Dear Brethren, Sweethearts, and Friends,

It will be my honor and privilege to lead The Friendly Lodge for the ensuing year. Thank you for allowing me the honor by placing your trust in me. The last couple of months for me has been rewarding but somewhat overly busy as we planned Dave Shull’s memorial, Don Hoskin’s Hiram Award ceremony, and then the officers’ installation. If you’ve been a past master, then you know what I’m talking about. The support given to me has been tremendous and that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

I am excited about our lodge as we move into another year. This past year was successful in so many ways, and the lodge building itself is becoming more and more attractive over time. The major rework due to termite and wood rot damage is coming to a conclusion and we are glad of that. We have a very capable line of Officers and I am looking forward to working with them. We have had several potential members visit us over the last couple of months and look forward to the opportunities this may bring. Our already capable coaching team of Wor. Tom Riley and Wor. Michael Roberts has been enhanced by the addition of Wor. Gary Sparks.

Those of us who attended the Officers’ Installation ceremony on December 12 had a wonderful time. The Installing Team performed magnificently – the team consisted of Wor. Robert Whitfield, Installing Officer; Wor. Tony Yuson, Master of Ceremonies, Wor. Christopher Putnam, Installing Organist and Wor. Tom Riley, Installing Chaplain. Wor. Gary Sparks was also in the East as the outgoing Master. The event was attended by a little more than 90 members and guests with a nice dinner afterwards provided by A Tasteful Affair, located in Pleasanton. We were pleased to have the El Cerrito-Albany DeMolay present the flag at the ceremony and to have Bethel No. 247 Job’s Daughters serve at the dinner.

Our annual Acalanes Fellowship Lodge Crab Feed (the best crab feed of the year) is scheduled for the last Saturday in January. That is January 30 for this coming year. It will start at 5:30 with a social and dinner will begin at 6:30. Be sure to save the date — it will be a fun time.

Worshipful Marion P. Rogers