The North Carolina Mason

November/December 2020

North Carolina Mason

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Page 6 The North Carolina Mason November/December 2020 B egin your lodge's quest to qualify for the Lion and Pillar Lodge of Excellence Award for 2021! You can easily identify the new or changed requirements by looking for the RED type. is is the third year for the Platinum level distinction and remember, you must first successfully complete all five of the main categories in order to be eligible. Notice the boxes to the left of each item. Use them like a scorecard to check off what you've accomplished this year. Application deadline is June 30, 2021. 1. Implement the Lodge System of Masonic Instruction as a subordinate lodge or as a district, with participating lodges receiving credit. DDGMs will certify lodge participation. 2. Host a speaker from the Grand Lodge Speakers Bureau, a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education, a faculty member from Wilkerson College, a faculty member from the Davie Academy or the Middle Chamber for a program at a stated communication. 3. Have a deacon graduate from Wilkerson College.* 4. Have a member complete a Davie Academy session. 5. Have a member complete a Middle Chamber session.* 6. Establish a Masonic Book Club for the lodge and have members regu- larly provide a review and/or personal reflection of a book on Masonic Ritual, Symbolism, or Philosophy. 7. As a regular part of the stated communication of the lodge, have a member read a portion of the ritual, invite the brethren in attendance to contemplate and discuss what it means, and encourage them to consider it at a deeper, more personal level. 8. Document that three lodge members viewed videos produced by the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education, Wilkerson College, Davie Academy, or Middle Chamber. (May view and document two videos maximum for two credits in this category.) * This item counts double if it is the lodge's first time participating in the program. CATEGORY 1 EDUCATION ÝÝÝ COMPLETE 3 OF 8 ITEMS CATEGORY 3 PHILANTHROPY COMPLETE #1 AND 3 OF REMAINING 5 1. Set a goal to contribute an average of $5 per member to (each) MHCO, North Carolina Masonic Foundation, and MESH Foundation LLC (which benefits qualified Masonic and OES residents at WhiteStone) between July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. Document contributions and send copies of checks with your application to expedite the approval process. (NOTE: Community charitable projects are covered under Category 5) 2. Host a North Carolina Masonic Foundation development officer for a program at a stated communication or attend the Davie Academy session on philanthropy. 3. Host an MHCO or WhiteStone development officer for a program 4. Hold a lodge meeting at Whitestone or MHCO under dispensation from the Grand Master, and schedule a tour of the home, meeting with the director or his designee, and visit with residents. 5. Assist a brother or his widow in getting financial assistance from the MESH LLC Outreach program (336-601-5593). 6. Either (a) Contact the Masonic Home for Children and agree to sponsor a cottage for Christmas or a summer trip or (b)Contact WhiteStone and agree to sponsor a resident receiving financial assistance for a minimum of one year. The Masonic Home for Children and WhiteStone will provide the lodge with the information related to the financial obligations necessary to complete this item. ÝÝÝÝ 1. Organize a lodge visit to veterans in a nursing home. Do not limit visits to Masonic veterans. 2. Visit veterans in a Veterans Administration hospital in Salisbury, Fayetteville, Durham or Asheville. 3. Contact and offer to assist the local Masonic Service Association of North America (MSANA) Hospital Visitation volunteer in a VA hospital. 4. Host a member of the National Sojourners for a program. 5. Host a non-Mason veteran for a program. 6. Hold a Masonic education program on the MSANA's Hospital Visitation and Disaster Relief initiatives. 7. Host a veterans meal for veterans and active military personnel at your lodge separate from a regular stated meeting. Include non-Masonic veterans, active military personnel and local high school youth/JROTC interested in military careers at this event. 8. Support a "Wreaths Across America" or similar veterans projects. 9. Document that three lodge members viewed videos produced by the Lion and Pillar Team on a. Our VA Hospital Visitation Program b. Masonic Service Association of North America c. National Sojourners d. George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria (Must view and document all videos for two credits in this category. May view and docu- ment two videos for one credit. ) CATEGORY 2 PATRIOTISM COMPLETE 5 OF 9 ITEMS ÝÝÝÝÝ LION & pillar 2021

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