Junior Grand Warden - R W Danny R. Griffith

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Brethren:

We just completed the 181st  Annual Grand Communication and I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement. I am extremely proud and honored to have been elected to serve you as your new Junior Grand Warden.  I am looking forward to serving with the other Grand Lodge Officers.  These are some of the most dedicated and hard working individuals I have ever known.
Brethren, probably the single most important issue facing our Fraternity is the retention of membership.  During the past few years we have seen an influx of new, young members into our Fraternity however we have continued to see a loss in overall membership.  This loss is primarily caused by the large number of NPDs (non-payment of dues).  We can not achieve a positive growth in our Fraternity without finding a solution.  I have discussed this problem with many of you Brothers while traveling throughout the state during this past year.   The one recurring suggestion is to make it easier for the Brethren to pay their dues via credit cards rather than a lump sum payment just before the Holiday season each year.  I have already spoken to the other Grand Lodge Officers about this issue and we are currently working on a plan whereby each Lodge will be able to establish a program within their Lodge to accept payments via this avenue.  Hopefully, we can have a system developed and provide information to the Lodges prior to the 2011 dues notices being sent out.
As you are already aware, all Grand Lodge programs are currently being reviewed for effectiveness.  Those things that are not working will be deleted and those that are working will be retained.  New ideas will be implemented to make the programs stronger.  Brethren, we need your inputs to accomplish this task.  It can’t be completed without your help.  It is an endeavor which will take several years to complete and, along with the other Grand Lodge Officers, I will dedicate myself to seeing a successful completion.
Masonic education must be a continuing program in our Lodges.  We must get back to teaching all of our new Masons, as well as those of us who may have forgotten, the basic tenets of our Fraternity.  We must get back to making “Masons” and to do this we must have the proper tools available to accomplish  the task.  The recently adopted Masonic Leadership Training Program will go far towards promoting this endeavor.  It is not a program which will solve all of our problems overnight, but will require the support of every member and every Lodge over the next few years to become successful.
I look forward to serving “YOU” the craft and will do everything I can to listen to your problems and try to help you find viable solutions.
Again, I want to thank all of you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you during my travels throughout the state.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Danny R. Griffith
Junior Grand Warden