Beacon 5-2012 Final.Pdf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SPRING 2012 VOLUME 19, ISSUE 2 BEACONA JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE OHIO MASONIC HOME AND THE GRAND LODGE OF OHIO Family Day at Great Ground Breaking An Honorable Mark Twain Awards Amercian Ballpark 5 on Campus 8-10 Tribute 11 of Excellence 12 Grand Master Kevin B. Todd and OMH Board Chairman Terry W. Posey, PGM at the Western Reserve Cornerstone Ceremony Brotherly Love By Kevin Todd, Grand Master My Brethren, you have shown providing the Brethren of your bigger than unparalleled fi nancial support for lodge some focus as it is about each of us. both the Masonic Model Student raising funds to support your It is Assistance Program and for your chosen cause. How many times likewise Ohio Masonic Home Capital have you spent a long day working a great Kevin B. Todd, Campaign. I know that in these over a hot grill, or standing in the opportunity Grand Master diffi cult and uncertain times, it can sun, and truly felt that your hard to expose be hard to make additional fi nancial work has made a positive difference non-masons to the community commitments. But you have shown in someone’s life. It is perfect work support and brotherhood and us all why you are proud of the ring for a Mason. Hard work for a great fellowship side of your lodge. on your fi nger. cause equals a satisfi ed conscience. During these fundraising events Last April 15th marked a new This is the satisfaction that comes you need to invite a prospective beginning for your Ohio Masonic from knowing that at the end lodge candidate to go with you Homes in Waterville and Medina. of the day, by your individual to help raise money for Special The Ohio Masons dedicated contribution, you have made a Olympics, your scholarship cornerstones at both campuses for profound difference. It does not get fund, your community relief the new Memory Care Units to be any better than that! Those are great efforts, or whatever noble cause constructed on those campuses. Masters Wages! you support. There was a packed house at both This is also an important time to Your son, your neighbor, your ceremonies and perfect weather for show your support for your lodge co-worker, or your relative will this great day in Ohio Masonry. It and the offi cers. When we work as a get the chance to participate was truly a unique opportunity for team, we can more easily accomplish in a worthwhile effort and Ohio Masons to show how much our goals. You have elected a group get involved in the fun and we care for our Brethren, and you of your brothers to lead your lodge fellowship of your event. When should feel really good about the into a bright new future. Please that prospective candidate fi nds successful efforts. I am so proud of join in and support them with your out what great people they are all of you. volunteer time and efforts. You may surrounded by, they will ask you Summer is coming on and many not be able to attend your lodge about your lodge and the world of our lodges participate in or head meetings on a regular basis, but you of Freemasonry. So be prepared up fundraising projects during can show up to support the lodge to answer their questions and the summer months. A successful picnic, the ham dinner, or Labor have a blank membership fundraiser is just as much about Day parade. Be a part of something petition handy. Past Grand Master Daniel F. Iceman Passes Past Grand Master Daniel F. Iceman Junior Grand Warden in October passed away on March 28, 2012 at 1975, Senior Grand Warden in the age of seventy nine. He was a 1976 and Deputy Grand Master Past Master of Ebenezer Lodge #33 in 1977. On October 21, 1978 he in Wooster, Ohio and a Past District was elected and installed as Grand Deputy Grand Master of the 20th Master of Masons in Ohio. Masonic District. He was well known in Northern In May 1972 he was appointed to Ohio and the mentor of many that the offi ce of Junior Grand Deacon by he met. He believed whole-heartedly then Grand Master Fay L. Gullion. He that every Mason should live by was subsequently appointed Senior the Masonic Code as it was written Grand Deacon in October 1972, and raised his family by the same Grand Marshal in 1973 and Grand principles. He lived as he died, a Orator in 1974. He was elected man of great dignity. 2 SPRING 2012 You This One Is for By Tom Stofac, Chief Executive Offi cer of the Ohio Masonic Home Warmer weather, green grass, and as a Brother, for being so the smell of a new day in the air; dedicated to the well being of the Please Join Us I just love spring. I tend to get Ohio Masonic Home. at Home Day refl ective at this time of year as Another group of individuals I am surrounded by the coming I would like to thank especially Sunday, beauty of summer and the are those who over the past year freshness of the end of winter. have dedicated their efforts to our June 10, 2012 One of the things I would like to capital campaigns at Browning share from my refl ections is my Masonic Community and West- 10 AM - 4 PM gratitude for each and every one ern Reserve Masonic Community. of you. Many of you also serve on the Springfi eld Without you we do not have boards I just mentioned. I know Masonic a reason to continue here at the this additional commitment of Ohio Masonic Home. Thank you time has been diffi cult and your Community for all of your kind gifts of time, dedication to the projects and talent and treasure that you pro- our success is so appreciated. vide so generously. All of us that We still have work to do, lead, work and live or receive and many of these committees services here are so grateful for continue to meet and will your continuing support. continue to do so in the future. One group of individuals I I need to recognize that these would like to recognize with committees have been comprised a special word of thanks is all of many individuals from the of our board members. We community that are not Masons have a total of 42 individuals at all, but through this process who serve on our subsidiary have learned what a Mason boards, Foundation board and really is (a man with a pure heart Parent board. These people willing to serve his brothers and work tirelessly the community) and what for you and us to Masons really do (give The Beacon is published quarterly. make sure that of themselves and their Please report all changes of address to your lodge secretary, who, in turn, will notify the the organization treasure to make a better Grand Secretary, who maintains the database continues to thrive world for their brothers that produces the BEACON mailing labels. and meets the and the community). For Chad Simpson Director of Program Development needs of those their efforts I want to The Grand Lodge F.&A.M. of Ohio we serve. Many make sure I thank them P.O. Box 629 of these people and recommit ourselves Worthington, OH 43085-0629 614-885-5318 willingly take time in our dedication to [email protected] off work through their communities. Kristen Hirschfeld Thomas J. Stofac, CEO personal vacation So to all of you that Communications Manager The Ohio Masonic Home days, and others make time volunteer at our campuses, as 2655 W. National Road in busy schedules to come to board members and through Springfi eld, OH 45504-3698 937-525-3025 meetings and to represent all of other activities, thank you from [email protected] you and us very well. To each of the bottom of my heart. I am so you who serve on these boards grateful and honored to be called Correction: In the last issue of let me personally thank you as your Brother. the Beacon “Coming Full Circle” we the CEO of this organization misspelled Jim Zeigler’s name. Please accept our sincere apologies Jim. SPRING 2012 3 A Lifetime on theDiamond In 1949, the American Legion Gaston Allen Lodge #664 in 1975, League team in Mansfi eld, Ohio, where he went on to become the acquired a new catcher, Dwight Master of the lodge and serve in “Dewey” McVicker. Most kids on all the York Rite Bodies. He also the team played for a few years was voted to Knight of the York before moving on to other sports or Cross of Honor. activities. Dwight, on the other hand, When he turned 58, Dwight never stopped. He played baseball at fi nally made the transition to Se- Mansfi eld Senior High School and at nior Softball as a utility infi elder. The Ohio State University. “Right now, between the four teams I am playing on, I play fi rst, second and third base,” Dwight said. Dwight’s time and skills on the diamond earned him induction into both the Greater Cleveland Wall of Fame (2005) and the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame (2007). At 76, he’s still playing on teams in his winter home in The Villages, FL, Dwight McVicker as well as his summer home in North Olmsted, OH. He does, however, spend time at When asked about his connec- the Medina Masonic Community tion to the Springfi eld Masonic where he is a charter member of the Community, Dwight laughed.