2010 Grand Lodge Annual Communication resolutions results

David Duke said:

As I understand it the increase will not apply to the 2011 returns; the increased returns will come due in 2012..............I could be wrong wouldn't be the first time :huh:.



The cost of an endowment is set by the individual lodge; the lodge must pay returns on both endowed members and lifetime members the difference being that the lodge doesn't get any disbursements for lifetime members and hopefully will for those endowed. We use to give lifetime membership to all of our past masters but began purchasing an endowment for them several years ago so that we could get the benefit of disbursements......hasn't worked out real well for the past couple of years but hopefully the worm will turn soon.

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You are right the increase is not due till 2012, June I think it is? So we have a year and a half to get ready for it.
The Endowments will get a dispursment sometime in the near future. 4/5ths of the Grand West had to approve it being discussed and voted on but itt happened

I've got kind of mixed emotions about the per capita increase. I understand GL needs to continue operating and has to keep up with inflation, but HOW they do day to day business should be looked at also. Do they really need as many paid employees as they have? Where is the money going? Just some things I think should be taken into consideration. The last few years it seems more is expected of the lodges with less in return from GL.

it never fails to amaze me that the resolutions I expect to be a headache are withdrawn and the slam dunk resolutions are either voted down or have to go to paper ballot.

Pics from Grand Lodge

From left to right: Josh Berry, Sonny Marhbanks, Billy Moore, Rhit Moore, Ashton Lawson.


Seal of the Republic of Texas


Top of the pillar at Grand Lodge

vanderson78102 said:

Where is the money going?

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2 line in items in the copy of the budget that was given to everybody at the registration table were $10,000 and $8,000 for aprons. $18,000? Seriously?

The list goes on and on......

webstermason said:

from my vantage point upstairs on the back row, I couldn't see the license plate. Is there a picture somewhere?

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Here ya go:



http://74.55.90.122/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=47713

anyone know where the 3.7million from gas royality goes?

Are these plates grand lodge submitted or the ones proposed by the state representative?

eagle1966 said:

anyone know where the 3.7million from gas royality goes?

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Square & Compasses Holdings.

bullrack33 said:

2 line in items in the copy of the budget that was given to everybody at the registration table were $10,000 and $8,000 for aprons. $18,000? Seriously?

The list goes on and on......

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$18,000 for aprons? Are you kidding me?

vanderson78102 said:

$18,000 for aprons? Are you kidding me?

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Now, don't be too harsh or upset, this included Jewels too.....
Yeah, one Brother said there was a "Lot of Fluff" in the budget, and I am sure there is. It does need to be looked at, and trimmed some. There was something like $25,000.00 budgeted for something, and only $6000.00 used last year, so what happened to the rest?

Hippie19950 said:

Now, don't be too harsh or upset, this included Jewels too.....
Yeah, one Brother said there was a "Lot of Fluff" in the budget, and I am sure there is. It does need to be looked at, and trimmed some. There was something like $25,000.00 budgeted for something, and only $6000.00 used last year, so what happened to the rest?

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GM Master Counts spent a ton of money from his own pocket so the budget looks like money was not used but in actuality it was used it ws just RW Counts money he donated to help out. Counts wanted a balanced budget and spent his own money like crazy to achieve it. Most of those line items like the GM picture includes allot more than just the one lione description. The book Tommie Guest was reading out of to define the line items seemed a mile thick so there is usually more the money goes to than just the line item description.
We have to really think about what we are giving up though before we pull their budget. With over a $300,000 shortfall a buzzsaw would have to be taken to the budget and if you eliminate the TX masons mag. and all the aprons/jewells for GL officers and DDGM and the GM painting and pictures sent all over the state, if you eliminate all that you are still short on the budget by a wide margin so we then have to look at firing a few ladies who work in the office or let the Grand Lodge building set empty to find cheaper rent than at that magnificent edifice. The problem was we put ourselves so far behind the curve by waiting so long to raise the per capitia we had to make a massive jump to balance our finances.
Now we have to pass resolutions that limits the fluff spending and directs our money somewhere where we get real returns off of it like the returns masonic education has and always will pay.

I think one area we should be able to cut is the travel costs for the Grand Officers. I know everyone likes the Grand Officers to make appearances at their lodges and activities, but IMO, why shouldn't the lodges requesting their visits pay for their travel like the would for any other guest? That won't solve the problem, but it will help shave some costs off the budget.

And I do think we needed to raise per capita, but I agree we did a disservice to ourselves by waiting for so long to raise per capita. We really should add in a yearly or bi-yearly automatic raise to per capita. We also need to learn from this for our future as well, that we can sit on per capita again. We made a mistake by not having it raised sooner, so hopefully the lesson is learned.

cacarter said:

Are these plates grand lodge submitted or the ones proposed by the state representative?

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If I remember correctly, they said the plate is the one proposed by the state representative. I could be wrong but that wouldn't be anything new....lol. They also said that there would be a handicap version. I hope they make a purple heart version as well.

Thanks bullrack.

Isn't it that the proceeds go to charity, and since its not by the GL it'll go to the state general fund?

Just curious.

They told us that, out of the $30.00 charge for the plates (additional to the registration fee) $23.00 will go to the Grand Lodge.

that is what I heard, the state gets their normal fee and tack on a little that goes to GL. It will not solve our money woes but it is a step in the right direction.

Thanks for the info. I had a brother who thought that it was just another example of wasteful spending by the GL. I wanted to let him know the truth.

Bill_Lins77488 said:

They told us that, out of the $30.00 charge for the plates (additional to the registration fee) $23.00 will go to the Grand Lodge.

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Wow, I bet PHA Masons won't be happy with this.

dhouseholder said:

Wow, I bet PHA Masons won't be happy with this.

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I would think they would be very happy with it. If the PHGLoTX were to get the money I would still buy it just to have a S&C Plate. I am willing to bet that they will have a PHA one once the Tx Masons plate comes out though.