The North Carolina Mason

September/October 2017 The North Carolina Mason Page 9 How did the various code amendments for 2017 fare? Results of the amendments proposed for the 2017 Annual Communication. Grand Master Gene Cobb provided the commentary. Amendment Group 1 Allows the Board of Custodians to elect officers after the installation of the Grand Master. Commentary: "This one passed overwhelmingly, because it made good sense to help the board to do what they needed to be able to do." Amendment Group 8 This amendment would have increased the per capita amount by $5 to $25 per member. Commentary: "I'm not sure why this failed but it clearly did. I called for a written ballot on this to be absolutely sure. It did not get the two-thirds majority required. I think this issue will come up again. It has to. The last per capita increase we approved allowed us to cover operating expenses for up to three years. This year, we had to pass a budget with almost a $50,000 deficit. A per capita increase would have covered that deficit. I did promise the brethren that next year, the budget they receive to review for a vote at Annual Communication will include actual expenses for the year." Amendment Group 2 Clarifies editorial control of Grand Lodge news and information through The North Carolina Mason and other forms of publication. Commentary: "This passed overwhelmingly, too. It clarifies editorial control and the role of the Board of Publications in light of the hiring of a new editor and new editorial policies being created in the NC Mason. It also updates our mission to incorporate new ways to communicate with members." Amendment Group 3 This amendment would have allowed a lodge to open on the First Degree and conduct its business. Commentary: "This failed because it did not reach the required two-thirds majority vote. We have been doing business on the Third Degree for so many years, but many years ago, in William Richardson Davie's time, they always did business on the First Degree. I'd like to have subordinate lodges feel free to try this if they wish." Amendment Group 4 This amendment would have allowed a lodge to charge a late fee on unpaid dues after March 31. Commentary: "This was a way to prompt brothers to pay their dues in a more timely manner. The Grand Master urges everyone to work hard to pay their dues and per capita on time." Amendment Group 5 This amendment closed certain loopholes by requiring the conduct of back- ground checks for those seeking Advancement, Restoration after Exclusion, Restoration after Demitting or Affiliation after two years. Commentary: "This passed overwhelmingly. I thank Past Grand Master Webster for his outstanding leadership as he continues to remind us all that we must guard the west gate, not just with initiates but with those who are affiliated." Amendment Group 6 Codifying the Grand Lodge Committee on Personnel, which has functioned since 2013 as an ad hoc committee. Commentary: "I appreciate Grand Master Webster bringing this to the floor; I have been working on it as well personally for the last five years. Until now, there has been no formal way to present guidance or support for the Grand Secretary and his work to supervise and manage the Grand Lodge staff. There was no team to make sure reviews were done, or compensation and benefits issues being properly addressed." Amendment Group 7 Allows the Grand Master to dispense with the reading of minutes of any lodge communication he closes in ample form. Commentary: "This was just a simple acceptance of what we've all been doing for years!" Amendment Group 9 and Group 10 Group 9 would have stopped the purchase of new Endowed Memberships. Group 10 would have created in its place a new type of lifetime member- ship, Legacy Membership. Commentary: "We voted on both amendments together. I'm very sure the reason this failed was because most folks don't want to pay that high an amount for a program that is beneficial to a lodge, rather than to the individual member. I hope we can look at this again and simplify it. It's a great idea. We just weren't ready for it yet." Amendment Group 11 This amendment modifies the order of business for a lodge business meeting. Commentary: "I think we need to give subordinate lodges as much decision- making responsibility on their own terms as we can. I think they need to have the freedom to do business in whatever way is most healthy and effective way for them. I really do appreciate lodges who do that; they are among our best lodges in the state. This method has been tried and is proven to increase efficiency in meetings." Amendment Group 12 This amendment makes the Senior and Junior Grand Deacon chairmen of the Committees for WhiteStone and Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. Commentary: "This was just codifying something we've been doing." Amendment Group 13 Its purpose is to "suspend" membership of a member who has been charged with a crime but has yet to be adjudicated in criminal court. Commentary: "I directed the Committee on Masonic Jurisprudence to table this. It never came up for discussion or vote on the floor. It will come up again next year, unless the lodge that proposed it pulls it or Jurisprudence rules it out of order. I tabled it because it came in after the Dec. 31 deadline (all code amendments must be submitted by Dec. 31 to be voted on at the following Annual Commu- nication), and I knew it would not get unanimous consent (amendments not meeting that December deadline must get unanimous consent to go to the floor for a vote). I remind lodges that the earlier you get code amendments in to the Grand Secretary, the better. Make sure you get confirmation of their receipt from the Grand Lodge to ensure you meet the deadline." ✓ PASSED ✓ PASSED ✓ PASSED ✓ PASSED ✓ PASSED ✓ PASSED ✓ PASSED ✖ FAILED ✖ FAILED ✖ FAILED ✖ FAILED TABLED

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