From the West

Brethren,

Last month's Country ham breakfast was a blast. I've always enjoyed getting out early to meet with my brothers and make some good food.  Some money was raised and people were fed.

A lot of stuff got shuffled last month because of the bad weather but we did get in 2 FC degrees and the Awards Night.  Congratulations to the following brethren.

Billy Dunlap - Fifty Year Mason
Charlie Bean - Fifty Year Mason
Leon Stalcup - Fifty Year Mason
Philip Phillips - Fifty Year Mason
Gerald Phillips - Fifty Year Mason
Kent Mitchell - Proctor Award "244"
Dustin Wade - Proctor Award
Robert Ford - Proctor Award
Philip Young - Young Mason of the Year
Dustin Wade - Mason of the Year

More pics available HERE

Special Announcements

Brethren,
Here are a few special announcements.

The Shriners are reaching out to local lodges, they need drivers to transport children from Knoxville and surrounding areas to hospitals like Vanderbilt. If you have the availability and desire to aid this worth while cause, please contact brother Jack Haggard at (865) 453-2146; his group will also be meeting at Shoney's in Alcoa every 4th Monday.

Secondly, Our own brother Eric Middleton has started a sock drive to open for the duration of the year. We need lots of socks, Children's and adult's.  These will be donated in turn to aid the Shriners in there Shoe drive as well as other local organizations like church's and food pantries which will help get them to those who need them the most. If you would like to donate, please drop new socks off at rockford lodge. We can also purchase the socks for you if you would like to make a monitory donation.

Lastly, Brother Tim Webb has had some Rockford Lodge polo shirts made. If you would like to order one, they are $12 - $17 depending on size, please contact brother Tim at (865) 978-0792.

From the South

Brethren,

The seasons are changing and though things are slowing down, we have a lot of official business coming up.

This Tuesday Mar. 17th,  we are having a Masonic education class held by brother Carl Reneau, start at 7.

This Thursday Mar 19th, we have a MM degree, eat at 6 degree to follow, and Saturday the 21st is Lodge Maintenance Day, we will start at 9 am and be there most of the day, come when you can.

On the 24th we will be holding a degree on the Grand Lodge floor in Nashville around 8-9 pm. If you would like to participate in the degree, please contact brother Joe the degree captain at (865) 256-1357.  Grand Lodge will be on the 25th and 26th.

Next month.

The official visit will be on April 2nd. we need as many brethren to attend as possible.  For those newer masons, this is where a Grand Lodge official visits our lodge and helps us straighten out and inconsistencies in our ritual. He will also be grading us and testing any one who would like to get their proficiency or lecturer's cards.

We will be having Turkey Shoots on April 11th, 18th & 25th at the rockford football field. for more information, please contact brother Justin at (865) 712-6688.

The District Meeting this year will be hosted by TN 204 on April 28th eat at 6pm.

Lastly, a special thanks to Brother Tim Webb, who is standing in for me while I handle some family business. We all need help from time to time and its a great help to have a brother who will step in and share the load.

Yours in the light,
J.W. Scott Hopkins