Oceanside – San Dieguito Masonic Lodge no. 381

Enter the fraternity’s first video contest, the grand-prize winner will receive a Flip Video Camcorder, and your video debut on the official website and social media sites of the Masons of California.

You’ve got three minutes to answer the question, “What does Masonry mean to me?”

How you answer is up to you. Make us laugh, or make us cry. Write a song. Choreograph a dance. Interview a brother, or take us behind the scenes of your lodge.

Work with others, your lodge, your family, your local youth orders, or work alone. Just put it on video.

We’ll debut the top three videos on freemason.org, Facebook, and our upcoming YouTube channel for the Masons of California.

Contest rules:
• At least one entrant must be a member of a California Masonic organization
• Videos must be three minutes or less
• Due August 31, 2010.
• Submit signed release forms (available at the Lodge Office) for everyone who appears on camera.

Send videos and signed releases (or any questions you have about the contest) to communications@freemason.org (put “Video contest” in the subject line) or mail to Communications c/o Video Contest, Grand Lodge of California, 1111 California St., San Francisco, CA 94108.

Summer History Classes from UCLA

Across countries and centuries, Freemasonry has shaped governments and societies. But until recently, only limited academic research and coursework was devoted to the subject.

That changed in 2008, when the Grand Lodge of California initiated an important partnership with the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Margaret C. Jacob, one of the world’s foremost Masonic Scholars, lead the development of two courses on the history of Freemasonry, debuting this spring at UCLA.

This summer, Grand Lodge and UCLA are offering the opportunity for all Masons (MM, FC & EA) to participate in accelerated versions of these courses.

The courses will explore Freemasonry’s

Impact on European and American history from the Enlightenment through today

Role in the early development of modern thought, culture and politics

Contributions to the evolution of individual rights and democratic societies

Course details
Meet once a week for three consecutive weeks, 6:30 to 10:00 p.m.
Participants are expected to read select material from primary and secondary sources
Participate in lectures and discussions

Locations and dates
Sacramento July 12, 19 & 26
Oakland July 13, 20 & 27
Orange County July 14, 21 & 28
Pasadena July 15, 22 & 29
San Diego July 15, 22 & 29

Thanks to a generous scholarship from the California Masonic Foundation the registration fee is $60, with a July 7th registration deadline. To enroll or for more information contact Kim Hegg, Grand Lodge program coordinator, at khegg@freemason.org or at (415) 292-9111.

This is an opportunity for every brother to improve his Masonic knowledge with a university level course.

Keep On Learning

In March 1893, more than 100 years ago, the Grand Lodge purchased 267 acres of land in Decoto for the Masonic Widows’ and Orphans’ Home. From that small beginning, our Masonic Homes today provide a loving family life to children and a carefree and secure home life to our seniors.

And our Masonic Homes do more. Our Masonic Homes have expanded beyond residential facilities. We now assist people in their own communities through our Masonic Outreach Services (MOS), we can assist those children and seniors who can be better served by remaining in their own homes. We meet their needs by arranging for help from experts in the community and provide the financial assistance to hire those experts when warranted, without the need to move to one of our Homes.

How can we do this? We do it from the generosity of the Masons who have gone before. Our Homes and Masonic Outreach Services are 100 percent funded from the income earned on the Endowment Fund. That Endowment Fund was built from the faithful contributions of the craft in years past.

Brothers of Oceanside-San Dieguito Lodge have in the past been very generous to the Masonic Homes. However, this year the size and total of the contributions are down.

If you have not made a donation in the last year won’t you please send a check to the lodge or to the Grand Lodge? If you have made a bequest, will you consider making another?

May is Masonic Homes month