Mt. Hiram Lodge installs new officers in Saturday ceremony

By BRITTANY FHOLER 
Cove Leader-Press

Mt. Hiram Lodge #595 of Copperas Cove installed new lodge officers for 2018-2019 Saturday morning during an open ceremony. 
New officers for 2018-2019 are Worshipful Master Paul Plourde, Senior Warden James Hamilton, Junior Warden Darrell McDonald, Treasurer Ron Singleton, Secretary Matt Freeman, Chaplain James Cooney, Senior Deacon James Johnsen, Junior Deacon Ken Sinker, Senior Steward Bob Chenoweth, Junior Steward Robert Lautenschlager, Marshall Frank Leslie, Master of Ceremonies Steven Click and Tiler Mark Spangler. 
The previous Worshipful Master Bill Chenoweth was not at the ceremony due to being ill, but the new Worshipful Master, Paul Plourde, said that being selected meant a lot and he was ready to take on the responsibility of his position. Plourde was previously the Senior Warden for 2017-2018. Each position lasts for one year, when new officers will be selected again, Plourde said. 
“It’s a lot of responsibilities, but I’ve worked all the top leadership positions in the Army for 27 years so I’m ready for the challenge,” Plourde said. Having been in charge of 300 to 400 soldiers before, the lodge only having 40 to 50 people makes a big difference, he added. 
The lodge stays busy throughout the year, with their Tuesday meetings and various fundraisers such as their annual pancake fundraiser in April. Proceeds from these fundraisers go to local community groups and charities. Members of the lodge also participated in a trash clean-up on F.M. 116 in April and helped out at Rabbit Fest in May. The lodge also gives out the Mirabeau B. Lamar Scholarship and Award for Excellence in Education every year.  
Plourde said that he is ready to help take the lodge to a “new level.”
“I’m looking forward to do good things for the community, do good things for the lodge, you know, working with my brothers,” Plourde said. “That’s what we do. We look out for each other. We help each other. We educate each other and that’s what it’s all about, so we could do the best we could for the community.”
The ceremony was attended by friends and family, including two members of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (Rainbow Girls). There were refreshments following the ceremony.