Zal Gaz Grotto No. 34 | M.O.V.P.E.R.

Monarch's Letter | June 2012

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:38:16 -0400

Prophets,

We have had a good year. The music that we’re hosting every Monday and Tuesday is helping us sustain the rest of the club.

I would like to thank the GBU for planting all of the beautiful flowers, cleaning up around the flower beds, and trimming the bushes and trees around the property. It looks gorgeous.

I would, also, like to thank those who’ve helped with the charity gaming. It is still the most profitable fundraiser that we put on. It would be very helpful if we could get even more participation.

Our volunteer bartender program is off to a good start using volunteers on the off nights when we are not so busy. The schedule is on the kitchen door. Take a look to see if there is a spot that you can put your name on. This would be a great help for your Grotto. You are also encouraged to invite your friends and family to keep you company while you tend bar. The hours are from 4 PM to closing, generally 7 or 8 PM, later if you would prefer to stay longer. (just a reminder, we do have the Wii game unit with many games to choose from). Your assistance will help relieve the regular bartender, now that we are open seven days a week for most of this year. Please stop in and say hi and keep in touch. Help us make this a very family-friendly club. I hope everyone has an awesome summer.

I would like to thank those who’ve helped with the meals so far this year, but, are always looking for more help at OUR events, after all this is our means to keep OUR (YOUR) club solvent. Friday Fries require kitchen help; a few people to take orders, serve and bus, a plater, a fryer, a griller, a dishwasher, and someone to man the order window.

Sunday Breakfasts require early morning or day before set-up, a bacon and sausage fryer, a potato fryer, an egg scrambler, a waffle maker, a pancake and French toast fryer, a few bussers, and a few new people to clean up at the end. If you don’t value these events enough to volunteer for them occasionally, we won’t be able to continue to have them. These are just some of the types of help we always need. I know there are many more things that need to be done, too manyto list. Please remember many hands make for light enjoyable work.

Coming July 28th - The Grotto Olympics!! Join the Prophets and the Ladies for a day of fun. There will be games for children and adults! Come check out what the Grotto is all about. More details to come in the July Newsletter, or contact the Grotto. Open to all members of the Masonic community and their guests. Any questions should be directed to Amanda Rothman via e-mail at arothman24@hotmail.com [Amanda is the President of the Ladies’ Auxiliary]. If you need to speak with her directly, you may call the Grotto to get her number.

Yours in Good Fellowship,
Jim Richardson, Monarch

NEW CRAFT BEERS: Available at the Grotto Club!

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:03:00 -0400

Brothers, Prophets and Friends,

We have a few new bottled craft beers in stock at the Grotto Club! Come down, grab a beverage and join us in good fellowship!

Motor City Ghettoblaster
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Bells Two-Hearted Ale

We look forward to seeing you here at the Grotto.

Phil Ogilvie's Rhythm Kings (P.O.R.K.) at the Grotto!

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:18:50 -0500

Phil Ogilvie’s Rhythm Kings are a real 1920’s and 30’s style dance orchestra playing the original arrangements of the famous bands of the Jazz Age. Hearing the Rhythm Kings is like being transported to another time and place.

Composed of Michigan’s finest musicians, the Rhythm Kings are one of few bands in the country that can truly claim to be the tops in their class. They have a devoted following of music lovers and dancers who lining up at the Grotto Club to hear and enjoy this wonderful music presented in the Rhythm King’s unique fashion.

UPCOMING SHOWS - Sundays 5-8pm, Admission $7, $5 students
March 18 - IMAGINATION, recognizing the birthdays of two jazz greats, Bix Beiderbecke and Miff Mole, and of the very original songwriter Peter DeRose
March 25 - The Rhythm Kings’ annual “Salute to Industrial Solvents”
April 8 - SAX APPEAL- featuring the music of Fud Livingston
April 15 - KEEP A SONG IN YOUR SOUL - featuring the music of Alex Hill and, in honor of tax day, BROTHER CAN YOU SPARE A DIME?
April 22 - AIN’TCHA GOT MUSIC? - recognizing Rube Bloom’s birthday with his TRUCKIN’ and other tunes about dancing and music
April 29 - BLACK AND TAN FANTASY - music of Duke Ellington

Monarch's Letter | March 2012

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 12:12:00 -0500

Brothers and Prophets,

Stop by your club and enjoy the abundant spirit of camaraderie.

The monthly functions are:
1st Wednesday – Spaghetti Supper
3rd Sunday – Breakfast Buffet
2nd & 4th Fridays – Frys

All are open to the public.

All functions, of course, need your help for our success. We always can use more help for the events that we put on for the betterment of the club, so sign up when you can.

The Ladies of Zal Gaz Auxiliary are having an Easter Party, Sunday, March 25th from 1-3 pm at the Grotto. Open to all Masonic families, children, and grandchildren. There will be cookie decorating, goodie bags, an egg hunt and a visit from the Easter bunny. There is a sign up sheet at the Grotto or email them at ladies-info@zalgaz.org if you can make it by March 14th.

House and Board Meeting, 6:30 pm, followed by the monthly meeting at 7:30.

Poker Night sign up sheets are at the Grotto for March 1, 2 and 3. Please help if you can. Some of the Prophets currently signed up have already worked more than their share.

Do you know a Prophet who is injured or ill? Give him a call it’ll give you both a boost.

Any Prophet willing to serve on the long form ceremonial, especially those with previous experience, please contact the committee chair, Bob Blackburn at 734 913-8599.

Yours in Good Fellowship,
Jim Richardson, Monarch

POKER NIGHTS: Volunteers Needed!

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:47:00 -0500

Brothers and Prophets,

All functions, of course, need your help for our success. Please be a part of our success.

We need help for the Poker fund raiser. Nights that we need help on are posted at the Grotto, please help by stopping in or giving the Grotto a call to sign up.

Dates are: Feb. 16th, 17th, 18th and also March 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The times slots are 5:00pm to 9:30pm and then 9:30pm to 2:00am.

Thank for your help.

In good Fellowship,

James Richardson
Monarch

Easter Party! March 25th

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:45:00 -0500

An Easter Party! Open to all Grotto and Masonic Lodges members, families, and their children and grandchildren, etc. Kids of all ages! There will be coloring, cookie decorating, an egg hunt, and a visit from the Easter Bunny. Wow!

An event sponsored by the Ladies of Zal Gaz

Monarch's Letter | February 2012

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:36:26 -0500

Prophets and Brothers,

Greetings from your Grotto! What a great time to be a member of our Grotto!

We have registered for our poker nights and will need all hands to help! Dates are: February 16th, 17th, 18th and March 1st, 2nd and 3rd. This was a terrific fundraiser last year and will be as good or better this year.

If you haven’t signed up for a breakfast or a Friday fry in a while, please come down and do so, we do have a good time.

We are still having Jazz every Tuesday at 5:30 pm and Big band every Monday , come prepared to listen to some great music and bring your appetite as we do serve food!

I would like to give an extra big thank you to Mike Yuskowatz, P.G.M. and all the Past Monarchs that helped install 2012 officers thank you!

If you are not a member, come by or call an officer and find out what the Grotto is about! Please check out our web site.

With heavy heart we will all miss Past Monarch Donald Gardner.

St. Marys Lodge #4 well be having a pancake supper the first Friday of each month from now to end of the year, please come and help St. Marys Lodge make it successful.

In good fellowship,

James Richardson
Monarch

Superbowl PARTY - February 5

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:07:58 -0500

Come out to the Zal Gaz Grotto for our Super Bowl Party!

BE THERE!

February 5th, 5:00pm - till the games over and the chicken wings run out!

ADMISSION
$5.00 if you bring a dish to pass
$10.0i if you do not bring a dish to pass

Zal Gaz Grotto January 2012 Events

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:45:00 -0500

Zal Gaz Grotto January 2012 Events

January at your Grotto

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:34:00 -0500

In addition to our usual meetings and dinners, there are some important special events you should have on your radar, here at your Grotto.

Jan 1 - Tom & Jerry Breakfast, 9:00 am

Yes, you read that right, morning after New Years Eve. This is an event you DON’T want to miss! Prophets and Guests only! It is said:

“a hot Tom and Jerry is an old time drink … it is once so popular that many people think the holidays were invented only to furnish an excuse for hot Tom and Jerry…”

Jan 7 - Installation 7:00 pm, Monarch’s Ball 9:00pm
We install our new officers and celebrate with the Monarch’s Ball! A social event of the year!

Jan 11 - Board of Directors Annual Meeting 6:00 pm
This is the big annual meeting of the Grotto Board, they take care of the business side of running our club. Members welcome!

DINNERS & ICE CREAM SOCIALS!

January has 3 big dinners, open to the public, to satisfy the hunger in you. At each, the fabulous LADIES of ZAL GAZ host their fantasic Ice Cream Social! Come to eat or lend a hand to help your club.

Jan 4 - Spaghetti Dinner and Ice Cream Social
Jan 13 - Friday Fry Dinner and Ice Cream Social
Jan 27 - Friday Fry Dinner and Ice Cream Social

The action is all at your Grotto - BE THERE!

Zal Gaz Grotto November 2011 Events - Actually, this is NO...

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:15:00 -0400

Zal Gaz Grotto November 2011 Events - Actually, this is NO Friday Fry on the 25th!!

Centennial Celebration - Oct 15

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:48:00 -0400

Let the celebration begin! Our Grotto is 100 years old:
All Prophets of the Realm should be at the party, along with their ladies and friends! The public is welcome.

But you need to RSVP now, Download your RSVP form HERE and send it in or deliver it to the Grotto before Oct 5.

The Centennial Celebration is on October 15 at 6:00 p.m. cocktails and conversation, dinner at 6:30. Live band, dancing and partying until 11:00 p.m. RSVP now!

Ice Cream Sale: Ladies Auxiliary Fundraiser!

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:57:00 -0400

What’s better than a Zal Gaz Dinner? A dinner with ice cream (before and after?)!

The Ladies Auxiliary of Zal Gaz are having their ice cream sale fundraisers during these dinners:

Friday, Sept 23 at 6:00pm, during the Friday Fry Dinner
Friday, Oct 14 also during the Friday Fry Dinner

Both sales run for the duration of the dinners 6:00-7:30pm. Come on down!

Ladies of Zal Gaz Auxillary Club

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:09:00 -0400

The Ladies of Zal Gaz Auxillary Club is official! We had our first meeting May 11th, officers were elected and future plans made. Our next meeting will be Wednesday July 13th at 7:00pm. All women who are related to a Prophet or a Master Mason are welcome to join. Also bring your sweet tooths to the Friday Fry on July 22nd, we will be having a Ice Cream Sundae sale!

Congratulations go out to our first year officers:
President: Amanda Rothman
Vice President: Debbie Dombrowski
Secretary: Karen Heldt
Treasurer: Pamela Shehan
Chaplain: Melanie Figueroa

For more information contact Amanda

UPCOMING Ladies Auxiliary Events from the Calendar

July 13
Regular Meeting
July 22
Ice Cream Sundae Sale - @ the Friday Fry Dinner
August 10
Regular Meeting
September 14
Regular Meeting - Begin the non-Summer schedule of every 2nd Wednsday

Monarch's Letter | May 2011

Fri, 13 May 2011 13:10:00 -0400

Brothers and Prophets: What a great event we had at the Centennial Celebration and Full-fledged Ceremonial. It is fantastic what can happen when so many are working together for a common cause. Thank you to everyone who participated and who attended.

It was our pleasure to host the dinner in honor of the District 47 Masons of the Year. We are always glad to work with and for the Masonic Lodges of the area. Congratulations to Prophet Art Davidge on his receiving of this award. Well deserved for a very hardworking and dedicated Mason in the Ann Arbor Area.

The Past Monarchs are planning to be responsible for the Friday Fry on the second Friday of every other month for the remainder of the year. Please contact Jim Schook, to sign up (or sign up on the kitchen door, you know where!). I would love to be certain. Do not forget your Grotto’s Fundraisers.

The Spaghetti Supper on the 1st Wed. of each month. The Friday Frys on the 2nd and 4th Fridays and the excellent all you can eat “Country Breakfast” on the 3rd Sunday. Not only could we, of course, use your assistance for any and all of these events, but, we would love to see you, your family and friends at each partaking in the excellent meals. Come out to your Grotto and enjoy the Food, Fun, Fellowship and relaxed atmosphere.

Any suggestions on what we can do to make your experience more enjoyable? Let us know. Make the Grotto your home away from work and home.

Stop in at your Blue Lodge or at any lodge in your area that is open on a night you have a few minutes free. You will never regret it.

In Good Fellowship,

Monarch Jan

Report: Zal Gaz has new Prophets!

Fri, 13 May 2011 12:30:02 -0400

Last April 16, the Grotto put on a special “long form” ceremonial, welcoming 11 (or more?) new Prophets into the Enchanted Realm! The actors did a great job and there we many visitors in attendance as well. Afterward the grotto had a great social in our club, meeting with family and getting to know our new members. Great job everybody!

Festifools 2011 - SUCCESS!

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:40:00 -0400

The Festifools parade, last April 3, 2011 is now a fond memory.
The day was cold and rainy (sleet even?) but our enthusiasm and spirit were red hot!

This event is known for giant homemade puppets, fun, and foolishness. Zal Gaz Grotto was there with their own giant Mokanna puppet. He was constructed mostly in the basement of Bob Blackburn (thanks Bob!), who unfortunately could not make it to the parade. I’m sure that wherever he was, it was warmer than in Ann Arbor! :-)

Thanks to the prophets Oscar, Jim, Hillary (Puppet Crew) Jason K, Jason B, Bob H (Noise Makers) and well as friends Luke, Debbie (Drum Crew), Amanda (Cauldron Stirrer), Beth and Emily (Support Crew)

Here is a video of the event that places YOU in the parade with us!

Festifools Parade - Sunday April 3

Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:59:00 -0400

It’s a parade, carnival, and foolishness all rolled into one!
We will have a giant Mokanna puppet in this event and need every one of the prophets to participate as crew.

Sunday April 3, we will meet at a place TBA, downtown around 3:00, event starts at 4:00, over at 5:00!

We need puppet tenders, sign carriers, and noise makers, picture/video takers, clowns and fools. Spouses and others welcome!
You don’t want to miss this! Check out the Festifools YouTube Channel to see what this is all about.

Contact Bob Hospadaruk to reserve your spot on “the crew” !

BEHOLD! Mokanna in the making!

Colin O'Brien Music Concert

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:02:00 -0400

At the Grotto:
Saturday, April 30, 7:00-9:00 pm

”His songwriting is strong, and his voice conveys more years than he has lived…” -Billboard

Colin O’Brien is a prolific nationally touring performer and recording artist. For the past 15 years he’s traveled the country performing at concert halls, music rooms, festivals and house concerts. In a single performance Colin dances dazzling foot percussion while playing his heart out on fiddle and banjo. Then, taking a seat, he plays some of the most beautiful, soulful guitar music this side of mars. It’s as though Colin is several musicians in one body!

Colin O’Brien is a musical force of nature. Be prepared to be entertained and amazed!

Suggested donation is $10 per person. Bring a desert to share. Drinks and pub menu available for purchase from the Zal Gaz Grotto Club.

Monarch's Letter | March 2011

Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:39:58 -0400

It’s coming…Spring!
It’s here…Grotto’s 100 Year Centennial Celebration!!

Brothers and Prophets,

Stop by your club and enjoy the abundant spirit of camaraderie. The monthly functions:

1st Wednesday – Spaghetti Supper
3rd Sunday – Breakfast Buffet
2nd & 4th Fridays Frys

All are open to the public.
All functions, of course, need you help for our success.
Poker Night sign up sheets are at the Grotto. Please help.
Attention all Prophets old and new: To celebrate our 100th anniversary we will be having a full-fledged long form Ceremonial on April 16 @ 7 p.m. with a rehearsal the week before. There are many Prophets in our Grotto who have never seen or participated in the long form … now is a good time to do so. Please come out and support your fellow Prophets and join us for a good time.
Remember the Festifools Street Parade were we hope to have our own Mokanna puppet. It’s on April 3rd (information at http://Festifools.org/ or contact Bob Blackburn volunteer!)
Do you know a Prophet that is ill? — give him a call.. it’ll give you both a boost.
Any Prophet willing to serve on the Centennial committee please contact the committee chair, Rich Wresche, PM.

Yours in Good Fellowship,

Monarch Jan

UPCOMING EVENTS from Our Calendar

March 14 -Live Music: Paul Keller Orchestra
March 15 - Live Music: Paul Klinger’s Easy Street Jazz
March 20 -Breakfast Buffet
March 25 - Friday Fry

Volunteers Needed for Grotto Sponsored Charity Poker Nights at the Heidelberg. Sign up at the Grotto Now! Get a friend to work with you or meet a new one. It’s fun and easy and you don’t need experience. The Grotto needs your help on this important fundraiser!
Two people needed per shift.
Two shifts: 5:30-9:30 pm and 9:30pm-2:00am

March 17 - 19 (Thur, Fri, Sat)
April 25 - 27 (Mon, Tues, Wed)
May 15 - 18 (Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed)
August 28 - 31 (Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed)