Prophets,
It is that beautiful time of year when the rain has turned the hills green again; the misty dew has refreshed the air and made us feel crisp and clean; and the spirit of the wind has blown the fallen leaves away and started life anew with tree blossoms and hope for new life in the year to come. The lawn mowers are buzzing and the children are playing. How sweet it is to be in Southern California in the springtime.
For the Grotto, this is a time of renewal as well; it is the time for us to start new life again; to bring in new members and reinvigorate our membership and forecast our future. As prophets by definition we are visionaries. So let us look to the future and find those few good men worthy of our order. Fear not the naysayers for “they know not what they do”. We know the benefits of Sympathy and Good fellowship. This is your charge to go online and share our passion. Talk to your Masonic brethren and invite them to join our order, “compassionate their miseries and restore peace to their troubled minds”. It is our duty as the social arm of masonry to reach out, embrace and share the joy and happiness of the Grotto to the masonic world.
As you know, our annual ceremonial will be on April 28th. Practice will be at/or immediately following our April meeting on the 20th. We need your help. I cannot recruit alone and our Chief Justice Donald Gipson cannot conduct the ceremonial by himself. Let’s have fun and “cause true friendship to exist among those who might otherwise have remained at a perceptual distance”. Did you know that Supreme (Grotto HQ) rewards you for bringing in even one member? That to form you own unit it takes only 6 prophets and you will be rewarded with $500. How great is that? When brethren ask me what is the Grotto, I say to them that there has never been a meeting where I have not laughed and felt better about myself and closer to my prophet brethren.
In January we planned our year, in February we celebrated the Chinese New Year, in March we were treated to a Leprechaun initiation, in April we practice and conduct the most unique and celebrated ceremonial in Masonic Tradition. Here’s what is in store for the rest of the year…
18 May – Dave Taylor will be acting Monarch. It is the month of May Day and flowers. Try to bring Dave a flower. He will smell so good!
15 Jun – Cigars and Scotch after Meeting – Gary Sturm
16 Jun – Magic Castle Houdini Room – Michael Schneider/Dave Taylor
14 Jul – UCP BBQ1 – Donald Gipson
20 Jul – Monte Carlo Night after Meeting – (Mystery Prophet)
17 Aug – Donald Gipson Acting Monarch – Karaoke
18 Aug – UCP BBQ2 – Donald Gipson
17 Sep – Ceremonial Practice Meeting (Ceremonial TBD by Ritual Director)
19 Oct – Dave Taylor Acting Monarch – Annual Halloween Costume Competition
27 Oct – WGA Convention – Laughlin, NV
16 Nov – Elections
1 Dec – Cinema Grotto Installation
Dec – UCP Caroling (TBD by Chief Justice)
Laugh and feel better about yourself!
Fez, Shirts and Quarters required at all meetings!
Stay Thirsty Prophets,
Michael Schneider
Monarch – Cinema Grotto 2018