Brethren:  let me start by thanking each and every one of you for entrusting the care of the lodge we all love to the stewardship of this year's officer line.  We will do our best to exercise sound judgement and continuity as we move through this year into our future.  Our number one goal is to pass the leadership of the lodge onto next year's line in at least a little better condition than we received it.

This is the first quarterly newsletter for the new Masonic year, which began when our new officer line was installed on November 13, 2016.  While annual dues for the coming Masonic year are due by the annual meeting in November, a member is not reported to Grand Lodge as Suspended for Non-Payment of Dues (SPND) until December 31, 2016.  If you are one of those who have not yet paid their 2017 dues, please do so to avoid suspension and loss of service years.

I hope that all had a happy holiday and a Happy New Year.  2017 is off and running. The Grand Lodge continues to change and update the Masonic education program.  Each year, the DEOs and LEOs are given greater flexibility.  Last year, one of the LEO discussion topics dealt with how we increase membership attendance.  The question was answered with a question, "Who wants to sit through another night of enhanced minutes?"  The next question to the brotherhood was "How can the lodge meeting and experience be improved."  The top six responses are as follows:

1. Streamline our meeting (minutes and Treasurer's report in advance)
2. Outside speakers every other month.  Topics published in advance.
3. Engage new members early but let them get their Masonic feet on the ground.  Don't blitz them with petitions for the Shrine and other Masonic bodies.
4. Find out what topics new and old members would like presented.
5. Both touch base and improve our outreach to older and non-attending members.  Give brothers a "wellness call."
6. More personal invitations to brothers to visit each other in their homes.

How well are we doing?  We are getting better.  From my perspective we are a work in progress.  In December we had a talk on the "Masonic home and services."  In the planning stages are additional speakers covering topics such as "The olde charges", "Learn how to learn" by WBro Bill Bell, our DEO, "How media and history view masons", "My Masonic life plan", and "Getting a carry and conceal permit."  We are also planning a mini-seminar on "Building your thinking power: the power of ideas."

Lodge education is critical for our candidates and essential to the Lodge.  It needs to provide the proper candidate experience as well as providing a challenging educational program reflecting the interest and desires of the brotherhood.

The good new is that the education program and calendar is not finalized. This is the perfect time to let us know what topics and/or speakers you would like to hear!!

Update on the Chamber of Reflection

This year the Chamber of Reflection was one of the surprising items of Masonic interest across the state.  The Grand Lodge has just published "Guidelines for The Lodges Desiring to Use a Chamber of Reflection" dated November 3, 2016.  As yet, this is not online.  Just email me for a copy.  For more in depth information, please review this article.

A plea to all past officers and members of the lodge:  If after serving as an officer, or borrowed, and inadvertently forgot to return the following, please contact the Secretary so we can arrange collection of these items:

1. Ritual books - the lodge is responsible and accountable to the Grand Lodge for the rituals assigned.  They must be presented at pre-inspection, which will occur in January.
2. Split rituals - we need to account for these in all degrees, and are missing several.
3. Examination books - short books for all degrees.
4. Keys - we need to either have keys returned or have additional keys made.  Our main entrance keys are expensive.  Only current officers are authorized keys to the building, secretary office and closets.

If we need to replace any of the above it will be costly, which we would like to avoid.  Please search your home office and desk.