Thursday 12-18-14 was the bi-annual Julie Ball memorial blood drive at Raytown Lodge 391. We have helped with this blood drive for several years now. It is held in honor of Dr. Julie Ball, who is the daughter of WB Gary Ball. Julie lost her battle with cancer several years ago. I was honored to have met her a few times before she passed away. Besides her laughter and humor, I remember her smile and bright eyes. Julie was a huge supporter of the Community Blood Bank and these blood drives are held in her honor. This year started out very “iffy”. The day started out with snow on the ground and just a little more falling. Julie started to smile on us all and the day warmed up enough, the ground did not get below freezing and by 11:00 the roads and parking lots were clear and easy to drive on. The blood drive would continue as planned. We were able to collect 22 units of donated blood Thursday. While we always wish for more donations, that is 22 people in need of donations that can be helped. That is 22 units of blood more than what was on hand when we woke up Thursday morning. Many thanks to the Community Blood Center and WB Gary Ball for keeping the memory and legacy of Julie alive! Raytown Lodge #391 looks forward to many more successful blood drives in Julie’s memory.
Monthly Archives: December 2014
Please visit the Trestleboard page for a message from Worshipful Master Tom Saccardi.
Stanton Brown
Please keep the Brown Family in your thoughts and prayers. RWB Stanton Brown, Grand Lecturer Emeritus passed away last night (12-18-14). He was a great man and better friend. We have all lost something by his passing. Our lives were made better by knowing him. All out thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. … remembering that we are traveling upon the Level of Time, to that undiscovered country, from whose born no traveler returns…….
Message From the Worshipful Master
Masonic Brothers, Friends and Families- It is the holiday season and it is time for all of us to look back on the past year. We all have many things to be thankful for. We have had many opportunities to talk and laugh with friends and families. We can look forward to seeing family in the next few weeks. On a personal note, I am thankful to have had the past few months to be Worshipful Master of our Lodge. I was overwhelmed with the faith and trust that was given to me early this summer when our election was held. I had a difficult time staying focused on everything I had to say at installation, and I am excited, and still in awe, at every meeting to have the honor to sit in the East. It still seems like a dream. We are trying to improve our communication with our brothers. We have many Brothers who do not attend Lodge regularly. Some have moved away, some are sick and can’t make it and others simply have busy lives that keep them away. I hope that by using this web page, we can get more information out more easily. We have several events coming up in 2015. Feel free to look at the calendar to see what we have planned. It is looking to be a busy year for us all. I wish I could talk with each and every one of my Brothers and say Happy Holidays. I wish everyone a safe, happy and healthy Holiday season. Above all, I wish 2015 to be much better than 2014 has been for us all. May the Heavenly Father look down on our works here on earth and smile upon us all. May Brotherly love prevail and every moral and social virtue cement us. Tom Saccardi
Raytown Lodge is hosting a blood drive this Thursday, December 18th, from 2:00 to 6:30pm. Blood is in short supply going into the holidays and your donation can help save a life. Please help support the effort by stopping by the lodge to donate! Thank you to WB Gary Ball for coordinating this important event.