tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868929508219223321.post5199768081419651411..comments2008-10-28T20:31:49.367-04:00M.M.M. from the North Eastern Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04256800876052840450noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868929508219223321.post-37078316234578541722008-10-28T20:31:00.000-04:002008-10-28T20:31:00.000-04:00Justa,<BR/>Very true about minutes. Our secretary emails and brings printed copies of the minutes so that we can speed business up. Committees are the spokes that keeps the treads on the road. It is magic and can get sideliners to be involved in ways that they would have not been before.<BR/><BR/>NickThe Millennial Freemasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10365269439441609340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868929508219223321.post-61219390363320050022008-10-28T19:51:00.000-04:002008-10-28T19:51:00.000-04:00You actually read minutes? <B>That</B> went out with <I>The Ed Sullivan Show.</I> No wonder you get blank stares. No one wants to hear minutes.. except those solely because they say "it's always been done that way."<BR/><BR/>I've been Secretary (or acting) of three Lodges and two concordant bodies. I have yet to read any minutes. I mail or e-mail them instead. The one Lodge I'm in where I've never served in office has them passworded on its web site.<BR/><BR/>Three of my Lodges have switched to a system where the boring stuff .. minutes, correspondence, bills, receiving petitions .. is handled in Committee and the Committee moves its report be adopted. All done in 30 seconds. More time for education and social activities.<BR/><BR/>You've known me long enough to know I like one-liners as much as anyone, usually irreverant or dry ones. But one has to be conscious of where to draw the line in open Lodge.<BR/><A HREF="http://justamason.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Justa</A>Justa Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18251151452545005294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868929508219223321.post-17627573284832168762008-10-28T14:20:00.000-04:002008-10-28T14:20:00.000-04:00Admiral,<BR/>Is this an invite?M.M.M. From the North Eastern Cornerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04256800876052840450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868929508219223321.post-16225849079833829462008-10-28T14:04:00.000-04:002008-10-28T14:04:00.000-04:00www.armadacork.co.ukAdmiral Bunghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07057630737620297476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868929508219223321.post-85769220817447015612008-10-28T11:03:00.000-04:002008-10-28T11:03:00.000-04:00Obviously, antics during degree work is, well, just plain wrong. It shows a lack of respect to the new brother and to the brothers on the sidelines. I'm reminded of the Three Stooges Degree that was reported elsewhere a few months ago. As far as I'm concerned, nobody should make light of the experience for the candidates.<BR/><BR/>That said, business meetings (we call them "Stated Communications") are fair game, as long as it does not mock the solemnity of the ritual ceremonies. A whoopee cushion during the Secretary's report might be in poor taste. However, we have played, umm, odd musical selections for the introduction of certain VIPs, and have revised the ritual opening and closing to fit certain theme nights. <BR/><BR/>Justa, I have run into a few lodges in which the fun - as in, the simple enjoyment of being with friends - seems to have run out with the Ed Sullivan Show. Minutes are read without a smile, members sit there like zombies. I've seen attempts at levity met with head-shaking. What could possibly keep new brothers coming back to such an environment?Tom Accuostihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005315193581153959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868929508219223321.post-51638622612111896942008-10-28T06:09:00.000-04:002008-10-28T06:09:00.000-04:00Fun has its time and place at a meeting, Tom. You should come to a few of mine when I'm stuck in the chair. But it's not a comedy show and there are places it is not appropriate; during balloting and degree work, for example. <BR/><BR/>MMM's story reminded me of the practices we used to have for DeMolay Degrees when I first joined. We used to screw around and add appropriate (and sometime inappropriate) dialogue and floorwork and drove our Chapter Dad nuts. But it was all business when we did the degree. It's probably because we all knew the ritual so well we could screw around with it.<BR/><BR/>Last Lodge meeting, one of our PMs who hadn't been out for awhile popped in after the meeting (over threat of suspension for NPD) and didn't know a lot of the guys. We had everyone stand up and introduce themselves. Last night, I was on an investigation committee and dragged out our former Chaplain, who works nights. Our newest MM was on the Committee and the two hadn't met, so that was nice. <BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://justamason.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Justa </A>Justa Masonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18251151452545005294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2868929508219223321.post-19148495305189867332008-10-27T11:24:00.000-04:002008-10-27T11:24:00.000-04:00You mean you had some fun at a meeting?<BR/><BR/>How dare you!Tom Accuostihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005315193581153959noreply@blogger.com