MONTHLY BULLETIN for April 2008
To all officers and members of Montana York Rite Bodies.  Herein is the listing of the activities as reported by the various York Rite Bodies for the last month.  Please read at your next meeting and place on file.

GRAND YORK RITE SESSIONS 2008
It's only about one month until the 2008 Grand Sessions in Great Falls.  I sent the Registration with last month's bulletin, but if you still need one, they are available on the York Rite web site at  http://www.yorkrite.org/events.htm  If that won't work for you, give me a call and I'll send you one. The schedule is a little different this year with Chapter being on Thursday, Council on Friday and Commandery on Saturday and installation after each meeting.  Nearly all events will be at the Great Falls Masonic Temple and the headquarters Hotel will be the O' Haire Manor about two blocks away.  Hope to see you all there.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
With about a month left before the Grand Sessions, all committee chairmen need to get any reports in for inclusion in the advance proceedings.  If they are not included in the advanced proceedings, you will be expected to give a report on the floor during the sessions and have a copy for the Grand Sec/Rec.   Take a look at your Officer's Directory and see what committees you chair and write up a report.  Thanks.

GENERAL GRAND CHAPTER & COUNCIL TRIENNIAL
The Triennial Sessions for the General Grand Chapter and General Grand Council will be in Indianapolis, Indiana August 27th through the 30th. Several are planning on attending and after some research, have decided that the train is the best way to go if you can spare the time.  It's a two-day trip each way.  The round trip train ticket from Shelby is $320.  With a senior (62+) or veterans discount the fare is $272.  You couldn't drive there and back for that.  We need to go and support the three Companions from the Northwest that are running for office.  They are M.E. Louis Bartrand, who is running for General Grand Scribe, M.I. Larry Weaver, running for General Grand P.C.W. and M.I. Dave Grindle who is a candidate for General Grand Recorder of the General Grand Council.  All three are good York Rite Masons and deserve our support.  A per capita increase for each will also be considered.  As of today, there are 6 going from Montana

GRAND COMMANDERY NEWS
As of April 25, Montana Sir Knights have contributed $3,458 to the KT Eye Foundation.  This is the best showing for Montana for quite a few years.  Thank you!  We have two Sir Knights that have volunteered to take on the KT Magazine center section.  SK's John Metcalf and Jim Green have agreed to take this on as a team, but request your help in submitting articles for the magazine.  Anything of interest to Montana York Rite would be considered and welcomed.  This is a great forum to reach almost every York Rite member in the State and we should be utilizing it.  So, help them out and submit something you think would be of interest.  

OUT OF STATE VISITS
R.I. Deputy Grand Master, George Dengel and I attended Idaho's Grand Session in Boise last week and came away with some good ideas for Montana York Rite.  We will talk about these at our sessions, so be sure to attend.

IRS REQUIREMENTS
As most of you Secretary/Recorders know by now, the IRS is requiring us to file a 990-N e-postcard if your Chapter or Council made less than $25,000 last year. They tell us this has to be filed before May 15, 2008.  Most are finding out that they have to wait until after June 1st because the Grand York Rite year is June 1st to May 31 and all Chapters  and Councils are subordinates of the Grands.   Since that is the Grand Chapter and Grand Council year, this seems correct.  However, as I was filing the ones I have here, all were rejected until after our year ends (June 1st) except for Cut Bank Council #11.  That one lists a calendar year so it was accepted.  This Council is listed as a subordinate on the Grand Council's 990, so should have the June 1st year, but it didn't.  So, the IRS is not accurate there, which shouldn't come as a big surprise, I guess.  The point is, don't just assume you can wait until after June 1st to file.  If you need help on this give me a call.  Don't just ignore this, you will loose your tax free status and it's very difficult to get it back!

NOTE TO ALL SECRETARY/RECORDERS
With only 1 month until the Grand Sessions, time is getting short to get your annual returns in.  Remember, no return, no credentials!  If you need some help, give me a call.  For those that have already sent theirs in, a big thank you!

DATES  2008
May 8-10                        Utah Grand Sessions, Salt Lake
May 9-10                        Alberta Grand RA Sessions, Camrose, Alberta
May 10                        Commandery Orders, Kalispell
May 17                        York Rite College Meeting, Great Falls 10:00 AM*
May 18-20                        Washington Grand Sessions, Wenatchee
May 30-31                        Saskatchewan Grand RA Sessions, Regina, Sask
June 5,6,7                        Montana Grand York Rite Sessions, Great Falls
August 27-31                         General Grand Chapter & Council, Indianapolis, Indiana
* As a reminder, Yellowstone York Rite College consolidated with Big Sky York Rite College to form but one College in the state.  
Fraternally submitted
Brad Huffman
Grand Sec/Rec

THE GRAND COMMANDERY of KNIGHTS TEMPLAR of MONTANA
Brad Huffman, Grand Commander
General Order #5
To all Montana Sir Knights where ever so dispersed:
Every effort should be made to attend the 121st Annual Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Montana.  All Past and Present Grand Officers, all Commanders, Generalissimos, Captains General and Recorders of constituent Commanderies should make every effort to attend.
/S/
Brad Huffman,
Right Eminent Grand Commander.
Reverend Ole was the pastor of the local Norwegian Lutheran Church, and Pastor Sven was the minister of the Swedish Covenant Church across the road. One day they were seen pounding a sign into the ground, that said:
'DA END ISS NEAR!  TURN YERSELF AROUND NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE'
As a car sped past them, the driver leaned out his window and yelled, 'Leave us alone, you religious nuts!'
From the curve we heard screeching tires and a big splash... Rev. Ole turns to Pastor Sven and asks, 'Do ya tink maybe da sign should yust say 'Bridge Out'?