The North Carolina Mason

Page 10 The North Carolina Mason January/February 2021 50 YEARS AS A MASON Congratulations to: Ray Fields, Past Master of Henderson #229 News oF the craFt RALEIGH – ere's a new face at the Grand Lodge. Meet Outreach Coordinator/Admin- istrator Matthew Robbins, a founding member of State College #770. His work will incorporate some routine tasks and assistance to brothers statewide, but he also will reach out to and coordinate with lodges wrestling with main- tenance issues, historical questions and other needs to maintain the buildings that are the public face of Freemasonry in North Caro- lina. Matthew, who holds a Master's Degree in architecture, joined the staff after the retirement of Cornelia Doherty. He also manages the Grand Lodge web site, maintains historical lodge information and the new historic map, and provides technical support for the office and assist secretaries over the phone with MORI inquiries. His experience gives him the ability to assist lodges across the state with their buildings and develop steps to renovate, restore, replace, sell, buy or demolish based on historic research, 3D modeling, and the ultimate desire of the lodge. "I don't want a sudden roof or HVAC replacement to be the reason a lodge has to close or seek out a new home," he says. "I'm here to help lodges dream, visu- alize, plot paths to achieve and sustain success with a long-term goal of helping lodges save and endow for the future and shift planning from reactive towards proactive. I'm here to consult with you about your building! Have an idea for sprucing things up and don't know where to start? Call me! Want to learn about the history of your building? Did a famous person in your town help build it? I can help with that, too!" Before joining the Grand Lodge, he worked for Apple in various roles: as a Mac Techni- cian to troubleshoot and repair hardware and software issues with computers, a staff trainer to drive new international initiatives via presentation and facilitation, and with the Real Estate and Development Team in Cupertino, Calif., as a coordinator to elevate visual processes for proposal pack- ages and generation of proposal presentations. In addition to his GL duties, Matthew also is a member of the Ad Hoc Technology Committee, the Library Committee and the NC Historic Masonic Buildings Foundation LLC. Contact Matthew at: 919-787-2021 or email him at mrobbins@glnc.us. Meet Matthew Robbins BUTNER – Brothers of the 19th District worked hard this past holiday season to make sure area veterans were remembered. DDGM Ron Bowling says brothers in December delivered 40 gifts to residents of the 100-bed Veteran's Life Center. Brother Bowling, center, visits with center director John Turner and his staff. The very next day, the district delivered 40 more gifts to the American Legion Post in Durham and 20 to the post in Roxboro. RALEIGH – Hiram #40, Wake County's oldest Masonic Lodge, installed its of- ficers virtually for the ensuing year. With a hammer for a gavel in hand, Worshipful Master-elect Gregory Hirsh gave remarks. Chuck Rouse, past 15th District Deputy Grand Master, served as installing officer. "The cement of brotherly love and friend- ship at Hiram #40 has never been smoother as evidenced by those gathered here this evening. This year, we again will assuredly lose some to age and illness, but we have a strong foundation growing stronger day by day, month by month, and year by year," Hirsh said. New officers are: Greg Hirsh (WM), Vance Harrell (SW), Tom Imler (JW), John Mahoney (Secretary), Chuck Rouse (Treasurer), Gerry Thompson (SD), Michael Parsons (JD), and James Stem (Chaplain).

• Cover