The North Carolina Mason

May/June 2012 The North Carolina Mason Facebook thoughts By Kevin Combs Page 7 fans. Use lots of videos and photos and regularly update your fans on what's going on in the lodge. Encourage your members to "Like" your content and to comment on it. The more people comment on your content, the more it spreads on Facebook. This is the concept of viral marketing, where the postings and comments create a snowball effect and reach other members across the social network. • When you include photos of lodge events, be sure to get a good • The key to Facebook is to post content that will draw in your You never know who you'll see surfing the Internet. When checking a racing story earlier this year, I spotted a familiar face — Stedman 730 member Thomas Pope (indicated with the arrow). Pope is sports editor of the Fayetteville Observer and chairman of the Board of Publication of The North Carolina Mason. — Ric Carter Correction The article in the last issue of The NC Mason regarding troubles between Masonic jurisdictions and their Shrine organizations should have referred to the Grand Lodge and Shrines in Arkansas and Michigan. We regret the error. cross section of your membership. If the subjects of your photos are on Facebook, be sure to "Tag" them so that your photos show up on their profile. • To reach out to younger members of the lodge and to young- er members of the community, NC Masons are going to have to communicate with them electronically - via email and the inter- net. We must do this to gain immediacy and relevance with these younger men. • The youngest men eligible to join our lodges were born in the 1990s. Use of the personal computer was common when they were born. The Internet and cell phones have been around as long as they can remember. If we don't communicate with them using these tools, we are going to appear to them to be as out of touch as a lodge in the 1970s would have been if it didn't have electric lights. • Even the baby boomers expect the lodge to communicate elec- tronically. I'm 53 years old and have been using personal computers for almost 30 years. When I was interested in joining our lodge some years ago, I found it on the Internet. I'm thankful that it had a presence on the internet. MILEPOSTS ASHEVILLE — Grand Master Robert E. Gresham Jr. toured the Charles George VA Medical Center here April 11. The Masonic Service Association operates a visitation program nationally which performs services for inpatients in Veterans Administration health facilities. Grand Master Gresham and his entourage are seen here visiting one of the patients at the hospital. — Dana Hawkins WHITEVILLE — On March 15, Lebanon 207 held an awards celebra- tion for two of their members. George William Holt, third from left, was presented his Diamond Jubilee award for 60 years membership in the lodge. Roy Edward Walker, second from left, got his Veteran's Emblem for 50 years as a Mason. Lodge Master Edwin Russ, left, made the presenta- tions. Seen at right is lodge secretary John Norosky. — John Norosky BISCOE — Lowell Wendell Plum, center, recently got his Vet- eran's Emblem for 50 years lodge membership. Don Bulla, left, and David Parsons, right made the presentation. Plum is a mem- ber of Biscoe 437. — Carl Brown TROUTMAN — On February 23, Campbell 374 hosted Grand Master Robert. E. Gresham's district meet- ing. Besides Past Grand Master David Cash, the grand master of Alaska Jerry Pinion attended. Grand Master Gresham, left, made Pinion, right, an honorary member of our Grand Lodge. — Richard Ervin WILMINGTON — George Jones, center, a long time fixture of Ori- ent 395, earned his Diamond Jubilee Award for 60 years Masonic mem- bership last year. Jones was escorted to the altar by his son Frank, right. Past Grand Master William G. Mathis, left, made the presentation of the award. Jones passed away earlier this year. — Scott Kennedy, Jr. SELMA — Leon P. Howell, of Selma 320, recently earned his Diamond Jubilee Award for 60 years Masonic membership. He is sen here, left receiving the recognition from Selma Lodge Master Robby Evans. Howell is a veteran of Japan's Pearl Harbor attack. GIBSONVILLE — Tabasco 271 recently presented Michael Fugmann, left, his award for 50 years Masonic membership. They did so on behalf of the Grand Lodge of New York. Scott Lackey did the honors. — James Oakley PORT ST. LUCIA, FLORIDA — Grady Warren, of Royal White Hart 2, recently received his Diamond Jubilee for 60 years Masonic membership. Warren spent his life traveling in steel con- struction, living and working in England, Russia, the West Indies, the Bahamas, and Central America as well as the United States. He currently lives in Florida with his wife Janet. — Wilbur Garner SELMA — Johnnie B. O'Neal III, a member of Selma 320, recently received his Veteran's Emblem for his 50 years Masonic membership. Selma Master Robby Evans presented the award. WHITEVILLE — Edwin Russ, master of Lebanon 207, recently presented 18th District Deputy Grand Mas- ter James E. Britt a Masonic walking stick in appreciation for his work in the district and his support of their lodge. — John Norosky WILMINGTON —On March 17, St. John's 1 held a Past Masters' Third Degree in full costume. They held the event on the Scottish Rite's stage and utilized their antique backdrops. Four candidates were raised. They hope to make this production an annual event. — Chuck Baer GASTONIA — On March 19, members of King Solomon 704 visited Stanley 713 and successfully claimed the 36th Masonic Dis- trict's Traveling Gavel. The gavel had resided at Stanley for over a year. King Solomon Lodge welcomes visitation from any lodge in the district to claim the trophy. — Chris Hall

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