Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. If members leave during the meeting so that a quorum is not present, those offices not yet elected must be put off until an adjourned meeting or until the next meeting. [What is New] The best thing an organization can do is adopt rules that tell how to proceed if a member challenges an election or if a person is illegally elected to office and has begun to serve. <> Masonic Etiquette Summary: Masonic etiquette is simply the rules of good manners which make lodge meetings pleasant for everyone. The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. BALLOTING PROCEDURE CHAPTER xv THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S HANDBOOK Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. 3. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, Because this form of voting favors one candidate over another based on the order of nomination, you should avoid using it except in mass meetings or when there's no serious contest for the office and a ballot is not required. endobj That means run-offs are just plain out of order. The requirement for election by ballot is a majority, and a candidate has no obligation to withdraw just because he polls low numbers. The committee then has to find a new nominee, and the members have to vote again. Taking nominations by mail is basically the same as taking nominations by ballot. %%EOF If the committee does its job well, the membership can enjoy some basic assurance that the candidates nominated have at least expressed interest in the job, have agreed to serve, and are qualified for the offices for which they're nominated. A lodge which does not honor its Master, no matter how they personally feel about the man, himself, lacks Masonic . it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. << /Im1 11 0 R >> >> The brother responds. Rules may include how long the organization saves ballots and how long members can wait to challenge an election. Freemasons meet in a temple, which they call a "lodge", as that is where ancient stonemasons met when working on a church or cathedral Lodges are grouped by region, roughly in line with the old. If a member votes for more choices than positions to be elected, the vote is considered illegal. Also, members rarely move to close nominations because, whenever no further nominations are offered, the chair usually just declares, "Hearing no further nominations, nominations for the office of [name the office] are closed.". A member can rise and decline the nomination during the nominating process. Freemasonry's Requirements for Membership. I've never performed or even practiced the role before, though via "osmosis," should be able to piece it together to at least a minimally functional level. The only way you can vote against a candidate is to vote for another person. When two gavel knocks are heard, only officers of the lodge stand. <> )Cv`3!VOYe%K]'d4'kH&]x*"W.L+P|WUyl>TlUTZZh=7wE%4 DoH+5%Y+*:*2*&^Ol\Td4G]:^[DdVXQn*mNI#]Vv?v:]W6x H|z=|-!q1 oF?$Ul(V1C:[jhDe4nsl65gpr'fKuo2a0$T$W.6 ` 5SR_? WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in You simply say, "Mr. Chairman, I move that the chair appoint a committee of three to consider and make recommendations on the replacement of Mr. Exeter, who has resigned as chairman of the membership committee." Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon again appears the petitioner shall be declared rejected, but he may at At this time the [Feedback]. States or elsewhere. Using a nominating committee to assemble a list of willing and qualified candidates for office can greatly benefit members when the time comes to select their leaders. Can't interrupt a speaker who has the floor or a member making a nomination, Requires a majority vote (except the motion to close nominations, which requires a two-thirds vote), Can be reconsidered if it's a negative vote to reopen nominations. j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. Election of Master and Treasurer 36 Exclusion under Rule 181 Procedures to be carried out 31,32 Files To be kept 5 Foreword 2 Forms Grand Lodge 5 Grand Rank Procedure 33 Hall Stone Jewel When it can be worn 18 Honorary Membership Disabilities, Election, Status 13 Installation Night Toast 19 Leaflets Information 5 When the next meeting begins, the first order of business is to hear the report of the balloting committee and for the presiding officer to announce the vote that was taken at the previous meeting. Further, I don't think I have ever seen a Lodge election where there isn't some form of politics involved. 66 0 obj <>stream Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. 5. TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. 14 0 obj Achieve this by asking them to hang out with you. This ceremony, revised in 2013 relies heavily on the work of the prolific Masonic author and commentator, Robert Macoy who first set it down in When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents If not, the members can vote again during that meeting for another candidate. Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). If the bylaws don't prohibit it, a person can be nominated for more than one office and can even serve in more than one office if elected. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. This example is based on moving to have nominations by committee, but the form is essentially the same for any of the methods. Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. If it's determined that enough illegal votes were cast by illegal voters to affect the result, and these votes can't be identified and removed from the count, then the vote is deemed null and must be retaken. endstream endobj startxref The conventions are over, election day draws near, and the usual round of political rhetoric from candidates is blasted all over the TV, radio and internet, voters begin to wear out and are usually just ready for Election Day to be over with. [ 11 0 R] The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. The process of making floor nominations is subject to the following rules: Recognition by the chair is not required to make a nomination. All business is done in a MM lodge. "If so, I declare the names. Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. the Senior Warden hands each ballot to the Junior Warden who announces You are using an out of date browser. been rejected by a Lodge shall again be proposed within six months after If the organization uses a nominating committee and then takes nominations from the floor, the secretary records the nominating committee's report first and then lists nominations for each office in the order they are presented as given by the members from the floor. As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. The secretary should give the committee a copy of the membership list, the bylaws, a description of the duties of each office, and the eligibility requirements. but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. or opinion At the end of each successful vote the ballots (or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable %PDF-1.5 {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E %PDF-1.5 11 0 obj f;-^*//%^je)R%^eKuZJQ\LU/Zgy:FDt8KF:US1OG+T/5i]\V5qhw`6mjzS"m].#{T^]q p;43[9[C nF^y' 64 *(cM YiVo~r049>Kwz,8*#]qVLB`l:HM\7Gj#?#PV(F"y@f4 @hbe2q&8%RYcM`uU;ap10n <> of the District of Columbia Since it is the obligation of every brother of the Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his vote. When presenting the nominations or taking the vote for a list of offices, the president should follow the order of offices that appears in the bylaws. These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. places. Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". endobj Each incoming class of three shall consist of the incoming Junior Warden of the lodge (which has its own bylaws), and. The Master may approve a collective ballot if there The main advantage here is that it allows members to consider the election results of one office before proceeding to the election of another office. These could lead The Constitution is clear on the proper procedure I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. HWG l!$"' g]9=3>3U}Zo.wjyiQo?\>,:lFYE#q IBZ.rwi/A%f_N'_LDX 2. The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. West and bright (black) in the East. hb```e``b`f``cg@ ~}"S-(1I)|p(0)P5oDurCAfG3f1,-- d$WZ3bVasYf`$exq> )Zg 1. 10. A parade of misfortunes had culminated by forcing potato planter Fred Jensen to stop his cross-country dash 85 miles short of his destination. A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. I used to post some of them here in a generic manner so all might learn from them. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. :7YA/gOwNw|\g[u|I}?F. In Europe, it takes often a year, to advance per degree. stream A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the REG. Clearwater Lodge No. <> 13 0 obj Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. 9 0 obj Officers Duties and Responsibilities . These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. Fund raising is underway. A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. <> endstream once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction. 3 0 obj 2. Don't implement a new process to 450 lodges until it is . Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. <> He or she should present it to the assembly to decide what to do with the vote - whether to count it and toward what name to credit the vote. Some Lodges The following shall be the methods of affiliation: 1. % altar.". Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. Yes, every year Masonic Lodges do have elections. A poor meeting achieves the opposite results. A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox! All Articles] [Masonic Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. endobj Both a bank's president and janitor can apply for membership, and they're considered equally qualified. Every lodge is incorporated and required to have corporate officers. 33 0 obj <> endobj Annual Meeting Election and Installation of Officers Annual Past Masters Night Symbolic Degree Refresher Application Avouching Back to Lodge Night Bringing Freemasonry to the Attention of Profane Correspondence Dress Entering an Opened Lodge Examination of Visitors Example Sheet - Lodge Programs General Grand Honors (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. endobj If an EA is not attending, it is the option of the WM as to which lodge will be opened. 6 Y~0 0@ Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. It is the duty of every member present to vote, HB280 - Allows a weapons carry license holder to hold a handgun concealed whereas on campus of public technical schools and public colleges. to the Junior Warden, then the Senior Warden and then the Worshipful If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. 12 0 obj endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United 4 0 obj xWMo1#[YO !T6T=D9Jhnwv5ofm4_0Vgu=_|[~jC5}YWyYWw45lv4~JS'AdQiewV?=few_Xu9pTX(*HYfh5Y2Q=[6(ao)\\O 9|b|+x Up % ZDEpV`,QI8.3mb'Vs5cAZ!X^S"W7FZ$%W8Fh,)Jrt $^JG{vxGVW9Z;-*r4b@fSM(o/ ?-vz}J=Pu&NC\H#^SKUvN)A@+a)eU"PvrNLsi;:~8J8 9 Register a free account today to become a member! His term expires July, 2014.". The Worshipful Master orders the Wardens to take The committee must carefully review the eligibility requirements for each office and see that the nominees meet these requirements. endobj 3. 2. Ballot voting is by far the surest way to allow for the free expression of the will of the membership. He is ultimately responsible for every other lodge officer and their duties, every lodge committee, ritual and degree work, Masonic education, social functions, fundraisers, District and Grand Lodge liaison, Trestle Board communication, etc.

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