all the members, and I’d like to remind everyone to return your ticket money early so we can prepare the correct amount of food. As in previous years, the proceeds will be used in the on-going replacement of lighting fixtures and general lodge renovations. A big thank you should go to all the brothers who have helped, especially our WM Dave Sibben and to Chuck Berger for all their hard work.
I want to thank the Lodge for electing me to be the new Senior Warden. I hope everyone will support the Lodge in the up coming year. I will do the best job possible as your Senior Warden.
John Fosdick
Senior Warden
Brethren, Happy New Year and New Millennium! My name is Bernie Wiklund. You elected me to be your Junior Warden for the year 2000, and I take this opportunity to thank all of you for your confidence in me. I certainly will work hard this year to earn that confidence!
I have been active in Arcana Lodge since being raised to a Master Mason in 1995. Starting with the Tyler's position and working up through "the chairs," with a couple of advancements due to openings created when brethren left the line, I now find myself in a position which will require much study and effort on my part. I do look forward to the Challenge! And I ask for your continuing support during the coming year.
After some discussion the past couple of weeks, we have decided to forgo the annual Sweetheart Dinner this year, for a couple of reasons. First, it has been rather poorly attended in the past few years. Last year there were only three of us at the dinner, and that really is not enough to make it worthwhile to plan or attend. Especially since the restaurant was planning on something like twenty, and had the table set accordingly! Secondly, we had a fairly full calendar for the month of February as it was, and felt like the dinner would just be too much. And that leads me to my next comment.
We have an Entered Apprentice Degree scheduled for Monday, February 7 at 7:30 PM. That is less than a month away. Since I will be sitting in the East for the degree, it is also my responsibility to obtain some of the participants for the ritual. I will be asking for some help from those of you who are able and willing to be a part of our fine team! I hope you will welcome the challenge as I do!
The year 2000 promises to be an exciting year! I'm happy to be a Mason, and to be a member of Arcana Lodge this new century!
Fraternally yours,
Bernie Wiklund
Junior Warden
As your new Lodge Secretary I’ve noticed that I still have quite a few dues cards left. This can only mean one thing, some of you have not paid your year 2000 dues (and even a few of have yet to send in your 1999 dues.)
Please check your wallet, and if your dues card does not say “Year 2000” you, not your computer, but you as a member of Arcana Lodge, are not “Y2K compliant.”
To fix this “Y2K” problem, simply send your check ($61 for Year 2000, $122 for 1999 and 2000) to:
Arcana Lodge #187 AF & AM
Office of the Secretary
P.O. Box 270181
Saint Paul, MN 55127-0181
Fraternally yours,
Douglas Roswold, PM, Arcana Lodge Secretary
