Veterans Day Program. Our Stated Communication program on 8 November will pay honor to our Military Veterans. Brother Paul R. Evancoe, who has been a member of Freedom Lodge #112 AF&AM, Sykesville, MD and Master Mason since 1979, will be the speaker for the evening. Bro. Paul is a retired career U.S. Navy SEAL with significant combat experience in Viet Nam, Lebanon, and the Persian Gulf. Following his military career, he continued in government service as the Director for Special Operations in the Office of the Coordinator for Counter-terrorism at the US Department of State. In 1994 Bro. Paul took a position with the National Nuclear Security Administration where he headed the Office of Emergency Response which had world-wide nuclear and radiological accident and incident response responsibility. After 37 total years of government service he became the Vice President for Military Operations at FNH USA. FN is the largest manufacturer of small arms in the world today. Bro. Paul left FN in 2006 to become the president of Omega Science. Omega is involved in advanced technology research and development involving human electro-muscular incapacitation and apoptosis as a means to treat cancerous tissue. Brother Paul has impressive qualifications and experience that give him a unique perspective to address the lodge on this occasion and I welcome him as our speaker for the Veterans Day Program. I feel that his "crystal ball" thoughts on the possible contributions that Veterans could make in maintaining world order over the next 10-20 years will be of particular interest to all. And to get everyone in the "spirit" of the day - the Stewards will be serving MRE's at dinner. I request that all who wish to attend the dinner please let me or the Secretary know so that we can order sufficient MRE's.

Congratulations on Lodge Degree Work During September and October. I want to take special notice of this achievement and congratulate all the officers and members of the lodge on the degree work done during my absence in September and October. Over that period we raised seven Master Masons, passed three Fellowcrafts, and iniated one Entered Apprentice. This is an impressive record for the lodge and I congratulate all who participated in this important Masonic work. In particular I feel it important to note that this would not have been possible without the dedicated work of the catechism coaches and mentors to the new brethren. On behalf of the lodge I thank and commend each of you.

Cumbee Memorial Balcony. As many of you know, Alexandria-Washington Lodge received a bequest of $200,000 from the estate of Wor. Harold Cumbee and his wife Bertha. This bequest was received in 2006 and 2007 in two separate checks of $100,000 each. The provisions of the bequest provided that the Board of Trustees, in their sole discretion, had authority to decide how to use the funds. The Board of Trustees solicited ideas from the membership and four proposals were evaluated including one submitted by myself. As some of you may be aware, Wor. Harold was my Masonic Mentor. I learned all my catechisms and the Master Mason's lecture working with him. Based on this relationship, and due to the generous amount of the bequest, I felt it appropriate to use some portion of the funds to create a physical and visible reminder of Wor. Harold's contributions to the lodge. I proposed that the Trustees use some of the funds to install a traditional Mosaic Pavement in the lodge room and to install new carpets in the anteroom. The idea was to renovate the lodge room and make it into a model Masonic lodge room worthy of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial and the name of Brother George Washington. Also this would prepare for the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Memorial and simultaneously honor the bequest and memory of Wor. Harold Cumbee and Bertha. In a recent action, the Board of Trustees authorized a modest sum which will, hopefully, accomplish this objective on a smaller scale. The money will be used to renovate the balcony area outside the lodge office by repainting and re-carpeting it. In addition, a portrait of Wor. Harold and Bertha has been painted and will be placed on the north wall of the balcony area. This new lounge/library area will be called the Cumbee Memorial Balcony. A modest dedication ceremony is planned for November or December depending on completion of the work. An announcement will be made as soon as renovation work is finished and the portrait received. I hope that improvements can gradually continue by adding some lounge chairs and perhaps lighting to make it an attractive reading and study area.

Master's Departing Comments
As I write these words, it is with the realization that Masonic year 6007 is almost at an end and that I am writing my last Trestleboard as Worshipful Master of Alexandria-Washington No. 22. I want to express a sincere feeling of appreciation to all the brethren of the lodge for the fraternal courtesy, affability, and kindness shown to me over this period. I realize that following behind me there is a line of well informed and well prepared brethren who will provide the leadership for the lodge over the next seven years or so. I encourage each of you to be active in the lodge and to show them the same support and energy that were so apparent in Masonic Year 6007.

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

Greetings from the Secretary's desk,

Trestleboard by Electronic Means:

Brethren, the annual Lodge Dues for 2008 are due to be paid by January 1, 2008. The 2008 dues are the same as 2007, that is, $136.00 for the Lodge dues and $28.00 for the Grand Lodge Assessments for a total amount of $164.00. For those who pay their dues on an annual basis, you will be receiving a dues notice during the month of November. You can pay the dues by sending a check made payable to "Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22" to the Secretary or you can pay through the Lodge Web Site.

We still have six members who have not paid their 2006 dues and have now been delinquent for nearly a year. These members will be suspended at the November 8, 2007 Stated Communication if the payment is not received by that date.

We have twenty-eight members (which includes the six from 2006) who have not paid their 2007 dues to date. These additional twenty-two members will be subject to suspension for non-payment of dues as of January 1, 2008 if the payment has not been received by that date. Brethren, if you are in this category, please pay your dues as soon as possible. If you have a problem where you are not able to pay the dues, you should make this known by sending a letter to the Worshipful Master or the Secretary and let the Lodge know about you problem so help can be rendered where appropriate.

RW Granville C. Canard, Jr., PDDGM
Secretary

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.

"Sons of Light" Douglas Hamer Wood Senior Warden and the officers and members of ALEXANDRIA-WASHINGTON LODGE No. 22 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons request the honor of your presence at their Installation of Officers for the Masonic year 6008. The public ceremony will be conducted on Thursday, December 27, 2007 At 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Alexandria, Virginia. Black-Tie Optional Reception to follow in the Memorial Assembly Hall.