<br /><br />What suggestions do you have for the District Deputies across the State to help get their District Lodges motivated?<br />I believe our obligation as a Master Mason and our points of fellowship support<br />1. District wide social events held once a month away from the lodges to encourage fraternity, so all brothers could meet and greet one another. Also an annual banquet.<br />2. Start a Blue Pages (Yellow Pages from Bro. Zoran) and Temple Topics called it Masons Helping Masons. If we are to be strong we must support our fellow Bro. Masons who have business. For the very services we genuinely need in times of real distress may be provided from a trustworthy Brother whom you know will not cheat, wrong or defraud you in your time of need. A system of honor where the services offered are paid for and both parties truly reap a benefit. Some suggested a sliding pay scale be offered to Brothers who are in good standing with their lodges and that both parties (buyer and seller) should be required to produce a current dues card as a guarantee. (I own no business)<br /> Adding a link via the Grand Lodge website under member resources with secure access username and password just like to comment on the blog. A system of checks and balances to crosscheck user names off the membership lodge roster. Let our words be our actions and our action be our word in helping brothers in all their laudable undertakings. The utilization of any of the services found in the blue pages will be of a Brothers on free will and accord and that know provider of services will be allowed to have access to any brothers personal information unless provided directly by that brother. The purpose is not to take advantage of the one in need or the business owner, nor to solicit directly but to provide a resource if the need arises a brother has a place to turn for seek assistance. <br />3. Of course every Brother is judged on his individual merits, but we need to aggressively assist brothers in need of employment sustain themselves by helping them obtain gainful employment. All brothers should be asked to forward all job leads to the Grand Lodge Website job page. (I am gainfully employed)<br />4. Schedule district field trips to our charitable institutions, libraries and museums. Develop a way to tie in the donations we make to the places we make them to and also find a way that we can volunteer giving more than just our money, but time and energy. <br />5. District outreach events design to maximize our efforts. People are impressed by the good they see and hear. There should not be a Holiday or event we create that passes that we should not be seen and heard around that State for everything is PR. (ILChip, feeding the homeless, turkey giveaways, coat, hat and gloves drives and more. Telethon ). <br />6. Education –A Masonic Book Club and support group to help strength the character of us all. Reading of books that speak to what it means to be a mason and how to be a good mason. Light, More Light, Further Light. <br />7. We must have one agenda and goals that all can articulate.<br />Remembering the great builders of the past we must keep building for the future depends on us continuing to build and inspire others to join us in making the world a better place. Who best can work and best agree. We are not relics of the past, but torch bearers of eternity. <br /><br />8. Weekly Ritual schools that will inspire all to be certified lodge instructors. A virtual training course and a mail in course or online training via protected web site. <br /><br />The goal of this is to promote widsom, strength, and beauty<br /><br />Fraternally,<br /><br />Brother Algie Crivens III,<br />Neighbor Lodge 1169<br />Homewood, Illinois. <br />Algielc3@gmail.com<br />773=307=0968

I have lost all respect for the Mason's due to their open policy on letting felon's and former racist KKK members in such as this man. I emailed you awhile back about a MEMBER your River Forest- Austin #850 allowed in named Lance Filip. Filip is a convicted felon and has been arrested numerous times for impersonating a police officer. He was also dishonorably discharged from the Marine Corp and from the Army. He also is a deadbeat father not paying a cent of child support in 10 years, yet this is the type of man the Masons allow in. He is also a former racist skinhead. My grandfather was a Mason and my opinion of your group just died. You may has well give an open invitation to members on death row. How could any group allow this hanis man in their group. Read this, I am not the only one who has such a low opinion of the felon. <br /><br /><a href="http://thedirty.com/2012/06/the-roid-raged-crybaby/" rel="nofollow">thedirty.com/2012/06/the-roid-raged-crybaby/</a><br />