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Resolutions 2012

Tx4ever

Registered User
I would like to see the GL of Texas Waive the annual returns for any mason serving his country over seas in a time of war. I understand that each lodge has the ability to waive that brothers dues, but in turn still owes the GL .
 

Tx4ever

Registered User
"Why don't you submit a resolution to that effect"?
I am currently the JW and hopefully in a couple of years a Voting member of GL of Texas.
I do believe that this resolution would pass the grand west if presented.
 
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tomasball

Premium Member
You could get your lodge to submit the resolution. You don't actually have to be a member of GL to start the ball rolling.
 

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
I really do agree with this idea. Someone should bring it up and start the ball rolling. I don't see that the GLoT would turn this down (or at least why they would). They do seem to support the service members as they have that deal where if a brother who hasn't finished all three degrees and comes down on orders to deploy, gets the degrees put on him without having to do the proficiencies.

For example, a brand new EA is working on turning in his work gets ordered to deploy, the Grand Lodge okays it for his lodge to go ahead and recieve his FC and MM without having to turn in any of his work. He is then a full on Master Mason, however when he returns he has a ceratin period (I think one year) to turn in his work for the 3rd Degree.

I have heard that some Masons don't like this idea too much, but I am all about it and anything else we can do to help support our service members in any way. Waiving these for those deployed Brothers and not expecting their lodge to cover it would be a great way for the Grand Lodge to show appreciation to them for what they are doing. I say go for it!..lol
 

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
They need to be in to the Grand Secretary's office by May 15th.

---------- Post added at 10:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:26 PM ----------



How about you?

Bill, I would more than love to, but to be honest I am still a pretty "young" Mason. For pretty much 95% of my time of being a Mason I have been in the military or working for the military which didn't leave much time to be active in the lodge. The last month or so I have finally started to have the time to be active and continue with furthering myself with Masonic education and knowledge. Lol, me being just a Master Mason and not ever having held any officer positions, I don't even know if I am able to submit anything, much less how to do it. If I had the proper tools and the ability to do so, I would do it. That is why I support anyone that can and does submit this issue.

By the way, Wharton, huh?...lol I hope ya'lls rice paddies down there are enjoying our lake water...lol
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I don't even know if I am able to submit anything, much less how to do it. If I had the proper tools and the ability to do so, I would do it. That is why I support anyone that can and does submit this issue.

Aha! A "teachable moment"! Get with your WM & some of the PM's of your Lodge, and see if they'll back your idea. If so, they should be able to help you get it into proper form to present to your Lodge. If they approve it, it can be submitted to Grand Lodge in the name of your Lodge. One of the neat things about Masonry is that, at least in most Lodges, we don't care who comes up with a good idea- we'll listen to you, even if you are a young'un. :wink:

By the way, Wharton, huh?...lol I hope ya'lls rice paddies down there are enjoying our lake water...lol

What water? Haven't you heard- we're in a drought around here! BTW, most of the rice fields are west, south (Matagorda Co.), & north (Colorado Co.) of us. We mostly grow corn, milo, & cotton around these parts.
 

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
Aha! A "teachable moment"! Get with your WM & some of the PM's of your Lodge, and see if they'll back your idea. If so, they should be able to help you get it into proper form to present to your Lodge. If they approve it, it can be submitted to Grand Lodge in the name of your Lodge. One of the neat things about Masonry is that, at least in most Lodges, we don't care who comes up with a good idea- we'll listen to you, even if you are a young'un.

Thanks for that information. I don't know if I will be able to get it in with my lodge as I am moving up to the Denton area this week and will be joining another lodge up there. So I don't think that I will be getting it in before the deadline. Is that deadline to get it approved by the local lodge or to get it from the local lodge to the Grand Lodge? Also, do submissions of resolutions happen one time a year, quarterly, or how often? Lol, again thanks for the words of wisdom for my youngster mind...lol


What water? Haven't you heard- we're in a drought around here! BTW, most of the rice fields are west, south (Matagorda Co.), & north (Colorado Co.) of us. We mostly grow corn, milo, & cotton around these parts.


I am up here just North of Austin where we have Lake Buchanan and Lake Travis. Neither are constant level as the water from those two lakes are contracted to go down there and feed the rice fields. I thought it was Wharton that was getting all the water as that is what they were putting in the newspapers a while back when folks from the Lake Travis area were trying to get the Lower Colorado River Authority to stop sending the water down there cause it was draining the lake and they couldn't go out and ski...hahhaha And yea, I have seen a lot of that cotton around there. I used to drive through there on my way to visit family in Rosenburg and in Lake Jackson. My father was even a police officer there in Wharton for a while several years back, I believe. I know that my parents lived there for a bit.
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
Is that deadline to get it approved by the local lodge or to get it from the local lodge to the Grand Lodge?

It's from the local Lodge to the Grand Lodge.

Also, do submissions of resolutions happen one time a year, quarterly, or how often?

Once a year.

I thought it was Wharton that was getting all the water as that is what they were putting in the newspapers a while back when folks from the Lake Travis area were trying to get the Lower Colorado River Authority to stop sending the water down there cause it was draining the lake and they couldn't go out and ski...hahhaha

I think LCRA steals most of the water up around Garwood (Colorado Co.). The river's only around 8' deep here currently. State law mandates that a certain amount must go down to Matagorda Bay to support the shrimp nursery & the farmers get almost all of the rest. The "Keep Austin Weird" crowd seems to forget that the primary purpose of the Highland Lakes is flood control. They must let the level drop during the spring & summer so that, should heavy rains occur up there, the lakes can accommodate the excess water & release it downstream in a controlled manner. Lord knows we'd hate to mess up the boating & skiing for the fine folks of the People's Republik of Travis County! :wink:

My father was even a police officer there in Wharton for a while several years back, I believe. I know that my parents lived there for a bit.

What was his name & where is he working now?
 
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Beathard

Premium Member
If you can't get it through your lodge I would be happy to try in some of mine. Try. If it doesn't work holler. Do it quickly though there isn't much time.
 

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
If you can't get it through your lodge I would be happy to try in some of mine. Try. If it doesn't work holler. Do it quickly though there isn't much time


Yea, there is no way that I am going to be able to get it in by then. Getting the move done, settled in, starting work, getting things set up with VA and for school....lol I am really going to have a hard time making it up to the lodge to express this idea...lol If someone else can get it in in time, I hope that they can. I just know my bounds right now.
 

Hippie19950

Premium Member
As a USAF Vet, and a WM (will be PM by the time to vote), I will definitely support this. My SW is also a Vet and will be WM by the vote. We have a friend in another Lodge here who is also a Vet and will be WM, so there will be plenty of us from Booger County to help vote it through. We do not have any current military members, but if we do, this would help us (a small Lodge) out a lot. I think it shows a LOT of respect to bring this up here, as well as at the GL levels. Thanks!!
Hippie...
 

Michaelstedman81

Premium Member
What was his name & where is he working now?

His name is Mike Stedman. Same as mine and he is retired and disabled now. There was another guy that worked with my father that was from down in Wharton and worked for the LCRA as a Ranger. I can't remember if he worked in Wharton before getting on with LCRA, or if the LCRA had him down in that area working. His name is Mike Moreno. Ring a bell at all?
 

Beathard

Premium Member
Brought it up at the meal before the meeting. I was talking to grand Treasurer Archie Scott, our DDGM and District Instructor. Told the about the idea to waive the dues of wartime service men. They said a resolution was not needed. Archie said it has been the practice of Grand Lodge and the local lodges to waive servicemen's dues since WWII. I asked why so many did not know. They said all secretaries know. Any secretaries out there that can confirm this?
 

Tx4ever

Registered User
Yes each lodge has the ability to waive any brothers DUES. But in turn still owes the GLOT its annual returns which are now $25 per member not counting 50 year members etc etc. Maybe the GLOT will waive the $25 dollars if contacted by the lodge secretary Of this i dont know.
 
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