Calendar Update – Part Deux !
(revised 3-21-16)
As mentioned in our previous
post, things change. Much like the
ripples caused by casting a pebble in a pond, even the slightest change can
have far-reaching results. That describes
our candidate situation pretty well.
We had good attendance for
our pizza dinner, except for the candidates.
We anticipated one, or possibly two, FC degrees at our last
meeting. One wasn’t ready to return the
exam, and the other was at home, suffering with a back injury. Our adjustment requires some explanation.
We were prepared to confer
the FC degree on one or both of our candidates at our last meeting, but life got in the way. As a result, we are targeting the
April 6th meeting to “finish” our FC work. There will be a dinner at 6:30pm that evening, menu to be determined.
Our plan for the MM
experience includes all three candidates and a Special Saturday meeting. Ohio readers may be aware of a recent procedure change
that permits multiple candidates to receive the same degree at one time. This process has some similarity to the Grand
Master’s One Day Classes held in recent years, but was deemed too unwieldy for
our situation. Instead, we will hold a
Special Meeting on a Saturday, most likely in April or May, and confer each of
the three MM degrees individually, with the lecture and charge done
collectively. In discussion of the
situation we came up with the following questions, which might also have
occurred to you:
Will that make for a long
day?
Not as long as if we tried doing
this at a Stated Meeting.
Will there be
arrangements for a meal?
Yes, probably a luncheon,
but at this time details have not been ironed out.
Why not take advantage of
the new process permitted by Grand Lodge? While several aspects are
attractive, the resources required to confer the MM degree exceed ours.
Would the new
process permitted by the Grand Lodge fit our situation in the future?
Possibly, but most likely in
the EA or FC degrees.
Does implementation of
the new process permitted by the Grand Lodge restrict this plan?
No. The new Grand Lodge process does not replace,
but offers an alternative to the standard procedures.
So, without further ado,
here is our calendar as we now know it:
March 27, 2016 Easter
April 6, 2016 Dinner
at 6:30pm.
Stated
meeting. Probable FCs scheduled (see above).
April
8, 2016 15th District Grand Master’s Reception at 7pm at Marion #70. Doors
open at 6, and the dinner features prime rib and chicken for $24.
April 20,
2016 Stated meeting.
April – May
2016 Saturday Special
Meeting for MM degrees.
(see above)
May 4, 2016 Stated
meeting.
May
8, 2016 Mother’s Day. Despite
the title, this isn’t an occasion to honor only your mom, but all of the women who
have impacted your life. Whether near or
far, let them know how special they are.
May 18, 2016 Stated
meeting.
May
30, 2016 Memorial Day.
Originally called Decoration Day, it is a day of remembrance for those
who have died in service of the United States of America.
That’s what we know for
now. See you at Lodge!
.
