From the Chairs
A word from our Officers…
From the East:
Brethren,
First and foremost, thank you all for the vote of confidence in allowing me to serve our lodge as the Worshipful Master for this year.
I am humbled and honored to run the lodge this year. This year, we will maintain many traditions from the past and introduce a few changes. We will maintain our high standards for degree work, charity, and brotherhood. We brought back blood drives last year. They were an incredible success and filled quickly. We will continue those in 2025 without first one happening on Saturday February 8 th at p.m. at Station 8 Firehouse on Kondracki Lane. We will also continue our scholarship program providing scholarships for three deserving high school students.
Lastly, we will be partnering with Master`s Manna Food Bank in Wallingford. We are launching a “continuous collection program. It’s an “out of the box” approach to helping to feed needy members in our community. Masters Manna gets a swarm of donations in November and December, but the remainder of the year has been a struggle filling their shelves. The brothers of Compass Lodge will be working to change that. More details will be announced at our stated communication on January 6 th . Our Senior Warden, Kyle Piper, is helping to spearhead not only these charitable efforts but also fundraising for 2025.
We will also be doing a monthly fellowship event starting in January. It will be called 4 th Thursday Fellowship, and it will be held the 4 th Thursday of each month. Our Junior Warden has done a tremendous job organizing and booking the first 3 months of fellowship. In terms of degrees, we plan to do 2 sets of degrees this year. We will hold the Entered Apprentice Degree on Monday February 17 th at p.m.
I wish you a very blessed holiday season and look forward to seeing you throughout the year.
Fraternally,
WB Mike Santillo
From the West:
Brethren,
As the new year approaches, I am filled with anticipation for the exciting journey ahead. Under the leadership of our Worshipful Master, we have an ambitious and refreshing calendar planned, featuring innovative ideas and opportunities to keep the growth and engagement within our Lodge thriving.
Brother Junior Warden Ron Hansen Jr. and I have been collaborating closely with the Worshipful Master to develop fresh initiatives that enrich our Masonic experience with learning, purpose, and fellowship. One of my primary tasks this year is to revitalize our Lodge’s annual raffle. Last year’s ticket sales fell short of expectations, with feedback suggesting that traditional prizes such as grills, TVs, or laptops were less enticing. To address this, I am seeking your input on crafting a more appealing grand prize—perhaps a getaway package within a $2,000 budget. If you have creative suggestions, I encourage you to share them, as your insights could significantly boost ticket sales and support our Lodge’s endeavors.
Looking ahead, we will be conferring the Entered Apprentice Degree on February 17th, marking the first step in the Masonic journey for our candidates. With just three months to prepare, it is crucial that we approach this event with dedication and focus. At our November 21st rehearsal, we were reminded to arrive prepared, knowing our lines and parts for the degree. If you need assistance with specific sections—be it the Working Tools, Obligation, or the Middle Chamber Lecture—there are many experienced Brothers ready and willing to provide one-on-one support.
Additionally, Grand Lodge offers a wealth of resources and seminars to help sharpen your ritual work. However, it is equally important to remember that active and engaged membership does not always require participation in ritual work or service as an officer. Simply being present andinvolved as a supportive Brother is invaluable to the vitality of our Lodge. The continued success of Compass Lodge #9 relies on the camaraderie, attendance, and commitment of its members.
As we embark on the 2024-2025 Masonic year, I look forward to fostering an atmosphere of positive energy and fraternal growth for all. Together, let us strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and uphold the principles that make our Lodge a beacon of light in Freemasonry.
Fraternally,
Brother Kyle Piper
Brethren
My Fraternal Brothers of Compass Lodge #9, What an exciting year we have ahead under the leadership of our Worshipful Master! His vision has provided us with an exceptional calendar of events that will enable us to engage, learn, and enjoy our Masonic Fraternity in waysunlike any other Lodge in the state. While I may be partial, Itruly believe Compass #9 is second to none.
As the year draws to a close, I am pleased to invite you and your families to our Annual Christmas Party on December 16th at 6:30 PM. Santa Claus himself will make a special appearance to read “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” and distribute pre-wrapped gifts to your childrenor family members. Please keep these gifts modestly pricedat $25 or less, ensuring fairness among the children. Justsave those big surprises for Christmas morning at home.
Looking ahead to the new year, we are introducing 4th Thursday Fellowship Nights, a monthly opportunity to strengthen our bonds, try new activities, and sometimes include our friends and families in your Masonic journey:
• January 23rd: Blue Ox Axe Throwing, Wallingford Join us for an exciting and interactive night where we’ll learn axe-throwing techniques and enjoy good company. Bring along prospective members to share in the fun. There will be a small participation fee, with Compass Lodge covering the remainder. Sign-ups will open when the flyer is posted—don’t miss out! Limited to 30 Brothers and prospective Brothers.
• February 27th: Delta Arsenal Indoor Shooting Range Limited to a max of 30 Brothers only, this event will include rotations through learning and shooting stations, with an optional opportunity to fire a fully automatic machine gun. Spots will fill up quickly, so be sure to register with QR code or link once the flyer is released.
• March 27th: Poker Night at Compass Lodge Dining Hall A night of fellowship, games, and entertainment awaits! In addition to poker tournament, enjoy pool, darts, chess, and sports in Fraternity Hall. This event is open to 50 Brothers and their prospective Brothers.
For those eager to serve our Lodge’s philanthropic mission, we are supporting Masters Manna Food Pantry at 428 South Cherry Street, Wallingford, during their critical low-donation months of February and March and others as they arise. I encourage you to help us build a network of donors, businesses, and organizations to address this need. We plan to organize bi-weekly pickups and deliveries of non- perishable items, though all contributions are appreciated. Details and flyers will follow soon.
Finally, a reminder of our regular meetings, held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month. Dinner is served at 6:15 PM, with Lodge beginning promptly at 7:00 PM. To avoid waste and optimize resources, I will post a roll call on by some means the day before each meeting. Your timely “yes” or “no” response will greatly assist us in planning meals and reallocating savings toward Fellowship Nights and other initiatives.
On a personal note, Brothers, whether you need assistance with ritual work, guidance, or simply someone to talk to, I am here to support your Masonic journey in any way I can. Let us work together to make this year a memorable and successful one for Compass Lodge #9.
“May the Great Architect of the Universe Bless and guide us all”
Fraternally,
Brother Ron Hansen Jr