2021 is going to be our second severely limited Annual Communication. Much more open and accessible than 2020, but certainly not close to normal. That’s sad, but let’s look ahead. Let’s look ahead because 2022 will most certainly be a normal Annual Communication.
Looking ahead to 2022, I think that there are some interesting things that we can discuss.
Does your Lodge read the resolutions in full, in a stated meeting, prior to the Annual Communication?
Does your Lodge vote on each of them to get a sense of how the Lodge feels about them?
If your Lodge does vote, does it expect the Officers to vote in keeping with the Lodge’s wishes?
If you are attending the Annual Communication do you view it as your duty to vote in accordance with your Lodge’s desires, or do you feel it is your duty to vote as your own conscience dictates?
Does your Lodge consider it a duty that the Wardens and Master attend?
Does your Lodge encourage it’s Past Masters to attend?
Finally, does your Lodge do anything to help defray the potentially high costs of attendance for the Lodge officers or even members?
I’m aware of Lodges that go both ways on each of these questions, so I know that every Lodge handles these items differently. I think it would be very interesting to read everyone’s various experiences and perspectives.
Let’s chat about voting at Annual Communications.
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Grand lodge annual communications is one of those extremely boring things that detracts from education and fellowship. It should be handled in a business meeting separate from a regular fellowship/education lodge by those brethren interested in it or obligated to it, but not to the lodge in general.
Grand lodge is essentially a republic form of governance. Representatives are chosen by the lodge in the form of masters and wardens to represent them but also to have wisdom to know when the rank and file are inadequately knowledgeable about the subject to make an informed decision and thus have the authority to vote differently than their lodge consensus. This could cost them their office the following year, But that's only really an issue in a properly functioning lodge that doesn't use progressive line and has the best man serving in each office not the guy whose "turn" it was.
Compensation for service to the lodge is absolutely necessary.
My lodge typically reads through all the resolutions prior to Grand Lodge’s Annual Communication. We have discussions about them but, to the best of my recollection, have never voted on them as a lodge. The Master and Wardens have been able to vote as they see fit, as well as any PMs that attend. Perhaps the resolutions should be voted on in the local lodges prior to the Annual Communication and the results of those ballots forwarded to GL and the results shared at the AC. It would save a lot of time for other things. I imagine this years voting on all the items may take the better part of a day. The Master and Wardens are encouraged to attend but are not re-imbursed for expenses that are incurred. I’ve not attended an Annual Communication personally other than the virtual event that was held last year, which I think is something GL should consider incorporating. Whether voting is incorporated into virtual attendance or not, it would allow more brothers to participate. I was looking forward to attending in person last year until everything changed. I believe it’s an opportunity to network, meet brothers from other lodges and renew friendships.
--Does your Lodge read the resolutions in full, in a stated meeting, prior to the Annual Communication?
Yes, we distribute copies of the resolutions to everyone attending the meeting after we receive them.
--Does your Lodge vote on each of them to get a sense of how the Lodge feels about them?
If the discussion was lively we would vote, otherwise it's usually just nodding of heads one way or the other.
--If your Lodge does vote, does it expect the Officers to vote in keeping with the Lodge’s wishes?
Yes, although each one may change his mind when presented with arguments at the AC. They should report how they voted back to their brothers.
--If you are attending the Annual Communication do you view it as your duty to vote in accordance with your Lodge’s desires, or do you feel it is your duty to vote as your own conscience dictates?
See above.
--Does your Lodge consider it a duty that the Wardens and Master attend?
For this I can't speak for the lodge, but we always have at least one (with proxies) there.
--Does your Lodge encourage it’s Past Masters to attend?
We don't discourage it. Each PM knows they can attend, it's up to them to decide if they will or not. A few do.
--Finally, does your Lodge do anything to help defray the potentially high costs of attendance for the Lodge officers or even members?
Our lodge per bylaws (or practices and procedures) pays for three members (and their significant others) to attend the warden's conference, but I can't remember if they do the same for the AC. I think we usually will vote to give a per diem or something to help defray costs.
As a side note, I loved the warden's conference, I managed to weasel my way to at least five of them while moving up the chairs when brothers who were eligible to go declined for whatever reason. I loved the Red Lion Inn, I loved how we were treated there, and I found it to be a great value, especially considering how poorly we're treated at the AC. I paid $25 dollars for a side salad and a bowl of shitty soup for lunch my first time going to Wenatchee, after that, I skipped the rip off meals and ate at taco bell, or a local restaurant that gave us a decent meal for half the cost. When you talk about meals at lodge, grand lodge needs to step up it's own game.
"Does your Lodge read the resolutions in full, in a stated meeting, prior to the Annual Communication?" Some do. One of my Lodges did that a couple of weeks ago; problem is, it knocked out 3 of the members who were at the Zoom meeting. One of them almost fell out of his chair. And I'm not exaggerating. Therefore, you know what I think about doing this. There are always better ways to accomplish this without a lengthy recitation by the Lodge Secretary.
"Does your Lodge vote on each of them to get a sense of how the Lodge feels about them?" Some Lodges, yes. But mostly, the resolutions are read for information. Often times, it's one half at one Communication, and the other half at the next Communication. Occasionally, one of the resolutions sparks a debate in the meeting. And when it happens, that's cool, as long as the Worshipful Master keeps it focused and civil, which can be a challenge at times.
"If your Lodge does vote, does it expect the Officers to vote in keeping with the Lodge’s wishes?" Difficult to enforce. Therefore, it doesn't really happen in my Lodges. Although many of the Principal officers to keep the Lodge opinion in mind when they vote.
"If you are attending the Annual Communication do you view it as your duty to vote in accordance with your Lodge’s desires, or do you feel it is your duty to vote as your own conscience dictates?" I've only attended two Annual Communications where I wasn't a member of the Grand Lodge team. Those two times, I was simply a Past Master, and I was never put under obligation to vote according to Lodge consensus, nor did I carry proxies. As a Grand Lodge Team member, I also haven't been beholden to the Lodges I'm a member of, since their officers had the proxies and the responsibilities that go with them.
"Does your Lodge consider it a duty that the Wardens and Master attend?" One of them does, but all three place a more important emphasis on making sure the Lodge is represented. One year, Centralia Lodge didn't get represented, because about 5 Brothers all thought the others were going to attend, and none of them did. When they received the notice from the Grand Secretary, they considered it a serious egg in their face, and vowed it'd never happen again. And it hasn't.
"Does your Lodge encourage it’s Past Masters to attend?" I have never heard any Lodge encouraging any specific person to attend (other than the Principal Officers).
"Finally, does your Lodge do anything to help defray the potentially high costs of attendance for the Lodge officers or even members?" Just one of them, and I think that was one or two years. My Lodges are more inclined to subsidize a new Warden to attend the LLR, which also has a potentially high cost of attendance. However, all three of the Lodges are prepared to assign whatever monetary amount needed to assure their Lodge gets represented.
As a member, I find the Annual Communication to be a great event, primarily for the fellowship, but I admit, also for the pomp and circumstance. Many think it's silly, but our world has had big ceremonies for its leadership for thousands of years. It's definitely not a new development. And now, in my newer duties, I have responsibilities that change my perspective of the Annual Communication. And I like it even more. It is great to be able to assist in making this event the best it can be for all involved.
Our Lodge has always read the resolutions in a Stated meeting......never again. Unfortunately we were in out Stated meeting when that was brought up at the GM forum. I encouraged conversation about the resolutions at our special Zoom night and told the Brothers to call if they thought of anything later. We don't vote on them,but there has been quality discussion in the past.
I do feel each Lodge should be equally represented with the same number of votes. So only the Master and Wardens should be allowed to represent the Lodge as a voting member. There could be a PM that has moved away but inside WA and doesn't know how a particular item will affect his old Lodge.
We haven't defrayed the cost in the past, only for the Leadership retreat is paid in full.
Grand lodge annual communications is one of those extremely boring things that detracts from education and fellowship. It should be handled in a business meeting separate from a regular fellowship/education lodge by those brethren interested in it or obligated to it, but not to the lodge in general.
Grand lodge is essentially a republic form of governance. Representatives are chosen by the lodge in the form of masters and wardens to represent them but also to have wisdom to know when the rank and file are inadequately knowledgeable about the subject to make an informed decision and thus have the authority to vote differently than their lodge consensus. This could cost them their office the following year, But that's only really an issue in a properly functioning lodge that doesn't use progressive line and has the best man serving in each office not the guy whose "turn" it was.
Compensation for service to the lodge is absolutely necessary.
My lodge typically reads through all the resolutions prior to Grand Lodge’s Annual Communication. We have discussions about them but, to the best of my recollection, have never voted on them as a lodge. The Master and Wardens have been able to vote as they see fit, as well as any PMs that attend. Perhaps the resolutions should be voted on in the local lodges prior to the Annual Communication and the results of those ballots forwarded to GL and the results shared at the AC. It would save a lot of time for other things. I imagine this years voting on all the items may take the better part of a day. The Master and Wardens are encouraged to attend but are not re-imbursed for expenses that are incurred. I’ve not attended an Annual Communication personally other than the virtual event that was held last year, which I think is something GL should consider incorporating. Whether voting is incorporated into virtual attendance or not, it would allow more brothers to participate. I was looking forward to attending in person last year until everything changed. I believe it’s an opportunity to network, meet brothers from other lodges and renew friendships.
--Does your Lodge read the resolutions in full, in a stated meeting, prior to the Annual Communication?
Yes, we distribute copies of the resolutions to everyone attending the meeting after we receive them.
--Does your Lodge vote on each of them to get a sense of how the Lodge feels about them?
If the discussion was lively we would vote, otherwise it's usually just nodding of heads one way or the other.
--If your Lodge does vote, does it expect the Officers to vote in keeping with the Lodge’s wishes?
Yes, although each one may change his mind when presented with arguments at the AC. They should report how they voted back to their brothers.
--If you are attending the Annual Communication do you view it as your duty to vote in accordance with your Lodge’s desires, or do you feel it is your duty to vote as your own conscience dictates?
See above.
--Does your Lodge consider it a duty that the Wardens and Master attend?
For this I can't speak for the lodge, but we always have at least one (with proxies) there.
--Does your Lodge encourage it’s Past Masters to attend?
We don't discourage it. Each PM knows they can attend, it's up to them to decide if they will or not. A few do.
--Finally, does your Lodge do anything to help defray the potentially high costs of attendance for the Lodge officers or even members?
Our lodge per bylaws (or practices and procedures) pays for three members (and their significant others) to attend the warden's conference, but I can't remember if they do the same for the AC. I think we usually will vote to give a per diem or something to help defray costs.
As a side note, I loved the warden's conference, I managed to weasel my way to at least five of them while moving up the chairs when brothers who were eligible to go declined for whatever reason. I loved the Red Lion Inn, I loved how we were treated there, and I found it to be a great value, especially considering how poorly we're treated at the AC. I paid $25 dollars for a side salad and a bowl of shitty soup for lunch my first time going to Wenatchee, after that, I skipped the rip off meals and ate at taco bell, or a local restaurant that gave us a decent meal for half the cost. When you talk about meals at lodge, grand lodge needs to step up it's own game.
"Does your Lodge read the resolutions in full, in a stated meeting, prior to the Annual Communication?" Some do. One of my Lodges did that a couple of weeks ago; problem is, it knocked out 3 of the members who were at the Zoom meeting. One of them almost fell out of his chair. And I'm not exaggerating. Therefore, you know what I think about doing this. There are always better ways to accomplish this without a lengthy recitation by the Lodge Secretary.
"Does your Lodge vote on each of them to get a sense of how the Lodge feels about them?" Some Lodges, yes. But mostly, the resolutions are read for information. Often times, it's one half at one Communication, and the other half at the next Communication. Occasionally, one of the resolutions sparks a debate in the meeting. And when it happens, that's cool, as long as the Worshipful Master keeps it focused and civil, which can be a challenge at times.
"If your Lodge does vote, does it expect the Officers to vote in keeping with the Lodge’s wishes?" Difficult to enforce. Therefore, it doesn't really happen in my Lodges. Although many of the Principal officers to keep the Lodge opinion in mind when they vote.
"If you are attending the Annual Communication do you view it as your duty to vote in accordance with your Lodge’s desires, or do you feel it is your duty to vote as your own conscience dictates?" I've only attended two Annual Communications where I wasn't a member of the Grand Lodge team. Those two times, I was simply a Past Master, and I was never put under obligation to vote according to Lodge consensus, nor did I carry proxies. As a Grand Lodge Team member, I also haven't been beholden to the Lodges I'm a member of, since their officers had the proxies and the responsibilities that go with them.
"Does your Lodge consider it a duty that the Wardens and Master attend?" One of them does, but all three place a more important emphasis on making sure the Lodge is represented. One year, Centralia Lodge didn't get represented, because about 5 Brothers all thought the others were going to attend, and none of them did. When they received the notice from the Grand Secretary, they considered it a serious egg in their face, and vowed it'd never happen again. And it hasn't.
"Does your Lodge encourage it’s Past Masters to attend?" I have never heard any Lodge encouraging any specific person to attend (other than the Principal Officers).
"Finally, does your Lodge do anything to help defray the potentially high costs of attendance for the Lodge officers or even members?" Just one of them, and I think that was one or two years. My Lodges are more inclined to subsidize a new Warden to attend the LLR, which also has a potentially high cost of attendance. However, all three of the Lodges are prepared to assign whatever monetary amount needed to assure their Lodge gets represented.
As a member, I find the Annual Communication to be a great event, primarily for the fellowship, but I admit, also for the pomp and circumstance. Many think it's silly, but our world has had big ceremonies for its leadership for thousands of years. It's definitely not a new development. And now, in my newer duties, I have responsibilities that change my perspective of the Annual Communication. And I like it even more. It is great to be able to assist in making this event the best it can be for all involved.
Our Lodge has always read the resolutions in a Stated meeting......never again. Unfortunately we were in out Stated meeting when that was brought up at the GM forum. I encouraged conversation about the resolutions at our special Zoom night and told the Brothers to call if they thought of anything later. We don't vote on them,but there has been quality discussion in the past.
I do feel each Lodge should be equally represented with the same number of votes. So only the Master and Wardens should be allowed to represent the Lodge as a voting member. There could be a PM that has moved away but inside WA and doesn't know how a particular item will affect his old Lodge.
We haven't defrayed the cost in the past, only for the Leadership retreat is paid in full.