PROCEEDINGS GRAND LODGE - Freemasons of Wisconsin

Veteran’s Hospital Visitations:As a former military man, it was a pleasure for me to be able to visit all four of ourVeteran’s Hospitals. I had the good fortune to visit not only some of the veterans, butalso members of our fraternity in the hospitals. Many thanks to Most WorshipfulPast Grand Master Beacher Daniels for his involvement in finding the spark plugsthat created the Masonic Volunteer Program at each of the hospitals. I had the honorto address the Masonic volunteers from each of the hospitals at their volunteerrecognition banquet. Some of the volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours,giving of their time in helping our veterans, and I commend all of them for givingof their precious time.Boards, Committees, and Foundations:The men and ladies who served on these special boards, committees carried outtheir important duties that directly impact Freemasonry. They were responsible forassignments that required a lot of personal commitment, and I would like to thankthem for efforts.Grand Masters Achievement Award:I extended the Grand Masters Achievement Award last June to cover my term asGrand Master. I have always felt that this award should be presented to the lodgesthat qualify in the Grand Masters year, and not the calendar year. By having bothlast year and this years Masters working together to attain points, I feel creates alodge team effort, rather than an individual award. It is also one of the best planningtools for lodges to use in setting up there calendar year. This year we had 78 lodgesqualify and I believe it is the most we have had since we started the Award.Wisconsin Masonic Soccer Foundation:This year we were fortunate to have Nancy Storrs, the wife of our District Deputy,Pat Storrs, as our new Soccer Foundation Chairperson. She has some great ideas onhow to get more visibility in our communities. The games for 2005 went off great,and 72 young athletes were able to find out about our great fraternity and itscharities. I would like to thank Nancy and her dedicated staff for their continuedefforts and dedication to the Soccer Foundation.Wisconsin Masonic Foundation:In 2005 they awarded 257 scholarships, totaling $220,700 with 148 Lodgesparticipating. A special named fund, called the Wilson & Edna C. Woods ScholarshipFund is being distributed annually to graduating seniors at Beaver Dam HighSchool.Through the Foundation, the Fraternity was presented with the opportunity toname the brand new ACE of Hearts Cardiac Wing by making a contribution of$650,000 from the Diagnostic and Treatment Center Fund.In October 2005, $105,104.00 was give to the Milwaukee School District for thepurchase of 117 Automatic External Defibrillators for high schools, middle schools,and elementary schools in Milwaukee.There were 35 Medical Matching Grants to purchase 42 defibrillators for otherschools and community buildings thought the state of Wisconsin.Three Pillars Wisconsin Masonic Retirement Community:What a year they had down at your Masonic Campus! In July 2005, they20