To the Editor:
On behalf of Worshipful Brother Nicholas Puja, PM, I would like to thank the Blood Center of New Jersey for a very successful year end blood drive. Peninsula Lodge No. 99 F. & A.M. donated our catering hall to facilitate the blood drive, held on Nov. 19. The Bayonne community came out again in full force and the BC-NJ was able to collect 61 pints of blood in a five-hour window.
Brenda McEntyre-Saunders, account representative of the Blood Center of New Jersey, was on hand all day. She has become a great family friend and I would like to thank her for the countless phone calls, emails and faxes she sends my way that make each blood drive run smoothly. Her staff was professional and courteous, as always, and without them the blood could not be drawn.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Master Counselor Craig Chwalyk of the Excalibur Chapter of DeMolay for having the young men of DeMolay support the blood drive by coming out early and setting up the event, maintaining a presence all day, and making sure that whatever was needed was done without hesitation. Some of the young men even rolled up their sleeves and donated for the first time. Young men like these are the future of Bayonne and the leaders in Freemasonry.
I have been the blood drive committee chairman for four years and in that time span we have collected hundreds of pints of blood. Unfortunately I will be replaced as chairman by Brother Dan Vargas, as I am taking on more responsibility within the Lodge. Brother Vargas has 100 percent of my support and I know he will strive to do better than I have. The newly installed Worshipful Master Brother Kacsmar Jr., PM, has announced that our next blood drive will be on Jan. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Peninsula Lodge No. 99, located at 888 Avenue C on the corner of 40th Street).
Again, thank you to the Bayonne Community who makes these drives a success each and every time.
BRO. JOE CZAPLA
J.W. Peninsula Lodge No. 99 F. & A.M.
Blood Drive Committee Chairman