Masonic club donates $2,290 to CAP

The High Twelve Club is a Masonic lunch bunch who meet monthly to socialize and learn about community activities and how they benefit Kootenai County.

John McConnell, a longtime member of Masonic Lodge Kootenai 24, is responsible for choosing guest speakers, and says speakers are chosen from public and private sectors of the community. “I look for someone with an interesting background, profession or other life experiences,” he says.

McConnell said the luncheon and informal get-together is open to any member of a Mason group – Shrine, York Rite, Scottish Rite. McConnell added, “The High Twelve lunch bunch are brothers of local Masonic bodies, the largest and oldest fraternal order in the world.” The groups meet the last Monday of the month at the Coeur d’Alene Inn, and is named High Twelve to remember the moment in ancient history when tradition claims the superintendent in charge of building King Solomon’s Temple was slain.

During the past year speakers have included Bette Ammon, director of Coeur d’Alene Library; Sgt. Christie Wood, information officer with the Coeur d’Alene Police Department; and Buck Bender, an ex-combat pilot and director of Angel Flight. Angel Flight provides free air transportation for any legitimate, charitable medically related need. McConnell says it would be hard for him to pick a favorite speaker as all have brought valuable information and insight, but he thinks their most recent speaker, Mark Haberman is special.

Haberman, a retired ordained minister and now community outreach and assistance program manager for Community Action Partnership, had a double role at the November luncheon – to receive a simulated check in the amount of $2,290 to be used for the food bank program and to share with his audience the many ways Community Action Partnership helps hundreds of people in North Idaho.

Presenting the check on behalf of Masonic Lodge Kootenai 24 was Worshipful Master Gene Gunsalus. “Many clubs would like to donate such a large sum to help others in need,” said Gunsalus, “Our fraternal order is able to do so because of the generosity of Masonic Lodge and Scottish Rite member John Harrison.”

Harrison bequeathed more than $3 million dollars to local community organizations and programs to be disbursed for charitable purposes. At the Nov. 6 Masonic Lodge meeting, Past Master David Dasher offered a resolution which was quickly seconded to donate the income from the John Harrison Fund to the food bank.

Upon receiving the check, Haberman graciously thanked the Masonic lunch bunch and told them their donation would reach far and wide in helping those who benefit from the food bank program. He also told them, “Your contribution represents 4 to 5 percent of our annual revenue. It is very measurable and deeply appreciated.”

Haberman said the origin of Community Action Partnership stems from President Lyndon Johnson’s administration in the 1960s and the War on Poverty. The Coeur d’Alene office serves as the hub for the five northern Idaho counties.

“CAP looks different in different parts of the country,” said Haberman, “depending on the needs of the area.” According to Haberman, the Food Bank, which includes the Emergency Food Box program providing a week’s worth of food three times a year, the Supplemental Food program offering fresh fruit, vegetables and other stables on a daily basis and Thanksgiving baskets filled with everything needed to make a complete Thanksgiving dinner, is one of the safety net services provided by Community Action Partnership. Haberman said 750 families benefited from Thanksgiving baskets this year.

Gunsalus concluded the luncheon meeting by saying he was pleased to report only the interest would be spent from the John Harrison Fund so they would be able to donate a worthy sum to the Food Bank for many years.