by Kirby Lindsay, posted 14 January 2013
On Monday, January 21st, Martin Luther King Day, Fremonsters can take part in a wealth of activities – assembling emergency kits, meeting neighborhood organizations, listening to speakers on Washington State African-American affairs and Haiti plus enjoying a potluck lunch – all within the comfortable surroundings of the Doric Temple.
The day promises plenty of possibilities – while honoring Martin Luther King Jr, and the Day Of Service dedicated to his memory. Organizers Ralph and Sarah Weathers want everyone to remember the civil rights leader, while enjoying new ways we can all build community and engage in service.
The Community Lodge
In October 2012, Ralph Weathers was installed as Worshipful Master of Doric Lodge 92, and his wife Sarah became, by default, the Lodge First Lady. Together, they organized the Installation ceremony and celebration, and involved members of other area lodges as well as inviting community members to attend as special guests.
“We have identified ours as a Community Lodge,” Ralph Weathers explained. Lodge 92 wants to work with its community, and acknowledge how, he explained, “our members come from all over, but we have Fremont in common.” In this spirit, when organizing the Installation and preparing to lead the Lodge for the coming year, Ralph knew he wanted to host an event for the community – and acknowledge his own position as the first ever African-American Worshipful Master of Lodge 92.
He chose the Martin Luther King Jr holiday, and found a U.S. Government website filled with ideas and materials made for celebrating the day. The day that, in 1994, the U.S. Congress designated as a national day of service – ‘a Day On, Not a Day Off.’ His research also revealed that nowhere else in the State of Washington was another Lodge organizing any such event.
A United Duo
“I provided the general vision,” Ralph explained, “and Sarah works out the details.” It is difficult, when meeting the couple, to decide who exactly has contributed what, since they present a very united front. Still, Sarah Weathers has the notebook, with the lists, and materials she ordered, in advance, from the Corporation for National & Community Service – the federal agency that encourages organization of MLK Day of Service gatherings.
“I started with the involvement of the Fremont Baptist Church,” Sarah recalled. The Weathers’ are very active members of their church, and it plays a few roles in the Fremont MLK event. “Then, I added emergency preparedness,” to the agenda, she explained, “I thought it would appeal to people in Fremont – to help others and educate ourselves on how to protect us.” After attending a monthly Fremont Neighborhood Council meeting, and presenting their plan, “Fremont just opened its arms,” Sarah Weathers reported, and the event “has been snowballing.”
Excitement Builds
If anyone else – or any other groups – still want to get involved, plenty of room remains to accommodate them. Sarah Weathers has organized similar events – food drives, backpack drives, etc. – at her work. “I learned how to set them up,” she said, “and I learned that when you get the excitement built up, people want to get involved.” She acknowledged concerns about having to do everything alone, but has found that people will step up and help, if allowed.
Sarah Weathers credits her husband, Ralph, with engaging the community and scouting the individuals that they want to see involved. He has no problem asking people, like Commissioner Franklin Donahoe of the Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs, to come speak. He also has really taken the mission of the Lodge – to engage with the community – to heart, and continues to seek new ways to reach out.
To Care For Others
At the MLK Day of Service in Fremont, Ralph Weathers also hopes to dispel some of the misconceptions people have about the Lodge, and the brotherhood of Masons. He hopes to see the community step inside the newly remodeled space, to meet Lodge members and see, “that Masons are compassionate men.”
He also wants to inspire his brothers, and the community, to participate in service and “to care for others.” The Doric Lodge 92 occupies the Doric Temple building, which housed the Maritime Lodge as well until that Lodge moved in early 2012. Now, the Temple has more space for community activities, and Lodge 92 can give more time to engaging outside. With this Lodge, Fremont has a great resource, and great brothers, who spend money here, live here, work here, “and we’re very active in the community here,” Ralph acknowledged.
The Creatively Maladjusted
For those who still want to get involved in planning Fremont’s MLK Day of Service, Sarah Weathers will welcome you aboard. You can reach the Weathers’ at ralph.weathers@comcast.net
As for finding more information about MLK Day in Fremont, Sarah has been busy reaching out. “Wherever I could find a website to list,” she admitted, she’s posted Fremont’s Day Of Service. Find invites on allforgood.gov, the Presidential Inaugural Committee site, and the FNC Calendar. See a preliminary agenda for the day on the Fremocentrist.com news page too!
“Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.” – Martin Luther King Jr. “I think he was thinking of Fremont when he said that,” Sarah Weathers observed. So, come on Fremonsters, help save the human race by being your most ‘creatively maladjusted,’ at the Doric Temple on January 21st!
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©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.