News + Public Announcements

Earlier this year, Forest Lodge No. 130, Wausau, presented Lani Rethaber, Executive Director of Patriot K9s of Wisconsin in Wausau, a check in the amount of $3,000 to support their efforts with training veterans and service dogs. Patriot K9s Of Wisconsin provides training and education to both Veterans/Service Members and Service Dog Candidates, to create the highest quality Service Dog Team at no cost. They serve disabled Veterans and Active-Duty Members impacted by Military related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),

It was another huge night for Wisconsin freemasonry! The Wisconsin Freemasons were out in full force at the Slinger Super Speedway WABAM Nationals on July 12th as they donated Fire Suppression Tools to the Slinger and West Allis Police Departments. “The Slinger Police Department really appreciates the donation of the Fire Suppression Tool units from the Milwaukee Harmony Lodge. Having these units readily available to officers will help keep our community safer which helps enhance our goals as first responders”

The Brothers of Sun Prairie Lodge No. 143 recently donated $3,000 to the Sun Prairie School District’s Free and Reduced Lunch program to ensure that the community and children continue to receive proper nourishment. Over the past several years, Sun Prairie Lodge has taken upon itself to help feed the community through our “Feeding Our Future” program, in which the Lodge and members, raise money through fundraising to be given to the Sun Prairie School District’s Free and Reduced Lunch

Waukesha Masonic Lodge No. 37 recently donated 100 lbs. of fresh Vidalia onions to the Waukesha Food Pantry. Robert Baker of the Food Pantry, pictured in photo, gladly accepts the donation. According to Mr. Baker, receiving fresh produce is especially appreciated by the families they serve. This marks the 18th consecutive year that Waukesha Lodge has made this annual donation. Submitted by Bro. Gary Ebert

   The Wisconsin Rapids Lodge No. 128 organized the first youth Bike Rodeo/Safety Fair on May 7. It has not been done in the area communities in a very long time. This was one of the products of a lodge visioning process that was conducted three years ago and on hold due to the pandemic, when we asked ourselves “what is our lodge identity”? When we acknowledge our Masonic history and the legacy, we have been given by previous generations we

Master Rick Schnabel of Forest Lodge No. 130, Wausau, on behalf of the brothers of that Lodge, presented a check to Commander Bob Weller of Wausau American Legion Post 10 at one of their recent meetings. The donation was made to support the Veteran’s Avenue of Honor project for 2022. The Avenue of Honor is a tribute to those veterans from our area who served our country.  Banners with their pictures are displayed on Grand Avenue in Wausau from mid-May through Veterans

  Brothers from Milton Lodge No. 161 volunteered at the “Milton High School Career Day” “How to Tie a Tie” table at the request of District 9 Deputy Derek M. Henze. Bro. Pat Garvin stated, “It was a very well-run event, and the students were very interested and polite. Area Administrator Fran (Fritz) Prusansky, Junior Warden Curt Sorenson and I, along with the president of the Milton Chamber of Commerce taught many kids, mostly young ladies, how to tie neckties. Some other

Hartford Lodge No. 120 provided a dinner for the first responders of the Hartford Fire Department after their monthly meeting at the Fire and Rescue Station in Hartford. The dinner was appreciated by the first responders present. Senior Warden Jim Hunt (chair of this event) provided his special smoked pull pork as the main attraction with other brethren providing side dishes, beverages, homemade cookies and cake. The Masons thanked each first responder personally with handshakes and verbal thanks as they

The Minocqua Fire & Rescue Department received a Fire Suppression Tool from Island City Lodge No. 330 in conjunction with the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation. The portable Fire Suppression Tool (FST) is a state-of-the-art, highly effective, environmentally safe aerosol fire suppression solution gaining first responders valuable and often critical minutes and seconds.  Submitted by Bro. Dave Imlah Jr., PM

Brethren of Hartford Lodge No.120 presented a Fire Suppression Tool on April 11, to Chief of Police Scott MacFarlan to be used by the police departments first responders. Presenting the FST to Chief MacFarlan is Senior Warden James Hunt. Chief MacFarlan thanked the Brethren following the presentation. Submitted by, Bro. Allen Brandt

     Collins-Spring Valley Lodge No. 192, Baldwin, recently donated a portion of the proceeds from their car show last June to the Spring Valley Community Cancer Fund. The lodge’s donation of $832 was matched by the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation’s Masonic Acts of Kindness Matching Grant Program making for a total donation of $1,664.      The SVCCF is a non-profit organization staffed by volunteers from the Spring Valley community. It was founded in 2012 with the purpose of “Supporting our own” in the

Several years ago, the St. John’s Masonic Lodge of Whitewater/Palmyra donated “Masons Care Bears” to the police and fire departments to distribute to local children. This program was funded by lodge member, the late Brother David L. Kachel. In honor and memory of the generosity of our late Brother, the lodge is once again donating several of these bears to the Whitewater Police and Fire Departments. City of Whitewater Acting Police Chief Dan Meyer holds one of the bears donated

Dodgeville Lodge No. 119’s recent pasty sale raised and donated $1,090 to the Santa Cop Organization. The lodge has multiple students assisting with the making of pasties. The students sent the following comments:      My name is Tristan Wirkus. I am 19 years old and from Strat-ford Wis. I am currently a freshman at University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire. and pursuing a Geography major with a minor in computer science I am hoping to attain a career as a GIS Specialist and

By Reverend David O. Leistra, Grand Chaplain Greetings Brothers, Living in Wisconsin I am always glad to see March 1 show up on the calendar. I know it means that Spring is near. It was the second Sunday in March of 2020 that my church stopped having our building open for public worship and other activities. At the time we all thought that we ought to be able to reopen in time for Easter Sunday, that did not happen. Then

By Grand Orator Jerry A. Reick Greetings Brethren, This month I’m providing an article from the Ohio Grand Lodge website that gives a nice explanation of the difference between operative and speculative Masonry. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did. Operative v. Speculative Masonry: What’s the Difference? Freemasonry is a brotherhood rooted in the mission of making good men even better, guided by the core values of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. Every Mason is on

It cannot be bought. It is not for sale but is awarded to the benevolent donor who has sup-ported feeding a hungry child with a donation to the Grand Masters Appeal. There is no reward for having one; other than the self-satisfaction that you have touched the life of someone who does not know when they will be enjoying his or her next meal. The coin itself represents nothing but hope for a hungry child. It is physically small, about

By Junior Grand Warden David R. Ritchie It has been said that “Being male is a matter of birth. Being a man is a matter of age. Being a gentleman is a matter of choice.” Being a gentleman is as much a matter of choice as being uncivil is a matter of choice. The choice often centers around choosing self-centeredness or choosing empathy with others. Civilization is the idea of a group of people living and working together, within a

By Past Grand Master Craig S. Campbell James Allen Zimmerman, formerly of Shawano, Wisconsin, passed away at his home in Rogers, Arkansas on Sept. 23, 2020. He was born to Clarence and Iola (Petit) Zimmerman on Oct. 2, 1939 in Elgin Illinois. Jim was baptized and confirmed at Good Shephard Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illinois. He graduated from Elgin High School in 1957 after which he served our country from 1959-1961 in the U.S. Army Signal Corps stationed in France.