DAYLIGHT WEB PAGE

TECH ITEMS wvv\v.daylightmasons.org

Daylight can proudly claim to have had the first lodge web page in Washington but now it is no longer unique because it happily shares the web with thousand of lodges. This electronic world contact has proven a boon for petitions; nearly 2/3rd of those received in the last eight years have made an initial contact with the lodge because of the web site.

T he web page is up-dated on a regular basis and includes all the Trestleboards. It also features a part of the Lodge's history, its place in the history of daylight Masonry, pictures with bios of the elected officers, as well as how to how to join.

T he lodge has a Google group list for members use. In use almost daily it keeps the members current on lodge activities and even what individual members may be doing. Every officer and committee has an address for communication between meetings. The PayPal on-line system is used for payment of dues, petition fees and other donations, etc.

It might be appropriate to note that over half of the young brothers are employed in the T ech field; hence in-house communication is very web oriented. It is of note that of over 100 members including EAs and FCs, only twelve members do not have an e-mail address.

When at a recent degree practice the Master was noticed texting, a senior Past Master looking at him remarked, "The working tool of a modern Mason," and then wiggled his fingers as if he too were himself texting.

COLLEGE FRATERNITY OUTREACH

Three years ago in cooperation with University Lodge No. l4L Daylight began an effort to take Masonry University of Washington fraternity members. The lodge organized a committee for Fraternity Outreach. It was the brainchild of J unior Warden Sam Ali. Ali had been an active member of Sigma Phi Epsilon at Washington State University. He contacted the Seattle chapter and put together a meeting. Using the Short Talk Bulletin Freemasons and College Fraternities and other brochures the initial meeting was held with officers of the University of Washington fraternity chapter.

Other fraternity houses were contacted for meetings and some new members have been gained. In these gatherings it is pointed out that Masonry offers the soon to be graduated fraternity brother a chance to maintain a fraternal interest after graduation. Daylight meets these fraternity brothers at an informal setting; in a local restaurant, pub or arranges a private informal meeting in the fraternity houses. The goal is to reach older frat members; seniors near graduation or juniors.

T o make the connection between Masonry and the University of Washington, a special color brochure was created telling of the establishment of the University by members of Seattle's St J ohn's Masonic Lodge plus a brief resume of some Masonic related fraternities.

T hese events have shown that many of the young fraternity men have a Masonic grandfather or great uncle, but most often not their father. They may have a limited knowledge of the connection between Masonry and their fraternities. Often they are interested in Masonry but do not know how to make contact with' a lodge. The program has proven to be an easy to work but modest success· so the program continues on a limited basis. Both Daylight and University lodges have members from the program. Only Daylight continues this program.

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In late 1998 then Senior Deacon Rat Wilson suggested that the Lodge build a portable bandstand to take to local street fairs. It would feature local 'garage' bands including Daylight Lodge musicians. The idea was not welcomed by any of the street fair sponsors but the uniquely popular Fremont Fair organizers expressed an interest so put the Lodge on their list for possible use. In May 1999 Daylight was asked by the Fremont Public Association; now known as Solid Ground, operators of the annual Fremont Solstice Festival, Parade and Street Fair if the Lodge would like the sponsor a bandstand at the J une Fair.

The Lodge now enlists other Seattle area lodges to participate in this popular yearly event There have been a number of petitions received from booth inquiries but the goal has not been to gain petitions but rather provide the community with information about Masonry. Daylight and several lodges have officers who found the booth as their inspiration for joining the Craft.

Thousand of brochures and balloons have been passed out since the first year of the booth. It has prompted lodges to print special brochures about their lodges for passing out Even a Royal Arch chapter now supports the booth. It is a constantly busy booth with men asking questions about Masonry; yes, there is the occasional kook too asking about black helicopters and the Illuminati.

Between 135,000 and 150,000 attend this yearly June event. The sponsors of the street fair, Solid Ground the Seattle area's largest non-profit social service agency and the Fremont Chamber of Commerce/ now request and expect each year that the "Masons" will be part of this com munity event

It is an expensive venture that the lodge feels is important for Masonry and Daylight lodge. The sponsorship of a musical bandstand is in keeping with the lodge's entertainment heritage. Lodge brothers with theater or related backgrounds emcee the bandstand.

MENTO RING COMMITTEE

From a membership of just over 50 at the start of the 21st Century, Daylight Lodge has shown an impressive doubling in size. Officers soon realized that mentoring was to be an important part of keeping young members active and participating in the lodge. A solid program of training to pass on the knowledge of senior members and to the young Brothers basic Masonic knowledge; to explain the history of the Lodge, its traditions and why they developed over the last 90 years was set as a goal.

The officers saw that members, not only in Daylight but in many lodges fail to understand the reasons behind different customs and practices. Daylight like other lodges had officers and members who often lack knowledge of the basics of the Craft hence the lodge may suffer many leadership skills. The objective of the mentoring program is to assure that the young members are well informed, trained and should they desire, can become excellent officers.

This training is not limited to the usual proficiency program but teaches about the Washington Masonic Code, The Lodge Officers Handbook, The Washington Freemasons Guide and the Beach B/ the Lodge's own operating procedur~s.

T he elected officers are responsible for the basic mentoring, the Junior Warden for the Entered Apprentices and Senior Warden for the Fellowcrafts. The goal is to discuss Masonry, become proficient in the work of the degrees and learn the traditions, the whys and wherefores of the Craft and especially Daylight Lodge. It is basically a Round Table discussion and no subject is off the table.

Topics laid out for discussion include but are not limited to:

• The Standard Proficiency Exam Pages • Learning the necessary memory work to be passed or raised • The Lodge By-Laws and Standing Resolutions • Lodge History • The Lodge's "Beach B Procedures// • Masonic Courtesies and Customs • The Washington Masonic Code • Ancient Landmarks

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Daylight Third Performance day now named in memory of VW David Julian, PM,

Musician and five times Grand Musician was held on November 19th following the

Table Lodge.

Lodge Musician Alex Jourvalev performing "Moscow Nights"

and Debussy

Lodge Tyler making a photo presentation of his paintings

W :. Anthony Monaco, PM and Past Grand Musician

explained how he wrote music using electronics

V :. W :. Morgan giving his reading of the poem

"The Moo Cow Moo.

Booth at what is known as the Seattle ffome Show for ten day period in February.

In 2009 seeking more community involvement the lodge became part of what is known as ROOTS. Twice monthly half a dozen Daylighters cook breakfast for needy, homeless teens at a University D istrict Shelter.

Recognizing that there were many potential Masons among the juniors and seniors in University of Washington fraternities, the lodge started jointly with University Lodge a modestly successful outreach fraternity program. Both lodges have garnered members from the program. Daylight continues once yearly.

Because there are no youth organizations at the Green Lake Masonic Hall where Daylight meets, the lodge has little contact with the three youth groups but several members of the lodge do serve on youth group advisory boards outside Seattle. Lodge members have become active in another daytime Masonic body, O riental Chapter Royal Arch Masons.

Hence Daylight continues to be an involved lodge, always seek new ideas to keep members busy and involved as Masons in the community and making Masonry known as doing good. T his dedication to community service and its support of the arts has attracted many young petitioners.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

When it began to grow in size with young men, the Daylight officers quickly heard that in addition to hoping to be officers at some time in the future, most of these young brothers wanted to carry Masonry outside the lodge's closed doors. They heard well the closing charge given at the end of every meeting which says in part, " . . . These generous principles extend further_ for every human being has a claim upon your kind offices. Do good unto all"

For that reason the lodge starting to expand its public activities into the general community and the members themselves when in different community activities, boards and commissions quickly identified themselves as Daylight Masons.

In 1973 the lodge had started a small program giving a modest donation to the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. In the early 1980s this was expanded to become an honors dinner for selected members of the orchestra but was abandoned in 1989 when the lodge membership declined. However the young brothers reinstituted the program in 1999 as the SYSO Principal Players ffonor Dinner. Masons now serve as SYSO Board members; the current Vice President is a Daylighter.

In 1999 the lodge started one of its major community events at the Fremont Solstice Festival and Street Fair hosting a performance bandstand. This meant that the lodge became a supporter of Seattle largest non-profit community service agency now known as Solid Ground This modest beginning now continues each J une hosting the bandstand and a Masonic Information Booth. Daylight manages booth operations which eight to ten different Seattle lodges now participate. The Masons are now asked back each year as an important part of the Seattle/Fremont community.

T he success of this booth prompted University Lodge No. 141 to put together an Information Booth at the University District Street Fair. After Daylight's May meeting, members travel across town to support this booth. In August 20ll with University Lodge, Daylight members manned a Masonic Information Booth at the North Seattle Police Precinct Community party.

Using their long experience manning an information booth, members of the lodge were in charge of and helped with the first Grand Lodge Masonic Information

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Daylight's oldest continuing community support is the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras. As a Lodge Daylight, first made a modest financial contribution to this training orchestra in 1973. Prior to that time individual members were instructors and teachers of many of the young musicians. The SYSO organization, the largest such organization in the nation was formed in 1941. Daylight's 1928 Master, W :. Hany Reed as president of the Musicians Union Seattle Local No. 76 was one of the founders.

Orchestra graduates who decide not to pursue a musical profession are found attending major universities and colleges around the nation as some of the top ranked students. Those who continue in the music field and attend different schools of music are destined to follow other alumni in major orchestras world wide.

Since 1980 except for a brief period between 1989 and 1998 of not doing so, Daylight has hosted an honors dinner for the First Chair qr Principal players in the Orchestra. Include in this section of the binder are copies of a SYSO concert programs, the bulletin issued by SYSO, general information on their programs and pictures of the Lodge's 2011 Honors D inner attendees.

Daylight is exceedingly proud to support these young musicians and has no plans to cease doing so.

Olympus Lodge No. 45, Prince Hall returned a visit to Daylight Lodge on October 15th. At that time Worshipful Master Donahoe presented O lympus Lodge's Master

With the Fellowship Level that is exchanged between the two lodges

Worshipful Master holding the Fellowship Level

Worshipful Master Donahoe presenting the Fellowship Level to Worshipful Master Byron Saunders