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May-July 2009: THE GREENING OF THE TEMPLE
Over ten volunteers appeared on Saturday morning May 23rd to clean and weed the grounds of the Jefferson Masonic Temple, to construct cedar flower boxes
and plant evergreens in urns at the front door. Flowers planted in six 6-foot cedar boxes have been nurtured and watered during the past two months with the assistance of
Bros. Jim Pankiewicz, Frank Greenwich, Orineo Bolusan (all of King Oscar Lodge No. 855), John Orona, Jim McDermott (both of Hesperia Lodge No. 411),
Stanley Smith (Oriental Lodge No. 33). Divine rainy intervention, 'precipitously' unplanned, also cared for the plants' watery needs throughout much of the months of June and July.
Appearing on Saturday morning to labor under the hot sun and in the lodge utility room converted to carpenter's shop were:
Russ Johnson (KO), Frank Greenwich (KO), Jim McDermott (Hesp.), Jim Pankiewicz (KO), John Orona (Hesp.), Corky Geisting (Hesp.), Keyston Franklin (KO), John Eichler
(Paul Revere), John Eichler (Paul Revere) and Irineo Bolusan (KO). Have I missed anyone's contribution however small? Please email corrections and additions.
PRIMARY DONORS: BROS. JIM VOSS AND JOHN ORONA OF HESPERIA, JIM PANKIEWICZ AND LARRY ROSSA OF
KING OSCAR,AND STANLEY SMITH . Donations were also made by Bros. Joel McCloskey, John Eichler, Michael Fortunato, Rich Storto,
Jim McDermott, and Rick Taman. Bro. Smith also generously donated two urns and two small evergreens to contain them and to serve as 'living pillars' of sorts
beside the main entrance on the porch. Topsoil and fertilizer were supplied by Bro. Pankiewicz. Herbicide was supplied by Bro. John Eichler. Table saws and highly skilled hands were supplied by
Bros. Russ Johnson and Frank Greenwich.
Six 6-foot cedar flower planters of Bro. Russ Johnson's design and making were created with the assistance of the brethren - namely Bros. Greenwich and Smith while Bros.
Giesting, Franklin and Bolusan were primarily responsible for trimming the 'hedges' and removing weeds from the narrow side yard south of the lodge building. Bro.
Pankiewicz and others removed debris and rubbish on all sides of the building and all weekly water volunteers have volunteered to help keep this problem to a minimum.
Many thanks are due to all who donated funds and who assisted including lodge secretaries who passed the announcement forward. Over $400 was raised and all applied,
mainly for the cedar and the flowers themselves; the value of the urns, evergreens and soil is not known. The value of the volunteer time, community, and fellowship is priceless!
I'd like to suggest all lodges consider opening the doors and porch for smoking, especially on evenings when
air temperatures and the influx of outdoor air could only benefit those inside, permit us to enjoy those simple works of Creation which lie under our feet,
and improve the positive visibility of the Temple and Masons within the neighborhood.
WE CONSIDER THIS A BEGINNING AND PHASE I. Additional donations
in the future are hoped for in order to expand the project later this summer or in the spring of 2010. We hope to add flower boxes at ground level in front of the porch and additional flower boxes for windows on the front, north and south windows.
The facade has come alive! And adorned as it now is in this living and growing attire, the exterior of the building, alive as IT is inside with Masons and their good deeds and efforts,
now reflects this interior life to the those who pass by. During most of the time of each passing day and week, our buildings do, after all, present a primary visible face of Masonry to our neighbors and the world at large. And, we may hope, this improvement will present a more welcoming image to the general population and draw good men to step on the stairs of Masonry and join us at one of our dinners
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