--Welcome Brothers to the shortest month of the year. The good news is that Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning on Gobbler's Knob, so Spring is right around the corner! Keep in mind though that Phil's ex-wife Phyllis, who lives in Florida these days, claims that Phil is an habitual liar so who really knows eh?

--The stated meetings for this month are 2/5 and 2/19, Groundhog's Day and President's Day...coincidentally. 

--The Worshipful Master has declared this upcoming meeting (on the 5th) to be a casual meeting. You are encouraged to wear your favorite football team's fan gear in celebration of the upcoming Super Bowl. Unfortunately, not everyone's favorite team made it to the big game, but we'll still have fun with it!

--Speaking of the Super Bowl, we'll hold our 5th annual Super Bowl Party on Sunday 2/11 starting at 4:00. Big screen, free food and drink. Raffles, squares and other games to benefit the Lodge building fund will be available. Bring a friend and use it as a way to introduce them to Masonry. Where better to get their questions answered? This has always been a good time, so we'll see you there! Please RSVP to Worshipful Master Aaron Pearson at 419-370-9336 or Brother Mike Ellis at 330-931-2206. We'd love to know who and how many are coming for logistical purposes.

--Our second Pancake Breakfast will be Sunday 2/18 from 9:00 to 1:30. The blood drive truck will be out front again for this event. We did well at last month's meal, let's make this month's breakfast even better! We'd like to see more of the Brothers out to take part in these feasts, not only to bring your family and friends out to eat, but to lend a hand on the working side of things. Half a day would be better than nothing at all. It's your Lodge and these events are some of our biggest fundraisers for the year. Come on out and help serve the community.  

--Gibson Lodge is holding a raffle for an endowed membership! Tickets are $20 a piece. The drawing will be held at our Annual Inspection on Friday 3/22 at 7:00. Contact Brother Howard Ellis at 440-315-2707 or any Officer for info or to arrange for tickets. Best bet is to pick yours up at a Lodge meeting!

--The 16th District pocket calendars are out and still available. Come on out to a meeting to get your copy. By the way it is no longer the only way to find out what's going on...

--The 16th District is now running its website in partnership with The Valley of the Firelands as a way of getting info out to the Brotherhood as efficiently and timely as possible. The Valley's website is nothing short of phenomenal, the world at large is checking it out, and now we're a part of it. All District events are listed there. All Lodges are listed there, complete with Officer contacts and Lodge events. The website is valleyofthefirelands.org. Once there bring up the main menu, scroll down to see the !6th Masonic District and its events, Officers, etc. Each Lodge is listed as well, to include their events, such as inspections. Click around on things and explore all that's available. All the listed events will have links where you can register for that event. While not all events need registering for it does provide those running a given event a good headcount for various purposes. Those events that do need registering will also show an option to pay online. We will attempt to keep this as up to date as much as possible. If you'd like to see something listed there or have any questions about any of it please let me know.

--One upcoming event that will require registration on the website will be the 16th District Grand Master's Reception which will be held on May 17, 6:00 PM, at the Norwalk Eagles Aerie 711. Click on the event on the website and you're taken to a page where you can register and pay. This is the only registration and pay method this year, no physical tickets will be sold. If you need help registering contact me and we'll get you set up. 

--We realize some of the Brothers don't have access to the web or the means to get there. Any of the Officers of the lodge would be more than glad to help anyone in those instances. It's a brave new, exciting, technological world and this is a good and necessary way of keeping the District, and your Lodge, up to date. Please help us spread the word to those who need it.  

--A parting word from the Worshipful Master: "Sometimes being a brother is better than being a superhero." --Malcom X

Robert Cooke, Secretary, Past Master, Gibson #301