Ohio Grotto Association
40 Public Square Willoughby, Ohio 44094-7864
Telephone: (440) 946-2334

The Communicator

Grottos From • Ohio • Kentucky • Pennsylvania • West Virginia

Communication

Is the Backbone of Every Organization:

We Will Communicate to You Everything

That Is Communicated to Us:

This Is a Promise

From the

O.G.A.

To Your Grotto!

From the President of the Ohio Grotto Association, Michael Tomascin

Prophets and Ladies of the Ohio Grotto Association;

Thanks to everyone who has given me the opportunity to continue to sreve you in the OGA line as President. Congratuiations go out to Woody Sibley Jr. PM and Lady Sherri for a great year as President of the OGA. Congrats also to the other officers of the OGA and our new Sentinel William (Gator) Fisher. I am looking forward to working with these Officers.

A Specisl thank you goes out to my Lady Tammy who has always been behind me and supported me through my adventure in becoming President of the OGA. Alos a Big Thanks to Tammy's Mom and Dad Jack Munro and Lady Norma for also being there and supporting me.

One of my biggest pet peeves is communication. There are several things we are trying to do to communicate among the Grottoes in the OGA and the realm. The first is that we are now on Facebook thanks to Josh Anderson, PM from O Ton Ta La Grotto for starting and maintaining this site. Also thanks to Woody Sibley, Jr., PPOGA for helping Josh maintain the contents. If any Grotto in teh OGA has something to post including events past or future add it to the Facebook. Another form of communication is the OGA Web-Sites calendar. All Grottoes in the oGA should be putting their schedule on evernts on the web-site. This is an important tool for the officers of the OGA to plan their travels. Last but not least is the Communicator. The OGA Board of Governors have approved sending the Communicator tot all Prophets in the OGA.

Another goal I have for my year is to travel to the Grottoes in the OGA that I have not been to before. I want my firsst Road Runner (Beep-Beep).

Please put the following dates on your calendar for 2012:
February 3-5, 2012 - Zone Conference @ Khana Shaha -- Details are in the Communicator and on the OGA Web-Site.
May 4-5, 2012 - Zone conference @ Caliph Grotto
August 15-19, 2012 - Convention @ Caliph Grotto
Hope to see everyone at the future events. Have a safe and happy holiday.

Michael and Tammy

An Article from the First Lady:

Prophets, please invite your Lady to attend the February Zone Conference. The Ladies luncheon is casual and the theme will be harts for Valentine's Day. I am asking htat the Ladies wear a shirt with harts or love on it. I hope that like always we will have a good time and good fellowship. Thank you so much for your attendance aat this event. I know that Khana Sahara Grotto will provide a wonderful meal and entertainment for this wonderful weekend.

Many thanks again,
In Grotto Love
Tamy Tomascin

Deputy President of the Ohio Grotto Association: Larry Budd

Prophets, I am here to let you know how it works;

To earn a Road Runner from the Ohio Grotto Association you need to visit all the 22 Grottoes. There are slips to be completed by you and signed by the Monarch of the visited Grotto for each event you attend. Send your slip to the Road Runner Chairman, Don Fiest, PM for recording. When all 22 Grottoes have been visited you will receive a Road Runner Pin and Certificate at a Zone Conferences or the August Convention. The second time you visit all 22 Grottoes your spouse will receive a Road Runner Pin and Certificate. A Prophet can earn as many and your spouse can receive as many Road Runner Pins as you would like.

Man Miles represent the number of miles from your home Grotto to the Grotto you may be visiting. There are slips that you fill out and have the Monarch of the Grotto you visited sign. Then turn the slips into the Man Mile representative in your Grotto so he can forward them to Jim Frederick, PM from Amrou Grotto. This program goes from July 1st of any given year to June 30th of the next year. This way the Man Mile Chairman has a chance to compile everything and have his report ready to read at the next Convention. The Grotto with the most Man Miles receives the traveling tire plaque to take home to their Grotto for one year. This past August Aut Mori Grotto finally was able to claim the Tire from Khana Shahar Grotto after they have held it for 9 years. Anyways, I have place the Roadrunner and the Man Mile address to send them to so that you may get ON THE ROAD AND RECEIVE A ROADRUNNER PIN for your Fez.

The address to send your Road Runner slips to is:
Don Fiest, PM
1185 Granville Road
Newark, Ohio 43055-2128

The address to send your Man Mile slips to is:
Jim Frederick, PM
2255 Three Towers Road
Chandersville, Ohio 43727-9753

First Vice President of the Ohio Grotto Association: David Chambers

THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

I am often asked why should I belong to The Ohio Grotto Association, and the answer is that if you like to have fun and associate with fun people then this is the place to be.

For a mere one dollar per year you get the opportunity to attend two Zone Conferences and The OGA Convention. When you attend these events not only do you get to mingle with some of the finest people in the realm but sometimes you even learn a thing or two as well. And of course the ladies all get together and have fun.
You get to see old friends and make new ones too.

The Zone Conferences and The Convention are so popular that many of The Grand Line Officers, Past Grand Monarchs and their Ladies come to join in the fun.
You do the things that memories are made of such as helping a stranded Past President and his Lady, and watching another Past President dodge cars, really just one car and I think she was really trying to run him down.

OGA Membership helps to keep your grotto informed about the many events happening around the realm and the member grottoes, such as Installations, Ceremonials, Monarchs Balls, Master Mason Nights and so much more.

Did you know that all Monarchs and Past Monarchs of member grottoes are eligible to run for the OGA Line and eventually be OGA President? Having a Past Monarch of your grotto as OGA president is a feather in the fez of your grotto and gives your grotto a chance to show your grotto to the other prophets of the realm.

Now some say their grotto cannot afford to pay one dollar per prophet to the OGA but I believe your grotto cannot afford not to belong to The Ohio Grotto Association.

So come on out to our functions and have some fun!

I look forward to seeing all of you as we travel the realm.

Second Vice President of the Ohio Grotto Association: Martin Trent

Greetings Prophets and Grotto Ladies! Thanks to everyone who has shown such fine Grotto hospitality during my travels over the last several months. It's really the traveling and the super friends I've made across the Realm that keeps me coming back to Grotto. I encourage all of you to get out and visit the functions of the other Grottoes. What fun and fellowship you will enjoy!!!

There is information included in this newsletter for our upcoming February Zone conference to be hosted by Khana Shahar Grotto in Springfield, Ohio. I hope you will plan to attend and enjoy the social and educational aspects of this conference. Yes, I said educational because there is going to be an educational presentation on the differences of the several generations that make up our current and target members. It may surprise you just how differently the various generations approach life. Hopefully this will provide some valuable insights that each and every one of us can use in improving our Grotto, attracting new members, and keeping our current members interested and active. I especially encourage the Chief Justice and Venerable Prophets of the Grottoes to attend this educational session because it will be helpful in planning your year as Monarch. We've already made a decree that we won't have a huge snow storm this year, so plan now on attending the February Zone conference.

Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to all!!!!
Marty Trent

Sargeant at Arms of the Ohio Grotto Association: Bruce Seaburn

Question ? ? ? How do we attract new members to the Grotto?

A question we have all tried to have an answer for. But what is the best answer. The one answer that brings men to the door to join. I don't know. If I did Baku Grotto would have membership numbers that it did 20 years ago. I can tell you what doesn't work.
1 - Doing nothing
2 - Talking about it and then referring to item 1
3 - The same thing we have always done because "that's the way we always do it"
So what can we do?

The first thing we must do is accepting the fact we are OLD. Our average age is mid-60's. We need new YOUNG members. To attract them we must look at what we have to offer them. We need to look at their wants and needs. I had a chance to talk to a 30 something member about his Grotto. They are attracting new young members with their young members and are dragging the old guys along kicking and screaming. But they are working it out. A focus on having more events that include children and grandchildren. Entertainment that can be enjoyed by all. And evening hours that are accommodating to more members.

Will this work? I think so. The first step is to ask your members and members of your blue lodges. Then try something. If you don't try anything only one thing will happen! Nothing.

Sentinel for the Ohio Grotto Association: William Fisher (Gator)

YOU CAME

YOU SAW

YOU ROCKED AND ROLLED ALL NIGHT LONG.

A great show by the Van Dells presented by Kishmee Grotto.

We had attendance by Grand Line Officers, Past & Present OGA Officers, Prophets plus all the other people that attended to help make this a good night for the Grottoes.

The dinner provided by the Hotel was excellent. Sorry for all who could not attend, you missed a good time.

Exposure is the best way to promote your Grottoes. Visit your Lodges. Open your Grottoes. Talk to all Mason. Tell them what good things the Grottoes do for others.

I wish to thank all who voted for me. I will do the best job that I can.

Hope all of you and your loved ones have safe and happy holidays.

You All Take Care Now
Gator

Ohio Grotto Association Chaplain: Timothy Brooks

As the newly appointed Chaplain for the O.G.A., I made a commitment to the Officers as well as the Prophets to try to keep all informed of those in sickness and of those that have passed on to be with the GRAND MONARCH of the UNIVERSE. I hope that the list does not get increasingly lengthy through out my term.. but I will try to keep all informed. I would like for the Secretaries to send me those names in sickness and those that have passed . I do not need the addresses of them, as those that are closer to them will know it.. but we will keep all in our thoughts and prayers … Listed below are the ones that have come to my attention for this publishing, sorry if I missed someone . Keep them all in your Prayers.
SICKNESS:
Richard (Slippery) Krabill Coronary
Shari Chambers (Wife of 1st Vice Pres. Dave Chambers)
Foot surgery & still having problems.
William (Bill) Wears (Wandas husband) Still doing dialysis
Candy McGuire (Wife of Larry McGuire) Motorcycle accident Was touch and go - coming along fine.
DEATHS:
Prophet Edward Renz - Aug.12th, 2011 Aut Mori Grotto
James Hines, PM - Aug.19th, 2011 Ben Bey Grotto
Barbara Shawver - Sept. 8th, 2011 Wife of PGM Ed Shawver
Judy Cokonougher - Oct. 19th, 2011
Wife of RWB Steve Cokonougher
Carlyle (Bud) Welding, PM - Oct. 22nd, 2011 Achbar Grotto
Charles Rhine, PM - Oct. 23rd, 2011 Ali Baba Grotto

Again I ask that you keep each and everyone of these families in your prayers and be kind and loving to one another , for you never know when YOU will need the outstretched hand of another. Remember the meaning of the upcoming Holidays and be safe in your travels…

In Good Fellowship

Tim (Timmy ) Brooks

GOD BLESS AMERICA and OUR TROOPS

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