Opening in an EA

trysquare said:

Having heard how strict GLTX is about many portions of their Work, I find it rather startling that they've let so much become abbreviated or forgotten.

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You and me both. I guess the forces of pride and watering down the work keep each other in balance.

trysquare said:

It sounds like the issue isn't with which Degree you open in, but in the Work itself. Having heard how strict GLTX is about many portions of their Work, I find it rather startling that they've let so much become abbreviated or forgotten.

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My most recent year in the east (2008) I made sure we opened Stated meetings in each degree as often as possible. If an EA attended, EA it was, but as a secondary priority when there was a choice I opened on the degree used the least recently. I did this to keep my line in practice for every degree. More work than opening in the same degree each time so I didn't view the strategy as lazy.

I found the abbreviations surprising but variation jurisdiction to jurisdiction is a part of the fun.

I was pretty underwhelmed when I attended my first stated meeting as well. I was doing my work 7-8 years ago, about the same time as Bro Stewart and I was among some of the first EAs that were allowed to sit in on a stated meeting as well.

I think this tells us a few things though, foremost that our meetings are boring and something needs to change about that. It also tells me that you've saved time and effort on that EA as he would have still left after he got his Masters if the meetings didn't meet his expectations.

When I was Master I was more than happy to open an EA Lodge if one was present. Nothing makes Jr. Officers more nervous than opening/closing a full form EA lodge.

Blake Bowden said:

Nothing makes Jr. Officers more nervous than opening/closing a full form EA lodge.

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Except walking into a Lodge in which one isn't well known, carrying an apron case. :wink:

I'm late to the game here, but I'm from cacarter's mother lodge. Our Worshipful Master has been opening our lodge in EA since August or September. We've got 4 EA's and it's been really nice to have them in lodge with us. And as Jr. Deacon, it's been nice to have a little bit more to say.

Here's one of the issues we've been having though. Some of our Junior officers have been struggling though the full form EA closing. With EA's present, I'm afraid it's giving them the wrong impression. I believe the WM is going to open this next stated meeting as a MM :: and possibly address that very issue.

I'm excited about having EA's in lodge with us, where they can participate as they are coming up. And they will be present as we start our new lecture series which is nice, too. But sometimes it can be a double edged sword. Especially after decades of only opening EA and FC ::'s for degrees.

I agree rfuller. I also wanted to add that our Lodge does something to help with the voting and wrong sign given issue. Most if not all of our vote our done in a MM lodge. As for our jr. Officers...We just have to keep practicing.

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The W.M. of my lodge has decided to open in E.A. degree , we have many elderly members who dont attend regular meetings due to health issues , I am honored to get a chance to sit in and listen in on the lodge precedings not to mention getting a chance to see the degree being opened and closed first hand its very informative for me and I dont feel like im just sitting on the sidelines , kinda gives me a feeling of being groomed for something much greater ...just my 2 cent for what its worth

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anraney said:

I agree rfuller. I also wanted to add that our Lodge does something to help with the voting and wrong sign given issue. Most if not all of our vote our done in a MM lodge. As for our jr. Officers...We just have to keep practicing.

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TOOOOOONNNNNNYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

Yeah. As a follow up, our lodge has since changed our floor practice night and we're getting better.

And as a side note to Tony, I was up until 1:00 this morning making sure I never screw up sitting in the West ever again.
Also, you need a picture, bro.

Yeah still working on the profile. And.... For never doing the west you did great. Now I have lots en of work to do before our FCs next week.

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To your side note I would add that several of our Brethern are taking upon themselves to learn the work outside of Lodge as well.

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anraney said:

I agree rfuller. I also wanted to add that our Lodge does something to help with the voting and wrong sign given issue. Most if not all of our vote our done in a MM lodge. As for our jr. Officers...We just have to keep practicing.

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The wrong sign issue is something that will solve itself with patience and practice. The change TO stated in the MM degree was temporary, but a version of temporary longer than any of us have been alive. The change BACK TO stated in the EA is not temporary, and we can afford for the effects like wrong signs to decrease on a time scale of a lifetime.

When I visited a lodge in Philly, I asked which Degree they would be Opening on... they looked at me like I was from another planet.