Category: Master’s Message

March 2021 Trestleboard

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Greetings from the East!

Brothers,

February has been a great month for Denver Lodge No. 5.  We were able to meet in-person for the first time in 2021 and it felt great to be back in the Lodge room with all of you!  We have been taking precautions to make it a safe environment.  We are still taking temperatures at the door, spacing out in the dining room and the Lodge room.  You are welcome to wear a mask during the meeting as well.  We still ask that you MUST MAKE A RESERVATION.

We had two proficiencies at the last meeting.  Bro. Connor Gould did a great job on his EA proficiency and Bro. Joshua Ruegsegger, J.D. dazzled us with an excellent MM long-form proficiency.  I’m very proud of you both!

Coming up in March things are not slowing down.  We will be opening Lodge early on March 4th at 5:30 pm to hear another EA proficiency and handle some business.  Then after dinner, we will be doing two FC Degrees.  This will be our first time doing degree work this year and we are excited to get back to work.

On March 18th, we will be hearing a presentation from Pablo Colomban, P.M. titled “That Other American Revolution Led by Masons”.  Dinner will be at 6:30 pm and Lodge will open at 7:30.

A couple of reminders:

The scholarship application due date has changed.  The new date is April 15, 2021.  If you know any students that are going to college or trade school in the Fall, please encourage them to apply for the scholarship.  The link to the application can be found online here.

This is a second reminder about paying your dues.  If you have not yet sent a check or paid via Paypal on our website, please do so as soon as possible!

The Boulder Plunge is taking place on April 10th from 8:00 am – 1:30 pm. This is always a fun family activity so bring out the kids and loved ones. This event is also open to any prospective candidates. And if you don’t want to brave the cold waters, they will also be holding a 5k that you can participate in. If you are interested in participating, please contact WB Tom Shotts.

I look forward to seeing you all in March!

Michael Rotert, W.M.

February 2021 Trestleboard

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Greetings from the East!

I hope this message finds everyone happy and healthy!

Denver Lodge No. 5 has a lot going on this month.

We have a large number of prospects that have been attending our meetings, both in-person on online.  A number of them have put in petitions so we will be looking forward to doing a lot of degree work in the coming weeks.  If you are interested in being involved with putting on these degrees, we would love to have you.  Please reach out to me if you want to be involved.

Our first meeting is on February 4th via Zoom.  We will again open the meeting at 6:30 pm for prospects and then at 7:00 pm, the meeting will be opened to Masons only.  I am going to present a lecture I have been working on called “Truths in your Toolbox”.  If you haven’t already, please contact WB Pablo Colomban to be added to the Zoom list. He will send out a link to the meeting via email a couple of days before the meeting.

We are going to open back up to an in-person Lodge meeting for our second meeting on February 18th.  This is going to be a busy meeting.  We have a lot of proficiency work that has been delayed and a lot of business to take care of.  We want to make sure the building is a safe place to meet.  We will be taking temperatures at the door and will be allowing for social distancing in the dining room.  It is also very possible to spread out in our Lodge room.  You are welcome to wear a mask during Lodge if this makes you feel more comfortable.  As always, there will be hand sanitizer available.  I also want to reiterate that if you are not feeling well, please do not come to Lodge.  We miss seeing everyone in Lodge and want everyone to feel comfortable in attending our meetings! Due to Covid restrictions, your RSVP is required with the Junior Warden so that we can make proper arrangements.

A few last notes…if you have not yet paid your dues, they are now late.  Please use the PayPal tab on our website or send a check to the secretary.  Let’s help save Bro. Secretary from having to send you a late notice.  Also, the scholarship applications are now available to download on our site.  If you know of someone who is interested in applying for the scholarships, we are accepting them now until May 15th.

Hope you all have a great month and I hope to see you soon!

Michael Rotert WM

 

 

January 2021 trestleboard

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Brothers,

I hope this message finds you well! We are in the midst of the lost week between the holidays and the New Year. I’m really not sure what day it is, but I do know that I have been eating plenty. I hope you find yourself in the same situation!

Like almost everything that has happened in 2020, we have had to get creative in how we approached installation this year. Normally, on a Saturday after our last December meeting and before the holidays, we would all gather for a nice meal with our families and friends and then do our annual installation of officers. This wasn’t possible this year, so instead of trying to do an installation on a Zoom meeting, we took the opportunity to bring the installation to you in the form of a movie. I am no Scorsese, so we are using the term “movie” lightly, but I invite you to join us on January 7th at 7:00 pm via Zoom to watch the installation. I will be opening the Zoom call at 6:30 to give the opportunity for prospects to ask any questions and so I can find out what Santa brought you.

To RSVP and receive the Zoom meeting link please contact WB Pablo Colomban

For our second “meeting” in January, Right Worshipful Brother Ray Dunn, who is currently the Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge is going to join us virtually to give us a talk on leadership. The details for this meeting will also be sent out at a later date.

The current status of things in our Country and State are not very conducive to having our normal meetings, but hopefully, things will continue to improve. In the meantime, I will be working to try to create opportunities for us to enjoy fellowship. Whether virtually or being together in person. This is definitely not the way I wanted to start my year in the East, but we’ll be working to make the best of it.

As always, I greatly appreciate all of you and look forward to seeing you soon!

WM Michael Rotert

November 2020 Trestleboard

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Revised October 30th, 2020

October has been a great month for Denver Freemasonry!  At our first stated communication, we initiated three new brothers in our fraternity.  Many thanks go out to the brethren that participated in the degree work that made the evening a success!  On October 10th we held a charity 5K Run/Walk and Food Drive at Sloan’s Lake in the beautiful fall weather.  Almost 20 brethren, prospects, and family participated and we collected 430 pounds of non-perishable food that we donated to Soldier’s Angels, a non-profit organization that distributes food to needy veterans.  The bulk of Soldier’s Angels work comes around the holidays, so stay tuned for another volunteer opportunity for us to donate our time to help this worthy cause.  I want to recognize Brother Tim McDowell for his efforts putting together the event and finding the veterans charities for us to support this year!  At our second stated communication, we voted on amendments to the Denver #5 by-laws.  Five amendments passed and one was withdrawn so that the Scholarship and Education Committee could refine the amendment and resubmit it to the lodge.

We continue to have an average of 10 prospective members at each of our dinners, which means we’ll have several more initiations to perform over the next 6 months.  That also means we have a great need for brethren to volunteer additional time to be mentors for these new members as they journey through the degrees.  Our posting program continues to be one of the best Denver; however, it takes a lot of time to teach and mentor and the more seasoned Masons we have that can volunteer some time on Wednesday nights, or even to do phone posting, the more we can take off the shoulders of the Posting Committee.  Please contact James Bechtel if you’re interested in helping out with posting.

Due to the increased Covid-19 restrictions, we must wistfully transition our meetings to virtual format for the month of November. We will continue to monitor the situation and transition back to in-person meetings as soon as possible.

Our next virtual communication is on November 5, 2020 at 7:30 pm via Zoom.  This lodge meeting is our annual Heritage Night celebrating the first lodge meeting held in Denver on November 3, 1858.  We will have a guest speaker, WB Patrick Dey, who will be giving a presentation on MW Lawrence N. Greenleaf who was Worshipful Master of Denver #5 in 1866, 1868, and 1869, and Grand Master of Colorado in 1880.  Please RSVP to receive the Zoom meeting information.

Our second virtual communication is on November 19, 2020 at 7:30 pm via Zoom.  Stay tuned for more information.  Please RSVP to receive the Zoom meeting information.

Posting in person will be on a limited basis in order to comply with current restrictions.  Please contact James Bechtel for scheduling.

I pray the Grand Architect of the Universe will guide us through these uncertain times and return us to normal in the near future.

Fraternally,

Kevin Trabert
Worshipful Master
Denver Lodge #5 A.F. & A.M

September 2020 Trestleboard

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Greetings from the East,

I continue to be amazed by the quantity of prospective members showing interest in our fraternity.  At our last stated communication, we had 11 prospects join us for dinner (3 of whom have been elected to receive the degrees of masonry).  This proves that even with all of the madness in our society today, there are still men of high caliber that are seeking knowledge and truth and posses a desire to be part of something bigger than themselves.  Although, I shouldn’t be surprised since Freemasonry has thrived for centuries, surviving pandemics, revolutions, world wars, political movements, etc.  I encourage each of you to spend some time with our prospective members sharing about your masonic journey.

During the business meeting at our last stated communication, we caught up on minutes, voted on one petition for membership, and received an update from the Library, Archives & Antiquities committee about our project to digitize our archives.  For education, MWB Claud Dutro gave a presentation on the National Sojourners after which the lodge voted to donate funds to the National Sojourners’ program to send high school students to attend the Youth Leadership Conference at Valley Forge.  The lodge additionally voted to donate funds to Vet Expeditions, a non-profit organization that enables veterans to overcome challenges from their military service through outdoor leadership and community.  Our donation will enable as many as 30 veterans to attend a weekend expedition in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  The lodge also voted to support the Colorado Veterans Project virtual 5K race and food drive.  More details will be published soon, but the 5K walk/run will be open to all lodge members, family, prospects and friends on October 10, 2020.  The lodge will cover the cost of the race; however, we encourage each participant to donate non-perishable food, which we will deliver as a group to a local food bank.

At our next stated communication on September 3, 2020, we will have a discussion on the Landmarks of Freemasonry, hear proficiencies, and discuss more about the Colorado Veterans Project virtual 5K.  Please RSVP for dinner to Brother Michael Rotert, SW.  I hope for a good turn-out for the discussion on the Landmarks as each of us will have different ideas and opinions on the subject.  Additionally, this will be the last meeting for members to submit proposed changes to our bylaws so that we can have 30-day written notice prior to the vote on October 15, 2020.

On September 17, 2020 we will be conducting an Entered Apprentice Degree for three new members.  We would love to have a great turn-out for the degree!  Please RSVP for dinner to Brother Michael Rotert, SW.  If you would like to participate in the degree, please email Brother Michael Rotert, SW.  We will have a practice for the degree on Wednesday, September 9 at 6:30 PM at the lodge.

On September 26, 2020, Kiowa Lodge #116 will be holding their annual Outdoor Master Mason degree.  I’ve challenged two of our newest Fellowcrafts to become proficient in time to be raised during this unique opportunity.  More details will follow.

I look forward to seeing everyone in lodge!

 

Fraternally,

Kevin Trabert

Worshipful Master

Denver Lodge #5 A.F. & A.M

 

 

 

Upcoming Events:

  • September 3, 2020: Stated Communication. Education on the Landmarks of Freemasonry.  Dinner at 6:30 PM followed by lodge at 7:30 PM.
  • September 9, 2020: EA degree practice and posting at 6:30 PM.
  • September 17, 2020: Entered Apprentice Degree.  Dinner at 6:30 PM and degree work to follow at 7:30 PM.
  • September 26, 2020: Kiowa Lodge #116 Outdoor Master Mason Degree.  More details to follow.
  • October 1, 2020: Stated Communication.  Education on the Masonic Symbolism of the Forget-me-not Flower.  Dinner at 6:30 PM followed by lodge at 7:30 PM.
  • October 10, 2020: 5K walk/run supporting Colorado Veterans Project.  More details to follow.
  • October 15, 2020: Stated Communication.  Voting on proposed changes to the Denver Lodge #5 bylaws.  Dinner at 6:30 PM followed by lodge at 7:30 PM.

August 2020 Trestleboard

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Greetings from the East,

It was great to see several of you in person at our last stated communication!  After several months of being closed, Denver #5 met at the lodge for a stated communication on 7/16.  During the meeting we voted on reinstating one brother, elected a candidate to receive the degrees of masonry, and received two new petitions for membership.  Additionally, we voted to proceed with the first phase of scanning our historical records, heard a Master Mason proficiency, and received three proposed changes to our bylaws.

We will be voting on proposed changes to our bylaws at the stated communication on October 15, 2020.  If there are other proposed changes to the bylaws, they must be presented to the lodge at a stated communication no later than the stated communication on September 3, 2020.  This will allow for the required 30-day written notice before we conduct the vote on October 15, 2020.

At our next stated communication on August 6, 2020, we will be conducting a Fellowcraft Degree for three of our proficient Entered Apprentices.  We would love to have a great turn-out for the degree!  Please RSVP for dinner to Brother Sean Murphy, JW.  If you would like to participate in the degree, please email Brother Michael Rotert, SW.  We will have a practice for the degree on Wednesday, July 29 at 6:30 PM at the lodge.

I look forward to seeing everyone in lodge!

Fraternally,

Kevin Trabert

Worshipful Master

Denver Lodge #5 A.F. & A.M

 

Upcoming Events:

March 2020 Trestleboard

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Greetings from the East,

I want to congratulate Brothers Ray Mistery and Joshua Ruegsegger on being raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.  This is a monumental occasion in a mason’s life and an experience you’ll seldom forget.  After the degree work, I couldn’t help but think back to when I was raised and what the lessons of the third degree meant to me at the time.  Now, twenty years later, those same lessons seem to have a different, or perhaps, a deeper meaning.  The addition of two decades worth of life experience seems to make the masonic light shine brighter.  This shouldn’t be a surprise since we all know that with age comes wisdom.  However, it is a good reminder that every mason’s journey is unique and that even though we are all exposed to the same light, we will all see it slightly differently.  This diversity is healthy for the craft and helps to cement us together into that sacred band, or society of friends and brothers.

 

Fraternally,

Kevin Trabert, WM

Denver Lodge #5 A.F. & A.M

 

Calendar

At our first stated communication on March 5 WB Robert Danko will be presenting on lodge etiquette and his perspectives as a District Lecturer.  Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm followed by lodge opening at 7:30 pm.  Please RSVP to Brother Sean Murphy, JW.

 

During our second stated communication on March 19 we will be conferring the Fellow Craft degree for three brethren.  Please contact Brother Michael Rotert, SW to sign up for a specific part in the degree.  We will open the lodge at 5:30 pm, recess for dinner at 6:30 pm, and then begin degree work at 7:30 pm.  Please RSVP for dinner to Brother Sean Murphy, JW.

 

 

February 2020 Trestleboard

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Greetings from the East,

Congratulations brethren!  Your hard work and dedication to the fraternity this past year resulted in Denver Lodge #5 being selected as Lodge of the Year for 2019!  This is the first time we’ve been presented with this esteemed award.  I know we always do great work and will continue to do so in the future!

Last year Denver Lodge #5 voted to sponsor a DeMolay chapter in conjunction with Union Lodge #7.  Denver Chapter’s advisory council has been meeting with a group of young boys that are interested in DeMolay and will become the inaugural members of the chapter.  If you have sons, nephews, grandsons, etc. that are between the ages of 12-21, I encourage you to talk with them about DeMolay and get them to be part of Denver Chapter.  Additionally, we need more members of Denver Lodge #5 to become registered advisors for the chapter.  I know we are all busy, but the DeMolay boys need more advisors that are willing to come to their meetings or activities when available.  Also, you may find that you enjoy being around the boys and mentoring them in the masonic morals that we live our lives by.

How to register as a DeMolay Advisor:

  1. Go to https://escribe.demolay.org/signup-advisor
  2. Fill out the registration form.
    1. Under “Chapter Jurisdiction” choose “Colorado (06000)”.
    2. Under “Chapter” choose “Denver”.
  3. Once logged into eScribe, click on Education  Advisor Training.
  4. Complete all 6 training modules.
  5. Click on Registration  Adult Registration.
  6. Complete the registration including the Background Check and paying the background check fee.

We have a great month of Masonry planned for February.  At our first stated communication on February 6 our own WB Van-Troi Perozo will be guiding us through a discussion on the Kabbalah based on his extensive research on the subject.  Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm followed by lodge opening at 7:30 pm.  Please RSVP to Brother Sean Murphy, JW.

During our second stated communication on February 20 we will be conferring the Master Mason degree for two of our brethren.  I encourage all our members, especially our Past Masters, to attend this meeting and help with the degree work.  Please let me know if you’d like to do a specific part.  Given the length of the degree, we will open the lodge at 5:30 pm, recess for dinner at 6:30 pm, and then begin degree work at 7:30 pm.  Please RSVP to Brother Sean Murphy, JW.

On February 21st you and your families are invited to watch the DU Pioneers take on Miami (OH) at the DU Magness Arena.  Brother Jon Aderhold has graciously set this up for us again this year.  For tickets please visit click here and use promo code ONEDU. See the maps below for seats and parking location.

Fraternally,
Kevin Trabert, WM
Denver Lodge #5 A.F. & A.M

January 2020 Trestleboard

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Greetings brethren!  I am humbled and honored to have been elected to serve as your Worshipful Master for 2020.  We had a successful Installation of Officers on December 21, 2019 and I congratulate all the new officers and I look forward to working with you during this year as we continue the legacy of Denver Lodge #5 and Colorado Freemasonry.

Lodge is cancelled on January 2 due to the proximity to the New Year’s holiday.

Posting will resume on January 8, and continue Wednesdays at the Welton Masonic Temple at 6:30 pm.  Please reach out to Brother James Bechtel, JD if you have questions about posting. 

Our second stated communication will be on January 16; dinner at 6:30 pm and lodge will open at 7:30 pm.  Please RSVP to Brother Sean Murphy, JW.  During the meeting I will discuss my objectives and committee assignments for the year.  We will also discuss the proposed changes to the Book of Constitutions, install our Senior Deacon, and hear any proficiencies that are ready.

The 159th Annual Grand Lodge Communication will be held on January 23-25 at the Hotel Elegante in Colorado Springs.  The elected officers are required to attend and represent the lodge; however, all proficient Master Masons can attend.  Registration is available on the grand lodge website and is due by January 6.

The theme for this year is “D5 in 2020; a vision for the future”.  While fate provided me with a perfect play on words, it is an excellent reminder to all of us that there is a reason why Freemasonry has spanned multiple centuries and why we are members of Colorado’s oldest lodge.  Our “vision for the future” is one where the members of D5, with professionalism and elegance, set the bar across Colorado Freemasonry to ensure the legacy of our beloved fraternity.  I believe we can accomplish this vision through the following objectives:

  1. Establish enduring relationships within the fraternity and the Denver community.
  2. Maintain our high standards of work while extending our influence in the craft.
  3. Increase member participation at lodge events.
  4. Set the conditions necessary for the next generation of D5 members to continue our legacy.

In addition to our standing committees per the by-laws (Finance, Grievance, Memorial Funds, Scholarship & Education, and Masonic Temple Association) I am appointing special committees for the following topics:

  • Youth:  Continue implementing the sponsorship of Denver Chapter, Order of DeMolay (Objectives 1, 2, 4).
  • Membership & Posting:  Continue and expand our weekly Posting program and increase member participation at lodge events (Objective 3).
  • Visitation: Plan to visit other lodges throughout the year, establishing enduring relationships within the fraternity (Objectives 1, 2, 4).
  • Community Outreach:  Continue our participation and support to local charities (this year I’d like to focus on Veterans charities) and increase our public presence within the Denver community (Objectives 1 & 4).
  • Library, Archives & Antiquities:  Organize, catalog, and disseminate the archives of the lodge (Objective 4).
  • Rod & Gun Club:  Continue fraternal activities outside of stated communications and outside the walls of the lodge building (Objective 3).

I look forward to seeing everyone at our lodge events and spreading the brotherly love that unites us in this wonderful fraternity!

Kevin Trabert, WM

Denver Lodge #5 A.F. & A.M

October 2019 Trestleboard

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Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was initiated into our craft on May 24th, 1901, passed to the fellowcraft degree on March 5th, 1902, and raised soon afterwards.  His masonic values and dedication to the craft helped him throughout his career:  to be vocal, to give words of wisdom, and help those in need.  When he became Prime Minister, he gave his country and the entire world hope to fight.  He said, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;  courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

We had a successful meeting at Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus.  It was wonderful to see many brothers come and bond with our brothers at the Eastern Star Masonic Retirement Campus.  Congratulations to Brother Karthik Vankatraj on becoming proficient on the Entered Apprentice degree. Congratulations are also in order to Brothers Raymound Mistry and Joshua Ruegssegger on being passed to the FellowcraftDegree.

Our first Stated Communication on October 3rd will be a Joint Communication with Marquis de LaFayette #41. Please come and join us where brother Kartik Vankatraj will be receiving his fellowcraft degree.  Brother Kevin Trabert will be reaching out to the brothers who will be participating in the fellowcraftdegree.  Dinner will be at 6:30 PM and lodge will start at 7:30 PM.  Please RSVP with Brother Michael Rotert, J.W.

Our second Stated Communication on October 17th, it is my pleasure to inform you that our Grand Senior Warden, Michael Moore with be giving a presentation on the history of the WeltonMasonic Temple.  Dinner will be at 6:30 PM and lodge will open at 7:30 PM.   Please RSVP with Brother Michael Rotert, J.W.

Denver Lodge No. 5 officers will be having a officer’s meeting on Wednesday, October 23rd at 6:30 PM at the Welton Lodge.  Please RSVP to me, at ccurtisrobinson@yahoo.com.

SAVE THE DATE!!  Our heritage night will be Thursday, November 7th.  This meeting will be an open meeting (all are invited to attend).  Denver lodge no. 5 will be receiving our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Ralph Newby.  We will be celebrating our 160th anniversary!!  Brother Van Troi Perozowill be giving a historical lecture and a representative from the U.S. Mint will also be giving a presentation.  Dinner will be at 6:30 PM and lodge will start at 7:30 PM.  Please RSVP with Brother Michael Rotert, J.W.

Special prayers to Nick Raymond and his family and my father, C. Curtis Robinson II.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”  Winston Churchill

 

 

C. Curtis Robinson III, WM

Denver Lodge #5 A.F.&A.M.