Newsletter from the Grand Secretary
Hollis G. Dixon, Grand Secretary
The 191st Annual Session of the Grand Lodge of Maine was well attended this year and it seems to have been enjoyed by all that did attend. The meeting was held at the Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor. The following Grand Lodge Officers were elected and installed: As Grand Master: M. W. W. Louis Greenier, II; as Deputy Grand Master: R. W. A. James Ross; as Senior Grand Warden: R. W. Thomas A. Heath; as Junior Grand Warden: R. W. Ronald W. Fowles. To see a list of the remaining officers that were elected or appointed and the various Grand Lodge Committee Members, go to the Grand Lodge Web Site at: http://www.mainemason.org
Legislation passed at the 191st Annual session:
Section 90.1: The Per Capita Tax was increased by ten percent (10%) from $11.65 to $12.85; the Self-Insurance Fund assessment remains at $3.00; and the Member Insurance Cost has gone up from .72¢ to .86¢ per member. The total amount due to Grand Lodge for each of your members will be $16.71 If you have a plural member that affiliated with your lodge but still pays the Per Capita Tax to his home lodge, which is in this jurisdiction, you will not be required to pay a Per Capita Tax for that member. Also included in Section 90.1 is an assessment of $5.00 for each candidate initiated in the lodge.
By way of explanation, the 10% increase in the per capita tax is rounded up to the nearest $.05, as set forth in Section 91 of the Constitution making the increase $1.20. Also, the increase in the Member Insurance Cost was increased by $.14 due to the $1,000,000. Umbrella Insurance Coverage that was voted in at the Annual Session last year. The
Self-Insurance Fund was previously called the Maine Mason Magazine Account.
I.R.S. 990 N FORM:
The Grand Treasurer has been notified by the IRS that any lodges that have not filed their 990 N form for three consecutive years will automatically have their Tax Exempt status revoked. If you have not filed the 990 N Form this year, you should go to the IRS Web Site at: www.irs.gov/oe On their home page, click on Charities and Non Profits. You will be directed to: http://epostcard.form990.org to file your 990 form. You will need your EIN number and a Password to access the form. Very few questions are asked on the form and you should have no trouble completing the form.
GRAND LODGE MASTER INSURANCE POLICY:
Included with this Newsletter is a message from the Chairman of the Grand Lodge Insurance Committee. Please read it and consider applying for a quote for your lodge to obtain insurance under the Grand Lodge Master Insurance Policy.
Fraternally,
Hollis G. Dixon
Grand Secretary
Grand Lodge Insurance Committee Message
The Insurance Committee met recently with our representative at Hartford Insurance Agency to review results of insurance activities this past year for our membership liability and group property coverage policies.
The price per member for the 2010/2011 policy year for the Grand Lodge Membership Liability insurance covering all Blue Lodge Masons, OES, Rainbow and Demolay is $.74 plus $.14 for the $1 million dollar umbrella insurance approved at the Grand Lodge Communication in 2008.
The number of Lodges applying for the optional Group Insurance available for premises liability and property coverage has slowed down considerably since the insurance became available in 2007. Additional Lodges participating in the optional Group Insurance only increased by 7 during this past year. The total number of participating Lodges is now 63, including 3 OES Chapters. Three of the Lodges have only purchased the premises liability portion of the policy.
The rates for the group policy are not anticipated to change; however, Lodges may see a slight increase due to a continuing 4% inflation guard built into the billing system.
Since the inception of this Group Insurance in 2007 Hanover Insurance Company, the insurance carrier, has received approximately $200,000 in premiums and has paid out approximately $600,000 in claims. The Insurance Committee questioned the representative at the meeting whether this negative cash flow might jeopardize continuance of the group insurance. We were assured Hanover Insurance Company is currently satisfied with providing group insurance but they do look for continued growth in participation. We still have two thirds of the Lodges in our jurisdiction who have not participated.
This program was designed to offer the best coverage for the best price to constituent Lodges.
If your Lodge has not yet considered this opportunity you owe it to your Lodge to request a quote to determine if your Lodge can save money on their insurance. The questionnaire for requesting a quote can be obtained from the Grand Lodge WEB site, Insurance Committee Chairman at 363-5473 or Betsy Sibley at Hartford Agency 1-800-284-5989 Ext 3480.
RW Walter Kyllonen, Chairman
Grand Lodge Insurance Committee
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