What would you change?

[cemab4y]

A number of my bodies already circulate minutes by email and allow electronic payment, either by Paypal or standing order. Have you made a motion in your lodge to do so? When did you last attend your lodge?

I don’t think the fraternity has the resources to run an employment bureau, and certainly doesn’t have the expertise found in public agencies, or even private groups, such as LDS Employment Services. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

How can you state, that the fraternity does not have the resources? Are you an expert on all 51+ Grand Lodges in the USA, and all of the subordinate lodges in the USA? I am certain that some Grand Lodges could re-open their employment services. Some Grand lodges may already have such bureaus currently operating, I do not know. Some lodges in the USA, might have members who are expert in assisting people in seeking employment. Some might have members who are job-placement specialists. My mother lodge has an individual who is retired from the state employment service.

I have some acquaintance with the LDS employment bureaus (They help anyone who asks for help, church membership is not required, just like their family history centers do not require church membership). The bureaus are staffed by volunteers, and they use the employment literature provided by the church (and non-church manuals,etc. as well).

 

[Glen Cook]

-- I last attended my mother lodge in Kentucky, in October 0f 2010, when I was in Kentucky at the time of my father's death. I reside in Virginia, and attending my mother lodge is difficult. I have attended lodges in other states, since then. I do a LOT of international work, and attending lodge is not always possible.

You avoided the question. When did you last attend lodge?

 

[Glen Cook]

How can you state, that the fraternity does not have the resources? Are you an expert on all 51+ Grand Lodges in the USA, and all of the subordinate lodges in the USA? I am certain that some Grand Lodges could re-open their employment services. Some Grand lodges may already have such bureaus currently operating, I do not know. Some lodges in the USA, might have members who are expert in assisting people in seeking employment. Some might have members who are job-placement specialists. My mother lodge has an individual who is retired from the state employment service.

I have some acquaintance with the LDS employment bureaus (They help anyone who asks for help, church membership is not required, just like their family history centers do not require church membership). The bureaus are staffed by volunteers, and they use the employment literature provided by the church (and non-church manuals,etc. as well).

An expert in all? No. But I have a general familiarity based on attending meetings throughout the US and GM Conference. For instance NY is apparently laying off office employees and has a reduction in membership. This is a consistent theme throughout the fraternity. There is also the issue of expertise and resources, as we no longer have the business owners we once had.

What evidence do you have that the employment bureaus worked?

So, you agree that other agencies, such as LDS Employment Services are available?

 

[Dontrell Stroman]

Because I’m actually involved in the fraternity and understand it’s not just s financial commitment, but one of a knowledge base. We no longer have the company owners represented in the fraternity as we once did either. That family can’t find good jobs is irrelevant as to whether the fraternity can handle this

While it is disappointing you’ve had unemployment, that is irrelevant as to whether the fraternity can manage this task.

Do you have a citation for how well the fraternity did in the depression in this endeavour?

You missed my question as to when you last attended lodge.

Glen you made a good point, now let me pick your brain for a second. Why do you believe the "company owners" we once had have vanished ?

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[Dontrell Stroman]

"Employment bureaus " At one time certain GLS had employment resources ? Someone please elaborate.

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[Glen Cook]

Glen you made a good point, now let me pick your brain for a second. Why do you believe the "company owners" we once had have vanished ?

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I’m afraid I lack the creativity to do more than point to the reasons generally for the decline in the Craft.

 

[Dontrell Stroman]

I wonder if maybe due to other organizations such as the ruitan Club etc ?

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[dfreybur]

Why do you believe the "company owners" we once had have vanished ?

It isn't good that we don't invite them to petition. Rotary definitely invites business owners to membership. They are our competition.

Men who own their own shops work hard, work many hours, are responsible for the livelihood of others. They would mostly make good Brothers. In the 1800s there was a tradition of shop owners as Brothers. That's clear from the previous generation of Scottish Rite degrees.

I don't know exactly when invitations stopped but I suspect it was after the AASR was organized after the Civil War.

 

[Georgi Ivanov]

The ritual in my state of origin uses the word inculcate. Perhaps it is true that, if we do not inculcate the lessons of Masonry all other changes will be moot.

Great word!


Fraternally,
G∴I

 

[cemab4y]

You avoided the question. When did you last attend lodge?

I did not avoid the question. I ignored it. The time, date, and frequency of my lodge attendance is really none of your business. I suggest you drop it immediately. This is the best answer you are going to get. I suggest that you accept it and move on.

 

[cemab4y]

An expert in all? No. But I have a general familiarity based on attending meetings throughout the US and GM Conference. For instance NY is apparently laying off office employees and has a reduction in membership. This is a consistent theme throughout the fraternity. There is also the issue of expertise and resources, as we no longer have the business owners we once had.

What evidence do you have that the employment bureaus worked?

So, you agree that other agencies, such as LDS Employment Services are available?

Masonry is losing members nationally. No dispute. I am continually amazed at the number of Masons who are convinced that Masonry is growing, and that everything is just fine. I have heard "My lodge initiated three new men last year".

I have no specific data, that the employment bureaus (in the 1930s) were successful. Since there were few publicly-operated employment agencies, it is safe to assume, that at least some of the (masonic) bureaus were successful in steering Masons towards employment.

Of course, there are many (non-government) employment services available. Some churches assist their members in locating employment. The LDS is one of the largest. Some service clubs, like the Jaycees, and Kiwanis,etc certainly assist their members in seeking employment. So what? Our craft can join them.

Point is: I am continually unimpressed with the state-operated employment services. I have utilized them in KY, NJ, TN. VA.etc. and they are all uniformly bad. Here in Fairfax county, VA, there are more internet servers than in any county in the world. Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, Lucent, etc. all have big operations here. I am a telecom engineer, and when I last went to the VA dept of employment security (what a joke) they had nothing in telecom or computer systems.

My brother and his wife just moved to Charlotte NC. My sister-in-law has a background in public relations and the NC employment agency had no jobs, except for stacking boxes, and janitorial and food service,etc.

 

[cemab4y]

One more time:

(your question
When did you last attend your lodge?



(my answer) :

- I attended my mother lodge, when I went back to KY, for my father's death (My mother chose not to have a masonic funeral). I live in VA, and I do a lot of international work. I choose to keep my membership with my mother lodge in KY. I am able to visit lodges overseas, and when I am back in the USA, I visit lodges in VA/MD/DC. What difference does that make? I am just as much as a Mason, as if I lived next door to my mother lodge, and attended every meeting. If regular lodge attendance (at your mother lodge) were a requirement for Masonry, you would have to expel all of the retired people who live in Florida, and keep their membership in other states.

My father passed away in October 2010.

Your question is answered. Move on

 

[cemab4y]

"Employment bureaus " At one time certain GLS had employment resources ? Someone please elaborate.

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Back in the 1930's, and for some time after, many Grand Lodges, and subordinate lodges had employment assistance bureaus, which assisted unemployed masons ( and dependents, and masonic widows,etc) in seeking employment. Masons would learn about jobs "through the grapevine", and communicate any openings to the job bureau. Unemployed Masons would register with the bureau, and the bureau would inform the men, when a job came open. (keep in mind, that in the 1930's the state governments rarely had offices staffed with paid employees to assist the unemployed)

 

[Dontrell Stroman]

Back in the 1930's, and for some time after, many Grand Lodges, and subordinate lodges had employment assistance bureaus, which assisted unemployed masons ( and dependents, and masonic widows,etc) in seeking employment. Masons would learn about jobs "through the grapevine", and communicate any openings to the job bureau. Unemployed Masons would register with the bureau, and the bureau would inform the men, when a job came open. (keep in mind, that in the 1930's the state governments rarely had offices staffed with paid employees to assist the unemployed)

Thanks for the feedback, learned something new. Maybe this is why some modern day Freemasons refer to our late brothers as "Union" members.

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[Glen Cook]

I agree it is not my business per se, but when you give your opinion as to what others in Masonry should be doing or rely on your knowledge of the fraternity in giving an opinion, but you havent participated in years, your lack of participation and knowledge is relevant.

No one mentioned your mother lodge.

 

[Glen Cook]

One more time:

(your question
When did you last attend your lodge?



(my answer) :

- I attended my mother lodge, when I went back to KY, for my father's death (My mother chose not to have a masonic funeral). I live in VA, and I do a lot of international work. I choose to keep my membership with my mother lodge in KY. I am able to visit lodges overseas, and when I am back in the USA, I visit lodges in VA/MD/DC. What difference does that make? I am just as much as a Mason, as if I lived next door to my mother lodge, and attended every meeting. If regular lodge attendance (at your mother lodge) were a requirement for Masonry, you would have to expel all of the retired people who live in Florida, and keep their membership in other states.

My father passed away in October 2010.

Your question is answered. Move on

No. You didn’t answer. When did you last attend any lodge?
It is my understanding you haven’t traveled internationally for some time.

 

[Bro. Stewart P.M.]

No. You didn’t answer. When did you last attend any lodge?
It is my understanding you haven’t traveled internationally for some time.

Looks like his answer is October 2010.

 

[Glen Cook]

Looks like his answer is October 2010.

Then I will move on.

 

[jermy Bell]

One topic that I have thought about for many years, is "Sweat equity". I believe that support your local lodge, and Grand Lodge, does not end with dues payment. Every mason (who is able) should be given a "calling", and encourage him to support his lodge, with labor and expertise. Men who have experience in heating/ventilation/air conditioning, could assist in keeping the building system maintained. Members with experience in IT, could assist on the lodge website committee. Members with writing experience, could assist with the lodge newsletter (either print or on-line), and so forth.

The WM should assemble a roster of the various areas, where the lodge needs assistance. Members can volunteer to help, in their area of expertise. If no particular job is apparent, the man can serve as a go-fer. I am certain that many men would like to assist with "sweat equity", but have never been asked.

At our lodge we have (3) contractors, instead of donating time to the lodge they expect payment at the next business meeting. When my father in law was master 20 years ago, those with any experience of anything jumped in without having being asked and did what had to be done, and without expected payment. It was for the lodge and then the lodge use to be like a second home. Now it' ask not what I can do for my lodge, but what can my lodge do for me.

 

[David612]

I think guys tend to get bogged down on lodge busy work rather than advancing their knowledge in masonry as there are only a few guys doing all the administrative/hospitality/maintenance work who tend to also write programs, present lectures and so on