A rotating Grand Lodge?

[Mac]

A brother from another grand jurisdiction brought up an idea I found interesting, and I was curious what others thought:

Would you like it if Grand Lodge's Annual Communication rotated regions or cities each year? Or do you think it's better for everyone to drive to Waco each year?

 

[JJones]

Personally I think Texas is far too big to only have Grand Lodge in Waco. It needs some sort of decentralization or other changes to reflect that.

I'm fortunate to only be a few hours from Waco but I can see how it'd be a pain for a brother further away to attend. When I think about the days when travel was much harder (horses and the like) I wonder how they put up with it.

 

[Michaelstedman81]

Honestly and for the most part, I like the way that it is right now. Having its place in one location that doesn't change. Everyone knows where it is, and the only thing about it that might change is the exact dates everything is held.

That being said, Brother JJones I do agree with you about the fact that Texas is a huge state. I do wish there was a way that things could be a bit easier for everyone to attend. But, with as big as Texas is, even if it was held in different cities each year there would still be a large numbers of Brothers that will find it hard to travel to the event. Even though I am happy with the way things are right now with the location of GL (and I am a few hours away from it as well), I am totally up for and would support some sort of change that would make it easier for those that have to travel to be able to attend. Whether it is decentralizing, or doing the rotating thing.

 

[Brother Mark]

Personally i enjoy having Grand Lodge in Waco. My only wish is that they could improve the parking around it. Even though i cant vote in Grand Lodge because i am not a past master, i do enjoy attending grand lodge communications.

 

[KSigMason]

In Idaho our Grand Lodge rotates from Northern Idaho, to the Boise Metro area, and SE Idaho each year.

 

[Bro_Vick]

I thought I read somewhere that it was established in Waco because at the time it was the most accessible city in Texas. I don't have a problem with it moving, but know that it might not be worth the effort given the average age of our members.

S&F,
-Bro Vick

 

[Mac]

And can we discuss the scheduling?

I still haven't been to a Grand Annual Communication because it's always scheduled during Finals season for college. One of these days, maybe I won't be in school any more.

 

[BroBill]

Their entire support infrastructure is there in Waco- printing, databases, contact phone numbers, staff, wardrobe etc. I'd hate to think of the cost of uprooting the equivalent of a medium-sized business and moving it (out and back) every other year or so. You should see everything going on behind the scenes that would need to be replicated at a "deployed" location. I'm not sure it could be done. Just my thoughts...

 

[Beathard]

Historically Grand Lodge in Texas did move. We would be regressing, but possibly positively.

 

[JJones]

I wasn't aware of that Bro. Beathard, but I could see why they'd do that considering the size of of the state.

A migrating Grand Lodge sounds as though it'd present it's own share of challenges, a lot of which have been mentioned already. I also wonder if you'd start getting areas trying to compete with each other to have the Grand Lodge in their area, though I don't know if that'd be good or bad.

I know it's not feasible, and it's just a personal opinion, but I think the easiest (and best) solution would just be to break Texas up into smaller Grand Lodge jurisdictions. Relative ease of access is important for any governing body to work efficiently, in my opinion, and no matter where you put the Grand Lodge it's still going to be a heck of a drive for somebody.

 

[Bill Lins]

Their entire support infrastructure is there in Waco- printing, databases, contact phone numbers, staff, wardrobe etc. I'd hate to think of the cost of uprooting the equivalent of a medium-sized business and moving it (out and back) every other year or so. You should see everything going on behind the scenes that would need to be replicated at a "deployed" location. I'm not sure it could be done. Just my thoughts...

I see no reason the Grand Secretary's entire office would need to be moved to the site of the GAC every year. The only things which would need to be transported would be the actual registration materials themselves. The merchandise, committees' files, etc. are already being brought to Waco as it is.

 

[BroBill]

Their entire support infrastructure is there in Waco- printing, databases, contact phone numbers, staff, wardrobe etc. I'd hate to think of the cost of uprooting the equivalent of a medium-sized business and moving it (out and back) every other year or so. You should see everything going on behind the scenes that would need to be replicated at a "deployed" location. I'm not sure it could be done. Just my thoughts...

I see no reason the Grand Secretary's entire office would need to be moved to the site of the GAC every year. The only things which would need to be transported would be the actual registration materials themselves. The merchandise, committees' files, etc. are already being brought to Waco as it is.

I'm just going by what I saw going on behind the scenes last time I was in Waco. You may be right, but the staff was very busy making things happen for the officers and attendees alike. Like I said, just my thoughts and I appreciate your point of view.