Thomas Miller, son of Bro. Bill Miller, P.M., Saucon Lodge No. 469, Coopersburg, has a long family history with Freemasonry: his grandfather, uncle and two great-grandfathers all have been members. His mother and great-grandmother have been involved in the Order of the Eastern Star. For his Eagle Scout service project, Thomas could think of no better way to honor his family and promote the good works of Freemasonry than to make a sign for Saucon Lodge to expose it to the local community.

"The lodge is important to my family, the members and the community," Thomas said. "My hope is that [the sign] will give the lodge a chance to expand membership and exposure in the community. ... Becoming an Eagle Scout is a big accomplishment. I am proud of my work, and one day I plan to join Freemasonry."

Patty Sopp demonstrates how an oxygen mask fits over a dog's snout. Left-right: Karen Churchill; Bro. John Churchill, Lawrence Lodge No. 708, Erie; and Jim Rosenbaum, of the Millcreek Fire Department.

Fires cause the deaths of an estimated 40,000 to 150,000 pets each year, primarily due to smoke inhalation. To prevent such tragedies, Bro. William J. Sopp, P.M., Oasis Lodge No. 416, Edinboro, and his wife, Patty, have donated 25 pet oxygen mask kits to local fire departments through Project Breathe. They learned about the project through the parent company of their business, Invisible Fence Brand® of Erie, which has donated more than 10,000 masks to fire stations nationwide. Each kit includes a small, medium and large mask and costs approximately $65. Their goal is to donate one kit to each of the 200 fire stations in their area. In early January, one of the masks they donated helped to save the life of a cat badly injured and burned in a house fire.

"We are excited to do the program, as it is just a feel-good, heart-warming project," Patty, P.W.M., Albion Chapter No. 22, and Appointed Grand Chapter Committee Member, O.E.S., said. "Each time I donate to the fire departments, I say, 'I hope you never have to use them.' We are not the heroes here - the true heroes are the firefighters!"

Bro. David "Scotty" Bolton, Patmos Lodge No. 348, Hanover, and Hebron Lodge No. 465, New Oxford, believes community cleanliness is everyone's responsibility. To bring the issue to light, Bro. Bolton walks along Main Street in McSherrystown with garbage bags cleaning up litter. What makes his efforts attention-grabbing is the Superman costume he wears to do so.

Bro. Bolton has been making public appearances as "The HanoverSuperman" since 2005. He usually appears at charitable events, such as the Hanover Chili Cook-off, which benefits the Gutherie Memorial Library in Hanover; Saturdays on Main Street's "Chalk It Up" (a sidewalk chalk-drawing competition for children); the United Cerebral Palsy of South Central PA fund raisers; and others. He collects two to three industrial-size bags of garbage in a "single swipe." Turkey Hill donates the bags and allows Bro. Bolton to use their dumpsters.

"As a child, I told my mother that when I grew up, I wanted to be a professional baseball player or Superman. Baseball didn't pan out!" Bro. Bolton said. "I have since become a member of the world-wide group 'The Real Life Super Heroes,' an organization of like-minded (and costumed) people in various states and countries who go out into their communities and look for ways to better them while promoting peace and morality."

Commemorative Rifle Sales Support Masonic Charities Bro. Kenneth Ruch, Jr., then-Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon and Bro. Brian Ruch Bros. Kenneth R. Ruch, Jr., and Brian K. Ruch, both of Eureka Lodge No. 404, Northumberland, and Bro. David W. Page, Watsontown Lodge No. 401, designed a limited edition Commemorative Masonic Rifle - a .22 caliber Henry Fireman rifle. They sold 100 rifles and donated the proceeds of $7,650 to the Masonic Charities. They presented a check to then-Grand Master Thomas K. Sturgeon at the Quarterly Communication in December 2011. Plans are underway for a second edition of the commemorative rifle in 2012 with proceeds again going toward a Masonic Charity.

This past holiday season, members of Old Fort Lodge No. 537, Centre Hall, helped four families through the local food bank by giving $150 in gift cards to each family. One member, alone, donated $200. The families greatly appreciated the much-needed assistance.

Saving Lives and Supporting Children Bro. Raymond Greiner, P.M.; Larry Derr, D.D.G.M.; and Charlotte Granito Masonic District 1 had a busy year in 2011 raising money for the Children's Dyslexia Center of Lancaster through two blood drives and a Lodge in the Woods event. Bro. Larry A. Derr, District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st Masonic District, and Bro. Raymond P. Greiner, P.M., Principal of the School of Instruction, presented Charlotte Granito, director of the Lancaster Learning Center, with a check for $2,600. The district is hosting another blood drive on June 23, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lancaster Masonic Center and the Donegal Masonic Center.

COOKING FOR CHARITY Bros. Jeffrey A. White, Pursuivant, and Joseph P. Crawford, help prepare the all-you-an-eat breakfast. On March 3, Ashara-Casiphia Lodge No. 551, Mount Joy, held its semi-annual all-you-can-eat breakfast fund raiser. With the assistance of the brethren, their ladies, DeMolay, Rainbow Girls and Job's Daughters, approximately 500 meals were served in four hours. This same group of workers is gearing up for the Famous "Ox Roast" coming up Aug. 4 at the Donegal Masonic Center. The Ox Roast is open to anyone who wants to attend; people may eat in or take out. For details, visit www.firstmasonic.org. The money raised through these events will go into the lodge charity fund and be used for charitable donations throughout the year.

To raise money for the Special Olympics, brethren from the 2nd Masonic District participated in the Polar Bear Plunge at City Island in Harrisburg on Feb. 4. The event raised a total of $175,000, of which the brethren raised $4,000.

"The water was a tad chilly, but it was for a good cause, and we are already recruiting for next year!" Bro. Scott Matincheck, District Deputy Grand Master for the 2nd Masonic District, said.

Left-right: Bros. Colin H. Blair, Perseverance Lodge No. 21, Harrisburg; Douglas R. Harms, P.M., Secretary, Perseverance Lodge No. 21; Jeffrey T. Shank, P.M., Prince Edwin-Spring Creek Lodge No. 486, Middletown; Scott T. Matincheck, D.D.G.M.- 2nd Masonic District; Jeffrey M. White, W.M., Harrisburg Lodge No. 629; David S. Casher, Perseverance Lodge No. 21; Patrick R. Grill, W.M., Robert Burns Lodge No. 464, Harrisburg; Tracy A. Bitner, W.M., Perseverance Lodge No. 21; and Heather Conrad, team member.

Bro. Glenn Kurzenknabe, president, National Sojourners Harrisburg Chapter No. 76; Gary Wylde, director of resident services; Bro. Robert Hamilton Jr., 2nd vice president, Harrisburg Chapter No. 76; and Tiffany Moyer, social worker.

The National Sojourners-Harrisburg Chapter No. 76 collected seven boxes of toiletries, including toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, hair spray, tissues, liquid hand soap, bar soap etc., for residents at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown who receive fraternal care. Fraternal care provides nursing, personal care and children's services to residents whose savings, insurance or public assistance does not fully cover the cost of their care. Masonic Villages gives these residents a monthly allowance for incidentals, and this donation will enable their funds to go a little further.

"These types of items are exactly what residents are paying significant amounts of money for, so this donation will be a huge help to those receiving fraternal care who are on such a tight budget," Tiffany Moyer, social worker in the Freemasons Building personal care residence, said.

"Funding for people receiving fraternal care is limited, and we decided this was something helpful we could do for our fellow brothers and their spouses living at Masonic Village," Bro. Glenn Kurzenknabe, president, National Sojourners-Harrisburg Chapter No. 76, said.

Bro. Bob Earle, Sr., Bristol Lodge No. 25, was a motorcycle rider who passed away from brain cancer. In honor and memory of Bro. Earle, members of Bristol Lodge, the Widows Sons Riding Association Grand Chapter, the Sons of Abiff, Bristol, his friends and family held the 2nd annual Ride to Cure Brain Cancer on Sept. 25, 2011. The 30-mile ride raised more than $5,000, and included a picnic at Newtown Lodge No. 427, Woodside.

Brethren from Tri-County Lodge No. 252, Donora, held their first "America the Land I Love, Keeping the Promise of America, Masonic of the Mon Valley" event on July 30 at the Herman Mihalic Boat Launch and Park. Other lodges in Masonic District 31, Order of the Eastern Star Chapters, Rainbow Girls Assemblies, Job's Daughters Bethels, DeMolay Chapters, Pittsburgh Shrine Clowns, Hiram Riders and other Masonic bodies contributed to the event's success.

Proceeds earned by participating groups went toward individual projects within their communities. The event was the brain child of Bro. Robert Dojonovi. Bros. James H. Staff Jr., W.M., P.M., and Dennis Gutierrez, P.M., chaired the day's activities.

The event included color guards and band boosters from two local school districts, Monessen Mayor Jo Smith, a Mon Valley Fire Department's Battle of the Barrel competition and car cruisers. Food, entertainment, the Kennywood Park trolley and Uncle Sam kept the crowd in good spirits. Bro. Robert Farquhar, District Deputy Grand Master for District 31, explained and handed out information about the different Masonic bodies, their functions and philanthropies. The Valley of Pittsburgh performed the Lincoln Degree on stage. The event concluded with the awarding of trophies and a fireworks display.

"The basic purpose was to let people in the area know what the fraternity is all about and the works that we do in the community," Bro. Staff said. "We are hoping to make this an annual event that grows every year."

When Bro. Terry Means, Everett Lodge No. 524, was diagnosed with cancer, his health caused him to resign from his job and sell his home. Thirty brethren from Everett Lodge and Bedford Lodge No. 320 coordinated a spaghetti dinner fund raiser and sold more than 400 meals. The event raised a total of $3,933 to help with his medical and living expenses. Unfortunately, Bro. Means passed away on March 1, but not before having attained one of his personal goals: serving for a few brief months as the lodge's Worshipful Master.

The late Bro. Terry Means, W.M., Everett Lodge

Waverly Lodge No. 301, Clarks Green, made a donation which enabled the Abington Area Community Parks to purchase an automated external defibrillator (AED). An AED is a portable electrical device which automatically diagnoses, treats and corrects potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias (heart beats).

The 100-acre park features a lake for fishing, nature trails, a dog park, picnic tables, soccer and football fields and hosts a summer youth camp. As the temperature rises and more people gather in the park, having this valuable piece of equipment on hand could be the difference between life and death.

Bro. Mark A. Huggler, W.M., Waverly Lodge No. 301; Ronda Schiavone, Abington Heights Civic League; Tim Rowland, Community Life Support Ambulance; and Mike Hargrove, Abington Youth Soccer League

Anton Katsch and Daniel Sellers of DeMolay volunteer their time at the holiday breakfast. Bro. Jim Forry, Betty Stauffer, Linda Stauffer, Jen Koppel, Bro. David Koppel and their son enjoy the holiday breakfast. More than 1,700 people enjoyed 500 dozen eggs, 400 lbs. of sausage and 680 lbs. of fried potatoes at the annual Holiday Breakfast hosted by Abraham C. Treichler Lodge No. 682, Elizabethtown. In addition to full stomachs, kids enjoyed greeting Santa and Mrs. Claus, and visitors toured the Elizabethtown and Masonic Village Model Railroad Club. Volunteers included 125 brethren and members of Job's Daughters and DeMolay. Guests donated six boxes of toys for Toys for Tots and canned goods for a local church's food bank. Volunteers identified 46 children through CHIP and 28 donors supported the Masonic Blood Club. In 2011, between its annual pancake breakfast and holiday breakfast, Treichler Lodge netted approximately $17,000. Overall last year, the lodge raised just under $20,000, which it donated to Masonic youth groups, Masonic Village hospice and rehabilitation services, Elizabethtown Boys Club, Elizabethtown Fire Department, Northwest EMS, and to cover the cost of fuel, electric bills and groceries for those in need. This year's pancake breakfast is scheduled for May 19, and the holiday breakfast will be held Dec. 19, both from 6 to 11 a.m. Members also are planning a car, truck and motorcycle show on June 2 to raise money to cover the cost of the Patriot Kids Camp. This camp will teach kids about the great nation in which we live.

During the aftermath of the great October snowstorm of 2011, many residents in the Birdsboro area were without power for an extended period of time. The officers of Union Lodge No. 479 decided to serve a free breakfast for those still without electric service. Fifteen brethren volunteered to help without hesitation.

"Although we expected more people to take advantage of our offer, we were pleased to serve approximately 70 people, and each was very grateful," Bro. William Herz said. "So grateful in fact, that we received $140 in donations pledged for our county food bank. It goes to show that one kind deed will be answered by another."

Throughout 2011, the brothers of Brownsville Lodge No. 60 have participated in several examples of "giving back to our community." The lodge, chaired by Bros. Ernie Bradmon and Scott Campbell, sponsored three blood drives in conjunction with Masonic Blood Club chairmen Bro. Dave Metheny, Loyalhanna Lodge No. 275, Latrobe; Bro. Richard Black, Tri-County Lodge No. 252, Donora; and the Central Blood Bank. The drives collected a total of more than 270 units of blood. One blood drive directly supported three area youth facing serious medical conditions. Three more blood drives have been scheduled for 2012.

Brownsville Lodge also supported the 8th Annual Oldies Dance to benefit the Pittsburgh Autism Society through donations of funds and volunteer time. Last year's event raised more than $7,800. Since Bro. Campbell and his wife, Kathy, started this event in 2004, it has raised more than $40,000 for the Autism Society.

As a community service project, Bethel Lodge No. 789, Lower Burrell, "adopted" Summit Street Park in New Kingston in 2011. Nine volunteers spent almost 30 hours cutting grass, pulling and spraying weeds, landscaping, cleaning up trash, sanding and repainting playground equipment, spreading sand in the bocce court and replacing an old sign.

"As a charitable community service organization, [we] felt the Summit Street Park was a diamond in the rough, and with renovation and maintenance could be a considerable asset to the families of the Mount Vernon community," said Bro. Steve Baksis, P.M., W.M.

Throughout the renovations, several community members stopped by to express their gratitude for the members' work. The Mayor of New Kensington honored the lodge at a city council meeting with a certificate, and the Valley News Dispatch published an article about their efforts. Lodge members who live near the park have since noticed neighborhood children increasingly visiting the park.

Individuals at the Masonic Village at Sewickley and the Masonic Village Child Care Center, Masonic widows, members of Masonic youth groups and the greater Sewickley community all feel the impact of the creativity, kindness and generosity of the William Slater II Master Masons Club. Residents of the Masonic Village at Sewickley began the club to foster fellowship and welcome new Master Mason residents to the campus. They named it in honor of the Grand Master at the time of the club's inauguration, William Slater II, R.W.P.G.M. The club is comprised of 72 Masons representing 42 lodges. Any Master Mason residing in the retirement living area of Masonic Village is considered a member. A seven-member activities committee coordinates programs, such as in-house games, throughout the year to raise money for recreational equipment including new pool table covers; other campus needs and groups, such as the library, wood shop, Project Linus knitting group and the Masonic Village Child Care Center; and the Masonic Charities. Members also organize events for residents in the personal care and nursing services areas, such as fishing trips, baseball games and ice cream outings, as well as community events including blood drives in cooperation with the Masonic Blood Club. A blood drive held on Feb. 29 resulted in a donation of 28 units of blood, which, according to the Central Blood Bank of Pittsburgh, could benefit up to 80 patients depending upon its end use. The club, in a joint effort with Doric Lodge No. 630, Sewickley, presents Masonic widows with a Masonic widow's pin and a single white rose in a vase, and sends them Christmas, get well and bereavement cards. In 2011, the Master Masons Club sponsored six members of the Steel City Chapter of DeMolay who completed the Masonic Village food services department's food safety program. Those who passed the exam received a certificate valid for five years. These two groups also collaborate to hold a Sunday dinner quarterly for Masonic Village residents with proceeds going toward Masonic Village Wish List items for the Star Points personal care building. One of their most popular efforts is the Enchanted Evening, an annual event started in 2008. Ladies residing in Star Points and the Sturgeon Health Care Center receive an invitation to a very special evening including an elegant meal and musical entertainment. Each woman chooses from a selection of evening wear and jewelry, has her nails painted and hair styled, and is escorted to the dining room by a member of a Masonic youth group. Bro. Tracy Miller, R.W. Grand Master Jay W. Smith and Bro. David Rihl at the Enchanted Evening During the Enchanted Evening, the Master Masons Club treats men residing in Star Points Building and the Valley Care Masonic Center to a party with beer and pizza. Staff and residents from all areas of campus volunteer to help with the event, and local Masonic lodges and Order of the Eastern Star chapters provide financial contributions. Marjory Gleichert is all dressed up for the Enchanted Evening The group's inspiration can best be summed up as, "Masons being Masons," Bro. David Rihl said. "The Master Masons have had a significant impact on the residents here at Masonic Village at Sewickley," Eric Gross, executive director, said. "The annual Enchanted Evening event is a true 'Senior Prom' for our female residents who live in the personal care and nursing services areas. They are treated like queens. But the Master Masons don't stop there. They have had a tremendous impact on our residents and have significantly improved the quality of our residents' lives. We are grateful for all they do. They epitomize the Mission of Love that the Masonic Villages aspire to fulfill."

Bro. Gerald H. Owens, P.M., Corry Lodge No. 365, may be retired, but he keeps busy, especially in the winter months, as an amateur radio operator. As a certified Skywarn storm spotter for the National Weather Service, he reports on snowfalls to the weather service, area news outlets and other individuals.

Bro. Owens, call sign W3GHO, in his amateur radio room.

Mount Zion Lodge No. 774, McConnellsburg, sponsored a CHIP event on Dec. 2 and 3 during the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce's Christmas in McConnellsburg Celebration. Volunteers provided parents with 97 CHIP kits. On the first night, members of Mount Moriah Lodge No. 300, Huntingdon, joined the brethren to train for their first CHIP event, which they held in May.

"They were learning 'under fire' since we identified 68 children in a little over two hours," Bro. Robert Snyder, District Deputy Grand Master for Masonic District 34, said.