Norwood Masons Host MGH Blood Drive during Norwood Day Festivities Norwood, MA - September 5, 2016 - The Massachusetts General Hospital will hold a Norwood Community Blood Drive, on Saturday, September 10, 2016. Sponsored by the Norwood Masons, the blood drive will be part of the annual Norwood Day activities in Norwood Center. The Bloodmobile will welcome donors outside the Norwood Theater at 109 Central St. from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome and appointments are encouraged. To make an appointment, simply call 617-724-9699 or email kcronin@partners.org. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain additional height and weight requirements. Today the MGH Blood Donor Center provides the approximately 75,000 blood components necessary annually to transfuse patients at MGH and other nearby medical facilities. In addition to serving the patient population at MGH, the MGH Blood Donor Center also provides blood and blood components to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Shriners Burn Institute for Children, the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and MassGeneral for Children. Blood is supplied by volunteer donors – people who realize the ongoing need for lifesaving blood. Every September more than 16,000 people attend Norwood Day, which features live local entertainment, crafters, food from area restaurants and vendors, trolleys, sidewalk sales from local merchants, information booths from local organizations, kiddie rides, and town department displays. More information is available on the Recreation Department page at www.norwoodma.gov. Follow Orient Lodge @Orient_Norwood, or visit www.orientlodge.org for more information.
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On June 12th, 2016 members of Orient Lodge opened the time capsule that was secured in the northeast corner of the Norwood Masonic Building for 100 years. For those of us that attended it can only be described as awesome. To think that men in 1916 prepared a box, gathered important documents and secured it while constructing our building just for us to discover is very humbling. What were they thinking when they did it? Were they picturing what life in Norwood, (or the United Stated for that matter) would be like in 2016? What did they picture in their minds? I'm sure they didn't know we would be video taping the entire event, sharing still photo's in Instagram and twitter or that I'd being writing about it on the Orient Lodge Blog via the World Wide Web! Now with our time capsule out, and the contents discovered the Time Capsule Committee now has to decide what to put back in. Of course, its original contents will return, along with the time capsule from 1876, but we want to leave our mark. Our goal is to represent Norwood in 2016 in the best possible light for the members who open it in 2116. Whoa, that's weird to say, that the next time these contents will be seen will be in the year 2116. Will there even be a "Norwood Masonic Building" then? Will Orient Lodge still meet there? I hope so! But one thing is for sure, this time capsule is NORWOOD's time capsule. It doesn't belong to Orient Lodge, or even Masonry in general, but to the Town of Norwood. It is part of Norwood's rich history! Thus, the Committee would like the input of any and every Norwood resident. There's alot of things we can not include (things with batteries etc.) and things that will be too big, but we'll make every effort to choose the best suggestions and include them. Please see the form on the Time Capsule page to submit your suggestion. And please come by the Norwood Masonic Building on Norwood Day, September 10, 2016 to view the contents of the time capsule and if you have time have a tour of our awesome building. Thanks, see you there! Laura Tolman Selected Among 24 Norwood Nominees;
Teachers Honored for Classroom Innovation and Creativity NORWOOD -- May 6, 2016 -- Preschool teacher Laura Tolman today was named Norwood Teacher of the Year, capping off a celebration held at the Norwood Masons building to honor 24 Norwood teachers for their classroom innovation and creativity. The Norwood Teacher of the Year awards recognize teachers for the dedication and commitment to the education of Norwood students. This year marks the 10 year anniversary that the Orient Lodge of Masons has organized this program. Thirty-six nominations were entered, primarily by parents, on behalf of 24 Norwood teachers. Tolman was nominated by a parent who wrote about Tolman’s ability to help her son, recently diagnosed with autism, adjust to preschool and gradually become engaged in classroom learning and activity. “We were a family that was reeling, with a new autism diagnosis having been recently delivered and a baby boy who was completely lost in his world. Laura was our new tour guide to the way life could be.” The nomination continued, “I've never met another parent who doesn't think Laura is the glue that keeps their child together, constantly learning all while making amazing gains. She advocates tirelessly for every student in her class and never misses an opportunity to improve their learning environment.” Kate Bush, one of the jurors for this year’s program, said of Tolman’s nomination: “This teacher taught a family how to start walking down the road of raising a child on the autism spectrum, devised a technique that coaxed a boy who would not hold anyone's hand to hold hers, and developed simple activities that taught students the skills necessary to function successfully in a social environment. She develops constructive and creative solutions to seemingly intractable problems and seems extraordinarily gifted in making the human connection with students and their families that creates an environment where learning is exciting for everyone.” Tolman receives a $1,000 award in addition to an award plaque. The Willett Early Childhood Center will also receive a $1,000 charitable donation and a plaque for the school building. All nominees received a certificate and a $100 gift card for Sky Restaurant of Norwood. The 24 Norwood teachers honored in the 2016 program are:
Earlier this year nominations were solicited from the community; each nomination attested to their nominee’s innovation and creativity, ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, and work on special projects and initiatives. A jury comprised primarily of educators not from Norwood schools reviewed each essay with nominee names redacted, scoring each on the above criteria to select a winner. Originally conceived by the defunct Exchange Club of Norwood, Orient Lodge now proudly organizes the annual event. Previous Teacher of the Year Award winners include: 2015 - Lindsey Bell, Prescott Elementary 2014 - Dr. Michael Crowley, Norwood High School 2013 - Michael Finnerty, Prescott Elementary 2012 - Nora Glynn, Norwood High School 2011 - Scott Maffei, Oldham Elementary 2010 - Laurel (Oberg) Cawley, Prescott Elementary 2009 - Debbie (Saunders) Shook, Oldham Elementary 2008 - Kathryn (Donovan) Benson, Norwood High School 2007 - Sean Richardson, Balch Elementary Follow Orient Lodge @Orient_Norwood, or visit www.orientlodge.net for more information. 24 Norwood Teachers Honored for Classroom Innovation and Creativity; Teacher of the Year to be Named May 6 NORWOOD -- April 25, 2016-- Twenty-four Norwood teachers will be honored for their work in the classroom at the annual Norwood Teacher of the Year Award Reception on Friday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m.
Hosted annually by the Orient Lodge of Masons, the Norwood Teacher of the Year awards recognize teachers for the dedication and commitment to the education of Norwood students. Tickets for the Norwood Teacher of the Year Award Reception are available for purchase for $20. Visit http://norwoodtoy.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets. The reception will be held at the Norwood Masons Building at 76 Day St. The 24 Norwood teachers who will be honored this year are: Balch Elementary: Julie Cayer, Lindsay Ott Cleveland Elementary: Amanda Baker, Beverly Haffey, Janet Lynch, Kristine Atiyeh, Nancy Landfield Coakley Middle School: Jennifer Forrest, Katherine Mooney Norwood High School: Sarah Paine Oldham Elementary: Jaclyn Ignachuck Prescott Elementary: Jennifer Connolly, Jillian Leonard-Bouley, Julia Ficco, Laurel Cawley St. Catherine of Siena: Amanda Hayes, Beth Standring, Joan Sullivan, Paula Scollins Curley Willett Early Childhood Center: Colleen Reynolds, Elaine Haddad-Hajjar, Karen Wilson, Laura Tolman, Meg Corcoran All nominees will be honored at the reception, and receive a certificate and a gift card for Sky Restaurant of Norwood. One teacher, selected by a blind jury who evaluated each essay based on the above criteria, will be named Norwood Teacher of the Year and receive a cash award, a charitable school donation in their name, and an award. Hor d'oeuvres will be served. Earlier this year nominations were solicited from the community; each nomination attested to their nominee’s innovation and creativity, ability to inspire a love of learning in their students, and work on special projects and initiatives. A jury comprised primarily of educators not from Norwood schools reviewed each essay with nominee names redacted, scoring each on the above criteria to select a winner. Originally conceived by the defunct Exchange Club of Norwood, Orient Lodge now proudly organizes the annual event. In 2015, Prescott School teacher Lindsey Bell was honored as Teacher of the Year among 15 teachers. Follow Orient Lodge @Orient_Norwood, or visit www.orientlodge.net for more information. We at Orient Lodge thought the statement from the Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts was so unbelievably important that we needed to pass it on. It goes without saying that Orient Lodge supports and embraces the Grand Lodge ideology and will continue to strive to teach Faith, Charity and Brotherly Love. A Statement from the Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts
By now, word has traveled far and wide about the actions of the Grand Lodges of Tennessee and Georgia. For those of you who have not heard the news, these jurisdictions have recently decided to exclude men from the rights and privileges of Freemasonry on the basis of sexual orientation. For over 282 years, men free born, of lawful age, and well recommended have been welcomed and accepted as Freemasons in Massachusetts. Anyone meeting the following primary requirements may petition a Massachusetts lodge for membership: 1. An adult male (18 or older) of good character. 2. Men who believe in a Supreme Being – no atheist or agnostic can become a Mason – beyond that, we are not concerned with theological distinctions or particular religious beliefs. 3. Men interested in becoming a Mason because they hold a favorable opinion of our institution; whose decision to apply is based on their own free will and accord. These requirements have not changed. Freemasonry is a fellowship of friends and brothers who meet together for fraternal relations and association. A fraternity is defined as a group of people associated or formally organized for a common purpose, or the feeling of friendship that exists between people in a group. Freemasonry has been and always will strive to be the premier fraternity that meets both accepted usages of the term. Any action that runs contrary to the common purpose of Freemasonry and feeling of friendship that exists in our lodge rooms runs afoul of the basic tenets of Freemasonry: brotherly love, relief, and truth. It is of no concern to us whether or not a man is gay, as long as he is free born, of lawful age, and well recommended. As always brethren, take due notice thereof and govern yourselves accordingly. Fraternally, Harvey J. Waugh Grand Master It's hard to believe that March is almost over and Spring is here! It feels like just yesterday that Worshipful Blanchard was installed as Master of Orient Lodge and began a great Masonic year. It wont be much longer before the lodge goes dark and we'll start all over again. Worshipful Blanchard set a great agenda for our year, encouraging involvement and even winning the Gavel (see above picture). Orient Lodge has done a lot of good for our brethren and our community so far, but its not over... Tonight is Ladies Night dinner at the OCC and proves to be a great time with our ladies and Brethren. And coming soon is the Teacher of the Year award ceremony which is one of Orient Lodge's best events. Bro. Rogers and Bro. Cullaz along with Bro. Bush and other members have worked very hard to plan and implement the nomination, judging and ceremony process. Their hard work will recognize not only the winner but all those deserving educators who were nominated. So, stay up to date with all Orient Lodges news and events by visiting orientlodge.net regularly. Take due notice thereof and govern yourself accordingly. -SW |
Blog AuthorOrient Lodge's blog is written by Officers, Members and other contributors who observe the craft. This blog is used to update our members on upcoming events, past events, meeting recaps or other Masonic endeavors. Please feel free to comment or add to any discussion or even ask a questions about Orient or Freemasonry in general. Archives
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