From the East:
Dear Brethren
At year end 2008, due to the lackluster investment market, our Masonic funds decreased $40,174.25. Of that $5,018.77 was due to expenses being greater than income, much of which was due to making rental space "rentable" for our new tenant.(Our previous tenant had so soiled and dirtied the property that it cost thousands of dollars to make it once again marketable).
And then there was the code-required fire escape replacement-- in excess of $22,000.00; then the rising costs of aprons, Trestleboards, Bibles, and, most notably, Grand Lodge Assessment, which has crippled Blue Lodge.
These losses are not sustainable, so Worshipful Butler Brother Secretary and I have arrived at a threefold approach to solve this problem.
1) Clean up the membership
2) Transfer more money from corporation to Blue Lodge
3) Reconsider exemptions for 50 year members and 25 year members 80 years of age or greater.
1) clean up membership - we are in the process of weeding out non-paying non-active members who are in arrears. We still have to pay Grand Lodge assessment for all members, paying or non-paying.
We cannot, in good conscience, sacrifice Blue Lodge dollars for delinquent UNINVOLVED members. Hardship cases, of course, are exempt. But even hardship cases that are not active members of the fraternity should consider a demit, thereby relieving us of our obligation to Grand Lodge on their behalf.
2) Transfer more money from Corporation to Blue Lodge.
When it is possible, and Corporation shows a profit, Corporation is, indeed, indebted to take care of Blue Lodge, for if there were no Blue Lodge, there would be no Corporation.
3) We currently have 111 members paying full dues, we have an additional 40 members who are exempt due to 50 year membership or 25 year membership, 80 years or older.
This is simply what I ask;
1) if you are a member exempt from dues payment and can afford your dues ,please pay it in full and help us through this troubling financial time.
2) if you cannot afford the full dues, please, at least, pay the Grand Lodge assessment (approximately $22.50/year)
3) if you cannot afford the full dues as well as the Grand Lodge assessment simply contact the Master (356-2122) and we will take care of it for you!
We just need help now if you can afford it, and in the future we will probably revert back to the nicety that has been extended to our Masonic Veterans, but for now, we simply cannot afford to continue this caveat.
Fraternally yours and in Brotherly love
Wor. C. Daniel Fitzpatrick
