At the Stated Communication of ACME Lodge on the night of April 8, 2008 the following change of the Lodge By-Laws was proposed. In accordance with the Masonic Digest all members must be informed of the proposed change and the meeting at which the fmal vote for its approval will take place, This meeting will be Tuesday May 13, 2008 - if three-fourths of all members of the Lodge then present vote in favor thereof, it is adopted, and will go into effect after approval of the Grand Lodge or it's authority.

Section 4.0 I now reads:
Section 4.0 I Dues - Every member of this Lodge shall pay to the Secretary, for use of the Lodge, the sum of forty eight dollars and 35 cents ($48.35) per annum, which sum shall be due and payable in advance on or before the fltst day of each Masonic year, which Masonic year shall begin on the 28th day of December of each year and end on the 27th day of December of the following year, except life members, honorary members and those mcmbers whose dues are remitted in accordance with Masonic Law.

Change in Section 4.0 I to read:
Section 4.0 I Dues - Every member of this Lodge shall pay to the Secretary, for use of the Lodge, the sum of sixty six dollars and 35 cents ($66.35) per annum, which smn shall be due and payable in advance on or before the first day of each Masonic year, which Masonic year shall begin on the 28th day of December of each year and end on the 27th day of December of the following year, except life members, honorary members, and those members whose dues are remitted in accordance with Masonic Law.

In-addition the members voted to increase the requested voluntary donation for the Trestle Board to four dollars($4.00) reflecting the true cost of publishing this paper monthly. If By-Law change approved this will make the 2009 dues notice read:

Dues ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $66.35
Voluntary Donations Masonic Endowment Charity Fund ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Masonic Endowment~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $3.65
Charity Fund ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $1.00
Trestleboard ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $4.00
_____________________________________________________________________
Total ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ $75.00

This is an appropriate time for members to consider the Perpetual Membership program. If you become a Perpetual Member prior to the approval of the above resolution, by Grand Lodge, to change the annual dues you can do so at the current rate of dues, which is $48.35 X 20 years = 967.00. The cost of Perpetual membership will increase by $360.00 if the raise is approved. You have the choice of a one-time payment of the total or can opt for a payment plan which requires a $200.00 initial payment and must be paid in full with-in five years. Until paid in full you would be required to continue paying the annual dues. This also exempts you trom any future raises in dues and can be beneficial to both the individual and certainly to the Lodge. If you would iike to become a Perpetual Member or have questions concerning the various options, please contact the Secretary. There are also other memberships available for a minimum of $200.00 dollars, Memorials, Honorary and Friendship, these put the members name on the Lodge membership role for ever and are financially beneficial to the Lodge as long as it exists.

Brothers, We are all very aware of the increased cost of living and how it is affecting all of us. Imagine what this has done to a Widow trYing to get along on Sodal Security or flxed income? We have all taken an Oath to look after our Masonic Widows, becoming a Fund Member is an excellent way to Honor that commitment. To join contact the Worshipful Master who is also our Fund Trustee.

Dear Brothers,

Please accept my heart-felt thanks to all the donors who responded thus far to an urgent request of the 2007 and possibly 2008 financial deficit the membership was made aware of in the March letter from your Worshipful Master. Your cheerful and voluntary donation was over-whelming to me. However, if you were unable for any reason to donate at this time, or you may feel more comfortable any time through-out this fiscal year, please feel free to do so. Thank you's will be via the Trestle Board rather than personal letters to reduce the cost of postage.

On a serious note, while it is the responsibility of the Elected and Appointed Officers from their respective station to superintend the day to day operation of the Lodge, it is also the responsibility of every Master Mason in good standing on the side lines to consider it his duty to assist in any and all decision process. How does this affect me, you might ask yourself. The answer is difficulties and problems can be solved by input from the Craft on the side lines and not solely by a small huddle group. Acme Lodge No. 222 is facing a financial challenge at the present time. As Worshipful Master, I'm inviting each Brother of our proud Lodge to not only let your presence be felt but your voices be heard at our regular meetings and various functions.

Three very important planned events coming up:

May 3rd First of two Widow Luncheon events this year. Please follow through on your contacts.

June 14th Flag Day. Our Lodge will participate in some manner during this event.

June 24th Lodge Dark - Past Master Night. Invite a prospective member. Contacts for this occasion are Ronney E. Posey and Jack O. Cutchins. A head count is necessary.

Read your Trestle Board Brothers and plan to attend the various functions or events.

Your Humble Servant
Harry R. "Bob" Davis
Worshipful Master

The following Brothers were "RAISED" during the month of April and have been Master Masons since.