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Fire Marshal?

Tough crowd tonight.  We had so many members trying to crowd into the room that the Fire Marshal came by to count heads.  If you missed this one, you missed a good one.  Several of the more known ball players stopped by to sign autographs and give a free-throw demonstration.  Wow!

There was a rousing discussion around the Kansas Masonic Military Affairs Partnership between Kansas Masons and Kansas State University.  Since we are all veterans, this cause should be near and dear to our hearts.  Military Affairs provide vital comprehensive services to current and former members of the military from Kansas, as well as their families. Formed in 2006, the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs has matured into a nationally recognized body of educational, research, and outreach services that impacts current and former military members and their families as they move into, through, and out of military services. The program has a specific focus, as it serves Kansas military and veteran communities, reaching 45,000 active duty and 223,000 veterans throughout the state of Kansas.  Our support for this program is another great way to put lodges at the center of their communities as a great place for our valuable veterans to seek assistance.

Next Sojourners meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at Pullman Place Family Restaurant, 230 Cherokee St, Leavenworth, KS. Gather at 6:00 pm, Dinner at 6:30 pm, Meeting at 7:00 pm. Brothers, you are encouraged to bring your lady. Meetings are usually over well before 8 pm.   Dinner is order-off-the-menu. Please let Brother Dick know you are coming so we have a seat available for you. But, please, if you say you are coming, come. Bring $US cash. The restaurant does not accept devil’s dollars (i.e. Euros).

Pirate hat.   Notice: TWO corners.

Tricorn hat – Three corners – Patriots not Pirates!

Admiral Vic Henke swung the gavel and the meeting began.  Vic was wearing his very nice tri-corn hat on the way to our meeting, but along the way  was apparently given the Jolly Roger by a local youth who thought he was a pirate.

It being the month of Valentine’s Day, each member and guest present was given a complete cardio scan and stress test.  Good idea, since we all needed to work off the steak and lobster special.  Dinner, treadmill and a shower. Everyone passed with flying colors.

Discussions included the Grand Lodge Annual Communication Flag detail in March.  Flag Building opportunities are coming up.  See our Flag Bulding page for more information.  Brother Vic closed the meeting with humor that left us all Jolly, Roger.

Next Sojourners meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at Pullman Place Family Restaurant, 230 Cherokee St, Leavenworth, KS. Gather at 6:00 pm, Dinner at 6:30 pm, Meeting at 7:00 pm. Brothers, you are encouraged to bring your lady. Meetings are usually over well before 8 pm.   Dinner is order-off-the-menu. Please let Brother Dick know you are coming so we have a seat available for you. But, please, if you say you are coming, come. Bring $US cash. The restaurant does not accept devil’s dollars (i.e. Euros).

“We’re having this meeting even if everyone in the entire chapter freezes their keister,” says President Vic Henke.  You’d think it was spoken like a true patriot who remembers the sacrifices of our brothers of the Revolutionary War who, in the biting cold of Valley Forge, the Delaware River, and Trenton did what they had to do so we could enjoy the freedoms we still enjoy today.  Not so.  He took off for the warmer climes of Texas.

If you’re trying to figure out where we went in December, we went to Mama Mia’s for dinner.  No business was conducted.  We therefore had a magnificent turn-out; over 20.  We also had a decent turn-out at our January meeting: We had a dozen, presided over by Bro. Dials.  We were thanked for our efforts to fund relief through MSANA in response to the devastating hurricanes this past autumn.

We decided to seek a student to sponsor to the Youth Conference at Freedoms Foundation Valley Forge. We’ll be working with JROTC units in the area to find the best candidate.  The conference runs July 5-8, 2018.  Cost is $460 plus transportation.  Chapter is working on a bake sale in Colorado in attempt to raise funds.

Next Sojourners meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at Pullman Place Family Restaurant, 230 Cherokee St, Leavenworth, KS. Gather at 6:00 pm, Dinner at 6:30 pm, Meeting at 7:00 pm. Brothers, you are encouraged to bring your lady. Meetings are usually over well before 8 pm.   Dinner is order-off-the-menu. Please let Brother Dick know you are coming so we have a seat available for you. But, please, if you say you are coming, come. Bring $US cash. The restaurant does not accept devil’s dollars (i.e. Euros).

October 4 Meeting (10-4)

President Vic Henke declared this meeting to be in honor of the Citizens Band since the date was 10-4.  Of course, he was referring to us Sojourners, the band of citizen-soldiers-Masons.

Important!!  The November gathering will not be a Sojourners meeting.  We will have a Heroes  of ’76® Encampment instead.  There has been a rustling in the bushes but we can not yet ascertain the cause.  We need to be ready to initiate if we find a lurker worthy of enlistment.
MUSTER!!  Formation will be 01NOV17, 1800 hours at Boughton Memorial Hall, 313 Kearney Ave., Fort Leavenworth.  Catered chow will be provided so bring $15 US and none of that Euro junk.  Dinner will probably be around $10.  Make sure you let Adjutant Wright know you are coming, but if you say you’re coming, be there.  You’re on the hook for the meal whether you show or not.

Next Sojourners meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at Pullman Place Family Restaurant, 230 Cherokee St, Leavenworth, KS. Gather at 6:00 pm, Dinner at 6:30 pm, Meeting at 7:00 pm. Brothers, you are encouraged to bring your lady. Meetings are usually over well before 8 pm.   Dinner is order-off-the-menu. Please let Brother Dick know you are coming so we have a seat available for you. But, please, if you say you are coming, come. Bring $US cash. The restaurant does not accept devil’s dollars (i.e. Euros).

President Henke declared September as Citizenship Month

Citizenship Day 2017, also referred to as Constitution Day, is a combined holiday observed annually on September 11. It is a day dedicated to commemorating the formation and signing of the Constitution of the United States on September 17, 1787 and is dedicated to all United States citizens. (More information)

Honoring the Constitution and grateful for the fabulous inheritance as American citizens, we decided to extend the holiday to all of September.  At our September meeting, with several Masonic politicians and high mucky-mucks present, Bro. Vic made the bold declaration.  It was unanimous in its adoption and immediately codified. September is Citizenship Month.  (Ed note. Natural and Adopted legal Americans should be grateful every day of the year.)

The rest of the meeting included a fine meal in the “upper room” and lot of great information and business was transacted.  We had only 5 available seats left, so it was a comfortably full house.  Flag Building season has slowed down.  The only one on the books is for May 8th, 2018.   We need more on the calendar if we are to fund our next student to Freedom’s Foundation at Valley Forge in July.  Heroes camp is still slated for November.  Relief funds were approved for the Texas disaster appeal from MSANA.

Flag Building Program was conducted at Pilgrim Community Church in Leavenworth on Sunday, July 30, 2017.  Pictured are Brothers Vic Henke and Herb Merrick with kids who witnessed the historical program.  Our Heroes of ’76® will present the program at your club or church.  Use our Contact page to begin the coordination.  More information is available about our Flag Building.

Leavenworth Ks. On a steamy July 5th evening, ye old Sojourners had powered wigs and dry powder for their muskets. 
As a final salute to America’s Independence Day celebration, Sojourners gathered at the Pullman in Leavenworth to fire cannons and toast the country’s birthday.  Only seven Sojourners were present so the 12 year old scotch went several times around the table.

For business, we put together Annual Reports for National HQ.   After several tongue-in-cheek responses, we realized that although our Freedom Fund is at 70% funded for a student scholarship to the Youth Leadership Conference, no students were nominated this year for the trip.  We need to do a better job at telling our story so we have a student nominee for next year.

Bro. Richard Schroder is our chapter’s 2017 nominee for Done the Most for Americanism for the Sojourner year.

PRIZES!  All members are automatically entered.   You need not be present to win (and you most certainly want to be present to ‘assist’ with the nominations).  All decisions are final.  Winners of the new year Officer positions are:
SOJOURNERS
President: Vic Henke
1st VP : Tom Dials
2nd VP : Rob LePrez
3rd VP:  Aaron Ewing
Secretary/Treasurer: Dick Wright

HEROES OF ’76
Commander: Herb Merrick
CoS: Tom Dials
ACoS: Vic Henke
OD: Rick Reichert
Adj: Dick Wright

Next meeting will be on Wednesday, August 2nd.  Stay tuned to this blog for updates for place and program of the evening.

Look for a Heroes of ’76® bivouac in September for the purpose of enlisting a recruit or two into the ranks of the Continental Army.

Brothers, Ladies, and Guests – We’ll be at Pullman’s, 230 Cherokee St, Leavenworth, KS 66048, for the July 5th meeting.  Gather at 6PM, Dinner at 6:30 PM with meeting to follow.  Bring $US cash. The Pullman does not accept devil’s dollars (i.e. Euros).  See you there.

Based on decisions made at the May Sojourner meeting, the 7 June meeting will be at the FAMILY BISTRO. The address is 227 Cherokee Ave, Leavenworth. It is across the street from Pullmans Restaurant.   We will meet at  1800  and order off the menu. The Family Bistro is closed on Wed night so we will have the entire place to ourselves. As in the past please let me know of your attendance so I can let them know the count.  We decide where we will meet on a recurring bases at this meeting.

Thanks,
Dick

April 5, 2017 – Ten of the indians gathered around the camp fire and swapped a lot of old tales while the roast reached its perfect doneness. After a fine repast and some after-dinner brandy, we got down to business.

Topics of importance covered during the brief moment while all were focused: Commitment of funds to send a worthy Cadet to Freedoms Foundation Valley Forge for the Youth Leadership Conference in July, 2 May JROTC Awards night at Leavenworth High School, Essay Contest at Patton Jr  Tuesday 2 May with daytime award ceremony, sickness and distress, and remembrance of our recently passed brother, Billy McAfee.

Next Sojourners meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at the Cafe, Abernathy Building, 1102 N 2nd St., Leavenworth, KS. Gather at 6:00 pm, Dinner at 6:30 pm, Meeting at 7:00 pm. Brothers, you are encouraged to bring your lady. Meetings are usually over well before 8 pm.   Dinner is $10 per person. Please let Brother Dick know you are coming so we have a meal ready for you. But, please, if you say you are coming, come. You are obligated to pay for the meal whether you show or not. Bring $US cash. The Cafe does not accept devil’s dollars (i.e. Euros).