Michael Wamback PM, our Officers Coach, is in the process of establishing a Mentor program at Sunset Lodge for those who wish to be considered for election as Master at a future date.

The goal of this program is to act as an extension of the Grand Lodge Leadership Retreats. Participants in the program will meet with our Officers Coach on a regular basis to study the Lodge Bylaws, the California Masonic Code, our initiatory ritual, lodge budget and finances, organization of social programs and membership development in our lodge. In addition, those participating in the program will be given the chance to learn skills in presiding over a Stated Meeting.

The goal of the program is to better prepare candidates for election and advancement to the progressive line as an elected officer, in order that their year as Master of Sunset Lodge can be as pleasant as possible for them, as well as to ensure that our lodge benefits from the highest levels of competency in leadership.

To qualify for this program, you need to be a Master Mason of Sunset Lodge in good standing, and have successfully delivered your 3rd Degree Proficiency.

For more information on this program, please contact Michael at

The Elected and Appointed Officers for 2010 were duly installed on Tuesday, January 19th. The Installing Officers were Most Worshipful R. Stephen Doan, Past Grand Master of Masons in California (Installing Officer), Worshipful Blackie Passarelli (Master of Ceremonies) and Most Worshipful David R. Doan, Past Grand Master of Masons in California (Installing Chaplain).

Following the remarks of Worshipful Rick Garcia (Retiring Master), the installation ceremony was performed and David Neal was installed as Master of Sunset Lodge for 2010.

The colors were presented by Cloverfield Composite Squadron 51, Civil Air Defense. The ritual was performed in a most excellent fashion by the installing team.

The Past Master apron and credentials were presented to Rick Garcia by the lodge Secretary, John Barry. A very impressive gavel carved from whale bone was presented to our new Master by Worshipful Robbie Robinson, who had crafted the gavel by hand.

Following the installation ceremony, everyone retired to the dining room for our traditional refreshments. As our new Master is a professional musician, the dining room had been decorated with a Rock & Roll theme, much to the delight of all.

Our new Master hails from Newfoundland in Canada, and is the third Canadian to serve as Master of Sunset Lodge, the others being Worshipful Murray Cooke and Worshipful Michael Wamback. In fact, all three are from the Atlantic Coast of Canada, as Murray and Michael were both raised in Nova Scotia.

We wish David and all the 2010 Officers the very best this year.

Our February – March Trestleboard is now viewable online.  You can view it here:

February 09

To view archived Trestleboards, please click on the “Newsletter” tab at the top of this website.

Sunset Lodge has been proud to have so many of our members server our Fraternity with honor and distinction, but four of our members in particular have been singled out for recognition in our Lodge.

Murray J. Cooke served as Master of Sunset Lodge in 1979, after which Murray went on to lead the Royal Arch Masons as the General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International.

R. Stephen Doan served as Master of Sunset Lodge in 1975. He then went on to serve as Grand Master of Masons in California in 1993 and continues to serve Grand Lodge in his capacity on the Jurisprudence Committe and has recently accepted the vice-chair position on the board of the Institute for Masonic Studies.

David R. Doan served as Master of Sunset Lodge in 1993.  He then went on to serve as Grand Master of Masons in California in 2005 and continues to serve Grand Lodge as a consultant to the Trial Review Committee.

Larry L. Adamson served as Master of Sunset Lodge in 1989.  He currently serves the Fraternity as our current Grand Master of Masons in California.  Larry has also worked extensively with the Masonic Homes of California and with the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles.

A tribute wall to these outstanding Masons is being erected near the entrance to the Lodge Room.  When completed, it will feature their Masonic aprons and photos.  We hope to have the tribute wall completed by the time we host Most Worshipful Adamson at a reception in his honor this March.

On Saturday, January 17th, Most Worshipful Larry L. Adamson, Grand Master of Masons in California and a Past Master of Sunset Lodge was proud to install Rick Garcia and the 2009 Officers.

Assisting Most Worshipful Adamson were Most Worshipful David R. Doan, a Past Grand Master of California and R. Stephen Doan, also a Past Grand Master of California, both of whom served Sunset Lodge as Master.  Sunset Lodge is one of only two Grand Lodges in California to have three living Grand Masters, and the only Lodge in the state of California to have three members serve as Grand Master in less than 30 years.

Also on had was Worshipful Murray Cooke, who in addition to serving as Master at Sunset Lodge, is also a Past Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International.

Rick Garcia was installed as Master for 2009 in a beautiful installation ceremony.  Assisting Rick will be brother David Neal and Shay Mughame who will serve as Wardens for our Lodge in 2009.  Brother Hal Willis was installed as Treasurer and Brother John Barry as Secretary.

Additional 2009 officers are Brother Nicholas Kordani as Chaplain, Jim McGrath as Sr. Deacon, Warren Lewis as Jr. Deacon, Mike Messina as Marshal, Luis Menjivar as Sr. Steward, Craig Kamp as Jr. Steward and Vito Lapicolla as Tiler.

Following the installation ceremony, everyone retired to the dining room for refreshments and fellowship.

(Click on photos to view full size)

Sunset Lodge has elected our Officers for the ensuing Masonic year.

Master-elect: Ricardo (Rick) Garcia
Sr. Warden-elect: David Neal
Jr. Warden-elect: Shahram (Shay) Maghame
Treasurer-elect: Harold (Hal) Willis
Secretary-elect: John Barry

Rick will be appointing a team of Officers for 2009 that will feature a number of new faces from among our newly raised brethren. Our lodge has grown to the extent that we have more members currently who have expressed an interest in taking an office than we have spaces for. Given the talent that we have currently in our lodge, there is every expectation that the standards for our ritual will be among the highest in the district this year.

Congratulations to the newly elected brethren, and we look forward to your stewardship of our lodge in 2009