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Grand Lodge 2008 was amazing but...

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Please don't use M$ Word for presentations! Nobody could read the screen on Friday, and today wasn't much better. Plus having "DELL" splashed across a 12 foot screen most of the time was distracting. Almost looked like they were GL sponsors. I don't mean to criticize, but with a few tweaks it could be much more useful.
 

jonesvilletexas

Premium Member
So right, I was up stairs and you could not read it at all and then they added the brown.
 
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Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Or what about...

#1. Have they ever tried to do classes before GL? I think it would be wonderful if there were educational speakers talking about websites, Lodge actives, community involvement, etc. I think something like that would be worthwhile. Remeber yesterday when the one Brother proposed that we cut back the EA because he thought it would help membership? That's hogwash as it wouldn't have any affect on increasing Lodge memberships. The classes could be held to provide essential tools to our Brothers.

2. More efficient way to vote. lol

3. Include an additional #1 Vote card in the booklet in case the Grand Master decides to take a ballot, and suddenly changes his mind. Okay, it's a joke fellas.

4. The need a slideshow, music video or something at the beginning to get everyone pumped up.

I'm braindead...just random thoughts I pulled out of thin air.
 

Texas_Justice85

Registered User
2. More efficient way to vote. lol

how about those little electronic clickers they have in college classrooms, certain clickers are worth 3 and the rest are worth one, those eligible can pick them up at registration and when a resolution is called, all they have to do is click their choice and a computer tallies them up
 

nick1368

Registered User
how about those little electronic clickers they have in college classrooms, certain clickers are worth 3 and the rest are worth one, those eligible can pick them up at registration and when a resolution is called, all they have to do is click their choice and a computer tallies them up

LOL I am thinking since they haven't spent money to put air conditioning in the building...clickers are going to be out...just a guess.
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
I was thinking someone should invent a system where each of the officers that have speaking parts would have a microphone that would work wireless. I'll bet radio shack or some other electronics store would make a fortune.:eek:
 

Texas_Justice85

Registered User
LOL I am thinking since they haven't spent money to put air conditioning in the building...clickers are going to be out...just a guess.

touche but the lodge room is only used once out of the whole year which is always in december, there is ac in the basement and the offices
 

Joey

Co-Founder
Staff Member
touche but the lodge room is only used once out of the whole year which is always in december, there is ac in the basement and the offices

Very true.... And since they had to spend over $200K on getting that new roof put on the building + all the damage that was done to Memorial Auditorium...... I'm sure they really didn't want to spend any more money than they really had to......
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
With per-capita at $14.00 per member, Expenses such as these are not within our reach. The blue envelope appeals never seem to be enough either. I do not see the Grand Lodge being able to even open their doors if something isn/t done in the near future.
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
With per-capita at $14.00 per member, Expenses such as these are not within our reach. The blue envelope appeals never seem to be enough either. I do not see the Grand Lodge being able to even open their doors if something isn/t done in the near future.

If you were to seek information regarding Freemasonry in Texas, it would be a challenge. For example, Google "Freemasonry" and you will see that 75% of the results are negative. If you were fortunate to access the Grand Lodge of Texas Website, what does it offer to non-Masons? Nothing. Many local Lodges do not have a website, phone number nor any other means of contact. Don't blame outside forces, we should blame ourselves. Complacency is killing Freemasonry in Texas.

Take the S&C off. If you were not a Mason, what would attract you?
 

Gerald.Harris

Premium Member
Premium Member
The same thing that attracted me 30 plus years ago would attract me to the fraternaty. I came along well before the internet or other modern means of communication and advertising. When I began wanting to become a mason, it was because I noticed men who wore the S&C were different than other men. They all seemed to have something that other men did not and I decided that I wanted to have it as well.
Don't get me wrong, I believe that we must move forward with whatever means is available to get the word out to all the potential brothers out there. I still believe however that we as masons must be dilligent in guarding the West gate and selecting those who will work for our advancement and still maintain our level of morality and adhere to the ancient landmarks.
 

nick1368

Registered User
Very true.... And since they had to spend over $200K on getting that new roof put on the building + all the damage that was done to Memorial Auditorium...... I'm sure they really didn't want to spend any more money than they really had to......

only if we could tap into that $2M they are pumping out of the ground....LMAO:D
 

Texas_Justice85

Registered User
how about a scantron type ballot. they would bubble in A B C D or E and run it through a machine which would tally it up. Do it TAAS style
 

Sirius

Registered User
how about a scantron type ballot. they would bubble in A B C D or E and run it through a machine which would tally it up. Do it TAAS style

Did you see the grey hair in the room? TAAS? Scantron? are you talking about witchcraft?

on an other note, We should have had that vote on the Boy Scouts.
 
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Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I was amazed at all the discussion on the Scouting one- I thought it would just sail through!
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Thanks for the kind words. I wish I had stated my case better- I didn't mean for the brother from Kansas to think I considered him less of a Mason because he didn't have to learn all of the EA work up there. I would bet that if he had had to learn the work the same way we do, he would have gone ahead & learned it. I don't think it would have caused him to drop out.
 
L

lee c smith jr

Guest
My biggest concern is my self.

The same thing that attracted me 30 plus years ago would attract me to the fraternaty. I came along well before the internet or other modern means of communication and advertising. When I began wanting to become a mason, it was because I noticed men who wore the S&C were different than other men. They all seemed to have something that other men did not and I decided that I wanted to have it as well.
Don't get me wrong, I believe that we must move forward with whatever means is available to get the word out to all the potential brothers out there. I still believe however that we as masons must be dilligent in guarding the West gate and selecting those who will work for our advancement and still maintain our level of morality and adhere to the ancient landmarks.

I hope one day that I can be as good an example for others as the Brothers before me have been. I have Masonic emblems on my hands and car for two reasons. First that others may find me a good example for Masonry and secondly that I might remember to be a good example for masonry. Still would consider myself a rough ashlar. Applying the lessons of our Craft is alot harder than learning them for me.
 
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