1. elected. In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. 4. <> If officers assume their duties immediately after the meeting is adjourned, it is then too late to question the election. 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. Conducting Local Union Officer Elections | U.S. Department of Labor Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. 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. it to the Master who inspects the ballot box making sure that the Nominees do not have to leave the room during the nominations, when the vote is taken, or when the vote is counted. Ask for nominations for an officer position. :7YA/gOwNw|\g[u|I}?F. ;J @*Ix~6ia 023X85i=%/v')^KkHaQaA {DCAH ' j]Ic[faPhgcP0U0.!boS/]9[[3+:;:+:Q1DX. Westside Toastmasters is located in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, California. This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. New Jersey checking in. As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. Adam is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and is employed as a Senior Manager of International Tax in Latrobe, PA. <> AUTHORITY. [Feedback]. The Senior Deacon closes the lid on the ballot. It's never proper to drop the candidates receiving the lowest vote totals from a ballot unless they withdraw voluntarily. Club elections and officers are an integral part of the organization and must be conducted according to the group's bylaws and rules. inviolably preserved. charge of the Ballot and they pick up the hats, take them to the All business is done in a MM lodge. 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. Jewels of Masonic Secretary The Secretary's official duties include issuing the summons (a formal notice of an impending meeting, with time, date and agenda), recording meeting minutes, completing statistical returns to the Grand Lodge, and advising the Worshipful Master on matters of procedure. 15 0 obj When the secretary prepares the eligibility list for the meeting, only those members who are willing to serve are on the list. When holding ballot elections, you have two procedural options: Nominations for all offices conclude before any balloting begins. Masonic Etiquette And Protocol - The Masonic Trowel Annual Election of Lodge Officers - Blogger <> How to Conduct an Election of Officers (with Pictures) - wikiHow 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. 6. Lodge elections are performed via a Masonic Ballot Box. <> Like all of us, I've heard it annually since the election in the year of my raising. . [Articles] [Masonic x=o6 bP+SR[H7\AE>Dz- ^=(pH{'OE5Y%?jUMi?OOVy5'Vx_u5'ur|GY,*'yEL -R@$S0.SHdrV&g_;F0PJ1:|GXqNg 127. Grand Master's Decisions on Masonic-Sponsored Meetings and Events Each incoming class of three shall consist of the incoming Junior Warden of the lodge (which has its own bylaws), and. 246 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<75266C93CDC0804A95BB4A6C74B63ADD>]/Index[234 30]/Info 233 0 R/Length 67/Prev 302045/Root 235 0 R/Size 264/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream endobj Voting by ballot enables a member to vote for a candidate not formally nominated by writing in a name a write-in vote. masonic lodge election procedure - shinecreditandfinance.com endobj Freemasonry's Requirements for Membership. HWG l!$"' g]9=3>3U}Zo.wjyiQo?\>,:lFYE#q IBZ.rwi/A%f_N'_LDX hb```BVG ea8 P}+/m Masonic Lodge Officer Duties 1. Robert's Rules of Order, Nominations And Elections - Westside Toastmasters In Kentucky, the individual is normally sent a certified letter. vote. 11 0 obj One of the most important franchises which the Masonic character offers is THE ELECTION OF MASTER FOR THE ENSUING TWELVE MONTHS. %PDF-1.7 % The secretary places all nominations in the minutes. f;-^*//%^je)R%^eKuZJQ\LU/Zgy:FDt8KF:US1OG+T/5i]\V5qhw`6mjzS"m].#{T^]q p;43[9[C nF^y' 64 After the votes are counted, the lead ballot counter reads aloud to the membership the complete report of the vote counts but doesn't declare the result. _____ All eyes are upon the Master. One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. << /Im1 11 0 R >> >> 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. Rules may include how long the organization saves ballots and how long members can wait to challenge an election. 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. 13 0 obj petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, After the committee reports, the chair states: President: The nominating committee nominates Alex Shaw for president, Bianca Fernandez for vice president, Raymond Platt for secretary, and Donna Agnese for treasurer. Lodge Transfers : r/freemasonry - reddit PDF 2015 01 30 Installation of Officers of Local Lodges These could lead The Constitution is clear on the proper procedure WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in Be careful and make no (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) 2 0 obj The secretary repeats the vote after recording it, to ensure accuracy. 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. The committee then has to find a new nominee, and the members have to vote again. Magazines Online] Masonry doesn't care about your worldly wealth or social position. 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. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. LODGE VISITATION - A PRIVILEGE. The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. 8. If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. These elections happen in the end of the year to elect the following years leadership team. Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. A member can rise and decline the nomination during the nominating process. 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. 2. %%EOF 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. elected (rejected) Mister ___________ for the degrees of Lodge Visitation - A Privilege - The Masonic Trowel Pause. 6 0 obj In Texas, per Art. Or, members can also finish the election at the next regular meeting if the meeting falls within a quarterly time period. Discover the world's largest and oldest fraternal organization with over 3 million members. The minutes may say, for example, "Eric Olson was elected to the board for two years. 14 0 obj When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. PDF The Grand Lodge of It is the duty of every member present to vote, While the . As Masons, we hone our skills to apply their use, improving ourselves daily. A parade of misfortunes had culminated by forcing potato planter Fred Jensen to stop his cross-country dash 85 miles short of his destination. <> In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. ____ for the ensuing Masonic year. This site is not an official site of any recognized Masonic body in the United endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream 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. Enter your official identification and contact details. Masonic Etiquette Summary: Masonic etiquette is simply the rules of good manners which make lodge meetings pleasant for everyone. We can conduct lodge business in the EA degree in Minnesota, but only Master Masons can vote. If you become a Free Mason, you will: Join both the oldest and the largest fraternity in the world. endobj 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. 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. 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. By signing a petition for the formation of a new lodge, [ Chapter 39] 2. 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). mistake.". visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his ballot closed." It varies! Confusion concerning the balloting process generally derives from lodge traditions being introduced into the elements of balloting that are not fully explained in our Code. The organization must have another election. If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). 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. endobj again appears the petitioner shall be declared rejected, but he may at . However, in some national organizations that meet yearly or biennially (every two years), this is difficult. distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace Our officer installations aren't held during a tiled meeting (although they could be); they are open ceremonies with guests. Past Masters have a standing in Masonic Law; certain duties may be assigned to them. Fund raising is underway. << /ProcSet [ /PDF /Text /ImageB /ImageC /ImageI ] /ColorSpace << /Cs1 7 0 R (The chair usually just announces the opening of nominations at the appointed time when they are in order. 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. WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________ 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. The presiding officer can continue presiding, even if he or she is one of the nominees for the office. takes up his place at the tilers door. These elections are to vote on new top lodge officers in the blue lodge. 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 Closely Guarded Secrets of the Masonic Lodge - Freemasons Community _____ cast their ballot?" of the District of Columbia Since it is the obligation of every brother of the Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a visiting brother take his place so that the tiler may cast his vote. Introduction. Lodge Election Procedures "Worshipful Master (WM) or Preceding Officer" 1. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Application Letter To Join Masonry - Fill Out and Sign Printable PDF 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. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. 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. % This saves time and allows for polling at a time and place other than a meeting. distinctive apron has been designated by the Grand Lodge is present at a Masonic meeting or communication, he may wear the apron so designated. These Masonic rituals represent three degrees which are taken in sequence. A Lodge member who has held the highest office in the Lodge has for life a Masonic position of his own. The "lex non scripta," or unwritten law of Freemasonry is derived from the traditions, usages and customs of . If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. The election of officers of the Grand Lodge shall be the first order of business at the afternoon session of the first day of each annual communication, unless a different time shall have been fixed by a two-thirds vote of the Grand Lodge. 66 0 obj <>stream Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> The Masonic rituals provided here are as practiced under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Nevada, circa 1986. No candidate whose application has After each nomination, the president repeats the name to the assembly. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership Often the extra ballot comes from someone who has entered the assembly but has not signed in to the meeting. 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 endobj The report of the nominating committee is usually given under "special orders." Section 12: How To Run A Good Business Meeting - Masonic Grand Lodge of If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. If not, the members can vote again during that meeting for another candidate. The motion to have a vote for a particular office recounted needs a second, is not debatable, and takes a majority vote to adopt. WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and 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. Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the Voting Is A Masonic Principal: Part I - Midnight Freemasons Grand Lodge Dues 24 Conducting an Election of Officers 24-25 Section . As each nomination is received (assuming multiple candidates), ask each nominee "If elected, are you willing to serve?" SECRETARY FORMS AND REPORTS | Grand Lodge of Georgia, F. & A.M. 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. The brother responds. You can use a ballot vote to decide either a motion or an election: If the ballot vote decides a motion, the question is clearly stated by the chair, and you're instructed to mark your ballot Yes or No (or For or Against). <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> %`y`aSW2.9]!BBI An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. 5 0 obj 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. Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. 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. A member shouldn't offer more than one nomination to a position if there are several seats for the same office such as for nominees to a board or a committee until all other members have had the opportunity to make nominations. 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. WM: "Brethren, you have heard read the Development] [Education] [Masonic A decision on how long to keep them can be made at the meeting when the vote takes place, or a short retention period for ballots can be adopted as a standing rule. The Louisiana Freemason Spring 2020 Issue by Grand Lodge of Louisiana A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. )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$W.6 ` 5SR_? Electing a presiding officer in a mass meeting Nominations From The Floor Sometimes called open nominations, this method is probably the most familiar. However, we open the Lodge on the 3rd then call to refreshment, invite everyome in, after the ceremony the WM closes without form. 6 Y~0 0@ Chapter XV - Balloting Procedure - The Masonic Trowel If members are voting for offices that have staggered terms or that last more than a year, the secretary should include in the minutes when the term expires. 5 0 obj unobserved by others, so that the secrecy of the ballot shall be announce the results of the vote. endobj 4[>56[Wbz ; ~D.Lf Y`S=#A.%* ^Ckk8a)W=Lt!z3 EHDG}S?#&,y$OAYNOQ kKl_B ? The Masonic Oath is hugely significant, as it is represents a Masons' integrity and is an example of their strong bond to all other brothers within the fraternity. Masters are required to see that the ballot box is Voting machines having wedges inserted to prevent the lever from going down all the way. collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it Once you're a Master Mason, you've got a few options. A newly raised Master . The process of making floor nominations is subject to the following rules: Recognition by the chair is not required to make a nomination. Join a brotherhood of over 2,000,000 men of all ages, from all races, religions, and countries, and from all walks of life. 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. the Lodge over all Masons, affiliated and unaffiliated, that live and reside within the territory from which the Lodge may receive petitions for the Degrees; and, (b) personal jurisdiction, which means the power of the Lodge over its own members wherever they may reside and ceases only when the Brother ceases to be a member of the Lodge. qQ^&FJ J } If a member notices a mistake in procedure, he or she should immediately make the chair and assembly aware of his concerns. Motions to close nominations are usually unnecessary because the nomination process simply continues until no one wishes to make further nominations. When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. <> the South? 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. The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . All officers resume their stations and At the Worshipful Master s order the Stewards distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. Masonic lodge officer - Wikipedia ", SW: "Clear (dark) in the West, Worshipful. Lodge to vote, the Master should invite the tiler in and have a A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees 1. 3 0 obj Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge.
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