The Great Mandella

Peter, Paul. and Mary sung about The Great Mandella (The Wheel of Life). Today was one of those days.It is not at all unusual for a Grand Lodge Officer to attend multiple events in a day, especially a weekend day.
The first event today is an honors day at Birmingham Lodge. This Lodge does it right, they have a beautiful building and always have this event during the afternoon to allow the most folks to attend. The Senior Grand Warden and myself were invited to share in the honors. We were able to award several life memberships and some fifty year pins. The highlight (for me) was a seventy year pin to a Past Master. He holds himself out as a twenty-four and one half year old man. He is vibrant, exciting and a joy to be around.

The Group, yay!

Two Ray's one has seventy years in the craft.

as the Mandella turns there is another side. This evening I attended a Masonic Memorial service for a one hundred year old member. I have known Howard Hale for forty five years. We attended the same church in South West Detroit all those years ago  I was able to assist the team and say a formal goodbye. Soft and safe to you my brother...
3/30/2014

That's why we are here -

Thursday,  must be going to the Shores -  Eager to get to Jefferson Lodge tonight and be able to witness two Master Mason degrees. My rider is the new Worshipful Master of West Gate-Cyrus Lodge. Off we go, I am always greeted enthusiastically by the members of Jefferson. I enjoy seeing men become Master Masons and tonight is no exception. I think my rider may have seen Masonry a little different after tonight. Well it is eleven o'clock time to say goodnight to the brothers and get home to bed.
 3/27/2014

Getting there -

This is the evening the Grand Lodge Board of Directors meet. This Grand Master does very little without first.talking to the Board of Directors. This is some times a spirited event. That is okay. My management style is to provide a safe place for meetings and the exchange of ideas. One can say whatever they choose to in the meeting. Once the choices and decisions are made that is that. When we leave that room we are all on the same page. There should be no further discussion on any topic. I believe we have accomplished much this Masonic year thanks to this Board. .
3/26/2014

Long way for coffee

This morning I arose early, hit the road and headed North. It was going to be a great morning. The residents at Masonic Pathways meet in the lobby every Tuesday at ten O'clock for a coffee clutch. This week it was to me my honor to attend. There is no formal agenda, an informal chat session. Our Director tells the residents what is new what may have to be dealt with and shares some of her personal life with the group.
This week one of the challenges was the morning there were sixteen dear on and around the front porch. See when you feed these guys they get used to it and will keep coming. We as Masons can certainly relate to that.
Another thing I learned was the difference in how medicine is disbursed, how the home can do it and what would be a pharmacist role, amazing!
The best part was visiting the residents and the interaction with them. They all have stories that I love to hear. One can gain a lot of wisdom from these folks. Thank you for having me.

Oh yeah, while I was in the neighborhood I spent some time at the Grand Lodge office.
 3/25/2014

Pardon me -

One of the offshoots of Michigan Masonry is the MMA, Masonic Masters Association. It is the organization which hosts the Senior Wardens Dinners throughout the Masonic Year. In 1996 I was a Senior Warden and was on the circuit. It was great! One was able to learn and interact with their counterparts all over the area. We had great times. After I was Worship Master the organization fell off my radar. When I was campaigning for the open chair in the Grand Lodge line I became active, at least visited several dinners. In my estimation the MMA had deteriorated a bit. With the annual election this year the MMA has a new President. I am very excited about the new leadership team. The Grand Chaplin and myself invited ourselves to the monthly business meeting.  The Grand Chaplin and I are excited about the new direction and simply wanted to show support. Do well guys.
3/18/2014

Last One -

When one gets to this stage in his year as Grand Master he may begin counting down events. Tonight was the last of my Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation Board meetings. Every last one is a little sad. On the good side, I have served on this Board for several years and have been able to watch the growth of the Board. I am very pleased to report the Board has turned a corner and is being run in the manner this Board should be.
See you all soon.

3/18/2014

Long day duex -

In the life of a Grand Lodge officer it is not all the unusual to have two events in one day, especially on a Saturday. Leave Alma get to Downtown Detroit for the 700th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Jacques DeMolay. Thank you to Commandery No1 Knights Templar for taking on this project. The Templars hosted this fantastic event in a great building, the Masonic Temple at 500 Temple in Detroit. Further one of the nicest rooms in the building the Commandery Asylum. Commander Pat Thompson, thank you!
While no one has threatened to burn me at the stake (yet) Grand Masters have to stick together. This was one great event the original DeMolay degree was portrayed and was very, very impressive. The cast succeeded in making us believe we were there, present at the events of the day. AND there was supper -
One can only guess what kind of planning, rehearsing and chaos is involved in doing this type of thing. It is truly a labor of love for the Order of DeMolay.

The Cast - standing ovation!

Bravo -

Supper

There has to be supper.

Greeting the current Grand Master (no not 700 years old)

From one Grand Master to another, DUDE!

Every once and awhile one gets a chance to be a part of something fantastic, a once in a lifetime chance. Today was one of those days.


 3-15-2014

Long day coming...

Okay roll out of the rack in the middle of the night, get ready - off to Alma. First, drive through Tim Horton s and get my IV hooked up. Then off to Warren to pick up the Grand Chaplin, PGM Dean A Barr. Someday we will figure out how many miles we have traveled together. This is a Board of General Purposes meeting day. More, this is the meeting the Board discusses the upcoming legislation. The legislation and resolutions will be voted on by the delegates assembled at the annual Communication in May. The Board attempts to get their heads around ten pieces of legislation so they can make report to their local areas. This is one of the most important tasks of this group. They know it and rise to the occasion. 3-15-2014

Uck

This is the week for the Regular communication and Temple association meeting in Lincoln Park, The Grand Master is a bit under the weather, sorry guys. See you soon.
3-04-2014  -  3-06-2014

Running the Business...

As I travel to Lansing for our monthly Grand Lodge Board of Directors meeting it occurs to me this Board can make a Grand Master look really good or really bad. I am blessed with a hard working group of men who are dedicated to our craft. While it seems mundane to go to meeting after meeting after meeting, this stuff excites the hell out of me. We get to set the course, we get to make great change to the craft. I am so proud of this group of guys. This is pretty heady stuff.
2-26-2014

LPI receives -

Tonight being received by my other home Lodge Lincoln Park-Ionic #539. Flawless, absolutely flawless. I belong to two different Lodges and the dynamics within the Lodges are far different. The bottom line is good Masons belong to and believe in both. I think that is the best thing about our craft. We all see this journey a little different and we will all experience our Masonic experience a bit differently. At the end of each day from bent knee we are all thankful to be Masons.
 2-25-2014

Going home

Tonight is my official visit to one of my home Lodges. Tonight I was officially received by Trenton-Wyandotte Lodge number 8. These guys are doing a lot of good things, one of the things they pride themselves on is ritual. It really showed tonight, they seemingly were nonplussed by our presence. They received us as if they do it everyday and went on with the business of the Lodge. Bravo!
2-19-2014

Arizona -

Quick trip to Arizona for the reunion there. I wish we could have scheduled WAY more time there. Have I mentioned Winter sucks in Michigan? I was amazed at the turnout and the number of people we new in Arizona. I think everyone there works for the Chamber of Commerce. They really work the sales pitch.

These reunions are a great member benefit, I great opportunity to see old friends make new friends and learn about the good Michigan Masons do. Although a very quick trip, it was nice to see Masons, it was nice to see good weather. But alas time to go shovel snow (I am sure).


2-21-2014