BPOE    BPOE

Bruce Martin

Exalted Ruler's Message

March 2008

 

This will be my last message to you as the Exalted Ruler of Monterey Lodge, #1285.  Over the year I have done my best to support Elkdom and promote its core principles of Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love, with Fidelity. 

 

As time came each month for publication of The Contact, I could always count on Sydney Tabler’s telephone call to arrive to remind me of the approaching deadline.  I then devoted as much of my time and effort as possible to compose a message which fit those principles, but also (hopefully) gave the lodge’s members an idea of my own background, interests, beliefs and personal standards.  I am pleased that those words resonated with many of you and thank you for your kind compliments.

 

The survival of any group or association depends on membership. The Lodge’s Membership and Lapsation Chairpersons, Scott Phillips and Joela Sercia, set a realistic goal of achieving total membership of 600 before the end of March, 2008.  With the pending February and March Initiations I believe that we will make it.  Congratulations to both of them for their fine effort!

 

The BPOE has several other required committees necessary to fulfill its commitment to our order and to our country.  Every Exalted Ruler needs the backing and commitment from dozens of members to assume the positions of Committee Chairpersons and to drive that engine of volunteerism for an entire year.  I wish to thank all of those people who stepped up in so many ways to help. 

 

I also thank my wife, Carol, for agreeing to stand with me during Elkdom’s many annual events.  These included far away events such as the Grand Lodge Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as those nearby at lodges within the West Central District, and particularly the events held at our own lodge.  I hope that as many of you as possible got to know her and recognize what a great asset she has been to me during this past year. 

 

I heard it said somewhere in the past that each day is a gift, and as long as our eyes are open we must focus on the new day.  Deposit a lot of happiness in your bank account of memories, and remember these rules:

 

1.      Free your heart from hatred.

2.      Free your mind from worries.

3.      Live simply.

4.      Give more.

5.      Expect less.

 

Finally, as I have stated before, while all of us are busy people, let us not forget those who gave their lives to save others. Let us not forget those who made the supreme sacrifice in service to their communities and country. Let us not forget our heroes who died upholding their oath of service - To Protect and To Serve.

See you soon! 

Bruce Martin

Exalted Ruler

ELK OF THE MONTH

 

The barbecue crew from Rib Night.
 

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