November 13 – Press release – Castleton, Rutland County, Vermont
Lee Lodge No. 30, F&AM Announces an Award from its Community Gifting Fund from the officers of Lee Lodge No. 30, F&AM
Michael Roberts, Treasurer of Lee Lodge No. 30, F&AM, announced that the Lodge recently awarded $1,500.00 from its Morning Star Lodge No. 37 Community Gifting Fund to the Poultney Museum of History and Art, a 501(c) (3) non-profit formed in Poultney in April 2022, whose mission is collection, preservation and promotion of history and art of the Americas. Poultney Museum’s eclectic growing collections, with help in the museum of the 1990 Poultney founded 501©(3) non-profit, the Welsh-American Genealogical Society, as well as of the 1988 Poultney founded 501©(7) Poultney Area St. David’s Society, a fellowship society, also promote the Welsh and other heritages of Poultney, of the slate valley’s several communities, and others world-wide.
Treasurer Roberts said the award, given for Poultney Museum, was given by Lee Lodge in memory of Brother Emmett Thomas. Brother Emmett’s early efforts in raising monies on behalf of the Lodge enabled creation of the Community Gifting Fund to donate to charitable and community causes. The award has been given according to the Fund’s by-laws.
Donations to the Lodge’s Community Gifting Fund will be appreciated and are needed for the Lodge to continue to provide gifts to the community.
Poultney’s historic Morning Star Lodge No. 37 was chartered January 15, 1857. For the majority of its history, it was housed in the 1822 Stone Church building located on East Main Street. Morning Star Lodge No. 37, F&AM was a Regular and Recognized masonic lodge, having a charter through the Grand Lodge of VT, F&AM, which is recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England. In June 2016, Morning Star Lodge No. 37 of Poultney merged with Lee Lodge No. 30 of Castleton.
Treasurer Roberts explained that Morning Star Lodge No. 37 had two funds, which are now owned by Lee Lodge because of the merger. The funds created by Morning Star Lodge No. 37, F&AM still exist and retain their Morning Star Lodge names. The current fund directors are former members of Morning Star Lodge. The two funds are:
Morning Star Lodge No. 37, F&AM Community Gifting Fund, Inc. – Per the fund by-laws, the purpose of this gifting fund is to distribute monies to deserving charitable and community causes within the Poultney, Vermont area.
Morning Star Lodge No. 37 Memorial Fund, Inc. – Per the fund by-laws, the primary purpose of this memorial fund is to provide scholarships for deserving Poultney, Vermont graduating high school students furthering their education in any two-year, four-year or trade school program.
Gifts given to each of these funds are tax exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are gratefully received by Lee Lodge No. 30, F&AM. Donations to either fund, made payable to the name of the fund, should be mailed to: Lee Lodge No. 30, F&AM, P.O. Box 301, Castleton, Vermont 05735.
Questions – please contact: Michael Roberts at: 802-775-2103.