I had my phone out in lodge tonight to read motions and such. Our sec was a no-show and the phone allowed me conduct the business. Later, I was using it to check the time and how that was going. ( i actually purchased a watch for lodge but use the phone in preference to the watch). If I was on the benches, I'd happily have it off, but as an officer (DC) it's a useful tool for Masonic business... and its not on vibrate ( hate that buzz in the peace of a lodge room) but dead silent and often on aircraft mode..
I run a paperless office, why not go that way for lodge business given only two brothers are not on email ? We just snail mail those guys. We went paperless years ago, being past professionals,even our 80 year olds have email; but I acknowledge paperless would not work in all Lodges, but they need to look at if paperless is viable... with 40 member x 11 meetings plus other notices, paperless saves the lodge a heap on printing and postage- a good way to get there is donate that paper and postage cost to a charity or use the saving to keep lodge dues low...
But during the degree or even at dinner, lodge is not a place to be catching up on email or Facebook....