Freemasonry, the teachings and practices of the fraternal (men-only) order of Free and Accepted Masons, the largest worldwide secret societyan oath-bound society, often devoted to fellowship, moral discipline, and mutual assistance, that conceals at least some of its rituals, customs, or activities from the public (secret societies do not Ballot counters present during the voting should be carefully instructed in their duties and should be able to explain to other members how to use the machine. 5. A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees elected. You must log in or register to reply here. If the lodge is not able to contact the individual after a reasonable period of time, the non-paying Mason is dropped (suspended). Cell phones, chewing gum, crinkly snack wrappers and other distractions should be disallowed during a fraternity election (except during breaks). This example is based on moving to have nominations by committee, but the form is essentially the same for any of the methods. Pause. 1 0 obj the South? 2 0 obj These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. No officer of a Masonic lodge may take up his elected or appointed duties until formally installed to his office by proper authority. My Freemasonry | Freemason Information and Discussion Forum. The Master may approve a collective ballot if there election of officers in April each year. Take security measures to protect the privacy of the nominating ballot; each member is instructed to fold his or her ballot inside a signed envelope and mail it back in an outer envelope. Every lodge is incorporated and required to have corporate officers. JavaScript is disabled. One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. stream The Committee on Masonic Education and Information of . 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. RESOLVED, that the Handbook of Masonic Law, Digest of Edicts, sec- Authors of Resolution: Bros. John F. tion on Perpetual Membership, pages Knox, Jr., P.M., W.H. it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the NOTE: This is only a suggested procedure. collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. endobj <> Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. 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. Usually the president closes nominations when no further nominations come forward from the assembly. Since it is the obligation of every brother of the 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. )GT?=Sk8&o9sU|$gv}~3H'>}3DReeZCZ2HN7.WadE-lUG|1pU]d. stream 127. The Senior Deacon presents the ballot for examination At the Worshipful Master s order the Stewards distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. A common mistake in elections is having too many ballots cast for the number of members present. accept?" The only way you can vote against a candidate is to vote for another person. Elections are decided by majority vote unless your bylaws provide differently. endobj Organizations can create and write election rules to correct this mistake. [What is New] 16 0 obj endobj When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. 'xzwQ38/4b|T}R-g|7uhw 4!"icE)S7AEo HB280 - Allows a weapons carry license holder to hold a handgun concealed whereas on campus of public technical schools and public colleges. In Freemasonry, a brother's word is of paramount importance, so revealing the secrets of the ceremonies and rituals within the lodge after reciting the Masonic Oath is not permitted. Lodge elections are performed via a Masonic Ballot Box. The balloting committee can still count the ballots. If a person is elected to two different positions, she can either choose which office to accept or serve in more than one position, if that's allowed. Development] [Education] [Masonic The most important thing associations or governments can do is appoint conscientious and honest people to serve on the ballot counters' committee and to watch the polls. 246 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<75266C93CDC0804A95BB4A6C74B63ADD>]/Index[234 30]/Info 233 0 R/Length 67/Prev 302045/Root 235 0 R/Size 264/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any The Senior Deacon obtains the ballot box and presents I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. It is considered a faux pas to cross . Brethren, I declare that you have Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. altar.". Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be elected. will advance to the altar and cast their ballot. altar. % Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting Nominations From The Floor Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. The Authorities for Masonic Law. Nominations don't have to be seconded, but it's not out of order for members to second a nomination to signal their endorsement. JFIF C endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream names. Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . hmo@W}w*JGEa]/p o?_%au/$"p@ZPI 6AKFQt$8g!AHG[v;~&Wwu~|1xX21`9-Yd]%dsXQNxm -$we/mc5qrq:a/}4Y#A6,UX"{,S(JCs4l>nl,~nn%M&bt_zFPVJ_**#lU6uZe]Y[;M 6tvM{7W/225[n_SOmGP_4U_rH1v %m" &"`hh&q'I%D-rI$\\OScmalRCiPh_Th 7AN.RR9ou|r:9>NpT~XI|{&]MJ )FvJlC{hDRDT "DJc+^zrPl c[ A person can nominate himself or herself. distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Your organization needs officers, maybe committee members, and other positions decided by a vote of the membership. You follow the same procedures for elections by ballot, as far as arriving at the point of the election is concerned, but instead of casting your vote by ballot, each member announces his vote when the secretary calls that person's name. When the secretary mails the members a notice about the nomination and election meeting, the letter can include a request that members who do not wish to be considered for office notify the secretary in writing. charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the When counting ballots, ballot counters need to keep a few key points in mind: Blank votes are treated as scrap paper and don't count at all. Here is how: You must first find a Masonic lodge location near you, contact them, and ask for a petition to join. Master informs the successful individual as follows: "Brother ;J @*Ix~6ia 023X85i=%/v')^KkHaQaA {DCAH ' If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. The Senior Deacon presents the ballot to each officer 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. If a member votes for more choices than positions to be elected, the vote is considered illegal. endobj Are there any further nominations for president? Talks] [Masonic (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. <> The brother responds. Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________ Depending on your organization and the decisions being made, balloting may take place during a meeting, or polls may be open during polling periods including times when no meeting is in progress. It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". A lodge which does not honor its Master, no matter how they personally feel about the man, himself, lacks Masonic . j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. %%EOF 13 0 obj When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. ", SW: "Clear (dark) in the West, Worshipful. 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. If it is discovered after an election that the person elected does not meet the eligibility requirements, and even if the person has begun to serve, the election is void. Procedure for Contempt: CHAPTER 101: Restoration after Suspension or Expulsion: CHAPTER 102: A member can't make the motion to adjourn while the assembly is occupied with taking a vote, verifying a vote, or announcing a vote, except when the vote is by ballot. <> 75-3 METHODS OF AFFILIATION. Whatever nomination method you propose, be specific. If you had to move before you finished receiving the three degrees of the blue lodge, you'd need lodge B to perform courtesy work. << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Resources 6 0 R /Contents 4 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] hb```BVG ea8 P}+/m At the Worshipful Masters order the Wardens to Lodge Election Procedures "Worshipful Master (WM) or Preceding Officer" 1. . If anyone is elected, and it is discovered after the election that the person is not eligible, the election of that officer is null and void. That job belongs to the presiding officer, who reads the report again to the members, concluding with a formal declaration of the result. ", WM: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, clear (dark) in the The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. Here are some other things to consider during the election process: A quorum needs to be present throughout the election meeting. endobj Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. 9. Illegal votes cast by legal voters count toward the total votes cast, but they don't count for any individual choice or candidate. may use different methods of electing officers. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United % salute with the Worshipful Master. 12 0 obj Blogs] [Links] Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. 3. endobj The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. <> once petition the same or any other Lodge in the jurisdiction. Motions to close nominations are usually unnecessary because the nomination process simply continues until no one wishes to make further nominations. It drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. No candidate whose application has 2 0 obj 2. should be destroyed. is more then one candidate for the degrees. Westside Toastmasters is located in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California. AUTHORITY. If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. Sometimes the committee is revived to make nominations to fill vacancies. . 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. Master. Masonic Etiquette Summary: Masonic etiquette is simply the rules of good manners which make lodge meetings pleasant for everyone. The laws which govern the institution of Freemasonry are of two kinds, unwritten and written, and may in a manner be compared with the "lex non scripta," or common law, and the "lex seripta," or statute law of English and American jurists. Lodge Trustees and Charity Foundation become available for you and published in the members only area of our web site so that you know how Grand Lodge and its organizations are spending your money and conducting their business. [Feedback]. In the vote for the position of Worshipful Master WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal . You take nominations from the floor for one office, and when no further nominations are forthcoming, you proceed to the balloting for that office. Small technical errors, such as spelling mistakes or marking an X when a checkmark is called for, don't make a vote illegal as long as the voter's intent is discernible. time immemorial. The Trustees of the Charitable Foundation have authorized the "build out" of the Grand Lodge Library into the space formerly the drive through banking area. The bylaws of a charitable trust affiliated with a masonic lodge provide that its 9-member board consists of three "classes"of three, each class serving rotating three-year terms. These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. Be careful and make no f;-^*//%^je)R%^eKuZJQ\LU/Zgy:FDt8KF:US1OG+T/5i]\V5qhw`6mjzS"m].#{T^]q p;43[9[C nF^y' 64 That means run-offs are just plain out of order. The Master then casts his own vote. Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . to the Junior Warden, then the Senior Warden and then the Worshipful 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. It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. * Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the 11 0 obj The entire ballot counters' report should be included in the minutes of the meeting. Nominees do not have to leave the room during the nominations, when the vote is taken, or when the vote is counted. You must log in or register to reply here. x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs Talks] [Masonic 15 0 obj ballot closed." (rap). After the brethren have cast their ballots. << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace Election of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 55: Installation of Officers of a Lodge: CHAPTER 56: Officers of a Lodge, Term, Resignation, and Title . The minutes may say, for example, "Eric Olson was elected to the board for two years. Suggested Procedure For Electing Lodge Officers. A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. 2. 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. If not, the members can vote again during that meeting for another candidate. qQ^&FJ J } The committee must carefully review the eligibility requirements for each office and see that the nominees meet these requirements. The presiding officer votes along with all the other members, although she is never allowed to cast a tie-breaker in a ballot vote. 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. endstream Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. 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. 3 0 obj This saves time and allows for polling at a time and place other than a meeting. [ 11 0 R] endobj %%EOF 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. collect the ballots and place the hats with the ballots at the majority of those voting being necessary for election, and the Worshipful If the ballot vote decides an election, you're instructed to write the name of the nominee of your choice on your ballot. Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. If members adjourn before an election is complete, they should set the time for an adjourned meeting to finish the election. This method requires more time for the election process, making it probably best limited to smaller groups. Introduction. 5 0 obj Fund raising is underway. Ballot voting is by far the surest way to allow for the free expression of the will of the membership. Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views 4 0 obj A parade of misfortunes had culminated by forcing potato planter Fred Jensen to stop his cross-country dash 85 miles short of his destination. Brother Secretary conduct a roll call. An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. Whenever you need to specify a way to come up with nominees, as you probably will for situations your bylaws don't cover, you use a motion related to the method of nominations. x=o6 bP+SR[H7\AE>Dz- ^=(pH{'OE5Y%?jUMi?OOVy5'Vx_u5'ur|GY,*'yEL -R@$S0.SHdrV&g_;F0PJ1:|GXqNg In counting the votes, the balloting committee must not confuse a majority vote with the highest number of votes. . Only MMs vote. 3. In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. 1. endstream endobj startxref (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) Nomination by petition is another method of nomination by mail; provisions must be made for it in the bylaws, and standard forms must be provided to candidates and electors upon request. The organization must have another election. You are using an out of date browser. In most places, the answer is likely no. Ask for nominations for an officer position. distinctive apron has been designated by the Grand Lodge is present at a Masonic meeting or communication, he may wear the apron so designated. (1) A District Grand Lodge Fund shall be established for charitable and other Masonic purposes to which every Lodge in the District shall make in respect of each of its subscribing members annual contributions of $5000.00 or such lesser amount as the District Grand Lodge shall by resolution from time to time determine. The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. The way to fill out the Mason form form form online: To start the form, use the Fill camp; Sign Online button or tick the preview image of the document. A motion to open nominations, when made by a member, is usually a motion to reopen nominations after they have been closed. 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. 3. 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. ;D[{cv,#(145:n') It may not display this or other websites correctly. places. If your bylaws don't require you to conduct an election by ballot, and if candidates are unopposed or there's no major contest for an office, you can save time with a simple voice vote (or viva voce). {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E $.' 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. 1. 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. After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. Decision Making For Dummies. Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. All business is done in a MM lodge. endstream endobj startxref The presiding officer can continue presiding, even if he or she is one of the nominees for the office. The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. If officers assume their duties immediately after the meeting is adjourned, it is then too late to question the election. It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. other regular Masonic body other than those stated. After the period during which a recount can be conducted has passed, you don't need to keep the ballots. or opinion Discover the world's largest and oldest fraternal organization with over 3 million members. Lodge No. Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. Past Masters have a standing in Masonic Law; certain duties may be assigned to them. ", JW: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, Worshipful. 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 The Senior Deacon then takes up a Blogs] [Links] From his home in Pocatello, Idaho, across almost 3000 miles of highway, Fred's car had given trouble, and now, at Henniker, N.H., the cooling system finally gave up. Senior Deacon,", WM: "Prepare and present the ballot box.". takes up his place at the tilers door. However, it disadvantages candidates who lose an election for a position decided earlier and then can't serve a different position. endobj 0 endobj In Texas, per Art. Magazines Online] WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R If members haven't used the machine before, it may be wise to show them how to use it the day before the election. If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). This may be done by the Master, under a provision of the bye-laws giving him the authority, or on his own responsibility, in which case he is amenable to the Grand Lodge for the correctness of his decision. 14 0 R /BitsPerComponent 8 /Filter /FlateDecode >> 6 0 obj Chapter 63 covers general voting and Chapter 68 covers the secret ballot. endobj Often the extra ballot comes from someone who has entered the assembly but has not signed in to the meeting. The only exceptions are: (1) a newly instituted lodge, (2) one that has received written approval from the General Governor, based upon membership action, or (3) an emergency situation requiring the election to be changed or waived. By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. Masonic politics is typically at its ugliest during elections when Brothers are charged with un-Masonic conduct for "electioneering." I find this all rather amusing as I believe our process for electing officers is far from perfect. _____ cast their ballot?" 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. endobj announce the results of the vote. The assembly then votes again on the other office. The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. If a member leaves one part blank, the votes entered on the other questions still count. Like any incidental main motion, an election can be decided by voice vote or by ballot. MAKE SURE YOU READ YOUR GRAND LODGE CODE! If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. 4. 1.01 Charter: This Lodge exists by virtue of a Charter, dated 20th day of January, 1892 from the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Florida, and is located in the City of Clearwater, in the County of Pinellas, in the State of Florida. 1. A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. A newly raised Master . 263 0 obj <>stream 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. 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. REG. If you have a nominating committee in place, ask this group to declare their nominee for a specific officer role. When the secretary prepares the eligibility list for the meeting, only those members who are willing to serve are on the list. <>>> Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. When the nominations stop, the chair just declares nominations closed after making sure that no more nominations are forthcoming. 10. The Masonic rituals provided here are as practiced under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Nevada, circa 1986. 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. *(cM YiVo~r049>Kwz,8*#]qVLB`l:HM\7Gj#?#PV(F"y@f4 @hbe2q&8%RYcM`uU;ap10n %PDF-1.3 If lodge functions go smoothly, it is the Master who takes the credit. To help with the Masonic experience at Lodge meetings, you were allowed to open on any degree, and use the Chamber Yes, every year Masonic Lodges do have elections. endobj Section 3. Balloting for your acceptance into a Masonic lodge After the investigative committee reports to the lodge, your petition is voted on. Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. . endobj Masonic Lodges, Masonic Organizations, and Youth Orders may conduct in-person meetings and events in compliance with county and city restrictions, if any. The committee should meet, carefully review the membership list, and select the people who they think will do the best job in each office. By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. Secretarys table and put the ballots into one of the hats. Clearwater Lodge No. 5 0 obj 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. It varies! 0 gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR 2. The bylaws should not tie the hands of the committee to find more than one person to fill each slot; the committee should find the best candidate for each office. Note: Prior to opening elections, the WM will go over prerequisites, eligibility, exceptions, nominations, limitations and procedures in accordance with Lodge By Laws and the ACGL Code, sections 2.21 through 2.29. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. [Feedback]. If an EA is not attending, it is the option of the WM as to which lodge will be opened. Further, I don't think I have ever seen a Lodge election where there isn't some form of politics involved. 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. If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. 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).. stream The committee then has to find a new nominee, and the members have to vote again. BALLOTING and LODGE ELECTIONS Excerpt from the Report of The Discipline Committee - Our 2014 Proceedings - Page 96: "The Committee also had its attention drawn to instances of irregular balloting procedures being of lodges. 8. 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. These elections are to vote on new top lodge officers in the blue lodge. 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.
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