WOW!! What a year. We haven’t been standing still. During 2006, we have been active but not always in public view. We have to work on that.

Our first outing began last December as Prudence Lodge and other Masonic bodies gathered in the Bingham Lake Community Center for the all Masonic Christmas Party. We collected items for the local Minnesota Nice chapter. Minnesota Nice sends boxes of goodies to service men, mostly in Iraq. They meet in the Lodge basement. We had a great turnout with an excellent meal catered by One Way of Mountain Lake.

January we installed new officers at an open ceremony. Members came forward to fill the chairs. Many spouses and guests attended the supper and ceremony

February we began planning for our first KIDS ID outing at the Cottonwood Farm & Home Show at the high school in Windom. We booth sported a new banner identifying Prudence Lodge and what we were doing. We had enough brothers to run a couple of shifts, photographing and finger printing 120+ kids.

March was busy. The stated communication began with a table lodge with Grand Lodge providing the toasting cannons. Turn out was down due to a typical March snowstorm. Maybe 2007 weather will be kinder. Our KIDS ID booth was active again at the Jackson Farm & Home Show at the Agco Learning site in Jackson Industrial Park. We could have used a couple more brothers for finger printing and paperwork. Again, we photographed 100+ kids. Scholarship committee began working to notify area schools of the Masonic Scholarships available.

During April, WB Duane Pigeon received the Hiram Award and presented by Grand Master Steven Johnson at a special get together at the Eagles in Windom. We also had a decent turnout for our annual battle with the Odd Fellows of Windom for cribbage supremacy. Some played hard and won a few battles while others visited on the sidelines. WB's Kjell Turner and Al Peterson lead the brothers providing help for the Windom Area Hospital fundraiser at the Eagles. It was a cold wet day. Grand Lodge had three representatives attend the proceedings, WM Fred Benson, SW Steve McClune and JW Bob O’Connor. We began remodeling the lower portion of the Lodge building for our new tenants???. They moved in, June??? We finished the month walking the road ditch north of town with supper provided by Mike Simon and his lady Marlene.

May wasn’t near as busy. We held our first, hopefully annual Outdoor Lodge near the Red Rock Quarry, north of Bingham Lake. The weather was very kind and Brother Mike Simon who allowed us to use this wonderful location for the outdoor lodge even took care of the bugs. There were four southwest Minnesota lodges attending the picnic supper and lodge. We also participated in the third KIDS ID program. This time at the Jackson Resource Center in Jackson for the Family Services Network. We ID’ed 80+ kids. We could rival Grand Lodge at the Minnesota State Fair KIDS ID booth over 300 kids. June brought our annual sponsorship for the Riverfest Cribbage Tournament held at the Lodge Hall. There were 30 contestants. We finished cleaning the lower level the day before our new tenants moved.

July Prudence Lodge hosted the SW Minnesota Masonic Leadership meeting. This day long event brought many different lodges together, exchanging ideas with speakers from around the state. PGM Neil Nedemeyer, don’t remember the second guy, District Reps, Maynard Townswick and Ray Randall and Grant Lillevold – title(s)??? We can be very thankful our brothers purchased air conditioning as many brothers from other lodges do not have it as comfortable.

August came fast and we did not slow down as we had the Annual Sweet Corn feed at Island Park, another very good turnout from all the Masonic bodies. At our stated communications in August PGM Neil Nedemeyer surprised us, thanking us for hosting the leadership conference. During a short presentation, he challenged us to do four different types of work Masonic, Fiscal, Community and Spiritual. What type of work do we do? Do we do one, two, three or all four types of work in our daily lives?

September brought us the First Annual Masonic Day at the Minnesota Gopher’s football game. This year they defeated the Temple Owls. The Gophers were fantastic and Masons had an opportunity to demonstrate Masonic pride and offer support for service member’s families. Again, we walked our two miles of road ditch, we can always use more brothers and Mike & Marlene Simon fed us again.

As you see buy the dates below we have a full final quarter of the year. Please take note of November 9. We are planning a Guest Night, inviting prospective member and their spouses to an informational meeting on Masonry. If you have a prospect, invite them to attend and join them at the meeting. We are working with Grand Lodge for a speaker.

October 19, 2006 6:30 p.m. supper and 7:30 p.m. Lodge. Supper by Al Peterson / October Stated Communication at Prudence Lodge #97 Windom

November 9, 2006 6:30 p.m. supper and 7: 30 p.m. program. Guest Night with Speaker Prudence Lodge #97 Windom

November 16, 2006 6:30 p.m. supper and 7:30 p.m. Lodge. Supper by Senior Warden / Past Masters Night - Stated Communication at Prudence Lodge #97 Windom

December 7, 2006 7:30 p.m. Informal Meeting @ Prudence Lodge #97 Windom

December 8, 2006 6:30 p.m. All Masonic Christmas Party Senior Citizens Center Bingham Lake

December 10, 2006 1:30 p.m. Christmas visitations while delivering Poinsettias to shut-ins and recent widows at various locations.

December 21, 2006 6:30 p.m. supper and 7:30 p.m. Lodge. Supper by Bob O'Connor / Stated Communication Election of Officers Prudence Lodge #97 Windom

December 27, 2006 6:00 p.m. St Johns Potluck Diner / Open Installation of Officers / Widows Recognition Prudence Lodge # 97

I invite everyone to come to Lodge and be part of what we as Mason’s in Cottonwood and Jackson Counties have to offer whether you remember the opening or closing. There are many activities to attend and participate in during 2007. Come and join us. Reestablish old Masonic acquaintances and make new ones. Come join your brothers, see what we are doing and enjoy being a Mason. We are brothers with purpose!