2008 Officers Installed

The lodge's new officers were installed on Saturday, December 29.

The following Brethren, elected and appointed to serve as the officers of this Lodge during the ensuing year, were duly installed by Most Worshipful Brother Richard J. Elman, assisted by Right Worshipful Brother Charles F. Marlowe, S.G.D. acting as Prologist, Worshipful Brother Thomas K. Bathauer, acting as Marshal, Worshipful Brother Nathan C. Brindle, acting as Secretary, and Worshipful Brother James R. Dillman, acting as Chaplain, to-wit:

Brother Willard Van Saylor, Worshipful Master.
Brother Robert Miles Evanston III, Senior Warden.
Brother Matthew Scott Davis, Junior Warden.
Brother Paul Lee Hargitt III, P.M., Treasurer.
Brother Darren Jason Klem, P.M., Secretary.
Brother Michael August Walkup, Senior Deacon.
Brother Michael Bertrand DeWitt, Senior Steward.
Brother Benjamin Allen Fuhr, Junior Steward.
Brother Timothy Ryan Brinkmeyer, P.M., Marshal.

Brother Jay Allen DeFord, Junior Deacon, and Brother David Lee Feldman, Tyler, were unable to be present and will be installed in due course.

Congratulations to all the new officers!

2008 Officers Elected

The annual election of Broad Ripple Lodge occurred on Thursday, December 13th, 2007, with the following officers elected:

Willard V. Saylor - WM
Miles Evanston - SW
Matthew Davis - JW
Lee Hargitt, PM - Treasurer
Darren Klem, PM - Secretary
Christopher Hodapp, PM - Trustee (3 years)
Lee Hargitt, PM - Trustee (2 years)

Additional officers will be appointed by the Worshipful Master elect.
Congratulations to all of the new officers, and more important, many thanks to all of the officers who served in the last year with enthusiasm, diligence and the true expression of brotherly love and affection.

The installation of officers of Broad Ripple Lodge for the year 2008 will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2007, at 12:00 PM. There will be a luncheon reception following the installation in the dining room.

The installation is open to the public, as always.

Brother Big John Gillis

From the July 15, 2007 Indianapolis Star:

Big John adjusts to big change

It's been about a month since Big John Gillis signed off his traffic reporting duties at WIBC-AM (1070).

Asked recently about his most memorable day as a reporter, Gillis, 59, recalls getting a letter from Landon Turner's mother, Rita. She thanked Gillis for a report he did on the Indiana University basketball player months before Turner was disabled in an auto accident.

Gillis did a story that praised Turner for taking the time to chat with fans, including some children, who had waited in an IU parking lot for the team to arrive. Most of his teammates had gone inside. Turner's mom heard the report on the radio while driving to campus and never forgot it.

The man with the big voice still considers himself one of the luckiest people alive, since he got to be in the profession he loved at a station he respected. He does not miss getting up at 3 a.m. He's keeping company with his wife, Sherry, and he's keeping track of their three standard poodles: Zack, 13, C.J., 3, and seven-month-old Star.

These days, Gillis is deciding what he's going to do with the rest of his life. Don't get the wrong idea: He retired from radio, not from living. Stay tuned for his next move.

Fans can keep in touch with Big John by sending a note to bigjohngillis@sbcglobal.net

Annual Mustard Grave Pilgrimage

On the evening of Thursday, May 17, 2007, the Worshipful Master and brethren of the Lodge converged on Union Chapel Cemetery on the north side of Indianapolis, there to pay respect to the memory of the benefactors of our Lodge, Brother Jacob S. Mustard and his wife, Cassandra.

Click for larger image

In attendance were, from left to right, Bro. Miles Evanston, SD; WBro. Nathan Brindle, Secretary; WBro. Lee Hargitt, Treasurer; Bro. Ken Morgan, Chaplain; WBro. Mark Haworth, WM; Bro. Doug Eckhart; Bro. Ben Fuhr; WBro. Todd Ebbert, Trustee; and WBro. Darren Klem, IPM and Assistant Secretary. Not shown but in attendance was Bro. Tim Maguire, SW.

Brother Robert "Robin" Crose Jr. Passes Away

Brother Robert L. "Robin" Crose, Jr., a member of Broad Ripple Lodge, passed from this life on January 31, 2007. He was 54 years of age. His obituary may be found in the Indianapolis Star, at the following URL:

http://www2.indystar.com/cgi-bin/obituaries/index.php?action=show&id=72359

He was the son of our Brother Robert L. Crose, Sr., who passed away
last September. His Masonic affiliations included the Indianapolis
Valley AASR.

A Masonic memorial service has -not- been requested.

Lodge officers elected for 2007

At the December Stated Meeting held on Thursday, December 14, 2007, the following brethren were elected to serve as officers for the ensuing year:

Brother Mark Allan Haworth, Worshipful Master
Brother Timothy James Maguire, Senior Warden
Brother Willard Van Saylor, Junior Warden
Brother Paul Lee Hargitt III, P.M., Treasurer
Brother Nathan C. Brindle, P.M., Secretary
Brother Christopher L. Hodapp, P.M., Trustee for 3 years

Brother Mark Haworth, the Worshipful Master-elect, announced the appointment of the following Brethren to hold the non-elective offices for 2007:

Brother R. Miles Evanston III, Senior Deacon
Brother Jay A. DeFord, Junior Deacon
Brother Kenneth L. Morgan, Chaplain
Brother Michael A. Walkup, Senior Steward
Brother Michael B. DeWitt Junior Steward
Brother Matthew S. Davis, Marshal
Brother David L. Feldman, Tyler
Brother Darren J. Klem, P.M., Assistant Secretary

Congratulations to all the new officers!

Installation will be at noon on January 6, 2007, in the Lodge Hall.

Broad Ripple Chili Cookoff Results

The fires have been doused. The stomachs have been pumped. And the final tally has been counted. The results are in for the 6th Annual Broad Ripple Chili Cookoff.

To the victors go the spoils, while the defeated return home to lick their wounds and lay their plans for next year.

The Winners

Hottest - Allison Maguire's "Chili To Elect Tim"

Mildest - Todd Ebbert's "Mom's Chili"

Most Creative - Ken Morgan's "Ben Hur Chili"

Most Unusual - Michael Walkup's "Walkup's White Bean Chili"

Best Presentation - Ken Morgan's "Ben Hur Chili"

It Isn't Chili But I Sure Liked It - Michael Walkup's "Walkup's White Bean Chili"

Best Appearence By An Alternative Meat - Michael Walkup's "Walkup's White Bean Chili"

Best Vegetarian - Nathan Brindle's "Mac & Cheese"

Most Imaginative Name - Darren Klem's "El Oso Chili"

I Wouldn't Feed This To The Hogs - Allison Maguire's "Chili To Elect Tim"

Most Likely To Take A Life - Allison Maguire's "Chili To Elect Tim"

Probably Road Kill - Allison Maguire's "Chili To Elect Tim"

And the Winners Are..............

Tie For 2nd Place

The Evanston's "Jim's Grandma's Chili"
Chris Hodapp's "Chili For Dummies"

And finally, the Best In Show,
whose name and creation will be forever emblazoned on the bilious Scarlet Pepper Cup, where it will spend the next twelve months gloating over its vanquished competitors, is................

Ken Morgan's "Ben Hur Chili"

Many thanks to everyone who participated as chefs, judges and victims. A very special thank you to Brother Mark Haworth, SW for putting the evening together; Wbro Nathan Brindle PM and Sally for their annual contribution to the non-chili accoutréments table; the eternally cheerful and helpful Desirée Huskey for the many things she just quietly does behind the scenes without being asked; and of course, to Wbro. Jerry Cowley, for his annual contribution of major prizes for this event. This great evening could not have been a success without you.

WBro. Chris Hodapp on the Wireless

WBro. Chris was interviewed today by host Julie Kredens on WFPL-FM in Louisville's State of Affairs program. Their blurb:

Freemasonry

At one time or another we’ve all heard of the organization called the Freemasons. Maybe your grandfather or uncle is one, or a neighbor or friend; but have they ever told you what the Freemasons stand for, what their purpose is, or what goes on in their meetings? The history of Freemasonry begins in London, in June 1717, with the formation of the Grand Lodge of England. Freemasonry in America was established in the 1740’s and the first Grand Lodge of Kentucky was formed in 1788 in Lexington, four years before Kentucky was admitted into the Union. So, what is a Mason? How does one become a Mason? What’s with all the rituals and symbols? Why does Masonry seem so secretive? Join us Thursday, as we learn more about the Freemason from Chris Hodapp author of “Freemasons for Dummies”. Call us with your questions.

For those who could not listen live, the streaming audio is archived here -- click on the link for the October 19th show. An audio player capable of handling MP3 streaming audio is required.

6th Annual Chili Cookoff

Brethren, get those pots hot and that chili sauce fermenting. The Sixth Annual Broad Ripple Lodge Chili Cookoff is set for 6:00 PM on Saturday, October 21, 2006. (And no, it’s not too early to consider an entry — some of our contestants actually need to let the chili sauce ferment that long.)

Compete for the famed and coveted Scarlet Pepper Trophy, which you don’t get to take home but which will have your name emblazoned upon it should the fix not be in and you actually are voted Best Overall Chili. Or, if you don’t measure up for the top spot, there are plenty of other prizes for various and sundry “best” chilies. Exemplia gratia: Hottest, Mildest, Possibly Roadkill, Most Likely To Take A Life, and several others.

There’s even a good chance that someone else might win the big prize this year, as Erik Hiner and the Templars are sitting this one out after their threepeat last year.

So get your bragging clothes on, start the trash talk, and get chili with our cookoff. The competition is open to all, including your ladies. However, you must be present to compete and to win. And, of course, to eat.

Contestants should plan to arrive to set up their fiery concoctions at around 5:00 PM. Please note that the kitchen will not be available — your chili must be “done” when you arrive. As in past years, the Lodge will provide cooked spaghetti, hot dogs, Beano, power strips for crock pots, stomach pump, etc. (Just kidding about the stomach pump. I think.)

There is no entry fee but donations to help defray our costs will be gratefully accepted at the door.

November: Dinner to Honor PMs and Widows

Looking ahead to November, we note in the calendar a planned Family Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday evening, November 18. We will honor our Past Masters and our Widows at this event. Reservations will be required; a mailing with more information will be forthcoming. Past Masters and Widows will be served free, a nominal fee of $10 will be required for their guests and all other attendees.