The North Carolina Mason

Several things are driving the request. First, to no one's surprise, inflation. Inflation has increased 19.3 percent since our last dues increase in 2019. Second, we have lost 5,831 members to death or failure to pay dues (NPD) since 2019. Fortunately, we have one of the lowest NPD rates in the country. Our brothers pay their dues. Most of our cumulative loss has been to the passing of dear brothers. Third, Masons live long lives. Thank goodness! We began 2023 with 4,200 members with 50 years or more of service and will have added 488 to these ranks by the end of the year. In 2024 we will add another 444. This is important because we do not charge state dues to members who have been in the Craft more than 50 years. This has a $133,432 impact on the operating budget. I'm glad to honor brothers this way, but I do so knowing that nearly $5.37 of my dues goes to cover these brothers. This year I asked the Finance Committee to start from $0 and look closely at every item in the budget. The truth is we run a tight ship. We don't have a lavish budget. We have a nice Grand Lodge building, but it is not luxurious. We have four full-time staff members, a part-time staff member and a couple of part-time hourly contractors who help with events, IT, and housekeeping. Staff-wise, we are at the same level or smaller than equal-sized jurisdictions. Our team are paid reasonable wages, and as any brother who has worked with the team will tell you, they do really great work. From their deep dive, the Finance Committee is also recommending that we shift more of the cost of the NC Mason publication from the North Carolina Masonic Foundation back to the Grand Lodge budget. This aligns with the call to all lodges to pay their bills from their dues and free up more money for philanthropy. There is also a new Kevan D. Frazier, Grand Master FM tHE GND MTEr Do We Need a Grand Lodge? Yesterday afternoon I stopped by Chick-Fil-A for lunch. I ordered the Number One Combo: an original chicken sandwich, fries, and a tea. It cost me $9.26. Roughly the same amount ($10) that the Finance Committee has asked to increase our state membership dues this year, moving it from $25 to $35. 6 | T H E M A S O N M AGA Z I N E

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