I once worked with a supervisor who would on occasion address his staff during Monday morning coffee break with “today is Monday, tomorrow is Tuesday, the next day is Wednesday, over half of the week is gone and you people haven’t got anything done yet.” Although he was joking, he left his staff with a sense of urgency. The coffee break would quickly end and everyone would head for his/her desk. I must confess that I am feeling that sense of urgency now. Our Mid-Winter is gone, the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana is over, the Conference of Grand Masters is now behind us, and we are only three months away from our 2009 Annual Conference in June when my “day in the sun” will end. Our 2009 Mid-Winter meeting at Alexandria, Louisiana in early January was hosted by Beauregard-Anderson Chapter No. 530. Brother Richard Shaw is to be commended for an outstanding performance as the Chapter Manager for the meeting. He, of course, credits this success to the support of the Chapter. We received many favorable comments about the hotel service and conduct of the Meeting. If you were not in attendance you missed a delicious banquet and entertainment by a Cajun band. The “Loreauville Playboys Plus One” provided the Cajun culture. I attended the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana in early February where I represented National Sojourners, Inc. during the formal opening ceremony. During a period when the Grand Lodge was at refreshment all Sojourners present were assembled in the Grand East where Grand Master Lloyd Hennigan was inducted into Beauregard-Anderson Chapter. Many non-Sojourners were present and two subsequently requested petitions for membership. Lady Beverly and I traveled to California in mid-February where I joined the National Line officers in the formal introductions at the Conference of Grand Masters of North America at Garden Grove, CA. National Sojourners, Inc. has been visible at COGMNA for many years and it is important that we continue our presence at this event. In addition to the formal introduction during opening ceremonies, a Breakfast is hosted by the Fraternal Liaison Committee chaired by RADM Sizemore PNP, and the Grand Masters Chapter 996 schedules a meeting during the course of the conference and all are invited. These activities are important in letting Freemasonry know who we are and what we are about. In a very short time we will be traveling to Indianapolis IN for the 89th Annual Convention at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel. There is much to be done in preparation for this event. The Chapter Manager, Ray Gotshall, and Dick Sutton are busy pinning the details down with the hotel staff. National Officers, committee chairmen, Area Representatives, etc. will be busy writing their reports. Area Reps should keep in mind if you are contemplating recommending a worthy person for recognition, you must submit your recommendation not later than the 31st of March. Now, “over half of the week is gone” so lets go to work. Fraternally, Joseph H. Baker, Jr. National President