GOOD EVENING BRETHREN I WANT TO THANK THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE TONIGHT. I THOUGHT I WOULD TALK TO YOU TONIGHT ABOUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT YOUR GRAND LODGE OFFICERS DO WHEN WE GO TO RICHMOND TO REPRESENT YOU ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AND, SOMETIMES MORE FREQUENTLY. OVER THE YEARS, GRAND LODGE COMMITTEES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO AND NOW THERE ARE SOME 23 INDIVIDUAL COMMITTEES. SOME OF WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, ONLY MEET ONCE A YEAR, WHILE OTHERS MEET, OR SHOULD, ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE LIST OF EACH COMMITTEE, THE DATE IT WAS FORMED AND THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS ARE SET BY GRAND LODGE LAW AND ARE FOUND IN THE METHODICAL DIGEST. IT SHOULD BE OF INTEREST THAT EACH COMMITTEE HAS A CHARTER AND A LIST OF DUTIES, AS WELL AS MEMBERS. THE LIST.OF MEMBERS CAN BE FOUND IN THE MASONIC DIRECGORY THT IS PUBLISHED BY THE GRAND LODGE EARLY IN THE MASONIC YEAR, USUALLY AROUND THE JANUARY-FEBRUARY TIME-FRAME THE GRAND LODGE OFFICERS BASICALLY DEAL WITH SIX COMMITTEES ON A REGULAR BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. OUR COMMITTEE WORK IS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GRAND LODGE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE. THESE COMMITTEES ARE 1. MASONIC EDUCATION 2. FINANCE 3. MASONIC HERALD (ON OCCASION) 4. PROPERTY 5. LODGE SERVICES 6. PUBLIC RELATIONS 7. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY THE COMMITTEE ON STRATEGIC PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE
(SP&I FOR SHORT) WAS CHARTERED ON FEBRUARY 22, 2008 AND CONSISTS OF THE GRAND MASTER, ELECTED GRAND LODGE OFFICERS AND THE CHAIRMEN OF SUCH GRAND LODGE COMMITTEES OR OTHER BRETHREN AS THE GRAND MASTER SHALL APPOINT. CURRENTLY RW RHEY SOLOMON IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THIS COMMITTEE AND HAS DONE, IN MY MIND, AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB IN GETTING THE SPI COMMITTEE MOVING AND IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES THAT THE GRAND LODGE HAS SPECIFIED. GOALS WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED WERE: 1. TO STRENGTHEN OUR MASONIC CULTURAL NORM THAT BEHAVIOR IS ALWAYS TO BE BASED ON MASONIC VALUES AND STANDARDS 2. TO DEVELOP A TAILORED PROGRAM TO STRENGTHEN THE SUBORDINATE LODGES 3. TO DEVELOP AN EFFECTIVE MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT ATTRACTS A LARGER NUMBER OF HIGH-QUALITY CANDIDATES FOR MEMBERSHIP 4. TO DEVELOP A COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM TO IMPROVE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF MASONIC VALUES AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION 5. TO ENSURE THAT THE DDGM, GRAND LODGE COMMITTEES AND DISTRICT TEAM AND STRUCTURE ARE OPTIMIZED TO BEST SUPPORT GRAND LODGE OBJECTIVES AS WELL AS DISTRICT AND SUBORDINATE LODGE NEEDS. 6. A SIXTH OBJECTIVE WAS ADDED IN 2017 AND THAT 15: TO MAINTAIN THE FINANCIAL INTEGRITY OF THE GRAND LODE INVESTMENTS AND ITS OPERATIONS. AFTER THE INITIAL MEETINGS OF THE SPI COMMITTEE, IT WAS DECIDED TO RECOMMEND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FOUR NEW GRAND LODGE COMMITTEES. THESE ARE: INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY LODGE SERVICES
MEMBERSHIP PUBLIC RELATIONS THE SPI COMMITIEE NOW MEETS ON A REGULAR BASIS AT THE GRAND LODGE BUILDING ON THE SECOND TUESDAY AFTERNOON PREVIOUS TO THE MASONIC HOME OF GOVERNORS MONTHLY MEETING THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. WITHOUT GETIING INTO THE WEEDS TOO MUCH, OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE SPI COMMITTEE HAS MET, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE MEMBERSHIP, INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND PROPERTY COMMITTEE. TOGETHER, WE HAVE BEEN DOING, IN MY MIND, SOME PRETTY GOOD WORK. FROM THIS COLLABRA TION HAS COME THE NEW MEMBERSHIP BOOK THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO EACH AND EVERY NEWLY RAISED MASTER MASON AFTER THE ONE DAY CONFERRAL AND AFTER THEY ARE CERTIFIED BY THEIR LODGE AND REPORTED TO GRAND LODGE. IT CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 56 PAGES OF ANY TYPE OF INFORMATION ANYONE WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT VIRGINIA FREEMASONRY. BRETHREN, THIS IS A FIRST CLASS PUBLICATION AND RW PATRICK MURPHREY, AS CHAIRMAN AND HIS COMMITTEE DESERVE A GREAT DEAL OF CREDIT FOR ITS PUBLICATION. THE BOOKLET WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE FROM THE GRAND LODGE AROUND THE FIRST OF SEPTEMBER SO YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS, THE GRAND LODGE OFFICERS MEET AND REACT TO SUGGESTIONS MADE BY THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES. SOME OF THESE IDEAS ARE ACCEPTED, AS WELL AS SUGGESTIONS FROM THE GRAND LODGE OFFICERS. AND THE PROCESS BEGINS TOWARD IMPLEMENTATION WHILE OTHERS ARE "STORED FOR THE FUTURE." THIS IS DONE BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO BURN OUT ANY COMMITTEE MEMBER. THE NEW MEMBERSHIP BOOKLET TOOK APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS TO MOVE FROM AN IDEA INTO PUBLICATION. ANOTHER COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN VERY IMPORTANT IS THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE. COMMENTS THAT APPEAR ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND OTHER INSTANT MESSAGING PLATFORMS CAN CREATE, AT TIMES, PROBLEMS WITH WHAT HAS BEEN SAID AND THE TONE AND MEANING BEHIND THE COMMENTS. RW WILLIAM BAUMBACH AND HIS COMMITTEE, OVER SEVERAL YEARS OF WORK, DEVELOPED AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POLICY THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND IS THE NEW STANDARD FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE GRAND LODGE. THE SECRETARY OF EACH LODGE IS REQUIRED TO MAKE A COPY AVAILABLE TO THE NEW WORSHIPFUL MASTER EACH YEAR SO THAT HE MIGHT READ AND STUDY
ITS CONTENT AND VERIFY THAT FACT BY A SIGNATURE PAGE AND IS SENT TO THE GRAND LODGE EACH YEAR. OUR GRAND PROVOST, WOR BRO PAUL MILLER, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE GRAND LODGE COMMITTEE ON MASONIC EDUCATION HAS EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE SUBORDINATE LODGE OFFICERS TRAINING PROGRAM (SLOT FOR SHORT) AND HOW THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN PRESENTED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. IN CONJUCTION WITH MW EDMOND COHEN, PGM, WHO HEADS THE VIRGINIA MASONIC UNIVERSITY, A SERIES OF SLOT TRAINING MODULES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE LODGES OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS. THESE INCLUDE: 1. LEADERSHIP 2. PLANNING 3. FINANCES 4. MANAGEMENT CONTROLS THE FIRST TWO modules WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE TO BE PRESENTED TO THE BRETHREN THIS YEAR ARE LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION. WOR BRO MILLER IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIVISION LEASERSHIP CONFERENCES HELD AROUND THE COMMONWEAL TH AT 9 VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE EARLY PART OF THE MASONIC YEAR. HE SOLICITS YOUR COMMENTS SO THAT WE MIGHT CONTINUE TO PRESENT PROGRAMS THAT WILL BENEFIT YOUR LODGES AND THE BRETHREN. I COULD GO ON FOR SEVERAL MORE HOURS, BUT I DO WANT TO BRING YOU UP TO DATE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE GRAND LODGE BUILDING ITSELF. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY MAJOR WORK DONE TO YOUR GRAND LODGE BUILDING SINCE IT WAS BUil T IN 1971. A MULTITUDE OF PROBLEMS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT MONEY HAS NOT BEEN AVAILABLE TO DO WHAT WAS NEEDED, A BAND AIDE APPROACH WAS DEVELOPED. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED IN THE BUDGET THAT IS APROVED BY THE GRAND LODGE DELEGATES TO BEGIN THE WORK. JUST TO GIVE YOU A SHORT LIST OF THE ITEMS THAT THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT TO REPAIR/REPLACE AT THE GRAND LODGE BUILDING ARE: 1. ASBESTOS ABATEMENT 2. A NEW HANDICAP RAMP
3. REPLACEMENT OF THE 4. MECHANICAL SYSTEM 5. ROOF REPLACEMENT 6. ELEVATOR 7. GRAND MASTER'S APARTMENT refurbish 8. MAIN FLOOR BATHROOM/SMALL KITCHEN REDO 9. LIBRARY/MUSEUM MATERIAL REMOVAL AT PRESENT, WE HAVE APPROXIMTELY $385,000 TO $435,000 AVAILABLE TO SPEND ON THE REPAIRS. COMPETITIVE BIDS HAVE BEEN SOUGHT AND THE REMODLING WILL BE DONE ON A BUSINESS LIKE BASIS. IT IS HOPED THAT THE WORK WILL BE COMPLETED BY FAMILY DAY, IN OCTOBER, Contracts have been awarded for the following: 1. Asbestos abatement (this was found in the ceiling tile of the Grand Lodge building and will be replaced) 2. Handicap Ramp: in progress 3. Replacement of mechanical system: 4. Roof replacement: 5. Elevator refurbish 6. Grand master's apartment: This will be done by masonic home maintence staff, 7. Main floor bathroom: most of work to be done by masonic home staff with minor outside work 8. Library removal and work: in progress and will be scheduled after roof repair complete- SO, AS YOU CAN SEE YOUR GRAND LODGE OFFICERS ARE IN A PRO-ACTIVE STATE OF MIND AND WILL CONTINUE THAT WAY UNTIL THE GRAND LODGE OF VIRGINIA BUILDING BECOMES A MODEL OF WHICH EACH MEMBER CAN BE PROUD. THIS IS WHAT WE DO ON TUESDAY AFTERNOONS, USUALLY FROM 1-5 P.M. WE THEN BRAKE FOR DINNER. THROUGH THE KIND OFFICES OF THE MASONIC HOME THE OFFICERS THAT LIVE A DISTANCE FROM RICHMONDSTAY IN ONE OF THE APARTMENTS LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE HOME. ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, THE ELECTED OFFICERS MEET AND DISCUSS ITEMS THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO EACH ONE OF US. THE GRAND MASTER HAS STATED MANY TIMES, THAT OUR COMMUNICATION
FLOWS FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM AND VICE A VERSA THROUGHOUT THE GRAND LINE. WE ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ANY ITEM THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO THE OTHER GRAND LODGE OFFICERS THAT MIGHT COME FROM A DISCUSSION WITH A BROTHER IN OUR VISITS.ALSO ATTENDING IS THE GRAN SECRETARY AND ON OCCASION, THE GRAND TREASURER WHEN HE IS IN TOWN. WEDNSDA Y AFTERNOON IS SPENT IN THE MASONIC HOME OF VIRGINIA BOARD OF GOVERNORS MEETING WHICH USUALLY BEGINS AT 1 P.M. FOLLOWING LUNCH. WE BEGIN WITH COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND THE FULL BOARD MEETS AROUND 3 P.M. AND LASTS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. Masonic Home Board of Governor committees are: 1 finance 2 human resources 3 facilities 4 resident life 5 development AFTER THAT, ITS HOME AND TO OUR OTHER OBLIGATIONS. I HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO GIVE A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE GRAND OFFICERS BUDGET ITEMS AND BRIEFLY DISCUSS EACH LINE ITEM AND THOSE ITEMS THAT YOUR GRAND OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR. SEE INSERT
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AGAIN, I HOPE THAT THIS HAS BEEN INSIGHTFUL AND GIVESYOU SOME IDEA OF WHAT YOUR GRAND LINE OFFICERS DO INBETWEEN ATTENDING VISITS OF THE GRAND MASTER, HIS VISITS TO INDIVIDUAL LODGES OR OUR ATTENDANCE AT LODGES THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO ATTEND. I AM VERY HONORED AND HUMBLE TO EVEN HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MY NAME PLACED IN NOMINATION FOR GRAND LINE AND I HOPE THAT THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE BRETHREN HAS BEEN ONE OF OPENNESS. AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE AS LONG AS I AM A MEMBER OF YOUR GRAND LINE THANK YOU, WORSHIPFUL MASTER, FOR THE INVITATION AND I WILL BE GLAD TO TRY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.