Page 4 The North Carolina Mason November/December 2017
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ird class postage paid at Oxford, NC 27565.
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Grand Master
Speed Hallman
Board Of Publication
William Elliott Warnock (chairman)
Adam Russell Cloninger
Kenneth Wayne Lambert
John R. Beamon III
John S. Dodd
Editor
Beth Grace
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From the editor's desk
Grand Master Speed Hallman ................................. shallman@glnc.us
Deputy Grand Master Dwight M. "Mack" Sigmon ... sigmon@glnc.us
Senior Grand Warden P. Shaun Bradshaw ............ sbradshaw@glnc.us
Junior Grand Warden R. David Wicker .................... dwicker@glnc.us
Grand Treasurer Lewis R. Ledford (PGM) ............... lledford@glnc.us
Grand Secretary T. Walton Clapp III ...........................wclapp@glnc.us
Senior Grand Deacon Larry B. ompson Jr. ........lthompson@glnc.us
Junior Grand Deacon Kevan D. Frazier ......................kfrazier@glnc.us
Grand Marshal Donald E. Kehler ...............................dkehler@glnc.us
Grand Steward Robert W. Rideout ............................ rrideout@glnc.us
Grand Steward Steve M. Norris
Grand Tyler John W. Speed II
Grand Chaplain James G. Jones
Grand Lecturer Donald M. Helton
Grand Historian Michael W. Brantley
NORTH CAROLINA
The Mason
By Beth Grace
Editor
Ringing in the new:
What's on tap for 2018
H
appy New Year! No, I'm not early.
I'm right on time – Masonic time,
that is.
Our new year began Dec. 2, as our new
Grand Master Speed Hallman was sworn in.
He has a busy year
ahead, judging from
the list of priori-
ties he presented in
November to the new
class of District Deputy
Grand Masters and
District Deputy Grand
Lecturers, and in his
address to the Craft on
the day of installation.
Here are his main
priorities, followed by
plans to help further
those goals:
Promoting philan-
thropy and supporting our three charities;
Working and planning strategically to
respect and use well the time Masons devote
to the Craft;
And encouraging district-wide coopera-
tion and projects that increase our visibility,
improve our ritual and provide additional
opportunities for fellowship. e annual
district meetings list is included in this issue.
e GM will hold 27 this year, beginning Jan.
29 and ending May 15 at his home lodge,
Eagle #19 in Hillsborough.
He also will work to increase transparency
in finance and the budget process – a direct
response to suggestions raised at Annual
Communication this year. And the Grand
Lodge will explore a centralized dues notice
system that improves communications
between lodges and brethren and is intended
to help reduce NPDs – those who are not
current on their dues.
e Lion and Pillar Lodge of Excellence
program returns in 2018 with new require-
ments that have been sent to lodges, posted
on www.glnc.us and included in this edition of
the Mason.
Watch for other initiatives, including sales
of a poster featuring photos of the letter "G"
from lodges all around the state (see the details
at www.glnc.us), and the sale of a gorgeous
coffee-table book due out later in 2018
focusing on our historic lodges. Proceeds from
all sales will go toward Masonic charitable
funds, including historic lodge preservation.
Hallman reported on his initiative that
opened some Grand Lodge committee slots
to interested brethren through an applica-
tion process. In the first year, 43 applications
were submitted and 22 of the applicants were
assigned to committees. Of those, 15 were
assigned to their first choice.
He said the process helped him identify
talented brethren from across the state who are
willing and able to serve, and he believes the
initiative will return next year.
Other priorities for the year among special
committees include:
e ongoing work of the Masonic
Renewal Committee, which is studying the
current state of Masonic membership in North
Carolina.
A new Ad Hoc Grand Lodge Transition
Committee which has been formed to advise
future grand masters on effecting smooth, effi-
cient and respectful transition on the Grand
Lodge staff in future years. Members are:
Past Grand Masters Bryant Webster (chair),
Lew Ledford and Gene Cobb; Senior Grand
Warden Shaun Bradshaw; Junior Grand
Warden David Wicker; Kim Lyda, an attorney
and former member of the Masonic Home
for Children board of directors who manages
legal, risk, safety, claims and quality assurance
teams; and Lawson Rankin, a business consul-
tant who helps entrepreneurial companies
and non-profits grow through long-range and
strategic planning and financial management.
A renewed emphasis on attracting
students to Wilkerson College and the Davie
Academy will make both education oppor-
tunities – praised by other Grand Lodges as
examples of exceptional Masonic education
– more visible and attractive to the brethren in
North Carolina.
Scheduling regular calls with the
DDGMs, at least quarterly and possibly more
often, to keep lines of communication open for
all.
So happy new year, friends – 2018 starts
right now!
