As master of the Lodge for this coming year I wish to thank you for your past support and confidence in myself and the other officers in electing or appointing us to our present positions. We look forward to your continuing support in the upcoming year. I would like to begin this year by inviting all brothers to join myself and the 2010 officers in strengthening the foundation of our lodge. One of the first lessons in masonry is that as operative masons build buildings, we as speculative masons help to build better men. The foundation or support of any organization, but more especially ours, is the strength of its members. When we first took our obligations we soon learned that masonry takes the working tools of the operative masons and emblematically utilizes them in the building of better men. We can and must be willing to share our time, talents, knowledge and expertise to reach out, support and strengthen our Masonic foundations, which my brothers is you. To meet this end we must be willing and able to communicate with each other. This year I invite the 2010 core of officers and all the brothers of our lodge in helping to build up and reinforce the foundation of our lodge (our brothers) through a campaign of communication. I would like to have the opportunity to be able to speak one on one with all of you this year, and have challenged myself to make at least one call to each member of our lodge during the coming year. I encourage the 2010 officers and all of you, the brothers of Washington Lodge to pick up the phone, or if the opportunity arises, to visit each other and keep the lights of masonry lit. With your support, input, and participation together we can make 2010 a great year. I would like to invite all of you to make the attempt this year to visit the Lodge for meetings, events, or just come to Sunday breakfast. This is your Lodge, and as Master I am only one of the working tools to help in its construction and maintenance. I welcome suggestions to make the Lodge better, and am here to help with any problems or concerns that you may have. Please feel free to contact me if I can assist you in any way. Remember the Lodge without you is just a building that cannot and will not stand on its own. I look forward to serving you as master and in return for your support; I give you my promise to do my best to meet the challenges ahead of us all.

Fraternally,

Paul Knecht