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On Saturday October 15th Norfolk Lodge, once again opened their doors to the public in the in the annual Statewide Open House. Norfolk Lodge hosted a pancake breakfast with the proceeds going to help Parent Talk a community-based organization helping families with young children connect, learn, play, and grow together.

After which Norfolk Lodge hosted a reptile show for people as they were coming out of the Parent Talk sale at Christ Church. The children in attendance really enjoyed the show and a great deal of fun was had by all. Overall it was one of the best open houses in recent year and was a well attended event, and it helped to show the community the type of work that we do as Masons.

Thank you for all of the people who attended, and those that helped out this event.  Norfolk Lodge hopes we will be able to 

For the fifth straight year Norfolk Lodge hosted its annual family picnic. This year there was worries that the weather might not be in our favor, for the first time ever but when the time came for the picnic the clouds and rain broke and the sun came out was great day to spend out in the sun with each other.  

Around thirty people including brothers and their families attended this year. There was plenty of good food and a bouncy course,which both adults and children enjoyed immensely. It was a great time for the brothers and their families to spend together during the time when we normally would not get to see each other.

Thank you very to Wor. Michael Centola and Bro. Mark Pearrow for all of their hard work on the preparation. And a big thank you to our grill master R.W. Donald LaLiberte for grilling up the burgers and dogs.

This year Norfolk Lodge continued their support of the amazing work that the Walker School does for children.  Ethan Gilson, the Master of Norfolk Lodge, visited Walker’s Needham campus and presented the donation to Carolyn M. Wood, Walker’s Vice President of Advancement. Norfolk Lodge’s contribution will assist Walker in delivering highly-specialized academic and therapeutic services to children and families facing social, emotional, learning, and mental health challenges.

“We are grateful for the longtime support of the Norfolk Lodge,” said Carolyn M. Wood, Vice President of Advancement at Walker. “Community partnerships like this continue to be essential to the growth and future success of the children and youth served by Walker’s therapeutic and

academic programs on our Needham campus.”

The Needham-based Norfolk Lodge AF & M has developed their community partnership with Walker over the last five years. This year, the Norfolk Lodge expands their support through sponsorship of Walker’s 2016 Change Shoes, Change Lives 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk event.

This year in addition to having our annual pancake breakfast Norfolk Lodge also revived the old Lodge tradition of marching in the Needham Town Fourth of July Parade  This is part of Norfolk Lodge's ongoing effort to become more active and involved in the community.  This year several brothers from Norfolk Lodge walk in the parade, and had a great time walking the route and greeting the residents of Needham as they walked.  We hope that next year even more of the brothers will walk in the parade, and that this will once again become a great lodge tradition.

 

Brothers of Norfolk Lodge and the Fifth Masonic District along with their families attended a cook out and game at McCoy Stadium, in what the officers hope will become a yearly tradition.  There were about forty people who came out to share in the fun.  It was a perfect summer day and everyone had a great day of fellowship during the time of the year where we would typically not be meeting.

The day started off 90 minutes before the start of the game with a cookout on our own private terrace in left field with all you could eat grilled burgers, hot dogs, and chicken fingers, while we watched the players warm up.  After eating their fill the members and their families moved to their seats and got to watch the game.  

Thank you very much to everyone who came out to the game and the Lodge hopes that you had a great time.

 

Norfolk Lodge A.F. & A.M., presented a donation to the Charles River YMCA in the amount of $1000.00. Through the recommendation of the donations committee, the Lodge voted to contribute to the Y’s annual fund in recognition of the important contributions it makes to our community. Norfolk Lodge hopes that this contribution will assist the Y in achieving its mission of strengthening our community through programs and services aimed at Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Norfolk Lodge looks forward to continuing to develop and strengthen our relationship with the Charles River YMCA.

Photo: Wor. Ethan Gilson and Paula Jacobson Executive Director YMCA of Greater Boston Charles River Branch

On Sunday May 22nd, Norfolk Lodge hosted a Spring Concert featuring a woodwind trio of Oboe, Clarinet and Bassoon. The program of 70 minutes included music from the classical and pre-classical era including Telemann, Bach, and Handel. This year as a special treat there was also featured several duet pieces with two bassons, a rare sight indeed.  

The music was performed by Andrew Price, Principal of Boston Pops Esplanade, Boston Classical Orchestra, Emil Lancea, former Principal clarinetist of the Metropolitan Orchestra of Boston and Adrian Jojatu, former principal of State Symphony of Mexico, and Hazel Malcolmson, a freelance classical bassoon player based in the Boston area.

Approximately 50 attendees enjoyed the music performed by the musicians.  After the concert there was a social period with light snacks and drinks where guests were be able to meet with and talk with the musicians.

A video of the performance may be viewed by clicking here

April 10, 2016 -Michael Centola and Bro. Ari Marcus represented Norfolk Lodge at the Needham Community Council (NCC) annual fashion show.  The show features members of various clubs and organizations in the Needham community modeling outfits from the NCC Thrift Shop.  The fashion show is an major fundraiser

for the NCC and also serves to promote the thrift shop, another revenue source for the Council.  

Michael wore a black tuxedo with a white shirt and multicolored bow tie.  Ari wore a navy blue double-breasted blazer with grey slacks, a light blue shirt, and blue tie (and proudly wore the square and compasses on his lapel).  Both were proud to represent Norfolk Lodge and our continuing support of the NCC's mission.

More information about the NCC can be found at 

http://www.needhamcommunitycouncil.org

On Saturday April 2nd several brothers from Norfolk Lodge braved the rain and cold to help with the Annual Needham Spring Clean up. This is an annual event where citizens from the Town of Needham help the Parks and Recreation department with the clean up of Needham after the harsh winter months. 

Over the past few years Norfolk Lodge has made an effort to give back to the Needham community. On Saturday the brothers assembled at the Lodge at 9:00 before heading over to Memorial Park across the street from the Lodge to begin the clean up.

A big thank you to all of the brothers who came out and gave up their Saturday morning to help out.

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At the March 2016 Quarterly Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Most Worshipful Harvey J. Waugh, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, presented Norfolk Lodge with the Grand Master's Award.

Wor. Michael Centola and Wor. Ethan Gilson accepted the award on behalf of Norfolk Lodge. 

The Grand Master's Award is given to Lodge's who meets a number of different criteria which promote the tenets of Freemasonry such as fraternalism, community engagement, and activities in the Lodge. Wor. Centola and the officers of Norfolk Lodge continued with their ambitious plan to increase the lodge's activity both within Lodge and out in the Needham community, as well as engaging all of the members of the Lodge.

Norfolk Lodge was an active participant in District and Grand Lodge events, including Grand Lodge Communications, visits of the District Deputy, and donated to Grand Lodge charities; the officers visited the Masonic Home in Charlton. The officers also developed plans to increase Masonic Awareness in the community as well as plans recruit and retain members; as well as developing more social activities for the lodge.

Congratulations to the Officers of Norfolk Lodge on obtaining this prestigious award for a second consecutive year.