As I sit down to write these words, it's the Saturday before Christmas, and New York is expecting a historic snow storm. So it's a great opportunity to reflect on the year just passed and look forward to a New Year and new decade. I hope that everyone had a joyous Holiday Season, and wish you all nothing but health and happiness in the coming year. As I mentioned in last month's notes, we were expecting more money from our 2nd Nassau donation drive. I am happy to report that the good Brothers of Paumonok - Port Washington Lodge #855 have fulfilled their pledge and presented me a check for $50,000 in December. Thanks to the efforts of R:.W:. Larry Tuck, R:. W:. Al Cortizo, W:. Adam Bernstein, and W:. Carlos It is now in our hands, and will be sent to State Bank in short order to further reduce the mortgage obligation. So far, we have collected $400,000 from our Brother Lodges and almost $40,000 for our own Brothers in our Lodge fund drive. All these funds have been used to first eliminate the last monies due to Vincent Matassa, our contractor, and to reduce our obligation to the State Bank Mortgage. This Paumonok -Port Washington donation will bring our outstanding mortgage balance to around $450,000 and we are still waiting for a $50,000 donation form Bethpage Lodge. I have been assured this was to be in our hands shortly. I cannot thank all who participated in this drive enough. This literally saved us. Had it not been for the foresight of everyone in the district and the hard work of the donation team in our Lodge our Temple on West Main Street would have had to be sold. A fate I vigorously wanted to avoid! And we did it! In January we will sit down with the bank and convert our interest only mortgage to a conventional one. Our income will be able to sustain the mortgage and allow us to finish the building. We as Trustees can get back to running and improving the facility and out of the fund raising business. That does not mean we can sit idle. We as a Lodge must take up the mantle to continue to fundraise and work hard to retire the balance of this mortgage and as I said in the past, the building will not be complete until the remaining mortgage is satisfied. Please consider helping any way you can, with personal donations, fundraising ideas and please do not forget to include Matinecock Lodge and the Historical Society in your estate planning. To this end, W:.Curt Fields has a planned benefit dinner dance and journal this coming March 18th. The deadline to get your Journal ads and donations is fast approaching. Please do whatever you can to take ads, sell ads and tickets for this event. It will be a first class affair, and I am sure everyone will enjoy the festivities. Not to mention the funds will be used to further reduce the mortgage. Another project the Trustees have begun is securing photos of all the Lodge buildings and meeting places of the 2nd Nassau Lodges. Brother Gene Ebersberger has been in contact with the entire district Lodges and several Nassau County officials to secure photos of these buildings. We plan to display them as a collection somewhere in the Temple. If you have access to any photos, please see Bro. Ebersberger, we can make copies so you do not have to give up your originals. As always, all are welcome to attend and participate in out monthly Trustee meetings. Please consult the trestle board in this communication for dates and times. Once again Happy New Year, and I look forward to seeing all of you in Lodge Respectfully Submitted
