Back To School Fun Fair

By Bro. Michael Webb, Senior Deacon, Naval Lodge No. 4

On Friday, September 28th, 2007, Naval Lodge No. 4 hosted the second annual “Back to School Fun-Fair”, a community event offering fun, food and amusements for more than 2000 school children and parents of the Capitol Hill Cluster School (CHCS). The Cluster Schools consist of Watkins Elementary, Peabody Elementary and Stuart Hobson Junior High School, all located in our Capitol Hill neighborhood. The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) co-sponsored the event and helped organize parent volunteers, once again demonstrating the partnership between Freemasons and school leaders is effective and contributes to the success of the Fun Fair.

Freemasons have a long and successful philanthropic record working with hospitals and children’s programs to help improve our communities. Washington, DC was planned and established by Freemasons and Naval Lodge is leading by example by engaging other blue lodges in community through its contribution to community needs—specifically education and children’s safety. CHCS Principal Brandon Eatman said the Fun Fair creates an opportunity to “raise awareness about efforts to improve public education, as well as provide an environment for groups to engage parents and motivate them to take a more active role”.

The DC public school system has one of the highest per-student allocations of tax-dollars in the nation, and yet the system is among the poorest performing. Naval Lodge freemasons are committed to helping build stronger communities and recognize the need to do more than raise awareness and provide a little fun for the community. Naval Lodge No. 4’s Senior Warden, Alan Patterson says, “simply raising money is not enough, we must also devise a system that puts the money where it is most needed. With our brethren who work for the school system and those outside, I am confident that we will find the best solution. This is good and important work that fits the Craft, will help our community where it needs it most, and bring honor to Freemasonry”. The event raised more than 3200 dollars which will be used to purchase specialized learning materials for the Montessori program, which are not funded by D.C. Public Schools. The Fun Fair also provided an opportunity for more than 200 parents and children to participate in the Masonic CHIP (Childhood Identification Program) a program providing parents and guardians the means to quickly get vital information to emergency responders and link to the national Amber Alert system. According to Patterson, “Masons in DC recognize that children’s safety and the need to improve the public schools in our city as two of the fundamental challenges of our times and the place in which we live.” “The Back to School Fun Fair provides an opportunity to build on the Masonic philanthropic tradition and create opportunities for the community to come together for some fun and amusement,” according to Naval Lodge’s Junior Warden, David Johnson. “This is a foundation whereby the successful implementation of ‘Masonry in the Community’ can be realized further”, Johnson continues. “We can start by raising our voices as external advocates in the public system while we grow into raising funds to help.” Businesses in the local community and the greater metropolitan DC area were contacted for sponsorship opportunities (monetary or in-kind donations). Businesses were able to sponsor an attraction or amusement but for this initial effort, the bulk of the financial support for the project was provided by Naval, Anacostia and Washington Daylight Lodges and the Scottish Rite.

The Fun Fair was held on the campus of Watkins Elementary School (420 12th St., SE) on the Friday afternoon beginning after school and ending at sundown—approximately 3:30 to 7:30 pm. Gratefully, after some early warnings of wet weather, Mother Nature calmed down and provided us with splendid afternoon and early evening weather. The Fun Fair offered a variety of food and fun activities for the children of the CHCS. For example, there were two moon bounces, one for children ages 1-5 and another for children 5 and older. Other amusements included a dunk tank, an obstacle course and an assortment of small carnival games with prizes. Each amusement was serviced with insurance, attendants, and volunteers. Tables were set up for the PTA, Montessorri program, CHIP and other volunteer organizations who wish to share information. The Shrine Clowns were on hand to bring laughter, smiles and happiness to the young and the old. Special thanks to following organizations for their inkind donations: Las Placitas and Tiber Creek Associates for providing of 900 quesadillas, chips and salsa, which were enjoyed by all. Murry’s on H Street provided a discount on more than 1100 “great dogs”, which were all prepared and consumed at the event. Marvelous Market gave a donation of 1200 brownies, and the Pepsi Bottling Group gave water which helped quench the thirst of Fun Fair participants; however it became evident that supplies were short. The two cotton candy and popcorn carts helped round out the wholesome food offered at the event.

Also, to the many other volunteers from Naval and other Lodges who participated—you own this success. Special mention should be made and thanks offered to all the other Masons who participated in the Fair—more than twenty five in total—and especially to the Grand Lodge officers who not only attended but took an active part in serving the food, manning the CHIP program, and contributing to the games. In attendance were the MW Grand Master, MW GL Secretary, and several Grand Lodge officers, including the Past Grad Master! Their support is very much appreciated.

Each of us find meaning in devoting time to Masonic charity and relief; some may be absorbed by it and will be giving hours and days of his own time to it. The brethren who made calls for donations and working on fundraising help strengthen the pillar of charity. This is what the ritual instructs us to do. When the words are taken to heart and acted upon, they become alive and our craft has meaning. Masons are builders and our work is very much appreciated by our community.

Freemasonry therefore is a world, and not a monthly meeting, a fact signalized by the lodge room itself which symbolizes the world of mankind, and has the sky for its ceiling. ■

Attention Federal Employees:

Please consider including the Masonic Foundation of the District of Columbia as part of your charitable giving to the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). The CFC number for the Masonic Foundation is

48808