Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation. endobj
A write-in vote is a legal vote unless it's unintelligible or cast for an unidentifiable or ineligible person or for a fictitious character, in which case it's counted as an illegal vote. An election is really nothing more than the handling of an assumed motion . endobj
takes up his place at the tilers door. <>
The Committee on Masonic Education and Information of . Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. Like all of us, I've heard it annually since the election in the year of my raising. Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_
D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". stream
The Grand Lodge was founded shortly after George I, the first Hanoverian king of the Kingdom of Great Britain, ascended to the throne on 1 August 1714 and the end of the first Jacobite rising of 1715.. Officially, the Grand Lodge of England was founded in London on St. John the Baptist's day, 24 June 1717, when four existing Lodges gathered at the Goose and Gridiron Ale-house in St. Paul's . The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. <>
The Lodge web page must not link to or be linked to by any website where a conflict . 2. Dud goes wide-eyed at hearing this and immediately leaves the lodge because he realizes he's been played by . If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. At the Worshipful Master s order the Stewards distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. These could lead The Constitution is clear on the proper procedure The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents
In this case, the members must vote again until one candidate receives a majority vote. 4 0 obj Masonic Lodge Election Procedure HB89 - Tightens the time frames for issuance of firearms licenses by probate judges. If officers assume their duties immediately after the meeting is adjourned, it is then too late to question the election. 263 0 obj
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Ask for nominations for an officer position. endstream
time immemorial. (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) 3 0 obj
Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon
. If a member is not present to choose which office he or she wants to serve, the members vote on which office they want him or her to serve. %
The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. It's never proper to drop the candidates receiving the lowest vote totals from a ballot unless they withdraw voluntarily. If not, the members can vote again during that meeting for another candidate. The Code has two primary chapters that describe the process of voting in subordinate lodges. 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. A member of the committee should then be designated to call each nominee to see if he or she is willing to serve if elected. endstream
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In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. In Europe, it takes often a year, to advance per degree. Here are things you can do to improve your fraternity while not being on a lodge officer: Strengthen the brotherhood - The foundation of brotherhood is the strength of the friendships between the brothers. The requirement for election by ballot is a majority, and a candidate has no obligation to withdraw just because he polls low numbers. A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. The Guide is designed to be an easy-to-use reference based on the law and regulations as well as the knowledge and experience of OLMS staff. A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. been rejected by a Lodge shall again be proposed within six months after
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The appointive officers of the Grand Lodge, save the Deputy Grand Secretary, shall be <>
The presiding officer votes along with all the other members, although she is never allowed to cast a tie-breaker in a ballot vote. cubes in the box. If no candidate is found, the committee can leave that slot open for nominations from the floor. It will take you step by step through the election process, help you to identify your responsibilities during each step, and provide suggestions to make your job easier. salute with the Worshipful Master. )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_? Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. position north of the altar. He serves as Chairman of the Trustees of Title to the Masonic Temple and other Real Estate of the Grand Lodge, is a Trustee of the Consolidated Fund and Trustee of the Masonic Charities Fund. Some Lodges
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. An election is really nothing more than the handling of an assumed motion, with the question being on whom to elect to fill a position. . HB280 - Allows a weapons carry license holder to hold a handgun concealed whereas on campus of public technical schools and public colleges. If members are voting for offices that have staggered terms or that last more than a year, the secretary should include in the minutes when the term expires. When the nominating ballot is received, the signed inner envelope containing the ballot is logged in against a list of voting members, and the ballot is deposited in a receptacle for tallying like an election ballot. [ 11 0 R]
The entire ballot counters' report should be included in the minutes of the meeting. By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. In most of the same grand lodge jurisdictions, there is also a G painted, sculpted, or otherwise suspended in the symbolic East of the lodge room (typically over the Master's chair).. The following shall be the methods of affiliation: 1. WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and
hb```BVG ea8 P}+/m Or, they can tell members publicly that they do not have a nominee for a certain office; this allows members to volunteer. Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. and the Master may oblige him to do so. This saves time and allows for polling at a time and place other than a meeting. . <>
Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. Every day , before I retired, I would receive a wide variety of questions and comments from Constituent Lodge Secretaries and other officers, many of which are quite applicable to other lodges. 14 0 obj
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In the vote for Secretary, unless he is retiring,
The committee then has to find a new nominee, and the members have to vote again. Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the
MAKE SURE YOU READ YOUR GRAND LODGE CODE! endobj It may not display this or other websites correctly. BALLOTING PROCEDURE CHAPTER xv THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S HANDBOOK Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. *
j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. Sometimes nominations aren't taken until the election is pending, and sometimes they're taken at other times, such as at a meeting before the election meeting. If members question the validity of an election or the procedure in taking the vote, a member should make a motion to recount the votes within a reasonably brief time after the president announces the election outcome. 4. 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 Enter your official identification and contact details. The position of Worshipful Master in the East occupies the most exalted position within the lodge. Talks] [Masonic
Officers Duties and Responsibilities . Register a free account today to become a member! 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. If a person has been nominated to more than one office and is elected to two offices, he or she can choose which office he or she wants. The election process may be the easiest part of deciding who handles a particular job in the organization. As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. Only MMs vote. the name on the ballot and the Secretary repeats the name and tallies
>> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject Crossing the G. In most grand lodge jurisdictions, rituals call for an altar to be placed in the center of the lodge room holding the respective Volume of Sacred Law. 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. << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Resources 6 0 R /Contents 4 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] Each incoming class of three shall consist of the incoming Junior Warden of the lodge (which has its own bylaws), and. In Kentucky, the individual is normally sent a certified letter. [What is New]
announce the results of the vote. 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. 127. endobj
The "lex non scripta," or unwritten law of Freemasonry is derived from the traditions, usages and customs of . Often the extra ballot comes from someone who has entered the assembly but has not signed in to the meeting. "30*5gDcJuk.w^m=12Ua&0cE'|H%KV L%|c]c0l;v=[, Cj+M 38xHDL\. endobj
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We can conduct lodge business in the EA degree in Minnesota, but only Master Masons can vote. If a member is elected and not present and has not previously said that if elected he or she will serve, someone should call the member to see if he or she will accept the office. ^. If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in
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the vote. When nominations are taken from the floor or when a nominating ballot is used, a good practice is to provide the members with an eligibility list so that they are not nominating people who will not be able to serve. ), Members rarely make a motion to close nominations because it's never in order to make this motion as long as anyone wants to make a nomination. Some organizations add nominees to the ballot only if the name is submitted on a petition signed by some minimum number of members. In either case, you need to appoint reliable ballot counters to hand out and collect ballots and to count the votes. 10 0 obj
1. 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. %%EOF
endstream /Rotate 0 >> In the vote for the position of Worshipful Master
If something doesn't quite add up, a member should question it during the meeting. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? Members then vote on a candidate to fill the remaining office. {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E qQ^&FJ J }
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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. Announce that you are about to conduct the election of Lodge officers for the ensuing Masonic year and state that you will now accept nominations for the office of WM. First, the Entered Apprentice Degree, second, the Fellow Craft Degree and finally, the Master Mason Degree. 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 ____________ Lodge No. Robert's Rules sets out several methods of making nominations for positions: An organization can nominate candidates in several ways: This method is used whenever the membership wants to rely on the presiding officer to recommend candidates but also wants to reserve for itself (or its designee, such as the board of directors) the approval of the nominee. 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." Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. If someone is not willing to serve, the committee needs to meet again and find another candidate. The Antimasonic party, whose avowed goal was the destruction of the Masonic Lodge and other secret societies, was the first influential third party in the United States and introduced the. A Lodge supporting this vital outreach of the Foundation, will be properly noted. In most places, the answer is likely no. When using this procedure, make it clear that a person can be nominated for and elected to more than one office. 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. Like any incidental main motion, an election can be decided by voice vote or by ballot. so presented that each officer and member shall cast his ballot
Does any brother wish to have
If members adjourn before an election is complete, they should set the time for an adjourned meeting to finish the election. After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. For every expense, large or small, the Secretary is to write a voucher which is to be countersigned by the Worshipful Master and passed on to the Treasurer for payment. If a marked ballot is folded together with a blank ballot, the marked ballot counts as one legal vote, and the blank ballot is considered scrap paper. [What is New]
An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. <>
but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. 3. 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! 7. again appears the petitioner shall be declared rejected, but he may at
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If a minority of the committee wishes to nominate someone else, the members in the minority can make the nomination when nominations are taken from the floor. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. The minutes may say, for example, "Eric Olson was elected to the board for two years. ", WM: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, clear (dark) in the
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If an elected candidate declines the office after he or she is elected and after the meeting has adjourned, another election needs to take place, if at all possible. All eyes are upon the Master. once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction. %%EOF
", JW: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, Worshipful. _____
elected. Lodge No. Fund raising is underway. x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs Because fraud does happen in the election process, members need to be alert and watchful of the election process. Register a free account today to become a member! 9. All Articles] [Masonic
or opinion
His term expires July, 2014.". Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. A lodge which does not honor its Master, no matter how they personally feel about the man, himself, lacks Masonic . 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. 3. 2. The process of making floor nominations is subject to the following rules: Recognition by the chair is not required to make a nomination. 1. If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. If a member votes for fewer choices than positions to be elected, the vote is legal and those votes count. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. 7 0 obj
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When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> <>
No one should be nominated without his or her consent because, if elected, the person may decline to serve and members will have to hold another election. Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". In determining how long to hold the ballots before destroying them, your main consideration is the possibility of needing a recount. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry,
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It is possible that because of a mistake in counting the ballots, or another procedural mistake, someone can be declared elected to office when he or she did not receive the majority votes. report from the investigating committee. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership
Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. endstream
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It is important to remember that once someone is elected, the election can't be rescinded unless there is some provision for it in the bylaws. Interestingly, some years ago, Virginia implemented a dues amnesty program. 2017 2 PREFACE This Manual has been assembled to enable Brethren to better understand the laws, customs, programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. <>>>
Introduction. You are using an out of date browser. The ballots are tallied very much like an election ballot, and the report becomes the list of nominees for each office. The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. 0
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. %PDF-1.5
[Articles] [Masonic
Some Lodges have their bills paid automatically each month electronically, such as for utilities and telephones for example. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________
A common mistake in elections is having too many ballots cast for the number of members present. These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be
The above procedure is repeated for each position or
An "irregular lodge" can be described as the type of Lodge that does have a charter from a Grand Lodge, but other Grand Lodges do not recognize its Grand lodge.