Brethren:
As we have recently completed our 182nd Annual Grand Communication, I want to thank all of you who participated. I was great seeing all my Brothers again. I want to thank you all for the support and encouragement you have given me during the past year and I look forward to the new Masonic year with great anticipation.
I have learned much about the operations of our Grand Lodge since my election last year and I’m sure that I will continue to learn more in the future. Your Grand Lodge Officers are working closely together to see that your Grand Lodge programs are going forward and that the very best qualified personnel have been selected to lead them.
One of my duties during this past year was to develop the 2011 Masonic Home budget. I have worked closely with our Administrator, Mrs. Lisa Tsotsos, and our past Senior Grand Warden, Jorge Aladro, to see that we have adequate funding to maintain our Five Star rating at the Home while conserving as much resources as possible. I believe that we have accomplished this task.
We must look to the future to ensure that our Masonic Home remains on a strong financial footing. The physical facility is showing some age and we need to prepare to meet the needs for costly repairs in the future. My Brothers, this is where “YOU” need to step forward and show your support by making endowments and donations to our MH-100 program. We also need to work with our elderly to ensure that they are aware that our facility is available to them and that we are here to support them.
Our Endowment and Investment Committee, under the leadership of Robert Langford, have performed admirably during this period of a downturn in our economy by making sound investments and providing the funding necessary to support our Grand Lodge and our Masonic Home.
Brethren, as you have heard me say on many occasions over the past few years, we must stop the loss of members due to non payment of dues, (NPDs). Our Lodges must become more proactive in seeking out those who are in arrears and seeing if we can be of assistance to them. Your elected Grand Lodge Officers are encouraging every Lodge to establish a committee to undertake this effort by making personal contact earlier in the year rather than waiting until they are required to send official notification.
I am looking forward to serving you during this year and vow that I will continue to do my very best to serve “YOU” the craft to the very best of my abilities. Again, thanks for your continued support.
Danny R. Griffith
Senior Grand Warden |
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