One down. Since the lodge saw fit to have me continue as secretary a 2nd year, I guess I can now say "one down". I enjoyed this past year, serving as your secretary. Through handling dues cards and correspondences I got to know our members better.

These newsletters are meant to update and inform. But we are bringing our lodge into the 21st century by offering other means of communication. Please send me your email address and you will be put on the email mailing list. Correspondences concerning meetings, degree work, funerals, etc. go out weekly. Do you use Facebook? Our lodge has its own Facebook page as does the Grand Lodge of NC. Members are free to post announcements and comments. Just do a search for Cannon Memorial Masonic Lodge No. 626.

We have not kept track of the widows of our deceased members. I will be working throughout the year to gather the names of every living widow we have so that we can do special mailings and events. We would like to invite them and their families to our Ladies Night Banquet and remember "our special ladies" during the holidays. Please help me. If you know of a widow of one of our members, please let me know. My efforts will be going back through the necrology reports and calling the last known residence. But the records go back just so far and I do NOT want to leave any lady off the list so please contact me if you know of a member�s widow.

I look forward to serving you for another year.

Fraternally Submitted,

I would like to share an experience I had last January as the new secretary of the lodge. I went to the post office after hours to check our PO Box and I was the only one there. The corridor was half lit and the only sound was a lonely train whistle far in the distance. Very quietly I opened Box 683 and found one envelope. I don't remember the brother and as you'll read, I don't feel that is important. I opened the envelop in silence and found a check for thirty dollars. It made me realize how quietly we all give. I thought of the Masonic Children's Home at Oxford and my visit last winter. A homeless woman pulled up with three little kids and a new born infant. She explained to the director that she and her children had been living in her car for six weeks. She asked that the Home take in her new born for she feared it would die otherwise. They, of course, did. Part of that $30 check goes towards that type of charity. Quietly, brothers, quietly. I thought of years back when I was getting coached in Fred Carter's garage and his older Masonic neighbor stopped by for Masonic words and perhaps a taste of ice cream. Years later I saw that brother when I visited Whitestone Community, the Masonic Eastern Star Home. Some of that $30 goes towards those charities. Quietly brothers, quietly. And I thought of standing on stage at AL Brown high school and handing a plaque to our teary eyed scholarship winner. That $30 goes towards investment in our youth. Quietly brothers, quietly. We don't look for our name in the paper or a key to the city or any awards; we just give from the heart, Masonicly. As quiet as it is, please know that someone on this end of the mailbox respects what you do and what you give. Thank you.