Maine Masonic Council
Purpose
The purposes of the Maine Masonic Council are to promote and strengthen Freemasonry in Maine, to support the Grand Lodge of Maine and the Grand Master, to improve cooperation and communication among all the concordant bodies in this jurisdiction, to foster the creation and implementation of strategic plans for each of the concordant bodies, to promote Fellowship nights, recruitment of candidates, retention of membership and to promote the concept of Mentoring in all Masonic Bodies.
Membership
The Maine Masonic Council shall consist of the two top officers of each concordant body recognized by the Grand Lodge of Maine and one permanent member from each concordant body appointed by the Senior Officer of that concordant body. Said permanent member will serve until replaced by the senior officer of said body or one of his successors. Except in cases of resignation, the appointed permanent member shall be expected to serve for several bienniums. The Senior Officer of each body shall appoint a non-voting personal representative for any meeting of the Council that he is unable to attend. The Secretaries and Membership Chairman of each of the Bodies are strongly encouraged to attend.
Minutes of Meeting on April 9, 2008 at Augusta
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 AM by President Joe Atkinson. Gerald Pickard gave the invocation followed by the salute to the American Flag. Those present included the President, Joe Atkinson Robert J. Landry, Arthur Allen, Gerald Pickard and Guy Chapman, acting as the secretary. The minutes for this meeting were taken by Guy Chapman in the absence of the secretary.
The secretary’s report was voted to be accepted as distributed. The balance in the treasury was reported as being $4,728.50. The treasurer was not present and the balance was verified by a phone call to RW Harold McKenney.
Old Business:
Guy reported that the Maine State DeMolay is sponsoring a trip to the Scottish Rite Museum in Lexington this month and they have three busses scheduled to make the trip. The 5 Scottish Rite Valleys and Maine Consistory raised $4,000 which was matched by the DeMolay Pine Tree Foundation. The trip is planned for April 19, 2008.
The idea of having evening meetings was discussed again. The reason for the evening meetings was to attract more members to the meetings. The fact that the Council is made up of the two top leaders from each of the grand bodies makes it difficult to find an evening when all can attend. Given that new Masonic body leadership would be elected and installed within a few weeks, it was decided to table the vote until July.
New Business:
The president has a new direction planned for the Council. He suggested we should look at ourselves as a customer service based business and combine the efforts of the bodies and focus our future endeavors; particularly for Membership Development. A customer service business views itself as delivering benefit and value to its members. One of the primary benefits of membership requires that we deliver a meaningful life experience. Masonry is a fraternity to improve life and it is the best fundamental system to improve mankind. Therefore, it should be first and foremost, a thinking man’s organization.
He also proposed changing the by-laws to expand our purpose and broaden membership in this Council to include Master Masons of any jurisdiction, recognized by our Grand Lodge, who have skills, experience and talents of value in promoting the mission of this Council. These “Voted Members” would be invited to join the Council. Our fraternal body leaders are generally oversubscribed to the duties and activities of attending to the operation of the fraternity with too little time, or background experience in attending to the “business needs” of our organization. A motion was made to accept the bylaw change to elect the officers in July rather than January and notify the membership that the proposed by-law changes will be voted on at the next meeting. Moving the annual meeting to July was motivated by a recognition that more members now go to Florida in the winter than who go on vacation in the summer.
Gordon is to distribute the proposed by-laws to the newly elected membership for ratification at the July meeting.
The anticipated new Masonic body leaders are: Robert R. Landry, Grand Master; C. Arthur Allen, Grand High Priest, Daniel Carey Most Illustrious Grand Master; Gordon Harrington, Grand Commander.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m.
NOTE: NEXT MEETING JULY 23, 2008 AT 10:00 AM AT AUGUSTA
Minutes of Meeting on January 23, 2008 at Augusta
REMINDER: NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2008 AT AUGUSTA 10:00 AM.
The meeting was opened at 10:00 a.m. by Guy F. Chapman. There were 8 in attendance which included Guy F. Chapman, C. Arthur Allen, Joseph Atkinson Robert J. Landry, Gerald C. Pickard, Gordon Reynolds, Howard Weymouth and Robert R. Landry, DGM.
An opening prayer was offered by Gordon Reynolds, followed by a due observance to our flag. The minutes of the September 26, 2007 meeting was accepted as printed and mailed.
The Treasurer’s report was given by Guy Chapman and accepted.
OLD BUSINESS:
The Masonic Building at Bangor is in limbo, awaiting a further survey which is expected to be accomplished this Spring. Things should happen after that. One of the questions arising is whether the Learning Center should be in the building. It was stated that without the Learning Center the 501 C-3 status with IRS is out the window. Without this status it is believed that fund raising will be much more difficult.
Gerald Pickard reported on the Bangor Learning Center. They have 40 students and is reported to be a great success. The Board of Governors has been extended in number and the need is there to raise 2.5 million for future needs. Last Fall a Walk-a-thon was held in Bangor and some $7,200 was raised for the Aroostook County Learning Center.
He also noted that funds have been received in memory of Marianne Pratt, wife of Daniel Pratt. She just recently passed away and contributions to her memory will be welcome by the Learning Center.
Guy Chapman reported that two requests are out for contributions for the Learning Center. One is to the King Foundation and the other one and another is at the Rotarians.
We have not participated in the Sea Dogs program this year.
The Strategic Plan for the various bodies was reported on and discussed.
NEW BUSINESS:
The By-Laws of the Maine Masonic Council was discussed and agreed that we perhaps need to have a committee look at them and make recommendations for revisions. There appears to be areas which need attention.
Guy Chapman has set up a web page for the Scottish Rite in Bangor which has links to the York Rite as well. It announces important dates coming up in the Bodies.
A healthy discussion was held regarding the time this meeting should be held. In the past we have discussed holding it in the evenings vs morning.
It was brought up that we need a CD Disc similar to that which the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts uses to promote (market) Masonry. Plans are in the works to do this.
A further discussion relative to the By-Laws was held noting that the first paragraph reads:
“The purpose of the Maine Masonic Council are to promote and strengthen Freemasonry in Maine, to support the Grand Lodge of Maine and the Grand Master, to improve cooperation and communication among all the concordant bodies in this jurisdiction, to foster the creation and implementation of strategic plans for each of the concordant bodies, to promote Fellowship nights, recruitment of candidates, retention of membership and to promote the concept of Mentoring in all Masonic Bodies.”
It was agree by all present that we should work hard at this purpose.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
The following officers for the next three years were elected:
PRESIDENT: JOSEPH ATKINSON
TREASURER: HAROLD McKENNEY
Gordon Reynolds was appointed Secretary for the ensuing year. The appointment was accepted with the understanding that in a year or so it may be difficult for him to attend these meetings.
THE NEW PRESIDENT WAS DULY INSTALLED BY GERALD PICKARD after which he noted that at our next meeting we may discuss the potential of holding these meetings in the evening vs morning.
He also noted that 37 years ago today (in one an a half hours) he and his wife were married at the First Baptist Church on Center Street in Bangor.
NOTE: NEXT MEETING APRIL 9, 2008 AT 10:00 AM AT AUGUSTA
Meeting adjourned at 12:03 p.m.
Attest:
Gordon E. Reynolds
Secretary
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