From the East
Greetings from the East,
Phoenix 8 Lodge News Letter December 2011
Seasons Greetings to You All ! I hope that this finds you in good health and good spirits. The Christmas season will soon be here. Please join me in celebrating all that it stands for and that ultimate blessing it confers.
2011 was a year of change in District 17. One of our esteemed brother lodges closed and turned in its charter. Another is currently under investigation and reorganization; It having lost multiple senior members to expulsion due to internal contention and financial miss appropriation.
2011 in Review
This was also a challenging and interesting year at phoenix Lodge. We had a mordant start, but it brought much needed improvements.
1st QTR This year, started off rough. In January, the former secretary resigned, In February we lost the master, and In March, lost both wardens. There then ensued, efforts to re-instate a resignee by designation; That failing, an effort was spawned to conduct an out of cycle election for the same end, which ended the same way. At this point the GM installed me in the east. Although time consuming, and the source of considerable consternation; we eventually worked our way through those struggles.
From January thru March the Audit team worked to determine our financial status, establish lodge needs & develop a plan to carry us forward. Due to a paucity of data in the files, and absent any help from the progenitor of them, the audit team had to glean thru all the records back to year 2000. Although obviated by some; and time consuming, the audit was done and the findings briefed to the lodge in the April Stated Meeting.
2ND Qtr In April, The Audit team briefed the lodge. Records show there had been no audit done in the past 8 years, and that the Annual Reports that had been submitted each of those years bore numerous errors. All this left our finances in bad condition. The full audit was briefed and new policies, procedures and activities were voted to be emplaced to reduce our operating cost and increase our income. In May we responded to the Grand Lodge inquiries about the above and received guidance on what and how we should proceed to quell the discord and move the lodge forward including emplacement of wardens. In June we discovered water damage problems in the kitchen/dining room wall. After an detailed search from the roof to the crawl space, I found that the hot water heater was leaking and had soaked the floor, wall and the sill beam we installed in 09.
The moisture had damaged the Kitchen-to- dining room wall and the kitchen floor. The wall was opened to eliminate the source of the problem. The wall was kept open to ensure the source of the water was eliminated and to let the structure dry-out. Repairs remain incomplete, but we have a plan. Money from work in the parking lot and the savings from improved News Letter operations were earmarked for repairs, but August brought a new problem, when thieves attacked our AC system; so the kitchen repairs went on hold. During my search for the source of this problem, I got a bucket truck and inspected the roof. It is in bad condition. It needs frame repairs. new shingles ASAP. This will be a tough & expensive job as the current shingles are over a standing seam steel roof & both need to come off before new shingles go on.
3rd Qtr In July the lodge finalized the vote to rectify financial short-falls by raising dues, to establish a building maintenance plan to meet emergent needs of the lodge and to implement steps to curtail out of control expenses of the news letter and other areas.
In August, thieves attacked the lodge & stole the copper piping from our air-conditioners . Repairs were made along with several improvements that will make it much more difficult for future attacks on the lodge. The money needed was drawn from our parking lot collections. Thus the kitchen wall was not repaired. I, with the help of E P Starnes worked on the lodge & AC system 7 days –a-week until repairs & security were restored. We were assisted by brothers M Sands, M Dodson Al Gahleb & other volunteers. This helped limit the cost of repairs to the AC system & improved security.
In September the officers participated in the GL Annual Communication.
4th Qtr In October the GL took steps to preclude future partitioning, and restore our climate of unity and team work in our quest for BL R &T.
In November I started an End of Year Data Roll-up. These activities & reports will set the conditions so next years leaders can start with a clear knowledge of our business standing, finances & membership of our lodge . I will endeavor to complete all possible projects by the end of the year.
Summary: Throughout this year, we continued to celebrate the design of BL mandated in the VSL that resides at the center of all lodges. We have: Conducted Meetings on all the degrees, Conducted Funerals for those who passed to their long home, Recognized & Celebrated our veteran members, Supported Scholarship selects, Visited brother lodges, and Conducted Lodge Business with Improved Financial Responsibility.
I expect we will find that this year has been the least expensive of any of the past 5 or more years. Strong restraint on spending, & careful spending only where needed, as well as a continuing effort to keep the members in the brotherhood, are all part of the collective reason that we remain financially stable. I will make a verbal report of our status at the December Stated and post my written reports in the records of the lodge.
Throughout the year I have, with their help, trained the currently serving Secretary, Wardens & Deacons so they are fully ready to take charge and able to do the job before them. I can say without a doubt they are ready.
On Tuesday the 13 Dec 2011th, at the Stated meeting, we will elect the new officers for year 2012. We have an excellent line of officers standing ready to serve, but they need your support. We Masons are among the first and most fastidious of societies to select our own leaders by the vote of each individual. This (the model adapted at the formation of our country) is your opportunity to participate in this most Masonic-American tradition.
Come cast your vote; Bring the new leaders into their jobs with a clear strong signal of your commitment to support them in the coming year.
The December 13th Stated Meeting Supper will be extra special. WB Greg Scott, Bros Mike Martin, Stretch Coleman are again going to provide catfish & hush puppies. Based on previous years, I know it will be an outstanding meal. The Stewards will provide slaw, potato salad &drinks.
I am proud to have served you in my second term as master of Phoenix8. We accomplished a lot & set the lodge on a good a good course. I send my thanks to all my brothers who gave their support; To the Officers of the Line, Past Masters, & all who give your work and fellowship from your heart, I thank you. We can be proud of our work. Veritas libertas , virtus junxit tiempo non separates. Semper Fidelis !
Gaylord L Boitnott, Master 2011
Coming Activities & Meetings:
Sat 03 Dec 9am Breakfast & practice for MMD
Mon 05 Dec practice for MMD
Tues 06 Dec 6 pm MM Degree
Tues 13 Dec Stated/Annual Communication; Supper 630, Mtg @730PM
Sat 07 Jan 2012, Noon Installation of New Officers. Refreshments follow.
Butch Boitnott
Master 2011
