---

GRAND MASTERS RELAY RUNNERS

For the last four years Bro. Stan Elpers, through sickness and health, has brought the Grand Master’s relay runners all around the state of Louisiana to raise money for Special Olympics. Two years ago he was on dialysis and last year he was without kidneys, waiting a transplant, and on daily dialysis with equipment specially set up in his van so he could still here with the runners. I’ve met few men as dedicated as Bro Stan. He lost his battle during the year and has left his work for others. Well done thou good and faithful servant. Bro. Eddie Wellman is picking up the torch and will be at Germania on June 9 at or about noon. These are mostly law enforcement officers who give up their own time and use their own money to make the trip. Please come run, walk or just come encourage these wonderful people and please also consider a donation for a very noble cause.

 

---

NEWS
Help us celebrate the 25 year anniversary of four of our members, two of which have traveled to the East in this period. It was a short twenty-five years ago that Brothers Allen Cox, David Cox (real brothers, sons of W. Bro. Pat Cox), Harry Ravain P.M. (California) and Patrick Nichols P.M. were initiated into our mysteries. We will acknowledge this milestone at the May 9 meeting. Please come out and help celebrate their accomplishment.

FINALLY – we are starting to see some results of reconstruction. Sheet rock is up in the hall. The Mims brothers (Andy and Melvin) spent an entire day working in our apartment last week and it is looking great. It will be a blessing for our custodian and us to finally get the FEMA trailer out of the yard. We can then spruce up the yard and plant a new evergreen to replace the one that was used for so many of our brother’s funerals and destroyed by Katrina. Our membership approved purchasing a container to keep behind Allied Music but we won’t be able to put one there until the trailer is gone. By the way, if anyone knows where we can purchase one at a reasonable price please give an officer a call.

Thanks to Brothers Donald Freeze, Dave Sorriano (and his wife Gina - man can she cook!) and Glen Cupit for last months meals. We are always looking for a meal contribution so if you would like to prepare, purchase, cook or just donate to the cause give us a call. As of now the kitchen is gutted to the bare walls and a new one is still in the planning stages so it has to be pre-coked or delivered.

---

Germania Lodge #46 Helps Cervantes Lodge Make History

Cervantes Lodge #5 has a long and rich history in the New Orleans area. As one of the oldest lodges in New Orleans, it has always worked in its original language of Spanish. A dispensation was granted before Katrina for Cervantes to change it’s work to English but they were unable to because of the storm. Well I am happy to announce that with the permission of the Worshipful Master of Cervantes, W. Bro. Al Bello, four members of Germania Lodge opened and closed Cervantes Lodge in due and ancient form on April 18th at 7:30pm in the English language for the first time in over 163 years. Members that were involved in this historic event were W. Bro. Andrew N. Mims P.M., P.D.D.G.M along with Bro. Donald Freeze, Bro. David Sorriano and I. W. Bro. Al Bello P.M. thanked us for assisting them in the work and looked forward to having many more meetings with us as plural members. Peace and Harmony prevailed and a wonderful meal was served afterwards.

Right now Cervantes has approx. 24 members thanks to the plural petitions that have come in over the past few weeks and is currently asking if anyone was or is thinking about having a plural with another lodge to please consider Cervantes. They truly do need our help and are a member of our unique Scottish Rite district. They meet once a month on the 3rd Wed. of the month at 7:30pm. For a plural petition please contact any of the members above, your lodge secretary, or the secretary of Cervantes lodge for a petition.
Written and sent in by Bro. Wilson Revelle

HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS sent in by my cousin Karen Webb A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?" Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g. The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute... that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour... I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day... you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes." He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden. So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can." So, my friend, put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while. Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life: Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it. Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply be kind to others. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late. The second mouse gets the cheese. When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane. Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live. You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person. Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Perpetual Membership Bro. Glenn Cupit has become the latest member to become a perpetual member. Thank you Bro. Glenn! The cost is based on dues which will almost surely increase next year. There hasn’t been a dues increase in eight years while everything else has skyrocketing. The cost of a perpetual membership is based on the dues so if you get one this year it will be $1,000 one time or $226 for five years. Call me if you are interested. If you have already paid 2007 dues we can apply that to the cost.

Looking for a little more fun in May? Until Oktoberfest became popular the Volksfest was the most popular German festival so if you would like to celebrate Spring like our forefathers come to the Deutsches Haus on May 11 or 12 – even better, both nights. I will be there volunteering both nights. Join us at the Deutsches Haus for good food, good drink, good music, and a good time. Friday May 11 & Saturday May 12 Admission is only $5.00 for non-members (children 12 and under – free). There is no charge for members (of the Deutsches Haus) and one guest. Doors open at 4 pm; Music & Food Service starts at 6 pm. The menu includes Bratwurst, Knackwurst, Frankfurters, Sauerkraut, and Potato Salad. And of course, an outstanding selection of German beers and schnapps. K kueck