Brethren,

     Thank you all for having the faith in me to elect me Master of Unity Lodge No. 148.  I am excitied and am looking forward to a great year.  Many activities are planned and are all designed to build bridges with old and new members, and to strengthen our lodge for years to come.

     As such, we will participate in the Master's Achievement Award program, a well-balanced set of criteria which, when followed, builds the lodge with well-balanced programs.  Some of those programs will include a Boys Night Out (Mason/Non-Mason Night) at Captain Morgan's Club of the New Britain Rock Cats, and our family night picnic and fireworks at the New Britain Rock Cats Stadium.

     At several times during the year we will recognize and ask our Past Masters to share the meeting with the Master.  We have a wealth of history and knowledge with our Past Masters that seems appropriate to share with all.  I hope all Past Masters will attend lodge on their special night.  (Separate letters will be sent with these dates and honorees.)  We will have a Ladies at the Table ceremony to honor our ladies and the respective ladies' organizations within our fraternity.

     Youth will again be supported by Unity Lodge.  Our "Youth and Masons" night will occur in February and will include pool tournaments, darts competitions, setback, cribbage board games, and more.  Naturally, we will eat well.  People are still raving about last year's Chinese food and this year's men will be nothing less.

     An initiative to visit all the lodges in the district will be undertaken, as well as a major effort to put Unity Lodge in front of the community by sponoring a blood drive, a ConnecticuT CHild Identification Program (CT-CHIP), and a forum for non-profit organizations to coordinate charitable efforts within the community.

     Our Most Worshipful Grand Master, Brother William L. Greene, has a theme - The Masonic Family - on his pin for the year.  It will be our effort this year to build on that family concept by sharing our lodge with our families and by puuting our lodge in the eyes of the community.  Masonry is a fantastic way of life and does an extraordinary job in its philanthropy efforts, and yet the community doesn't know all that much about us.  Your officers and I will work our hardest to see that all with whom we come in contact receive a favorable impression of this great fraternity of ours.

     Your job is the easiest of all.  Come to lodge and have a great time!  All meetings will be preceded by a dinner at 6:30 p.m.  If you need a ride to lodge you can call me or email me.

Fraternally yours,

Harry E. Needham, III, Worshipful Master