December 2019
Newport Mesa Lodge No. 604
1401 E. 15th St., Newport Beach CA, 92663
Grand Master of Masons of California: Most Worshipful John E. Trauner
Inspector, 907th Masonic District: Craig Reade, PM
Brethren, family, and friends
The time has come. The year comes to an end shortly and my year in the East is almost over. This had to be one of the fastest years in my life it seems. So much happened. So many great memories. We had many first hellos with newly initiated brothers and we said our finally good byes to some of our most beloved. Many highs and some heart breaking lows.
For all the great things I give all credit to my committee members. For all that didn’t go as planned I place solely on my shoulders. We are however I believe a more united lodge than ever. Great things are on the horizon for our humble lodge. Strong leadership is in place to get us there and year after year Newport Mesa will continue to grow and thrive!
I humbly thank all of you for all of your help, advice, and good fellowship during my quick tenure. It has been an absolute honor to serve as Master and I look forward to continue my masonic journey and help in all ways possible
With my eternal love and gratitude,
Diego Verduzco
Well well well, December and the end of the year is upon us, my how time flies. This is the last month I am in charge of the kitchen and I gotta be honest, I'm excited about that. This is also the last article I will write as your Junior Warden and I'm gonna let you in on a little secret, I am aware that not too many people actually read this.
The Trestle Board gets sent to more than 300 people every month and only about a third of those people actually open the email. Of the ones who do open it only about half of them click on the Trestle Board. So from this point forward my articles will be speaking directly to the small number of brothers I know who actually read it. During the first few months of the year I made several requests that if you did not personally know me to please email me and introduce yourself. I also made several suggestions for how brothers can be more involved at lodge, in ritual as well as other places. I ended up getting one response from a brother I did not know, Bro Jay Greer. He has been a member of our lodge for quite some time but has not been around in years due largely to health complications. He expressed a desire to return his 3rd degree obligation (although he returned his 1st and 2nd in long form he never got around to returning his 3rd) so I have been meeting with him about once a week since spring to work on his 3rd and it is coming along. Getting to know Bro Greer and helping him work on his 3rd degree obligation has been one of the highlights of my year. This year like those before and those yet to come will always be filled with ups and downs. I lost Bro Knowles this year, buy gained Bro Greer. Freemasonry has truly become a big part of my life and I am grateful and honored to be a part of this fraternity. I am also grateful to the brothers who are active and are sharing this journey with me. Thanks for taking a few minutes to read this and I look forward to seeing you at lodge, as often as you are able to attend. Come down for my last meal as Junior Warden, Pot Roast, Potatoes, Green Beans and Carrots...and something sweet for dessert.
Sincerely & Fraternally Bro Charles T. Kelly
December Event Highlights
- Wednesday December 4th at 6pm: Stated Dinner
- Wednesday December 4th at 7pm: King Solomon Meeting
- Wednesday Decmber 4th at 7:30pm: Stated Meeting
- Saturday December 14th at 1pm: Officer Installation
Please visit our online calendar below for the most complete and up to date information.
Jack paris, pm - memorial service
annual Installation of Officers
Birthdays this Month
- 12/3 John Webb
- 12/5 Ned Bourjlian
- 12/10 William Hagerman
- 12/12 Richard Stuart, Ph.D
- 12/14 Bill Horn
- 12/15 Jay Erwin
- 12/16 Ara Assadourian
- 12/17 Michael Kosareff
- 12/17 Gregory Lee
- 12/18 Kurt Handshuh, PM
- 12/20 Hafez KhannaKhjavani
- 12/27 Reginald Fifer Jr.
- 12/29 Lee Risch
- 12/31 Raul Verduzco
3rd Degree Anniversaries
- 12/9 Luis Perez
- 12/9 Thomas Trooien
- 12/10 Dorby Sims
- 12/11 Charles Kelly
- 12/16 Alfred Kirsch, PM
- 12/17 Rosendo Hernandez
- 12/17 Hal Mc Laughlin
- 12/29 Lee Risch
Living Hiram Award Recipients
- 1989 Rolf Anderson, PM
- 1990 Dixon Webb Jr., PM
- 1995 Jerry French, PM
- 1999 William Housley, PM
- 1999 Thomas Orr
- 2001 Vincent Ko, PM (337)
- 2007 Albert Jazwiecki
- 2008 John Armstrong Jr.
- 2009 Thomas Radtke
- 2011 Omar Blanchard
- 2012 Glenn Norman
- 2013 James Barr Jr., PM
- 2014 Kurt Handshuh, PM (693)
- 2014 Luke Keith, PM
- 2015 Charles Peck Jr., PM
- 2018 Diego Verduzco
Follow @newportmesa604
Lodge Officers
Master: R. Diego Verduzco
(714) 743-9246
Senior Warden: Justin Lewis
(714) 206-8305
Junior Warden: Charles Kelly
(714) 349-3567
Senior Deacon: Matthew Ward
(714) 331-7790
Junior Deacon: Jeff Castellano
(949) 922-0645
Marshal: Chris Dennis
(714) 931-7360
Senior Steward: Matt Pike
(617) 201-6578
Junior Steward: Robert Schmidt
(949) 689-7443
Chaplain: Blair Birtcher
(949) 929-5513
Tiler: Darrell Hograve
(949) 295-9458
Organist: Glenn Norman
(949) 294-4057
Secretary: John Armstrong
(949) 830-7011
Treasurer: Hugo Zusho
(818) 726-0329
Head Candidates Coach: James Barr, PM
(714) 225-2277
Officers Coach: Luke Keith, PM
(949) 554-5072
Inspector: Craig Read, PM
(657) 215-0051
Masonic Education: Gary Shumate, PM
(714) 313-5646
Fraternal Support: James Barr, PM
(714) 225-2277
Trestle Board Editor: Jeff Castellano
(949) 922-0645