MARCH 2008

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#3300FF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>VAN ZOR GROTTO</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="VAN ZOR GROTTO"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id60.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="OCTOBER 2008"><U>OCTOBER 2008</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SEPTEMBER 2008"><U>SEPTEMBER 2008</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id58.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="JUNE 2008 "><U>JUNE 2008 </U></A>   |   <A HREF="id62.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="APRIL 2008"><U>APRIL 2008</U></A>   |   <B>MARCH 2008</B>   |   <A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FEBRUARY 2008"><U>FEBRUARY 2008</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FF0000" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Other Grottos or Craft Lodges that would like to have their events included in our events page or publications please forward them to our editor</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#00FF00" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>MARCH 2008</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>MONARCH'S  REPORT</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Greetings Prophets:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>For those of you who were able to attend out last meeting I trust that you enjoyed yourselves and renewed your faith in the Officers who conferred the degree of Prophet on our newest member Prophet Salbu.  We welcome him into our midst and hope that you find as much Friendship and Good Fellowship in the Grotto as the rest of us enjoy. To the Officers who took a part in the Ceremony of Initiation my congratulations to you on a job well done!  Now that we have a new member I would hope that we can attract more members.  I am positive that we all know someone who would be a good member for Grotto and I charge you to pursue that matter.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Our day at the Races or day to feed the horses is soon going to be upon us.  My most sincere thanks go to Past Monarch Joe Cassidy who has undertaken the task of selling the tickets.  He has put in a lot of effort in doing this duty and I hope that his efforts do not go unrewarded.  If you do not have your tickets or if you know of someone who would like to attend please contact Joe</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Another event that is in the planning is by our Past Monarch Harry Keith and his good lady Daphne.  It is a cruise in Vancouver harbour and elsewhere.  It would be a 3 hour cruise with a banquet on board ship.  I have myself taken one of these cruises and it is worth every penny spent.  We would likely have it in either late August or early September depending on what the members wish.  Hopefully we will be able to discuss this at our next meeting.  Time is always short on booking these events and we do not want to wait too long!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I must also give my thanks to the Ladies of the Grotto who presented us a cheque in the amount of </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>$1,000.00</B></FONT><B> at our last meeting.  These ladies work so hard for their efforts to help us and we are ever grateful.  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>THANK YOU LADIES!</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Our Champagne Brunch is coming up and will be held at the Marpole Masonic Hall.  If you have anything that you can give to Past Monarch Ed Taychuk I know that he will be ever grateful.  Please try to help him out in his efforts as this is one of our major fund raisers.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I look forward to seeing you at our next meeting and trust that everyone is in good health.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>                                                          Yours in Good Fellowship,</B></div> <div> <B>                                                           Robert McSween, Monarch</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>CHIEF JUSTICE REPORT</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Greetings Prophets:</B></div> <div> <B>The Monarch's Ball was held on March 1, 2008, I would like to thank everyone that was in attendance.  I would also like to give a special thanks to Bob Black for making our Grand Master a Prophet on Site and to all those who put in so much time and effort to the hospitality room, especially our Ladies.  The races are coming up on March 16</B><B>th</B><B>, but if you haven't gotten tickets yet you may be out of luck, check with Joe Cassidy if you are looking to go.  The Champagne Brunch will be held on April 25, 2008 at the Marpole Masonic Hall, I have lots of tickets still available at $25.00 each.  Let me know if you are interested:</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF00CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:freemason@freecomputer.ca" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:freemason@freecomputer.ca"><U><B><U>freemason@freecomputer.ca</U></B></U></A><B>.</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT><B>Congratulations to Bob & Eileen McSween on the birth of their first</B><B> grandchild</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>COMING EVENTS:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mar 11     Van Zor reg. meeting</B></div> <div> <B>Mar 16     “Day at the Races” tickets on sale soon - cut-off date Feb16th</B></div> <div> <B>Mar 29     Gul Reazee (CityplacePortland) Monarch's Ball see hand out or web-site for info</B></div> <div> <B>Apr 20       "Champagne Brunch" PM Ed Taychuk has them on sale now 604-433-9600</B></div> <div> <B>Jul 17       to July 19 NWGA Convention in Richmond BC </B><B> </B><B>        </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>                                                                                   </B><B>Yours in Good Fellowship,</B></div> <div> <B>                                                                                   Prophet Sam Elkabanny, Chief Justice</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>SECRETARY'S DESK:</U></B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><U>CHAPLAIN'S REPORT:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> T<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3300FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>here are several down with winter type problems such as the flu and colds, the winter blahs will soon be gone with the days getting longer and being able to get out in the garden and fresh air.</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>PM Thompson is recovering from a very painful pinched nerve in his neck. While under heavy medication he bought his wife a large diamond ring, and he is still scratching his head over what happened, so beware bros. watch that medication.</B></div> <div> <B>                                                                                                                        Yours fraternally,</B></div> <div> <B>                           PM John M James, Chaplain</B></div> <div> <B><U>TREASURER'S  REPORT:</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Pyramid attendance draw is now</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>$48.50</B><B> </B></FONT><B>to the lucky Prophet who is in attendance at the next</B></div> <div> <B>meeting when his name is drawn.                         Yours fraternally,</B></div> <div> <B>PM Ron Stunden, Treas.</B></div> <div> <B><U>From your editor:</U></B></div> <div> <B>This is the 86</B><B>th</B><B> Yapper & Flapper since I started as your Editor Nov of 1999, time flies when you hang around with floozies I guess.</B></div> <div> <B>The Monarch & Officer's Ball has come and gone and a good time was had by all. Welcome to our newest Prophet, MW Grand Master, Stephen Godfrey and his dear Lady Chris. The “Prophet At Sight” ceremony is always a moving experience for both the recipient and those there to witness it, and so it was this time. The Grand Master, always a great speaker was in wonderful form on this occasion, thank you MW Bro. for your words of wit and wisdom.</B></div> <div> <B>The tickets for the “Day at the Races” are sold out (in fact over sold) thank you PM Joe Cassidy for all your help, It would have been difficult without your hustle & bustle.</B></div> <div> <B>Prophet Sam Elkabanny did a masterful job bringing in a table full of guest with him (two being brand new Master Masons from Mt Lebanon) and thanks to him & PM Al Barry, three future members signed petitions, time for another initiation ceremony.</B></div> <div> <B>Welcome to Valentin Slabu and his lady, this was their first Grotto gala and thank you to PM John Doty of Gul Reasee Grotto for making them feel a part of this event by hosting them at his table.</B></div> <div> <B>I am somewhat prejudice on this one but I think we had one of the best pipers in the name of Andy Perrie, piping in our head table. Andy (and his wife) & I are connected through other organizations and are both retired Vancouver Police members. Andy is still very involved with the Vancouver Police Pipe Band.</B></div> <div> <B>Please find enclosed, two forms dealing with the NWGA convention, Lois & Ed Taychuk are dealing with this event and they ask that you forward your completed forms to them as early as possible. This will be a big help in the planning of this event.</B></div> <div> <B>I will make a motion at the next regular meeting that plans for the place of the Monarch & Officer's ball be completed by the end of October each year. This will allow for time to do all the behind the scenes planning, printing and advertising that has to go out for a successful event.</B></div> <div> <B>Food for thought: this is only a thought for consideration and to stimulate other ideas out there, if any, or leave thing as they are. As you know we have a large number of members that either will not or can not drive at night, the McLeans and Nordans to name a few. Should we consider day time meetings, perhaps on a Sunday afternoon or some other time? Or will this create other problems such as Church or and family conflicts? Think about it and let's have your Ideas.</B></div> <div> <B>The last thing that I would like to pass by you is, in order to cut down on mail out costs, would those that have computers care to receive the complete Yapper, Flapper and the enclosed ads and information via E-mail. I can see this saving thirty percent or more in our mailing costs and I could include some photos etc. As it is, there is not enough room for photos and they do not reproduce well on the black & white copier.</B></div> <div> <B>Jenifer Elkabanny is getting close to her time and she looks great. This is her first time down this path and when I come to think of it will be the first time in a long time that this has happened to Van Zor lady member, I hope it's a boy or a girl, good luck from the guys Jen. </B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3300FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>DON'T FORGET THE </B></FONT><B> MARCH 11</B><B>th</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#3300FF" FACE="Arial" ><B> MEETING IS AT 7:30 PM</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>There was </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>$39.50 </U></B></FONT><B>in the </B><B><U>Pyramid</U></B><B><U> </U></B><B><U>draw</U></B></div> <div> <B>  </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>George JOLL</B><B><U>Y'S</U></B></FONT><B> </B><B>name was called</B></div> <div> <B>!!! AND HE WAS NOT THERE AND HE DID NOT WIN !!!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Grant Thompson - E-mail  <tugger@telus.net></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Have a</B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Wingdings" ><B>J</B></FONT><B> day</B></div> <div> <B>VISIT YOUR WEB SITE  </B>< www3.telus.net/vanzorgrotto ></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>Words of Wisdom:</U></B></FONT><B> </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Business conventions are important because they demonstrate how many people a company can operate without. </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>