North Carolina Mason
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Page 8 The North Carolina Mason September/October 2014
In this issue of
The NC Mason
page 1
The
North
Carolina
Mason
The
Grand
Lodge
of
North
Carolina,
AF&AM
600
College
Street
Oxford,
North
Carolina
27565
CHANGE
SERVICE
REQUESTED
NON-PROFIT
ORG.
AUTO
U.S.
POSTAGE
PAID
OXFORD,
NC
27565
PERMIT
NO.
56
Annual Communication
met in Winston-Salem
page 1
The Mocksville Picnic is our
oldest get-together
page 8
NC Mason makes
campus memorial
On the cover
Annual
Communication
concludes
The
Mason
NORTH
CAROLINA
SEP/OCT
2014
Mocksville
continues
one
of
NC
Masonry's
oldest
traditions
see TREY, page 2
Voting at Annual Communication
governs the present as well as the
future of Masonry in North Carolina.
We report this year's action in this
issue. Ric Carter photo
GREENSBORO — is year marks a turning point for
Masonic charity at WhiteStone, A Masonic and Eastern Star
Community. In July, the NC Masonic and Eastern Star Home
Foundation awarded funds to six fraternal applicants to help them
move into WhiteStone. e approved applicants include two Ma-
sons, one Eastern Star member, two widows of Masons, and the
mother of a Mason. ese are the first new WhiteStone residents
to enter with assistance since 2005. at was the year charitable
support for new residents was suspended when shortfalls in chari-
table giving necessitated that fraternal contributions go to sup-
port residents already in the Home.
e MESH Foundation was established in 2012 to adminis-
ter Masonic and Eastern Star donations to WhiteStone residents,
provide financial assistance to fraternally related residents, and as-
sist those needing financial support to enter the Home. e Foun-
dation ensures that every donated dollar benefits fraternal residents
in need. By 2013, an increasing number of lodges contributed di-
rectly to the MESH Foundation, enabling it to give $340,000 for
charity at WhiteStone compared to $98,000 the previous year.
Last year the Foundation took advantage of the unexpected
availability of space in WhiteStone's Bennett Building to reserve
four one-bedroom apartments and two studio apartments for
charitable purposes. Two of these spaces are now occupied by the
applicants admitted in July.
WhiteStone reported that 2013 financial assistance was pro-
vided to 43 fraternal residents in the form of room and board,
medical supplies, pharmacy needs, and other expenses that they
otherwise could not afford. WhiteStone subsidized 25 Eastern
Star Members, two Masonic members, and 16 Masonic-affiliated
family members at a total estimated cost of $1,334,000. Of these
43 residents, 21 were in Medicaid nursing home beds partially
subsidized by the state and WhiteStone, and 22 lived in residen-
tial apartments. In addition to the subsidies that either our chari-
ties or the state provide, the residents contribute as much as they
can afford toward the costs of their care.
WhiteStone also operates a medical equipment loan program
and information hotline for fraternal members across the state.
e Home loans surplus equipment to fraternal members and
provides guidance for members and their families who need in-
formation on Medicaid, Medicare, and VA support and services.
Applications for MESH Foundation assistance are on the
Grand Lodge website under News and Events/Media Articles
and are also available from the Grand Secretary's office. Lodges
and individuals are encouraged to send their charitable contribu-
tions directly to the MESH Foundation at 700 S. Holden Road,
Greensboro, NC 27407.
For more information on WhiteStone call Mark Kolada at (336)
547-2992 or contact him at