Toasters everywhere...

Saturday begins with the reception for the Grand Marshal . Mark Manning had a great reception at a lovely place. His committee knocked it out of the park. It was a great time and great fellowship.We welcome Mark and Linda Manning to the Grand Family.

Mike will get even

I wonder? 

 Presents for the Grand Marshal. What could be in these packages?

Great crowd 

They line up to honor Mark

Wireless - 

love these guys...

Friday night - CC Reeves Installation for DeMolay. These young men had a full house to watch the new corps of officers be installed in Lincoln Park. It simply doesn't get any better than this. The right thing to do.
The Youth Groups in Michigan are the best of the best.

The Boss is here!

The Guys (and a couple of old guys)

Mr Smith is amused.

Justin Long being installed as MC

GWA Robyn Miller of Michigan Rainbow

When B talks, we listen

nothing to say here - 

Grumpy!

Cross of Honor - Investure

Great remarks from the GWA

uh huh

The SMC does his thing

Installed and now remarks

Grumpy and T receive Hall of Fame

Bookends...

Thursday night rehearsals begin for the thirty-first and thirty-second degree for the Fall Reunion. The walk-through/blocking rehearsal was okay.These two will be fine. They know 18 is all that matters.

Time for business...

Wednesday bring us to Lansing for the business of Grand Lodge. A great combination of meetings today. The Future Programs Development Committee meets early. In case you are wondering the future of Grand Lodge promises to be fantastic! The FPDC was followed by the Grand Lodge Investment committee and finally the Grand Lodge Board of Directors meeting. A long night, lot's of business completed lot's of tough decisions. Thank God for the strength of the men on these boards. Sorry we had to stay late guys!

It's that time again...

Rehearsals begin for the Fall Reunion. The 18th degree rehearsal was extraordinary. Man those guys are good! The finest degree in the jurisdiction will be fine, again! .

Please pass the salt...

There are several things I absolutely love about Masonry. Of course the fellowship is high on that list. Just being with Masons is high too. This morning we had five members of Lincoln Park Ionic have breakfast together at a local eatery. Fantastic. These event are not necessarily planned to any great degree nor are they scheduled.  Every once in awhile one gets a text saying - the breakfast club Saturday @ 0830 @ Eatery. This week we got that text on Thursday. This is one of the great things Masonry brings to my life.

Missed it...

Visited Brooklyn Lodge for their September regular meeting. I got there just in time to miss supper, dang.  It is always interesting to watch how different Lodges run the business. Once they got settled in they did a great job. The members of this and three other Lodges in attendance. They allowed me to speak and had great questions (for the most part). They are very supportive of the Grand Lodge.
They recently did some modernization to the Lodge room. A beautiful new tile floor around the center of the room, refinished chairs and new paint, looks great!
On the way home I noticed, damn it is dark out here.

Where am I?

Tuesday evening and I am at the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation meeting in Lansing. I am either at the Lansing Lexington or the Crown Plaza. Do you suppose it matters as long as we are in the meeting?
Great stuff going on here. This Board is doing some fantastic things for the craft!.

Time for fun!

Saturday evening finds us in Berkley Lodge at a Festive Board. A Lodge from Windsor joined the group as MWB Paul Cross was the host. I always enjoy Festive Boards, this was not different, a great supper was served and merriment ensued.
Apropos to nothing, if you know any good jokes send them along to Paul. Anyway, I believe there may be pictures of the Grand Master in a Flintstone type Water Buffalo Bonnet.
As much as I enjoy events like this I was happy to be home after this week.

Saturday (not in the park)

To end a long week, a long day.
The quarterly meeting of the Board of General Purposes was held in Alma on Saturday.

tough to get a good picture.

Visit to the UP!

It has been a hectic week! It all began Tuesday. The Grand Treasurer and I met at the Grand Lodge Office and made our way north. What a great day for travel, we made it into Sault Saint Marie with no issues. It began to rain a bit as we checked into the hotel. Away we head towards Bethel Lodge. I will admit I spend far to little time in the UP and I was not aware they have monsoon type rains. We ramble through the Soo and watch the water shooting out of the sewers and manholes. I thought it was a sign from on high. The Grand Treasurer talked me into going on. I am sure glad we did. What a Great Supper we had. The Grand Treasurer did a great warm up act. The "unplugged" conversation in the Lodge was spirited and I learned a lot!.
Wednesday found us in Munising for a midday meal with the fellas from Munising Grand Island Lodge. A relaxed setting and a great conversation.
Wednesday evening and we are off to Copper Country! It was the first time in this part of the State for me. We were treated to a Fish Boil by the Brothers from Copper Country. The Grand Treasurer warmed up the group. The information brought by Mike Jungel is invaluable and was well received by the men there.
I again began into the "unplugged" portion of the evening. I think this method is well received. The Brothers ask any question and understand there are no bad questions. We had great ideas here!
Thursday morning Breakfast with 422 and Southbound.

Supper time...

Tonight was the Masonic Temple Association meeting in Lincoln Park. This was followed by a budget meeting for next years budget. Both meetings were attended by our distinguished brothers hash and rehash, boy I am full and my head hurts.

Surprise!

So tonight I decided to visit one of my home Lodges. Without telling the Lodge I convinced the Junior Grand Warden and Junior Grand Deacon to accompany me.  We showed at the appointed hour and informed the Lodge we would be received. The Master wasn't in attendance and everybody was advanced at least one chair. We were received (well done) and settled in. The Lodge conferred the Fellowcraft degree and the first section was great. I have never seen it done better. This Lodge is full of young guys, young in age, young to the craft or both. Excellent work guys, I am very proud of this group.

what a minute -

Last night I went to a home Lodge. First the officers, finance meeting at Lincoln Park Ionic. Great budget meeting. The regular communication was short and sweet and they got all the business done. They may be listening, I am just saying. It is nice to go home once in a while. I miss a lot.