YAY 112!

Last night I was honored to help celebrate service awards at Wayne Lodge #112. Their were nearly 200 people in attendance. My friend David Dossette, Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons in Michigan awarded almost 40 of the Heritage Awards to fathers and sons of members of our craft. There were also scholarships presented and then the service pins; 40, 50, 60 and one 70 year pin were presented too. There was a Lou B. Winsor award too.The final tally of awards reached about 180, what a great night for Wayne Lodge. Thank you Wayne for allowing me to be a part of this celebration.

Rainbow!

On Thursday evening the Grand Lodge Leadership team was out in full force to support our youth again. The formal opening of the Grand Assembly found us in Alma really enjoying ourselves as the ladies did their thing. We were even a part of an orchestra. Guess you had to be there.

Thank you to Rainbow for all the courtesies extended to our team. What a great theme for the year!

The Business...

Last night the Board of Directors of the Grand Lodge met. The Board voting members are;
The Grand Master, The Deputy Grand Master, The Senior Grand Warden, The Junior Grand Warden, The Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer and the Right Worshipful Grand Secretary.
This board makes decisions that will shape the craft. I love this stuff!

Grand Masters reception

Last night was absolutely a magnificent event. The Grand Master's reception was held and WOW!

I certainly do not want to slight anyone or not give credit where it is due. I also know there was a committee in place to handle the event.
An event of that size doesn't just happen.
My General Chairman Curtis McGuire, shown here with his lovely wife Wendy,  worked his behind off.
Thank you my friend, it was everything I could have hoped for!

The first lady brings remarks.

The Master Conspirator and his much better half.
I love you guys.

My friend, brother and Mentor was with me last night!

A picture collage of Seymour's office, a gift from the first lady.

   Some of the Brothers from Trenton-Wyandotte #8

The Grand Master received a new coat from Lincoln Park Ionic #539

AND...

the Rose Croix final -

Yup, seven toasters and a chia pet. What a great tradition and example of Brotherly love!

LEADERS vs. FOLLOWERS

When leaders make a mistake, they say, "I was wrong."

When followers make a mistake, they say, "It wasn't my fault."

A leader works harder than a follower works, yet has more time;
a follower is always "too busy" to do what is necessary.

A leader goes through problems and resolves them;
a follower goes around problems but never gets past them.

A leader makes and keeps commitments;
a follower makes and forgets promises.

A leader says, "I'm good, but not as good as I ought to be";
a follower says, "I'm not as bad as a lot of other people."

Leaders listen;
followers wait until it's their turn to talk.

Leaders respect those who are superior to them and try to learn from them;
followers resent those who are superior to them and try to avoid them.

Leaders feel responsible for more than their job;
followers say, "That's not my job."

Leaders say, "There may to be a better way to do this";
followers say, "That's the way it's always been done around here."

Reception day

The time nears...

Rose Croix in the house...

Tonight an annual event happened. The Rose Croix guys held their dinner. Twelve guys met, broke bread, told lies and loved one another unconditionally. This is how it should work.

Fellowcrafts...

Last night I was a guest at Jefferson Lodge 553. Two brothers were passed to the Fellowcraft degree. Derek Sale sat in the East and it was his first conferral of this degree, I have never heard done better. Our two brothers received a good degree and are made a part of a great Lodge.

Love this stuff -

Tonight was a Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation board meeting.

DeMolay -

DeMolay initiated three more new member in Roseville last night. A packed house was in attendance as the young men shined, absolutely shined in the conferral. Among the attendees were THREE Past Grand Masters and FIVE Grand Lodge officers from the Grand lodge of Michigan, great support for a great organization.

So what time does this 7 O'Clock degree begin?










                                                                                 

 There is a very confident young man in the middle

Words escape me - 

Outdoors -

Yesterday was the annual Findlater #475 outdoor degree and pig roast. The Lodge raised a very special young man to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. I was very lucky to be in attendance and be a part of the day.

 The Master of Findlater, WB Ken Singleton and myself, just before the degree begins.

 There is always something to do at the last minute. Where the heck is the candidate?

 

In the craft

Happy to be in Walt Disney Chapter of DeMolay tonight. Great initiation gents!

Yay!

One of the things I like most about being Grand Master, helping run the corporation. Investment Committee meeting in Lansing.

LPI...

Visited home again. The Worshipful Master wanted to receive me. They did a great job of officially receiving me and then did a great job on the degree. Lincoln Park Ionic has a new Master Mason. Good job fellas...

Great...

We have been at the beautiful Bavarian Lodge for a session of the Council of Deliberation which is the State governing body of Scottish Rite. What a great time to renew old friendships. After the meeting two recent Past Grand Masters sat with us for a "best practices" type of gab fest. Good stuff! Getting ready for supper. Home in the morning.

Well then - - 

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First time back...

Made my first trip into my home Lodge tonight as Grand Master, very different. I have heard you can't be a prophet in your own house. More true words were never spoken.

and more planning

yesterday I spent the day in the Grand Lodge office with a friend and Mentor. We were invited to present an award to a Past Master in the rehab wing of the home. WB Miller is the first of three generations of Past Master's in his Lodge. I was very proud to sit and talk to him for a short time!

Lewis Cass Legacy Society

What a great night! these moving vines were just a small part of a fantastic evening. The LCLS and Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation hosted a first class event to thank members of the Lewis Cass Society. The event was held at The Frederik Meijer Gardens ( http://www.meijergardens.org/ ). Over two hundred guests enjoyed tram rides through the facility, social time, a fine dinner and dancing, fantastic!