Any blue lodge that does not hold annual election of officers is considered irregular by most Grand Lodges. f;-^*//%^je)R%^eKuZJQ\LU/Zgy:FDt8KF:US1OG+T/5i]\V5qhw`6mjzS"m].#{T^]q p;43[9[C nF^y' 64 When the nominations stop, the chair just declares nominations closed after making sure that no more nominations are forthcoming. A motion to close nominations is usually not necessary unless it is apparent that members are nominating people just to honor them, and that the nominees have no intention of serving. As each nomination is received (assuming multiple candidates), ask each nominee "If elected, are you willing to serve?" He is ultimately responsible for every other lodge officer and their duties, every lodge committee, ritual and degree work, Masonic education, social functions, fundraisers, District and Grand Lodge liaison, Trestle Board communication, etc. The above procedure is repeated for each position or You take nominations from the floor for one office, and when no further nominations are forthcoming, you proceed to the balloting for that office. Taking nominations by mail is basically the same as taking nominations by ballot. Members then vote on a candidate to fill the remaining office. No candidate whose application has Sent from my LG-H811 using My Freemasonry Pro mobile app. If polling is conducted outside of a meeting, members should verify their credentials with election officials when casting their votes at the polls, and members' names should be checked on a list showing who has voted. 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. ", WM: "How in the West, Brother Senior Warden? This method gives voters an idea of the group's preferences without holding an actual election. The only way you can vote against a candidate is to vote for another person. ____________ Lodge No. >> /ExtGState << /Gs1 13 0 R >> /Font << /Tc1 10 0 R /TT2 9 0 R >> /XObject Some organizations add nominees to the ballot only if the name is submitted on a petition signed by some minimum number of members. The Master then casts his own vote. and the Past Masters around the Lodge and places the ballot box on the Past Masters of ____________ Lodge No. The requirement for election by ballot is a majority, and a candidate has no obligation to withdraw just because he polls low numbers. WM: "Have all of the brethren of _______________ endobj :7YA/gOwNw|\g[u|I}?F. MAKE SURE YOU READ YOUR GRAND LODGE CODE! programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. [Articles] [Masonic WM: "Brother Junior Warden, how stands the ballot in %PDF-1.5 A newly raised Master . Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. 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. elected. If the ballot vote decides an election, you're instructed to write the name of the nominee of your choice on your ballot. A lodge which does not honor its Master, no matter how they personally feel about the man, himself, lacks Masonic . << /Type /Page /Parent 3 0 R /Resources 6 0 R /Contents 4 0 R /MediaBox [0 0 612 792] I've never see a script or outline, but it should proceed as follows: That sounds like the CA required verbiage. *.MXPY!~@Aa%^ N&4D1la`:v@Ai,^t #. 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. In determining how long to hold the ballots before destroying them, your main consideration is the possibility of needing a recount. 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. After the period during which a recount can be conducted has passed, you don't need to keep the ballots. 98% sure that it is. The election (or rejection) of a candidate in a Masonic lodge is a secret ballot, and with few exceptions, must be completely unanimous. To which Blaise replies "Yeah, 200 bucks is pretty steep.". Each question on a multipart ballot is counted as a separate ballot. cubes in the box. All Articles] [Masonic 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. (rap). 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. rejection. Balloting for your acceptance into a Masonic lodge After the investigative committee reports to the lodge, your petition is voted on. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.92] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> endobj << /Length 5 0 R /Filter /FlateDecode >> % ballot drawer is empty and that there are both white balls and black During an election, especially when ballot counters are not trained or when candidates are running in opposition, members may become aware of mistakes or illegal procedures in collecting or counting the ballots. Jump to content The Official RONR Q & A Forums 3 0 obj The committee then has to find a new nominee, and the members have to vote again. 16 0 obj endobj Polls closing or opening at times different than the times posted. 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). (After June 15, individual counties and cities could choose to continue their own meeting limitations, in which case those limitations would continue in force.) Officers Duties and Responsibilities . shall be immediately retaken, when, if a blackball again appears, the 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. Section 3. 2. endobj 3. If the bylaws specifically address this situation, members should follow the bylaws. Because fraud does happen in the election process, members need to be alert and watchful of the election process. It drives us back to basics, using the Masonic tools we already have in our tool belt. accept?" [What is New] Your members may wind up voting for Mr. Low as the compromise candidate. Fund raising is underway. qQ^&FJ J } Are there any further nominations for president? That job belongs to the presiding officer, who reads the report again to the members, concluding with a formal declaration of the result. If the motion is adopted, the assembly can adjourn before the vote is announced if it has another meeting scheduled. 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. may use different methods of electing officers. 1. 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. Talks] [Masonic States or elsewhere. Nominees do not have to leave the room during the nominations, when the vote is taken, or when the vote is counted. I guess that would depend on the jurisdiction. 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. According to Robert's Rules, a motion to close nominations is out of order as long as any member wishes to make a nomination. xU]o@|_cZR%q"b$*/}E(k nK6hb'_ D(|}5Dsq PBY%_'Dru.{,dW9PeOw9 d6!=#3r/iby+4C~9^-GT.d unobserved by others, so that the secrecy of the ballot shall be If there is a question about the way a ballot is marked, the ballot counters should take it to the presiding officer. [What is Freemasonry] [Leadership 7. Chapter 63 covers general voting and Chapter 68 covers the secret ballot. Past Masters have a standing in Masonic Law; certain duties may be assigned to them. . Ballot counters should cast their ballots at the same time that the assembly votes. If officers assume their duties immediately after the meeting is adjourned, it is then too late to question the election. Booth Lodge 100-100C, be amended . If members question the validity of an election or the procedure in taking the vote, a member should make a motion to recount the votes within a reasonably brief time after the president announces the election outcome. 12 0 obj The person who gets the most votes may not have a majority of the votes. altar.". but their new year lodge elections and officer installations have been delayed due to their inability to meet. In balloting on a petition for affiliation, if one blackball Enter your official identification and contact details. 14 0 R /BitsPerComponent 8 /Filter /FlateDecode >> By transfer of membership, maintaining continuous membership, and 4. As JPM of my lodge, I've been asked to serve in this role for our upcoming officer elections. Marshal takes up his place at the West Gate and the Junior Deacon /Rotate 0 >> Lodge Trustees and Charity Foundation become available for you and published in the members only area of our web site so that you know how Grand Lodge and its organizations are spending your money and conducting their business. x=o6 bP+SR[H7\AE>Dz- ^=(pH{'OE5Y%?jUMi?OOVy5'Vx_u5'ur|GY,*'yEL -R@$S0.SHdrV&g_;F0PJ1:|GXqNg The balloting committee can still count the ballots. 13 0 obj One vote against the petitioner generally rejects him. {V++6o <>`ulr<>[lLDdTVVQ4Mt{<1iz;E 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. 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 process of making floor nominations is subject to the following rules: Recognition by the chair is not required to make a nomination. 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. collectively, and in the case of one blackball appearing therein it (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. Secretary prepares ballots for each position to be 4 0 obj stream You are using an out of date browser. <>/ExtGState<>/Font<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> << /Length 12 0 R /Type /XObject /Subtype /Image /Width 610 /Height 521 /ColorSpace 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. Robert's Rules on elections are very straightforward after what is often a politically charged prequel of nominating and campaigning. Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox! Mail or absentee ballots not arriving on time or mysteriously disappearing when the time comes to count them. The election of lodge officers is an annual event, specified in the lodge bylaws. % 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. 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 Balloting must continue until a candidate receives a majority. endstream endobj 37 0 obj <>stream As Masons, we hone our skills to apply their use, improving ourselves daily. %`y`aSW2.9]!BBI The organization must have another election. the Senior Warden hands each ballot to the Junior Warden who announces When three gavel knocks are given by the Master ALL in attendance in the lodge stands up. x`TU?5%BBH*5XHRjD5IPJ@Z"MDE]sm.Cs)}{n/JFtZ_!ms6g:8_\Xt hq[gGBqvZ(}%p&N"4t 4b2hEs Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education: CHAPTER 31: Lodge Service Commission: CHAPTER 32: . 3 0 obj should be destroyed. A member can rise and decline the nomination during the nominating process. Tradition holds that the Master of the lodge appoint a committee of three (usually Past Masters) to serve as a Tellers Committee. 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. The advanced tools of the editor will guide you through the editable PDF template. 8 0 obj Doing this may allow an unpopular or hand-picked candidate to get the office even though he or she was not elected. If electronic machines are used for voting, they should be programmed so that each segment of the ballot is treated as if it were a separate ballot. Persons serving on the committee can be nominated for office. It is for informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views The committee must carefully review the eligibility requirements for each office and see that the nominees meet these requirements. You must log in or register to reply here. No officer of a Masonic lodge may take up his elected or appointed duties until formally installed to his office by proper authority. % State which position is open for election or re-election, and invite members of the organization to come forward with their nominations for the position. 2 0 obj It's used in the vast majority of situations in which members elect their officers at a meeting. 33 0 obj <> endobj Freemasonry promotes friendship, morality, and brotherly love among men of all races, religions, opinions, and backgrounds. 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. 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 Does any brother wish to have The presiding officer votes along with all the other members, although she is never allowed to cast a tie-breaker in a ballot vote. WM: "Brethren, you have heard read the hb```BVG ea8 P}+/m Discover the world's largest and oldest fraternal organization with over 3 million members. After nominations are closed, the vote is taken on each nominee in the order in which they were nominated. To help with the Masonic experience at Lodge meetings, you were allowed to open on any degree, and use the Chamber For this reason, members should listen carefully to the report of the ballot counters' committee. TURNING YOUR BACK: Never turn one's back on the Master to address the lodge without first-receiving permission 2017 2 PREFACE This Manual has been assembled to enable Brethren to better understand the laws, customs, programs and procedures of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, a Masonic District and their Lodge. Club elections and officers are an integral part of the organization and must be conducted according to the group's bylaws and rules. of Freemasonry, nor webmaster nor those of any <> Sometimes there is a split in the nominating committee over who to nominate. If they don't set a time for an adjourned meeting, they can call a special meeting (if the bylaws allow this). Work on making your brothers become better friends. 4[>56[Wbz ; ~D.Lf Y`S=#A.%* ^Ckk8a)W=Lt!z3 EHDG}S?#&,y$OAYNOQ kKl_B ? For the qualifications of candidates in order to join a Masonic Lodge in Texas there are a series of "Freemason requirements". All business is done in a MM lodge. Pause. 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. In Texas, per Art. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. If you become a Free Mason, you will: Join both the oldest and the largest fraternity in the world. An officer election form is a document used by groups, clubs, and organizations to elect leaders and fill vacant positions. 4. 2. been rejected by a Lodge shall again be proposed within six months after 10. Books Online] [E-Books] [Library Of A ballot shall be taken for the three degrees If an EA is not attending, it is the option of the WM as to which lodge will be opened. endstream Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. 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). Lodge Election Procedures "Worshipful Master (WM) or Preceding Officer" 1. 1. endobj Further, I don't think I have ever seen a Lodge election where there isn't some form of politics involved. A website endorsed by a Lodge will be considered the official Lodge website, and will be subject to these criteria and rules. New Jersey checking in. <> 292, elections may be held in a lodge opened in an EA as long as there is an EA attending. WM: "The brethren of ____________ Lodge No. gjzUS&31+W&nck')*Uf{|mON6E4GKIpFT(o o.RJ MXqy-) MR 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. The "lex non scripta," or unwritten law of Freemasonry is derived from the traditions, usages and customs of . The mechanics of the election are governed by a few sections of the Minnesota Masonic Code and quite a bit of lodge tradition. The position of Worshipful Master in the East occupies the most exalted position within the lodge. 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. Depending on the Grand Lodge, this can be anywhere from 18 to 25. Usually the president closes nominations when no further nominations come forward from the assembly. Voting by ballot enables a member to vote for a candidate not formally nominated by writing in a name a write-in vote. In the vote for the position of Worshipful Master vote. Your group's rules and customs determine when floor nominations are accepted. When holding ballot elections, you have two procedural options: Nominations for all offices conclude before any balloting begins. The Masonic rituals provided here are as practiced under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Nevada, circa 1986. Same in NM amd OR. These rules supersede the adopted parliamentary authority. 4 0 obj After the brethren have cast their ballots. (or for affiliation) which has received a unanimously favorable Some Lodges have their bills paid automatically each month electronically, such as for utilities and telephones for example. Ballot voting is the preferred voting method in situations in which knowing how all the members voted isn't desirable. distribute the ballots for the first position to be voted upon. 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. petition(s) of _______________ for the degrees of Freemasonry, By absolute demit, [ Chapter 76] 3. Conducting an Election of Officers p. 25 Section III. You simply say, "Mr. Chairman, I move that the chair appoint a committee of three to consider and make recommendations on the replacement of Mr. Exeter, who has resigned as chairman of the membership committee." 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. Brethren, I declare that you have A person can nominate himself or herself. 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 In a voice vote, the winner is easy to determine and the vote is over when someone wins the election. The appointive officers of the Grand Lodge, save the Deputy Grand Secretary, shall be majority of those voting being necessary for election, and the Worshipful <> 2. When called on to give the report, the chairman of the nominating committee states the nominations for each office. The duty of a nominating committee is to find the best candidate for each office. is more then one candidate for the degrees. 4. And whenever you want to specify when nominations can be made, you use a motion to open or close nominations. Illegal votes are, Two or more marked ballots folded together (together they count as only one illegal vote). As soon as the committee reports, it is discharged from its duties. ", WM: "Fair (cloudy) in the South, clear (dark) in the xWMo1#[YO !T6T=D9Jhnwv5ofm4_0Vgu=_|[~jC5}YWyYWw45lv4~JS'AdQiewV?=few_Xu9pTX(*HYfh5Y2Q=[6(ao)\\O 9|b|+x Up % ZDEpV`,QI8.3mb'Vs5cAZ!X^S"W7FZ$%W8Fh,)Jrt $^JG{vxGVW9Z;-*r4b@fSM(o/ ?-vz}J=Pu&NC\H#^SKUvN)A@+a)eU"PvrNLsi;:~8J8 9 If counting ballots takes some time, it is best for the assembly to take a recess instead of adjourn. The Committee on Masonic Education and Information of . In Europe, it takes often a year, to advance per degree. 2 0 obj <> If you have only two candidates and the vote is a tie, you repeat the balloting until one candidate receives a majority. 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. Each officer and member, before voting, must exchange the 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. Collectively, these motions are known as motions related to nominations. When nominations are taken from the floor or when a nominating ballot is used, a good practice is to provide the members with an eligibility list so that they are not nominating people who will not be able to serve. 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. endobj In most cases, the threshold is a majority of the votes cast. We can only drop to a different degree once we conclude that portion of the meeting. endobj Lodge No. WM: "You will present the ballot to the officers and Only members entitled to vote are given ballots or are allowed to deposit ballots with a ballot counter or place them in the ballot receptacle. or opinion 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. Apply a check mark to indicate the choice wherever . 54 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[33 34]/Info 32 0 R/Length 100/Prev 87331/Root 34 0 R/Size 67/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream <>>> 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. white ball elects; a black cube rejects. A member may for indecorous or unmasonic conduct be excluded from a single meeting of the lodge. In Tennessee, the only time you open an EA or FC lodge is to confer those degrees. It has its own identity and recognition and carries with it the title of "Past Master". Sometimes nominations aren't taken until the election is pending, and sometimes they're taken at other times, such as at a meeting before the election meeting. If this occurs and it does not affect the outcome of the vote, the election is still valid. 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. This requires secretaries (and possibly grand secretaries if different jurisdictions) to get involved, but is a somewhat common occurrence. 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. <> <> Motions to close nominations are usually unnecessary because the nomination process simply continues until no one wishes to make further nominations. %PDF-1.3 A properly planned and executed meeting results in good participation. 1. %%EOF Clearwater Lodge No. The secretary should give the committee a copy of the membership list, the bylaws, a description of the duties of each office, and the eligibility requirements.
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