From the Desk of the Grand Master Jim Kendall, Grand Master
The first two-plus months of the year have been very busy with visits, travel, business meetings and Lodge meetings. It is only going to get busier, so grab your hats, and climb aboard.
District meetings are going to kick off with Districts 23 and 24 on September 29. We are going to try to add a little “Pizzaz” to the meetings, and it is my intent to visit at least one Mason or Widow who is housebound or otherwise unable to get out and about without difficulty. For those districts that have active youth groups or other concordant bodies, I have asked that they be requested to make a presentation of their choice that has an educational or symbolic element.
I had expected that July and August would be somewhat relaxed, ramping up for a flurry of activity in September as the year kicks into a higher gear. Silly me! Of course, the year starts with the Strawberry feast at King Solomon Lodge on the Monday following Grand Lodge. After a short break, the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon in Prince George BC, followed the following week with OES Installation in Yakima, the annual Executive Committee Retreat in Wenatchee where we pick up where we left off in the previous year, attend the Miss Job’s Daughters Washington Pageant, then the Job’s Daughters Installation on Saturday Evening.
So much for June! Now comes July: with visits to lodges, a Tacoma Rainiers game in the “new Cheney Stadium” (thanks Brothers!), a week long belated 50th Anniversary Cruise, Washington Masonic Charities Board Retreat, Finance Committee Meeting, Excomm Meeting, renewal celebration of the Laurel Grove Cemetery in Port Townsend, Mount Olympus Lodge Steak Fry in Forks. August kicked off with a bang, with the outdoor MM degree at Granite Falls and the Unity March in DuPont. Speaking of fun, the Merry Widow set sail in Port Orchard and several beggars came and left as buccaneers. AAARRRR.
My calendar is now finally mostly up to date. With a good deal of arm twisting (my own) and muttering, I have the district meetings pretty much scheduled. https://freemason-wa.org/grand-masters-itinerary/Keep checking periodically as dates change with short notice sometimes. I have already had to adjust to account for conflicts in Deputies calendars. We will do our best to accommodate.
One of the issues we continue to address is the ongoing sale of the MRC. There continues to be positive progress as the sale is moved through the system and we are more confident than ever that we can get this done. The Real Estate Task Force with VWB Chris Haynes waving the baton has done yeoman work and continues to manage this project.
The strangest thing just happened. I was reminded (again) that we did not join the fraternity to constantly hear about business and worry about bills. We joined for the fraternal warmth and learning. And that is correct. We get so caught up in numbers and budgets we neglect the Fraternal part of who and what we are. It should be a constant reminder pay attention to our spiritual and intellectual natures.
Warmest Fraternal Regards,
Jim Kendall
Grand Master
From the desk of the Grand Secretary RW Clint Brown, Grand Secretary
It is hard to believe that the Summer is nearly over. Apparently, time does fly when you are having fun. I hope everyone has had a great Summer. Mine has been a little crazy, but very enjoyable. Now it is time for Lodges to get back into the quarries and work for the good of Masonry and humanity. I would like to let everyone know about a few things that we are working on for the upcoming year to assist the Lodges and the members.
First, we are working on scheduling training throughout the state. Once again, the training will consist of Secretary, Treasurer and Temple Board Governance training. However, we will be changing the focus of the training, at least for the Secretaries and Treasurers. We will be focusing on how to use Grand View. The training will also include hands on training on how to best utilize all the features of Grand View and some of the quirks of the system and common mistakes. I have asked Clayton LaVigne to schedule the training in locations that have wi-fi available and would ask that those in attendance bring their computers with them so that they can log on to Grand View during the training. We currently have scheduled training at Kennewick Lodge on Sunday September 30, 2018 and at Spokane Scottish Rite on Sunday October 28, 2018. Both will start at 10 AM. You can sign up at freemason-wa.org.
I am also planning to start a monthly webinar training. Grand Lodge is using a video conferencing platform called Zoom which seems to work quite well for groups of between ten to thirty participants. I would like to determine if the Brethren would be interested in participating in such a webinar. Please email Chelsea Woods at chelsea@freemason-wa.org and let her know if you are interested in participating and would like an invitation to the meetings. We will then add you to the list and send out an invitation about two weeks before the scheduled training. I will likely do the webinar during the week but will try to schedule it during the lunch hour to accommodate as many participants as possible.
Next, Lodge Secretaries will be able to print their own dues statements this year. In fact, we encourage the Lodge Secretaries to print their own dues statements. Grand View has been working with us to develop a system that will allow the Lodge Secretaries to customize the dues statements that are sent out to their membership. They have assured me that this will be completed by the first of September. Grand Lodge will print your dues statements for you, if requested. However, we will not customize the statements for you and you will be billed for the costs associated with printing and mailing them to you. I would therefore encourage every Lodge to print their own.
I have been asked questions about dues cards as well. The purpose of the new dues card is to save the Lodges the expense of ordering and mailing dues cards out to their members every year. It was our intent that the dues cards last for five years. The question has been asked if we will be sending out stickers to put on the dues card and the answer is no. First, that would defeat the purpose of having a plastic dues card that last for five years. If we did that, the Lodges would have to pay the cost for the stickers and would have to pay postage to mail them out to their members. The dues cards have a QR code on them. You can download a QR reader for free on any smart phone and check to see if a Brother is in good standing. If you do not have a smart phone, there is a number on the card that you can call which will let you know if the Brother is in good standing. The bottom line is, the QR code and phone number make a sticker unnecessary.
Election and Installation season will soon be in full swing. I would like to remind the Lodge secretaries of a couple of things. First, you must still submit your election form to the Grand lodge office. I am working with Grand View to find a way to allow the Lodge Secretaries to enter their election results into Grand View. But at this time, Grand View does not have the ability to check to see if a Brother elected or appointed to hold an office in the Lodge is proficient. Second, please make sure that all the officers you submit are proficient. If they are not, you will be receiving an email from Lynne informing you that they cannot be installed or entered into Grand View until they are proficient.
I am looking forward to a great year. I hope to see each and every one of you either in Lodge, at your District Meeting or at the training sessions that I will be conducting throughout the year. As always, we are here to assist you. Please feel free to call if you have questions or concerns.
Fraternally,
Clint Brown
Grand Secretary
From the desk of the Assistant Grand Secretary VW Donald Campbell, Assistant Grand Secretary
Another month, more candidates. Since June of 2016 we have been tracking requests for information about Masonry that came to the Grand Lodge office. As of August 15th, 2018, we have received at least 900 requests. Admittedly some of the requests are submitted for reasons other than becoming a Mason, but most have been legitimate. The process is very simple. Each request is logged, referred to either a District Deputy or a specific Lodge. It is hoped that the individual is contacted in a timely manner, referred to a Lodge or Lodges to familiarize them with Masonry and then if appropriate they proceed through the 6-step program, are qualified and petition a Lodge.
I review this list periodically to see who has petitioned, been elected and proceeded with the degrees. The current review indicates that about 10% of all those who have contacted the Grand Lodge office have become Masons. If you are one of those candidates or your Lodge has one or more, please keep me informed of their progress so I can assist if necessary. My email is don@freemason-wa.org.
On another subject, I’ve been asked about programs of a Patriotic theme to be presented at Lodge, in schools or for other groups. The National Sojourners, a group of Master Masons who are now or have been in the Military have several programs such as Patriotic Flags, Building the Flag, Toast to the Flag, which can be presented by one of the local chapters. Anyone interested in having one of these programs presented or in learning more about the Sojourners, please contact me at my email address and I will arrange for you to be contacted.
Please feel free to call any Monday, Wednesday or Friday for any assistance you may need.
Don Campbell
Assistant Grand Secretary
From the desk of the Assistant to the Grand Secretary VW Clayton La Vigne, Grand Lecturer
Greetings, Brethren!
September is fast approaching, and that means our Lodges will be back in full swing from the summer vacation. It’ll be time to get back to thinking about Lodge, and with that, here are some things that you can focus on:
Grandview: If you haven’t registered onto the Grandview database, I strongly encourage you to do so. It’s fairly easy, and when you do, you can update your contact information when you need to, and if your secretary posts Lodge minutes, you’ll be able to look them up and read them if you missed one or more of your stated meetings. You’ll not only be up-to-date with your Lodge’s functions, but also the Grand Lodge’s, as we post bulletins on the Grandview Home Page. If you’re a secretary, I encourage you to download your Lodge minutes into your Lodge’s Grandview Database. We will be holding Secretary, Treasurer and Temple Board Trainings in various locations in our Jurisdiction over the next few months. When one is scheduled near your area, I recommend that you attend it if your schedule allows.
Ritual: Now that your Lodge is once again meeting on a regular basis, it’s time to brush up on your ritual work if you’re an officer. If your District Deputy is attending your meeting, don’t be afraid to ask him if he has the plain text of the ritual. You can look in it to answer any ritual questions you may have had, or you can also ask your deputy to check your ritual work during the opening and closing of your meeting. Either way, this is an opportunity for you to improve your ritual excellence, and if your fellow officers do the same, your Lodge’s ritual work will be impressive to all who attend.
There are a handful of Lodges who are hosting visits by their elected officials in several parts of our state. If you’re one of those Lodges, be sure to get the word out as far as you can, to gain the best attendance, and if your schedule allows, please attend these events. Let our elected officials know what we’re about, and that we make a difference in our communities. The District Deputies are searching for Brothers who are interested in joining not only the Legislative Affairs Task Force, but also other committees. If you are interested in participating, please contact your Deputy.
Have a great September, and I’ll see you around!
VWB Clayton LaVigne
Message from the Junior Grand Warden VW Cameron Bailey, Junior Grand Warden
RW Cameron Bailey will be making a presentation regarding the State Capital Budget at the Port Angeles Lodge No. 69 located at 622 S. Lincoln, Port Angeles on September 11, 2018 at 7:30 PM. What it is, how it works, and how our Lodges can utilize grant funding from it in order to improve and restore our buildings.
This summer all new energy efficient windows are being installed in the Centralia Masonic Temple, paid for by this program. Your own Lodge can benefit similarly.
RW Cameron Bailey Junior Grand Warden
An Update from the Membership Development Committee
Over the last couple of years, we have been hard at work developing 2 videos. The 1st, which many of you have already viewed gives an overview of how the 6 step program works, by following an individual as he goes through the program and ends as he is ready to be initiated. The second one, still undergoing a final tune-up before we begin shooting the video, will carry forward with some of the best practices that lodges can implement to more fully involve a new Master Mason into the fabric of the lodge, helping to ensure that the new member is fully connected with the brothers in his home lodge. Additionally, it will include some ideas that you may want to start implementing to help bring back some members who have drifted away from the lodge and reengage them as well as reengaging with the local community.
In addition to the videos, we have put a lot of time and effort into 3 questionnaires that will be going out soon, as we try to learn more about who we are as Masons. The 1st questionnaire will be sent to those who have recently gone NPD or have demitted from a lodge. With this questionnaire, we are trying to develop a knowledge base of why a member is demitting so that the Grand Line and various committees can start to develop programs to slow down the loss of members going NPD or demitting from the fraternity.
The 2nd questionnaire will be sent to EAs and FCs who have not advanced to the next degree within a reasonable time frame. Here again, we are looking at why this is happening, and trying to understand the why so that the Grand Line and various committees can start to develop programs to help our newest members advance to Master Mason.
The 3rd questionnaire will be sent to all Master Masons for whom we have an email address. The Grand Master wants us to develop a base of knowledge about the Master Masons in this jurisdiction; where are we engaging within the overall body of masonry, and looking for some of the “best practices” that we have seen in our own lodges and lodges we have visited. We hope that you will take the few minutes needed to help the Grand Master and the Grand Line learn more about us and what continues to engage us in our beloved fraternity.
THE MILITARY AND VETERANS SERVICES COMMITTEE NEEDS YOU
The Military and Veterans Services Committee needs assistance in the central part of the state, from Yakima, east to Tri-Cities, and north to Omak. They are seeking representatives in Yakima, Ellensburg, Wenatchee, and Omak/Okanagan. Past military service is not required but is helpful. Service on the committee does not require a huge amount of time and effort, only representation concerning Veteran’s Affairs in your District or region, passing along information on upcoming activities, the occasional attendance at affairs such as military unit send-offs or receptions, or Honor Flight type activities. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact VWB James Tourtillotte at jimturtle@comcast.net.
FYI...
WB Dean Markley is looking for help to publishing the Masonic Tribune. If you are good at proofreading or have the ability to assist with the layout for the Masonic Tribune, please contact WB Dean at wdeanm@gmail.com.
Election Forms: Please send this form to the Grand Lodge Office as soon as your Elections are complete. It is IMPORTANT that the Officers meet the qualifications in WMC, Sec. 15.03 B.L
Resolutions: Resolutions must be postmarked on or prior to December 1st, 2018. An outline of the Proper Format is located in the Washington Masonic Code, Appendix C. (CLICK HERE to download a template).
Service Awards: Service Awards can now be requested through Grand View from the Lodge dashboard under Request Service Awards.
Capital Budget Presentation Date: Tuesday, September 11th, 2018 Time: 7:30 PM Location: Port Angeles Lodge No. 69, 622 S. Lincoln Street
Job's Daughters International Day Date: Saturday, September 22nd, 2018 Time: 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM Location: Nile Shrine Center, 6601 244th St. SW, Mountlake Terrance
Secretary,Treasurer and Temple Board Training Date: Sunday, September 30th, 2018 Time: 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM Location: Kennewick Masonic Lodge, 601 W 6th Avenue, Kennewick Notes: Secretaries and Treasurers need to bring their laptops to log on to Grand View.
Secretary,Treasurer and Temple Board Training Date: Sunday, October 28th, 2018 Time: 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM Location: Scottish Rite Center, 506 W 2nd Avenue, Spokane Notes: Secretaries and Treasurers need to bring their laptops to log on to Grand View.
Constituting Almira Lodge No. 120 Date: Friday, October 5th, 2018 Time: 5:30 PM Location: 408 W Main Street, Almira
Upcoming District Meetings:
District No. 23 Meeting - September 29nd, 2018
