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Calling All Speakers

Brothers All,
 
The District Education Officers of the Fabulous 5th Masonic District have launched the creation of a district wide Speakers Bureau. This Speakers Bureau will consist of both masonic and non-masonic speakers that can give presentations on a variety of interesting topics. Topics that will not only provide a source of knowledge but will undoubtedly provoke thought and discussion amongst the Brethren and all in attendance. These presentations, depending on their content, can be given in a variety of settings. Open lodge, table lodges, virtual lodges, lunches and banquets to name a few. This bureau is intended to be a valuable resource for our district’s education program. In fact, a presentation given in open lodge can be used as a lodge education presentation for that lodge meeting. I’m sure many of our Brethren have interesting topics they can talk about. Others may know someone in their community who has something interesting to say. A page is being designed that will be added to our district website. All we need to complete this wonderful addition to our district education program is a list of speakers who will, when asked, attend an event and provide a short 10-20 minute presentation. If you or someone you know would like to be a member of the 5th Masonic District Speakers Bureau please contact one of your District Education Officers for addition information. We look forward to hearing from you!
 
Fraternally,
WB Marty Lawrence, DEO email: mllawrence520@gmail.com
WB Jim Parsons, DEO email: jparsons51@gmail.com

IMPORTANT information regarding Thanksgiving Morning at Hicksville

Warm and Fraternal Greetings to all, On behalf of Hicksville Lodge's newly elected WM Bro Rick Evan, Jr., PLEASE note the following information related to this year's Thanksgiving Morning Master Mason Degree with regard to the recent Covid-19 restrictions:
 
1) the 75th Annual Thanksgiving Morning is still being planned to happen and we are looking forward to your visit;
2) if you are coming, we invite you to bring along an UNWRAPPED child's toy as we are sponsoring the Hicksville Fire Department's Kid's Toys for Christmas drive;
3) if you are uncomfortable regarding attending this year OR, if you have respiratory issues, fever, or other symptoms, please DO NOT come this year. PLEASE bring a face mask for yourself. There will be hand sanitizer and other PPE available as well.;
4) Please feel free to contact me (Darrell Miller (260) 906-6310) to confirm the planned meeting, just in case the restrictions from the Governor require us to cancel.
 
We look forward to your visit to commemorate this historic event happening at Hicksville Masonic Lodge. Remember, we open Lodge at 6:00AM, Thursday, November 26, 2020, with pancakes and sausage to follow in the Lodge dining room.
 
There will be commemorative challenge coins and whole hog sausage as usual for you to take home.
 
Fraternally,
Darrell Miller, PDDGM
Secretary
Hicksville Masonic Lodge
(260) 906-6310

5th District 2021 Inspection Schedule

Lodge Number Date Time Dinner Refresh/After Degree DDGM DEO
Fulton 248 1/28 7pm 6pm   EA Lyne Lawrence
Wauseon 349 1/29 7pm 6pm   FC Lyne Lawrence
Bryan 215 2/5 7pm   Yes MM Lyne Lawrence
Sherwood 620 2/12 7pm   Yes FC Pacak

Lawrence

Hicksville 478 2/19 7pm     FC Lyne Parsons
Omega 564 2/26 7pm   Yes EA Lyne Parsons
Liberty Center 518 3/5 7pm   Yes MM Pacak Lawrence
Edon 474 3/12 7pm     FC Pacak Parsons
Napoleon 256 3/19 7pm 6pm   MM Pacak Parsons
Sycamore 520 3/27 10am   Yes EA Pacak Parsons

 

5th District Deacons & Wardens Workshop

The 5th District Wardens & Deacons workshop will be 9:00 AM on December 19, 2020 at the Liberty Center Masonic Temple. Dress is business casual.  All wardens and deacons for the 2021 year are expected to attend.  Contact our DEOs with any questions.

New DDGM and DEO appointments at Grand Lodge Communications

The brothers of the 5th Masonic District want to congratulate our new DEO, WB Jim Parsons and our new DDGM, WB Larry Lyne on their assignments from the Grand Lodge of Ohio. We look forward to working with both of you! 

Fifth District Holds 2020 Awards Night

Thanks to all who attended the awards night in Wauseon OH last night.  The DDGMs and Fifth District Officers put together a nice casual evening to recognize the district lodges and brothers for their achievements this past year.  It was little later than normal, but as we all know, nothing has been normal these past six months.  The Award recipients for last night are:

  • Lewis Hackett Award - Dedicated to all 50 year traveling masons: Bryan Lodge
  • Best Attended Inspection: BryanLodge
  • Traveling Trophy: BryanLodge
  • Best Inspection: EdonLodge
  • Bee Hive Award: Craig Szczublewski (Fulton)
  • George O. Braatz Award (most lodge members at an inspection): Fulton Lodge
  • Master of the Year: Josh Chapin (Edon)
  • Education Award: Doug Parker (Wauseon)
  • First Time Charge: John Seabolt (Fulton)
  • Hiram Abiff Award: Todd Evans (Wauseon)
  • Mason of the Year: Rick Snyder (Bryan)
  • Perfect Attendance: 22

DGM Rollout Program Cancelled

Brethren All,
To say that this has been a difficult year for all of us would be an understatement, especially your Grand Lodge Officers. Due to many event cancellations by many organizations and the mandates set by the Governor and the State of Ohio, I feel it would be in the best interest of Ohio Masonry to cancel my in-person Deputy Grand Master rollouts.
 
This is not a decision I take lightly and with the group size of many rollout meetings, we cannot meet the guidelines set by the state. We cannot as an organization afford the bad publicity if we were the possible cause of brethren getting sick, or God forbid a fatality. The rollout will be accomplished by other means.
 
As always, please stay tuned in Grand View, email and other platforms for the latest information. I hope by deed and action my plans as Grand Master, if so elected, will leave our institution a better organization for having served.
 
Respectfully,
Richard A. Dickerscheid
Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Ohio

5th District Awards Night is on for August 29

5th District Awards night has been rescheduled for August 29th at 5:30 PM. The cost will be $10 /Person. To accomodate health guidelines, we are holding in an open-air venue at Homecoming Park in Wauseon. Dinner will be by Susie’s Lunch by June Fry. Please RSVP to the district secretary by August 20th and make payments to the 5th District.

Fifth District Grand Masters Class Schedule

Having had to cancel original plans for our Grand Master’s Class, there were a few lodges who requested the district to consider conducting one prior to the end of the “Masonic” year.
 
The district officers have decided to schedule two days (as permitted in the Grand Master’s edict) to offer the three degrees to candidates. The EA and FC Degrees will be portrayed in Wauseon on Saturday, August 1, 2020, and the MM Degree will be in Defiance on Saturday, August 22, 2020. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the degree work starts at 9:00 a.m. both days. We will conclude prior to lunch thereby eliminating the need to prepare for a lunch under Covid-19 restrictions.
 
The guidelines for this class are very similar to previous classes. Each candidate must attend all three degrees even though he may already be an EA or FC. The Lodge is responsible for providing the Holy Book and Apron. There must also be an assigned Master Craftsman for each candidate. The proficiency requirement for the candidates is to return to a stated meeting in their Lodge within 60 days following the date of their MM Degree. At that time they will be issued their permanent dues card.  
 
The Grand lodge will provide candidate packets containing a mini set of square and compasses, Apron case and a copy of “Preparing the Ashlar”. For that reason and the fact that we are working with a short time frame I must have names of the candidates by Wednesday, July 15 so that the packets can be prepared and arrangements made for pick up prior to August 1. The potential candidates reported to me thus far include 4 from Fulton, 2 from Hicksville and 2 from Sycamore.
 
While we want this to be a memorable event for our new brothers, we are also aware that the virus is still with us and we want to take every precaution necessary to keep all our brothers healthy. This is part of the reasoning to make it a two day event – to allow social distancing with a minimal number of brothers attending.
 
Fraternally,
Bob Rettig, DA, PDDGM

Pages

District Deputy Grand Masters
R.W.B. Martin Lawrence
Sycamore Lodge #520
 
R.W.B. James E. Parsons
Liberty Center Lodge #518
District Education Officers
W.B. Dennis Richardson
Wauseon Lodge #349
 
W.B. Craig Szczublewski
Fulton Lodge #248
District Advisor
R.W.B. Robert R. Rettig
Napoleon Lodge #256
 
District Education Chair
R.W.B. Robert "Joe" Stotler
Hicksville Lodge #478
 
President
W.B. Dennis Richardson
Wauseon Lodge #349
 
1st Vice President
W.B. Chris Meeker
Wauseon Lodge #349
2nd Vice President
Ryan Bleck
Hicksville Lodge #478
 
Secretary
W.B. Craig Szczublewski
707 Main St
Delta, OH 43515
Fulton Lodge #248
 
Treasurer
R.W.B. Douglas W. Eis
Napoleon Lodge #256
 
District Prospect Manager
R.W.B. Richard McKibben
Fulton Lodge #248
Webmaster
W.B. Craig Szczublewski
Fulton Lodge #248