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Commander in Chief’s Corner |
Brethren,
For those of you who have read
my
columns over the years both as Grand Master and the few I have written
as
Commander in Chief know that I like to write about the degree work and
how we
may be able to interpret it and apply it to our daily
lives. I
believe it is fruitful to think about the applications of Masonry to
our
lives. There is, however, more to the Craft and the Rite than
moral and
life lessons and more to leadership than a chance to share our thoughts
with
the membership. To be able to continue to improve men in Masonry
and to
share our fellowship in our beautiful old edifice we always have to
keep an eye
on the M&Ms, membership and money. I have always refused to
dwell on
either but that does not mean they can be ignored.
Our membership continues to
dwindle, and
while that is unfortunate for too many reasons to discuss here, one of
the
practical effects of that membership reduction is a reduction in people
paying
annual dues so we can continue to meet our budget. We have some
very hard
working and insightful leaders in our Valley who over the last few
years have
done much to strengthen our financial situation such as building rental
and
communications towers but this alone is not enough. We must have
a dues
increase. At the last general meeting of the Scottish Rite in our
Valley
it was unanimously supported that we should ask the membership to
support a
dues increase of three dollars per year for each of the next three
years which
will ultimately result in a nine dollar increase from the third year
on.
In this reporter is a copy of the proposed resolution that will
be voted
on at our June meeting which all members are invited to attend. I
encourage you all to do so and share your ideas.
In addition to the proposed
dues
increase, I, a life member, and the others believe it is appropriate to
ask our
life members if they would consider making a one time voluntary
contribution of
$100 to the Valley. I know when many, including me, purchased our
life
memberships, we did so with at least some thought toward not having to
pay
future dues and there is still no requirement to do so but our
calculations
when we paid at the time were based on the dues at the time and when
dues go up
as I predict they will now, we don’t have to pay more and get
kind of a
windfall. If we have the ability to pay our share it would be
nice if we
could. If not, that is understood as well, we don’t keep
score.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but these few small changes will
help us
continue to do all the wonderful things we have been doing for so many
in our
Valley.
God Bless!
J.B. Van Hollen
Commander In
Chief