Important notification from Winter Haven Lodge No. 186

Brethren,

Last night the City of Winter Haven passed a law requiring the wearing of masks in all indoor places. In response to this law I am requiring that everyone attending lodge on July 18th - and until further notice - wear a mask before you enter the building. Your mask must remain on until you have found a place to eat in the dining hall and/or a place to sit in the lodge room. Once you have satisfied yourself that you have a proper social distance from others you may remove your mask. However, at all times while standing or moving about, other than speaking in the designated area, your mask must also be in place. Let us hope, Brothers, that this is a very short lived situation but for the safety  of the craft... it must be done.

The stated meeting on July 18, 2020 that you were summoned to will go on as planned. The lodge has been sanitized from top to bottom, including the kitchen, dining hall, staircase, elevator, doors and seats within the lodge. We have gone to great length to assure that we will not add to the COVID-19 count. If you are sick, have a fever or other symptoms, stay home and/or seek medical help. That said, I encourage everyone attending to wear a mask, except when eating or drinking. If you are a safe distance from another brother (that will be your decision) you can take it off for comfort.

There will be no handshakes - Masonic or otherwise in Winter Haven Lodge.

The Country Breakfast starting at 8:00am will be SERVED to you from the kitchen, including beverages, by masked, gloved staff. No one else will be allowed into the kitchen area. There is a hand sanitizer station inside the dining hall door and everyone is expected to use it before approaching the serving area. As set up we can accommodate only 52 people at a time in the dining hall.

There is also a hand sanitizer station inside the outer room and everyone is expected to use it before entering the Lodge room. Everyone entering the lodge room, Winter Haven members and visitors, will show their valid dues card to the Tyler or other designee and everyone will sign the register before entering the Lodge room. The seating in the lodge room is as close to 6' apart as we can get and that will allow for 48 in the sideline.

Questions or concerns email me at dwind1946@gmail.com.

W:. Dennis Wind, W:.M:, Winter Haven Lodge No. 186

---

The new Law

Face masks are required in the City of Winter Haven in public indoor settings beginning on Tuesday, July 14 at 5:00pm. 

On Monday, July 13, the Winter Haven City Commission voted on an Ordinance to require face masks:  “Every person working, living, visiting, or doing business in the City of Winter Haven, Florida shall wear a face covering consistent with CDC guidelines in any indoor location, other than their home or residence, when not maintaining social distancing from other persons, excluding family members or companions.”

There is an exception for children under 8. There are also exceptions for youth sports, exercising, eating, and ADA conflicts – a full list of exceptions is below.

Disposable Face Mask Distribution

Up to 3 disposable face masks will be distributed in a drive-through process at 2 locations:

–Winter Haven Recreational and Cultural Center parking lot at 801 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard

–Florida Citrus Building (Nora Mayo Hall) at 500 3rd Street NW.

This service is available from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. from Monday July 13 through Friday, July 17. Area citizens can visit one of these two sites to receive up to three disposable face masks for each person in the car while supplies last. The only information requested is your zip code.