When should we go dark? When should we meet?

Brethren, those are the burning questions we need your help to answer.

We used to go dark in January and February to save on heating costs. Those costs are nowhere near as onerous as they once were, but they are still notable. It has been noted that it is difficult for quite a few of our members to get out and about when the roads and walkways are slick. It would also mean that we might be able to avoid a few parking lot plowings during the winter (we would still need to plow it every so often).

Those of us who were able to attend the December 16th meeting heard the issue brought up and it was agreed we should lay it over until the January 6th meeting to give everyone a chance to weigh in on it.

There is also the question of a meeting time. I believe we may have better attendance if we meet at 7:00 pm instead of 7:30. More than once it has been said that some of our older members do not come to meetings due to the hour. It has also been stated that it’s harder to do degrees on meeting nights when we start that late.

Please come to the meeting on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. We will discuss whether we wish to go dark in January and February and whether we want to open at 7:00 pm or 7:30 pm. We would like your input on both. If you cannot come, please email or call me with your thoughts on both matters so that I may present them to the brethren in your absence.

Should we vote to keep going dark in the summer, we should amend our bylaws to state that fact. If we decide to go dark in January and February; we’ll simply be dark for the rest of January and February and we’ll keep going through the summer.

At the January 6th meeting a motion to amend our bylaws to a 7:00 pm opening time will be read and discussed. The text of that motion follows. It will be voted upon at the next stated meeting, which will be either January 20th (if we do not go dark) or March 3rd.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Elmer and Mitch Custer on the loss of their beloved wife and mother Shirley. There will be a memorial service at 1:30 pm on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at Doric.

In the coming months, we have much degree work to do. We will still meet on January 20th, whether we go dark or not, to confer a Fellowcraft degree. We will rehearse on Monday, January 12th, if you’d like to lend a hand.

We will also be trying to bring back some old traditions and maybe make some new ones this year. I’m still finalizing the designs on the trestle-board, if you will, but they include a visit to and from our Prince Hall brothers (Capital City Lodge No. 2), a table lodge, a pancake breakfast, some cards (euchre/sheepshead/hearts?), a movie day (to see Angels and Demons – the sequel to The Da Vinci Code that focuses on Freemasonry), and a few other ideas. We’ll also try to do a few things with Starlite to bring our family back together. Please see the website at www.doriclodge.com for the latest news.

If you have an event you’d like to see or wish to talk to me about any topic; please call or email me. My phone number is (608) 274-4430 and my email address is master (at) doric356.com.

Hope to see you in lodge!

-- Greg Corey
WM 2009

 

Proposed amendment to bylaws to be read and discussed at the January 6, 2009 meeting and voted upon at a subsequent meeting if deemed worthy:

WHEREAS:

The bylaws of Doric Lodge specifies a 7:30 PM stated meeting time and a 7:00 PM meeting time may be more convenient for our members and allow greater attendance,

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

Section 4 of the Doric Lodge No. 356 Free and Accepted Masons bylaws titled “STATED COMMUNICATIONS:” be amended to replace “7:30 o’clock PM” with “7:00 o’clock PM”.