Brethren & Ladies,
      A happy and prosperous new year to everybody! I hope that everybody experienced a wonderful Holiday Season and is excited about 2007 as I am. Well, with 35 issues down, this is my last and final Trestleboard article.
      As 2006 came to an end, December was a fun month. Congratulations again to Worshipful Norm Furman on receiving the Hiram Award.
      Now that it is January, we are back in full swing. As usual, the first Thursday of the month will be our Stated Meeting with a dinner prior. This is going to be a really special evening because we will be dedicating the Lodge Room to our very own, Worshipful Richard B. Carter. From that night on forward, it will be called the “Richard B. Carter Masonic Lodge Room.” We have many other highlights this month including 3 Fellowcraft degrees, an Installation of Officers, and three Entered Apprentice degrees! We are backlogged on degrees, so I am happy to be knocking some of them out. Please come and support our events as always, but especially our degrees. Attend the degrees and make a difference in a young Mason’s life. Congratulations to all of the 2007 Officers to be installed!
      Seeing that I will only be the sitting Master for a few more weeks, I would like express a few things. First and foremost, I would again like to thank Burbank Lodge 406 for the opportunity to serve as the Worshipful Master for the 2006 Masonic Year. It has been a wonderful opportunity for me personally, and I have established friendships that I will forever cherish. The end of this year is bitter-sweet for me. Although I am excited to have extra time to dedicate to my family, my career, and lost hobbies, I am definitely going to miss being part of the day to day operations of the lodge. But as they say, “All good things must come to an end.” On the bright side of things, I look forward to serving my lodge in different capacities. I am going to become certified in the funeral service, and I hope to have the opportunity to help the officers with degree work such as lectures and charges.
      All of the lodge’s hard work this year has really made me shine. I thank all of the officers for their commitment that they had made, and for the obligation that they all fulfilled. I thank our Junior Warden, Brother Marc Canterbury, for his countless hours in the kitchen. He had a big job this year, and he did a wonderful job. A special thanks also to all of the Past Masters who have made special efforts to be so supportive this year. I thank Worshipful Chris Barnes (Dad) for being so supportive as Officer’s Coach, and to me personally. I appreciate our time in lodge together now more than ever. Last, but not least, I would like to thank my beautiful wife. You have done a wonderful job getting the Ladies Program off the ground this year. Thanks for all of your hard work, and most importantly, thank you for all of your support in all of my endeavors. I would not have been able to do any of this without your unswerving support. For the final time from the East, thank you so much!
 
      “The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man.” (Euripides 484BC-406BC)
Fraternally,
Kenneth L. Barnes
Worshipful Master