Lodge Trip to England and Scotland. As you are reading your July-August Trestleboard, a group of Alexandria-Washington #22 members and spouses will have arrived at in Manchester, England on a fraternal visit to continue the traditions started in 1876 when Constitutional Lodge in Beverley, England, Liberty Lodge in Beverly, Massachusetts, took the first steps in establishing a tradition, now 131 years old tradition of exchanging fraternal greetings, gifts, and visits. The trip for Masonic year 6007 involves twenty seven participants from Beverly, MA and Alexandria-Washington #22 who will spend one week in England (Masonic activities) and one week in Scotland (cultural activities...but including a trip to Rosslyn Castle). The group plans a short (but informative) report to the lodge after our return.

Virginia History and Lodge Programs. I'm certain that all the Brethren realize that 2007 is the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Virginia Colony. We have several speakers and lodge programs in August and September, including the Community Builder Award, to be presented on 13 September, which underscore that event. In particular, we will use a recent book by a Masonic author on the life and activities of Brother Jonathan Swift, a contemporary of George Washington, a prominent member of Alexandria society, and a member of our lodge, as a lens to focus on personalities and events in Alexandria, A-W#22, and the Commonwealth of Virginia during the period 1760 - 1828. Also, MW Don Robey will present a program of historical film clips and an interpretation of early Virginia and AW#22 history.

The Quill Pen and Inkblot Literary Workshop is moving its quarterly meeting to Saturday, 21 July in Williamsburg. Members will travel to Williamsburg for a Fraternal Visit to the Peyton Randolph Lodge of Research (U.D.) The reason for this change is to give our members an opportunity to greet, congratulate and demonstrate solidarity to the brethren of the Grand Lodge of Virginia's newest Lodge of Research as "an intellectual ally in the field of Masonic inquiry". I will arrange details with the Master of the lodge. Peyton Randolph lodge opens at 10:00 AM and we will depart from the GWMNM to meet the opening hour. Plans in Williamsburg include a very short "rump session" of the QP&IB, either in the lodge anteroom or in a nearby Williamsburg Tavern, to conduct the work of the Society.

2007 Policy on Stated Communications: The first Stated of each month, when appropriate and when we have candidates, will involve degree work in the EA or FC degrees, When feasible, a short presentation on an item for the Archives will be included. There will also be business component of the meeting. The second Stated will be more traditional and will feature more formal dress, music, and generally a contemplative, spiritual atmosphere. More formal dress is encouraged and music will be featured to enhance the contemplative ambience.

Lodge and District 1A Ritual Schools: Because we anticipate that substantial degree work is likely to be done at the First Stated Communication of each month, our District and Lodge ritual schools will scheduled to maintain proficiency of the Degree Teams. The AW#22 Lodge Ritual School (first Sunday prior to the degree) is the primary rehearsal event and will be specific to the degree scheduled for the First Stated meeting. The District 1A Ritual School (last Monday of every month) is a supporting rehearsal date for general ritual proficiency. Master Mason Degrees will be scheduled as Called Communications when required.

Sincerely and fraternally,
Robert G. Watkins, Jr.
Worshipful Master

Greetings from the Secretary's desk,

Payment of Lodge Dues:

We have now passed the mid year point in the calendar year and we still have eight (8) members who have not paid their 2006/2007 dues and thirty-six (36) members who have not paid their 2007 dues. The 2006 dues are over a year in arrears and a suspension for non-payment of dues action is in progress but you can still pay up until the point when you will receive the suspension notice. The 2007 dues are $164.00 and are due and payable by January 1, 2007, however, you are not considered delinquent until December 31, 2007 if they are not paid by that date. You will not receive your 2007 membership card until your 2007 dues are paid. Your dues can be paid by credit card using the Lodge Web Site at http://aw22.org Just go to the page, select the "on-line payment" button and once on the payment page, find the button that applies to the payment you want to make and select that button. You will receive instructions to complete the action. If you make your payment by using the web site, you do not need to send in your dues notice, I will mail your membership card to you using another mailing page.

Trestleboard by Electronic Means:

Our Trestleboard mailing list now stands at 415 copies which is down from the count of 428 copies reported in the May-June Trestleboard as being mailed at that time. We still have a large number of Lodge members who receive Email but have not contacted me about switching to the Electronic copy of the Trestleboard. If you are receiving this Trestleboard by USPS mail and have the capability to receive it via the Internet, please consider making the change.

Sincerely and fraternally,
RW Granville C. Canard, Jr., PDDGM
Secretary

If you would like to receive your copy of the bi-monthly Lodge Trestleboard by electronic means, and help save the lodge cost on printing and mailing the paper copy, please send an Email message to the Secretary or the Worshipful Master informing him of the same. jcanard@cox.net

IN MEMORIAM Right Worshipful Alan Brown Ayers, PDDGM Born: September 9, 1941, Raised: September 9, 1968, Died: May 23, 2007 Brother David Wilson Glass, Jr. Born: January 2, 1917, Raised: June 19, 1958, Died: February 16, 2007 May they rest in peace.

STATED COMMUNICATIONS - The Stated Communications of this Lodge shall be held at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial (GWMNM), Alexandria, Virginia on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month except the fourth Thursdays of November and December; and for the additional Stated Communications for the observance of George Washington's birthday, June 24th for Saint John the Baptist Day, and December 27th for the Installation of Officers. Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft degrees will be conferred at the first Stated Communication when candidates are ready.

CALLED COMMUNICATIONS - Will be scheduled as required for Master Mason Degrees. All degree conferrals will be conducted as prescribed in Grand Master's Executive Order No. 2.

DISTRICT 1A and LODGE RITUAL SCHOOL - District 1A School will be held on the last Monday of the Month unless otherwise announced. AW#22 will use this as an opportunity to prepare for upcoming degrees. AW#22 Lodge Ritual Will generally occur the Sunday before the first Stated Communication Degree at 7:00 PM, unless otherwise stated. This schedule will provide two rehearsal sessions prior to conducting degree work at the first Stated Communication. Changes will be announced herein as necessary or communicated by e-mail.

YOUTH MEETINGS AT GWMNM - Alexandria-Washington Chapter, International Order of DeMolay, meets the first and third Sunday at 2:00 pm in North Lodge Room. Bethel No. 22, International Order of Jobs Daughters, meets the first and third Sunday at 6:00 pm in the North Lodge Room.