Trestle Board

2025-2026 Trestle Board

White Plains Lodge #473 Trestle Board 2025-2026

Officers 2025-2026
W∴M∴ Marc Padro
S∴ W∴ Michael Padro
J∴ W∴ Richard Powell
S∴ D∴ Jermaine Smith
J∴ D∴ Luis Rios
Marshall: Justin Fransico
SMC: Damien Ramirez
JMC: Chato San Carlos Liga
Senior Steward: Rafael Alvarez
Junior Steward: Kobbie Mundo
Treasure: W∴ Anthony Fella
Secretary: W∴ Stephen Petty
Chaplin: Frank Carozza
Tyler : Andrew Mosko
Trustee: W∴ Andrew Haight
Trustee: W∴ Andrew Lovato
Trustee: W∴ Sam Holden

Goals

Increase public awareness to the lodge within the city of White Plains

Continue charitable traditions set from previous years

Increase membership and convert EAs and FCs to the sublime degree of MM
1. Increase engagement with membership (retention)
2. Retention calls from the lodge

Create a balance between lectures, ritual and social events

Prepare future leaders of the lodge to understand expectations of their roles

Strengthen mentorship programs

Action plan for goals

1. Increase public awareness to the lodge within the city of White Plains

Attend St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city of White Plains on March 14, 2026
Attempt to host a blood drive in the city of White Plains (TBD)
Attend White Plains BID events with brothers and families at events such as Rock the Block - Oktoberfest - Winter Village & Holiday Market. Preferably with some masonic attire (Shirts, Hats, etc)
Attend Battle of the Badges 2026 Charity Hockey game with table presence

2. Continue charitable traditions set from previous years

Blood Drive with Red Cross
Packing Thanksgiving Meals with Salvation Army of White Plains
Ringing of the bells at City Center (Target)
Fundraise to support St. Patrick’s Day Parade by purchasing a page in their program
Fundraise to support Battle of the Badges charity by purchasing a page in their program
Toys 4 Tots at Holiday Party
Coat Drive

3. Increase membership and convert EAs and FCs to the sublime degree of MM

Host brother socials where members can bring a friend over the summer. Events held at Wolf and Warrior Brewing Company, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company or another location. BBQ at the lodge over the summer or find a park where we can gather and have a BBQ. Cigar social.
Assign mentors to incoming members who will have expectations on responsibilities to being a mentor for incoming members.
Have more schools of instructions, not just for learning the ritual, but providing additional options for brothers to ask any clarifying questions on degrees that they experienced or functions of the lodge. School of instruction should also include instructions for Masters. Perhaps hosting a Road to the East at White Plains lodge, North Star training and other Masonic Programing

4. Create a balance between lectures, ritual and social events

Every first Wednesday of the month should be dedicated to running meetings, meeting minutes, treasury report, voting, balloting and general masonic business to be conducted.
All degrees should be held on the first Wednesday of the month they are scheduled to run
Third Wednesday should be space for guest lectures, social events, and travel night
Travel to at least ONE lodge that meets the same night as White Plains Lodge #473
- Croton #368 (Carmel)
- Guiding Star- Angle #565 (Bronx)
- Dunwoodie #863 (Kisco)
- St. Johns #1 (New York City)
Once this year, the lodge should meet at a local restaurant in lieu of going to lodge for fellowship
Fellowship Night should happen twice during the year where brothers can come to the lodge for a themed dinner

5. Prepare future leaders of the lodge to understand expectations of their roles

Begin to identify and engage upcoming leaders within the lodge to learn about their masonic goals
Offer support to these brothers by engaging current sitting officers with the opportunity to teach the brothers about their function.
Step up night or shadow where members can either step up into a role for the evening, or shadow an officer for the night in the role of interest learning first hand the responsibilities and organization required to achieve success

6. Strengthen mentorship programs

Engage Past Masters as well as long term members and request that they mentor new brothers to teach and assist them in navigating this fraternity
Develop a checklist of task a mentor should do with mentee which can be evaluated and rewarded with a certificate from the lodge (for mentor)
Develop new Master Mason challenge certification where recent Master Masons will have task to complete within their first Masonic Year and receive certificate at end of year
MASONIC ETIQUETTE - game - teams

Calendar
Any date marked with a ** are functions that are optional to attend, please note, your attendance at lodge functions are more important.

June:

June 14th - Installation

June 18th - Lot BBQ
- Brothers, interest and tenants of the building are invited

July:

July 12 - Summer picnic - Bro:. Rich home.
- BYOB
- Swim trunks
- White Plains Lodge Brothers, wives, kids only
July 25 - Blood Drive - New Rochelle
- Need brothers to donate blood
- Check in/out donators

August:

August 6 - Post work brew with the crew
August 17 - Officer Opening and Closing Walk Through Rehearsal
August 24 - Final Lodge Clean Up
- Organize Sec office, review closest and lodge room
  - Chamber of reflection
  - Lodge preparedness
  - Kitchen, walls, utility room
August 27 - Officer Opening and Closing Walk Through Final Rehearsal
- Officers to attend lodge 6PM to practice opening and closing the lodge

September:

September 6th - Grand Master’s Day at Yankee Stadium**
- https://www.gofevo.com/event/grandlodge71
September 17th - Stated Communication
- Themed Latin Dinner for Hispanic Heritage Month
- Early Dinner
- Guest speaker W∴ Negron Agueybana Lodge No. 1198
- Festive Board
September 21 - Grand Master’s Day at Tapan Family Picnic **
September 21 - Knickerbocker 182 Germain Oktoberfest Tapan, NY **

October:

October 1 - Summoned Communication - Photo Day - Annual Communication
- All petitions to be read and given to investigative committee
- Express to committee to try and have all meetings done by next regular communication
- Lecture by Bro Liga: Freemasonry in Today's World
- Back up Lecture to be read: Becoming a Mason and Being a Mason by Brother J Richards Jones, Taylor Lodge No. 117

October 15 - Balloting
- Work of the evening is balloting on petitioners
- Are you your Brother’s Keeper by R∴ W∴ Charlie Williams III read by W∴ Padro
- Dinner with petitioners
- Festive Board
October 28 - Travel Night to Acacia Lodge #85 Greenwich, CT **

November:

November 5 - Stated Communication - Degree of Entered Apprentice
- Confer the degree of Entered Apprentice
- WM of the evening will be Bro Padro
- Early Dinner
November 21/22 - Charity at Salvation Army
- Charitable Works will arrange an exact date to assist the Salvation Army to pack Thanksgiving Meals

November 23 - Foodbank

November 19 - Fellowship Night **
- Dinner at Chazz Palminteri Italian Restaurant
- Optional Night, if I can get Pre-Fix menu $75PP

December:

December 3 - Stated Communication - District Deputy Grand Master Visit
- No charge for dinner
- Festive Board
- Toys for Tots - Coat Drive
December 7 - Charity Ringing of the Bells
- City Center outside of Target
December 13 - Holiday Party
- Family and Guest welcomed
- Toys for Tots - Coat Drive
December 17- Fellowship at the lodge

January:

January 7 - Stated Communication
- Festive Board
- Guest Lecturer: A Journey in Two Lights: Discovering the Treasures of the Masonic Library and Depth of the First Degree by R∴W∴ Larocco

January 17 - Past Masters’ Night
- Pay homage to Past Masters of White Plains Lodge
  - Detail who and when they were masters
  - Offer opportunities to speak to progress of the lodge

February:

February 4 - Stated Communication - Degree of Fellowcraft
- Degree conferred by Bro Rich
February 8 - Super Bowl 2026 **
- Boxes (25% goes to Charity 25% to support the event 50% winner)
February 18 - Table Lodge in honor of Ill ∴ Miguel Acuna
- Children with Dyslexia or Masonic Research Center 20% of total collection
- Booklet available for brothers to buy ad space 75% after cost goes to charity listed above

March:

March 4 - Stated Communication - Guest Speaker W∴ Michael Sabia
- Lecture from W∴ Sabia - Acacia Lodge 85
- Festive Board

March 14 - St. Patrick’s Day parade in the city of White Plains **
- Raise funds to sponsor the parade
- Attend Gala
March 18 - Travel Day **
- Brothers from White Plains Lodge will be encouraged to travel as a group to one of the following lodges this not. No meeting in White Plains
  - Dunwoodie #863 (Huguenot Temple)

April:

April 1 - Stated Communication - Not April Fools - Awards Night
- Brothers are encouraged to bring their best Masonic Jokes to Lodge to share during dinner
- Guest Speaker R∴W∴ Gorman Grand Tyler of the State of New York
- Festive Board
- Present Aprons to 10yr, 20yr, 30yr etc Masons
April 15 - Sublime Degree of Master Mason
- Degree conferred by W∴Marc

May:

May 2 - District Dinner Dance

May 6 - Stated Communication - Elections
- Lecture from W∴ Petty
- Festive Board
May 20 - Lodge Awards
- Not opening, all Awards given in coalition room
- Business Casual

June:

June 3 - Stated Communication - End of year
- Closing remarks and reflection of the year
- Festive board

Committees

Guideline:

Each brother is encouraged to sign up for 1 committee.

Each group will be encouraged to provide updates at each stated communication sharing their deliverables and updates.

Officers are encouraged to join 2 committees. Brothers who are on North Star are not permitted to be on Investigative.

The Worship Master, Past Masters, brothers who work in finance or business owners can be in Finance Committee

Investigative - Responsibilities include interviewing petitioners prior to EA degree and submit findings to the lodge in a timely manner. Also to be present during balloting night to present favorable or unfavorable report

Heritage Committee - Uncover the history of White Plains Lodge and Freemasonry. Goals to provide historical facts at meetings and have two presentations for the lodge, for non- Stated communication nights

Charitable Works - coordinate excitement and buy in from brothers to attend charitable events attended by lodge members. Increase numbers from previous years. Also identify new opportunities

Events - Assist WM organize and run events externally from the lodge. Examples, cigar night, dinner on off nights, bowling, tour of Grand Lodge or Westchester Knicks game. If any money from the lodge is requested, it should be presented to the lodge and formally submitted to the finance committee. Also, must assist with promotion of events.

Building - Support on cleaning, gardening, upkeep of building. If any building changes, must get minimum of 3 quotes and presented to lodge and submitted to finance committee for review

Finance - Quarterly updates to the lodge on outgoing and incoming. Present decisions present by Building and Events Committee

School of Instruction/Mentorship - Assign brothers to incoming members who can guide, support and encourage new members to stay involved and engaged. Also to work with R:. W:. Jay Werner to schedule Road to the East, North Star training and other Masonic Courses

Social Media - X number of post on Facebook and Instagram for the year

North Star - must be North Star certified

Lodge Audit Committee - Three Past Masters, not holding positions in the lodge

New Member Checklist (Traveling Man Award)

The traveling man award is available to all newly initiated brothers from White Plains Lodge #473. These brothers will have 1 calendar year (365 days) to complete the list. It will be up to the new brother and his mentor to work together to complete the below actions. Once completed, the brother or mentor can submit to the secretary for his review. Once confirmed, the brother will be presented with a certificate acknowledging his completion. Total Points Required is X

Complete Entered Apprentice Degree
1. Date:
2. Attend 2 schools of instruction
  1. Date:
  2. Date:
Complete Fellow Craft Degree
1. Date:
2. Attend 2 schools of instruction
  1. Date:
  2. Date:
Complete Master Mason Degree
1. Date:
Attend District Night three times
1. Date:
2. Date:
3. Date:
Witness a degree at another lodge
1. Entered Apprentice
  1. Date:
  2. Lodge:
2. Fellowcraft Degree
  1. Date:
  2. Lodge:
3. Master Mason Degree
  1. Date:
  2. Lodge:
Visit a lodge outside of the Second Westchester-Putnam District
1. Date:
2. District:
3. Lodge:
Attend two of the lodge’s community service functions
1. Event:
2. Event:
Take a tour of the Grand Lodge
1. Date:
Join a Committee
1. Committee
Create and present on a topic of choice to the lodge
1. Date:
2. Topic
Bonus Points
1. Call 3 older brothers of the lodge to do a wellness check
  1. Date:
  2. Name:
  3. Date:
  4. Name:
  5. Date:
  6. Name:

Mentor Program

Eligible mentors to new brothers are brothers who have been in the lodge as a Master Mason for greater than one year. Ideally, these are brothers who have held an officer role, a Past Master or district officer. Mentors are limited to members of White Plains Lodge. Brother’s are encouraged to volunteer to be a mentor or can be assigned by the Worshipful Master if a brother wishes to mentor. No brother should have more than two mentees, unless unavoidable.This is a guideline mentors can use to begin working with mentee(s).

Mentor Checklist

Coffee meeting with mentee outside of lodge
Ensure mentee attends school of instruction for degree proficiency
- EA
- EA
- FC
- FC
One private session with mentee to review proficiency
Mentee proved proficiency
- EA
- FC
Mentee attended at least one district night
Travel with mentee to at least one lodge within district
Attend charity function with mentee
Did your mentee join a committee
Monitor progress of Traveling Man award