Events 2 – Sir Winston Churchill Lodge 351

Churchill (SWC) events are Blue and Black. Shrine events are in Dark Red. Special Events are in Green.

Upcoming Events

Metro West Training – Sat, Jul 30

Metro West Leaders will gather on Saturday, July 30 for a seminar and reception, allowing officers and volunteers to meet one another and share ideas. The event is required for the three principal officers of the lodge, but many others will attend, too. This year’s session will be held at the Zuhrah Shrine center, utilizing their hosting facilities, at 6120 Blue Circle Drive, Minnetonka, MN 55343. Registration begins at 8:30AM, the program begins at 9AM, and should wrap by 1PM. Food (BBQ) and libations will be provided. We hope you help us make this a success.

Register on the Grand Lodge website or your Grandview page, or by writing to organizer, Mike Hill, at wolfinn@midco.net

SWC Breakfast – THURSDAY, Aug 4, 2022

Join the brethren for breakfast if you can, at 7AM on the first Thursday of each month, at Perkins near Hwy 494 and France. See WB Ramsour with questions.

Shrine Chairmen Meeting – Wednesday, Aug 10, 2022

Thankfully, about the same time you are hankerin’ for a cigar, the Chairmen like to meet up for our monthly board meeting. All are welcome. As usual, very important decisions will be made. Harumph. We’ll meet for dinner and our normal smoker, at Jax Cafe, at 7PM unless we’ve sent a meeting location change – look for it. Being the gentleman that you are, please RSVP through our CIO, Steve Miller if you plan to go. We’ll look for you. Questions? See Nels Peterson, yer CEO.

SWC August Stated Meeting – THURSDAY, Aug. 11, 2022

Our August 11th meeting, on a THURSDAY this month, will be held at the home of WB Scott Hughes, at 4925 Girard Avenue No., Minneapolis, MN. [Note this was a change, from the previously announced date and location.] The normal schedule will apply; gathering at 6PM with the meeting beginning at 7:00PM SHARPLY. Dress is business casual. Brethren, please RSVP with the Secretary. A meeting invitation and treasurer’s report will be distributed electronically. We look forward to relaxing around the fire pit and a philosophical discussion, a popular feature of our meetings, on the following subject:

Lodge Ed Topic: Cryptocurrency

Shrine Midwest – Aug 17-20, 2022

Zuhrah is pleased to send our best units to compete at the Midwest Shrine gathering this year, hosted by Beja Shrine of Green Bay, Wisconsin. To be held August 17-20, 2022, parade units will vie for top honors in their categories. In the evening, several hospitality suites will keep the visiting nobles entertained. Many Churchill Lodge and Chairmen members will be in attendence.

Please let our CIO, Steve Miller, know if you want to get involved

Here’s Zuhrah’s website.

Scottish Rite Rush – Thursday, Aug 18, 2022

Interested in the Scottish Rite? Join us for a BBQ at the Minneapolis temple at 2011 Dupont Avenue So, in Minneapolis. Members will be on hand to provide tours, and to provide an introduction into “The College of Masonry”. The open house runs from 5PM to 9PM. Look for us at the big red Masonic building, looks like a church, at Franklin and Dupont Ave., entering on the parking lot side of the building. The start of our Fall degree cycle is just two weeks away, with degrees held on Thursdays.

Ours is one of only five valleys in the country where all 29 degrees are performed in full costume and effects, and we offer this treasure twice per year. In case you hadn’t heard, petition fees for the degrees are just $395. This includes at least 15 meals, and two books. A Scottish Rite ring and hat is optional.

Contact the Rite secretary, Ken Hill, at (612) 871-1500 for more information, or speak with MWB Jackson or MWB Gann. Visit their website (here) for a petition a to join. Their website also has loads of material about the Scottish Rite, often called the college of Masonry for its deeper dive into those Masonic principles first introduced in the first three degrees of Freemasonry. Scottish Rite degrees allow time for group discussion on how ideals have impacted many good and great men in history, weaving our impact into the Enlightenment and Western Civilization itself. Come join the conversation!

Scottish Rite Orientation – Thursday, Aug 25, 2022

Orientation is tonight for all Masons interested in joining the Scottish Rite here in Minneapolis at 6PM. Look for us at the big red Masonic building (looks like a church) at Franklin and Dupont Ave., entering on the parking lot side of the building. The start of our Fall degree cycle is just one week away, with degrees held on Thursdays.

Contact the Rite secretary, Ken Hill, at (612) 871-1500 for more information. Visit their website (here) for a petition a to join. The website also has loads of material you may read about the Scottish Rite, often called the college of Masonry for its deeper dive into those Masonic principles first introduced in the first three degrees of Freemasonry. Scottish Rite degrees allow time for group discussion on how these ideals have impacted many good and great men in history, weaving our impact into the Enlightenment and Western Civilization itself. Come join the conversation!

SWC September Meeting – Friday, Sept. 16, 2022

Our September 16th meeting will be held at the home of MWB Thomas Jackson, 431 Post Road, Lino Lakes, MN. The home is 12 minutes north of 694 in regular traffic. The normal schedule will apply; gathering at 6PM with the meeting beginning at 7:00PM SHARPLY. Though the meeting will be in September, an Oktoberfest Dinner will be served afterward, following Tom’s pattern of the past eight years. (In Germany, Oktoberfest runs from mid-Sept to mid-Oct.) Please RSVP with the Secretary. A Summons and Minutes will be distributed electronically. The September meeting is normally when we begin to discuss next year’s budget, which is on the agenda. Finally, we look forward to a philosophical discussion on the following topic:

Topic will be posted shortly

2022 Churchill Mtg dates

Most meetings are the Third Friday of each month, 6PM social hour, 7PM gavel, dinner by 8:30PM. We’ll have events all 12 months of the year, almost always “Stated” (~for business) and at least one will be at a lodge hall (Annual Mtg). These dates and locations are all subject to dispensation. Guests are warmly welcomed to attend. All meetings will include our normal philosophical discussions, passing of the charitable hat, correspondence and quick business. SWC meetings will be paired with high quality dinners and terrific fellowship.

Pending dispensation, here are the scheduled meeting dates for 2022:

Jan 21 – Stated (Minnesota Work) at Tim Jirak’s home in Plymouth

Feb 18 – Stated (Minnesota Work) at Jason Berger’s Party Room, in Edina

Mar 18 – Stated (Minnesota Work) at Tim Jirak’s home in Plymouth

April 8-9 – Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, at the Waite Park Event Center

April 12 – Lynnhurst Turkey Dinner, held at Lost Spur Supper Club, 5PM social, 6:30 dinner.

Apr 15 – Zoom meeting, 6PM. Meeting instructions sent on request, ask tom (at) pro-activemktg.com

May 26 – THURSDAY – Stated (Minnesota Work) at Paul Ramsour’s home in Prior Lake

Jun 18 – SATURDAY – Stated (Minnesota Work) at Ted Martz’ home in Burnsville. Special Time: 5PM (Subject to change), a picnic planned immediately thereafter was cancelled.

July 1-7 – Shrine Imperial, here in Minneapolis

July 14 – dark, due to proximity to Shrine Imperial and the month’s parade schedule

Aug 11 – THURSDAY – Stated (Minnesota Work) at Scott Hughes’ home in Minneapolis.

Aug 17-20 – Midwest Shrine – in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Sept 16 – back to Friday – Stated (Minnesota Work) at MWB Jackson’s home (Oktoberfest! -Traditionally celebrated from Sept 15 to Oct 15.)

Oct 21 – Stated (Minnesota Work) at the home of WM Clif Bailey in Lakeville.

Nov 29 – TUESDAY – Stated, Annual Meeting (Minnesota Work) at Lake Harriet Lodge Hall (Elections and a Table Lodge to celebrate Churchill’s birthday.)

Dec 16 – Stated (Minnesota Work) at the home of Tim Jirak in Plymouth. Holiday meeting and installation.

Additional dates: on the first Thursday of the month, Clif wants to continue a tradition started by WB Ramsour, of meeting at Perkins at 494 and France for breakfast (or another location as announced.) This year, plan for it, 7AM start, on the first Thursdays except for the month of January. See you on: Feb 3, Mar 3, Apr 7, May 5, Jun 2, Jul 7, Aug 4, Sept 1, Oct 6, Nov 3, and Dec 1.

Churchill’s death is remembered each year on Jan 24, noting that somber day came in 1965. His birthday is celebrated on November 29 or 30, as the calendar allows. We look forward to renewing our annual remembrance of our patron’s birth, missed recently.

So, mark your calendars, gentlemen. We’ve avoided some Fridays in the summer so as not to conflict with your cabin plans. And let us know if you can host! Huzzah!

Instructions

Addresses, meeting notes, minutes and last-minute changes will be on the website.

What could make these date change? As British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan said, “Events, my boy, events!” We anticipate opportunities will come up, and will look to make the most of them.

What to wear? Dress appropriate to the weather, certainly. A sportcoat for winter, spring and fall meetings will mark you as a man of distinction and style. Wear a black suit for Grand Lodge, Emulation Degree performances or other big events. At the Royal Ascot, men and women dress “to the 9s,” as they say.

2020 and 2021 Churchill Mtg dates

2020 and 2021 were challenging years. Noted below were the planned meeting dates of those two pandemic years, many of which were informal meetings held via Zoom meetings. Our records were in some disarray for 2020 and 2021, so as we rebuild these we will cleanup the following list, for posterity.

2020 was the early pandemic:

January? – Stated? Had been scheduled at the home of John Gann, in Bloomington.

Feb 21 – Stated meeting moved to the home of John Gann, in Bloomington. Had been scheduled at the home of Sujit Varma in Edina.

March 20 – Appears to have been a Zoom meeting.

April 2-4 – Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge, at the Masonic Home and the DoubleTree in Bloomington. This was adjusted into a virtual meeting with electronic balloting, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 17 – Zoom meeting

May 15 – Zoom meeting

June 19 – Zoom meeting

July – Zoom meeting?

Aug – Zoom meeting? Paul Ramsour’s home?

Sept 18 – Stated meeting, at the home of MWB Thomas Jackson, in Lino Lakes.

Oct ?

Nov ?

November 29 or 30 – S.W.C. Birthday toast at Marlin’s Rest? (TBA)

Dec 18 – Stated Meeting? At the home of either Joey Torkildson in Shorview or WB Andrew Brennan in Wayzata.

2021, the second year of the pandemic:

In 2021 things got better toward the latter half of the year, and we met at the following locations, on Fridays unless otherwise noted:

Jan – Zoom meeting?

Feb – Zoom meeting?

Mar – Zoom meeting?

Apr 17 – Stated meeting, at the home of MWB Thomas Jackson, in Lino Lakes.

May 14 or 21? – In person or Zoom?

June 17 (Thursday) – Stated meeting, at the home of WB Paul Ramsour in Prior Lake

July 23 – We may have met. Details? Or were we dark?

Aug 12 (Thursday) – Stated meeting, at the home of WB Ted Martz in Burnsville.

Sept 17 – Stated meeting, at the home of MWB Thomas Jackson, in Lino Lakes.

Oct 15 – Stated meeting, at the home of MWB John Gann, in Bloomington.

Nov 29 – Festive Board and Stated meeting with election of officers, held at Lake Harriet Lodge hall, in Minneapolis, honoring our patron.

Dec 16 – Annual meeting at the home of Andrew Brennan, in Wayzata. WB Clif Bailey was installed as 2022 Master.