April 14, 2009 From The East

I’d like to welcome three new brothers into our ranks: Br Vasilios (Bill) Eolimenauos, Br Matt Gray and Br Patrick Rolland. These three gentlemen have joined Masonry and now it is up to all of us to insure they have the tools necessary to work with. You may note I did not say that they needed to work; I said WE needed to work. Really it is the job of every Master Mason to insure that that new Masons are given more than just a copy of the standard work and some quick instructions to learn it as soon as possible. It is the job of every member of the lodge to talk with them, get to know them, offer to help them learn, offer them opportunities to work on Masonic endeavors and to truly make them brothers of the Craft. To this end I challenge each and every Master Mason to reach out a hand to every Fellow Craft and Entered Apprentice Mason and offer them fellowship and opportunities to work in the Craft. It is not just the responsibility of the one man assigned as coach to do this.

I also challenge every Fellow Craft Mason and Entered Apprentice Mason to engage in your lodge’s activities, go to the district meetings, participate in the charity drives and visit other lodges. I challenge you to learn your craft well, volunteer for parts in the degrees you have taken (even if you don’t have it down when you volunteer.) In the end what you get out of Masonry is a return on your investment into the Craft.

As an example, our last stated meeting was a great success. We had a fabulous time officially welcoming VWB Brian Hardy, Deputy of the Grand Master in District number 4 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Washington. I truly flubbed up on introducing him, both our deacons where pulled away at the last minute by work issues. Yet we had a pretty full house, lots of excellent work and a most excellent presentation of the closing charge by VWB Brian Hardy. Our new EAMs commented that they really enjoyed the meeting and found it to be above their expectations. I sure hope they continue to say that, I know I will be working hard to make sure they do.

Brethren enjoy the bonds of fellowship with your brothers. Our time in this realm is of uncertain length. Remember to pay wages when they are due. Finally please take the time to engage with the new brothers, we will all be the better for it.!

Fraternally,
WB Leeland Artra
Master Green Lake Lodge No. 149

March 11, 2009 From The East

Planning, time and continuing effort, these are the keystones to success. Of course a little bit of help doesn’t hurt. March for Green Lake was both a glorious success and a desperate and rock bound coast line to navigate in our not so tip top shape ship. However, we managed to get through. Oddly enough we always seem to make it through. At times there seems to be not enough man power to succeed, yet in the end we pull together and sure some mistakes are made but we achieve some lasting results.

After only 4 months of being Master of Green Lake Lodge I am feeling the weight of the duty. I can see how many people might become overwhelmed or worn down. I have been surprised more than a few times and that is making me nervous when I propose new items. It appears almost chaotic, some things I thought would be a zero discussion “of course that is a great idea” have been debated to death and then voted down. Other items I thought (or hoped) would spawn a large debate have been simply approved or even enhanced with practically no discussion. Let me tell you this can truly try a man’s patience, will power and mental stamina. I knew being Master was going to be a lot of hard work, but I was unprepared for the level of mental pressure.

Time for a vacation! And it just so happens I have one planned. Unfortunately I will not be able to put the advice of WB John Bolding to the test on this trip. If you missed our last stated meeting you missed one amazing presentation on traveling as a mason. WB John Bolding gave some very surprising and at times funny advice about how to successfully travel to some of the best Masonic fellowship you can find. I was totally floored by WB John’s list of the best places to locate a local lodge. His number 1 best place to go is not one I would have thought of (ever) without being told. If you want to know, ask a Green Lake brother or come to our next meeting and ask me. It’ll knock your socks off!

Fraternally,
WB Leeland Artra
Master Green Lake Lodge No. 149

February 2, 2009 From The East

Brethren we need to fill the line, work our charity drives and get some minor repairs done to the lodge. Nothing makes for light labor then many hands. Let us not forget that the most important work we can do for the good of all is to raise a brother who will live his life according the tenants we teach.

My brethren truly our gift to the future is Masonry. We often say Freemasons seek to build a better world. One man alone cannot fix the world. It takes enormous energy over time to create lasting change. Yet one Mason may instruct another Mason together they teach others all of who work to improve themselves and the world around them. Therein lays the true power and gift of Masonry. In truth Freemasonry builds a better world by building better men. By raising and mentoring a new brother who lives as a Masonry he cannot help but have an effect on others. When our members are active our Lodge is active which then cannot help but have an effect on our community. With many active Lodges our fraternity as a whole has the one resource it needs, active men working together for the betterment of the larger community, and is thus Freemasonry remains a major force for good in the world.

Therefore, I can think of no program more important for our Lodge or Masonry than the "Annual Bring a Friend Night” (aka Lodge Open House Program) we are putting together for Thursday March 12, 2009. All of the power of Masonry begins with the individual Mason and, so the "Bring a Friend to Lodge" program requires the involvement and commitment of our entire Lodge.

I am sure all of you know at least one man who you are just itching to get into Masonry. Yet you feel you cannot approach him on the subject due to the non-solicitation rule. The non-solicitation rule states there can be no coercion; a man must come of his own free will and accord. This should not be interpreted as preventing us from discussing Masonry with others nor from approaching those we respect and consider to be a potentially suitable applicants and opening the door for them to consider becoming a part of Freemasonry and joining our Lodge. At the Occidental Lodge January 2009 Stated Meeting the Grand Master himself said although you cannot ask “would you like to be a Freemason?” you are fully empowered and enjoined to ask worthy men “have you ever considered becoming a Freemason?” to see where that conversation may take you. This one event gives us all a way to broach the conversation, by inviting someone to come!

Fraternally,
WB Leeland Artra
Master Green Lake Lodge No. 149

January 14, 2009 From The East

Brethren it has come to my attention that some of you are unsure about what is actually going on. I should say that it is entirely my fault that this is true.

Some of the officers have claimed that they are only now becoming aware of a part of the underlying reasons and goals of what I have laid out for the Lodge. Again I should say that this is entirely my fault that this is true.

After a discussion where some of what I said clarified the ways, means and goals of my actions a few brethren came to me and said that before hearing the additional information they were unsupportive of what I have been and continue to be doing to and for our Lodge. However, now that they understood some of the reasons they were actually in favor of the changes.

Brethren I am unrepentant about not laying before you all my reasons, goals and action plans. Nor am I going to suddenly toss open the doors to my workshop and invite all in to see how all the little parts fit together. I am not saying “just trust me.” Honestly I have already tried to explain a large part of the ideas at once and no one got it. Now I am doing it one or at most two parts at a time and I’ll keep repeating the details as many times as it takes to get it to stick. If you are at all concerned with or dislike something we are doing you have merely to ask me for more details.

Our Lodge has been described to me by more than a few Masons (both past masters, members and others) as a lodge in trouble. Let us get brutally honest for the last 3 years we have had 12 or less actual active members coming to our meetings (an average of 9 really). 95% of every meeting is composed of Past Masters of Green Lake Lodge. All of the brothers have already been through the officers’ line (most more than once)! We do not have enough new masons to fill out the officers’ line and further all those in the officers’ line EXCEPT FOR ONE do not intend and do not want to continue to serve as an officer. In fact we have a grand total of 3 new (joined Green Lake Lodge within the last 10 years) Lodge Members (including me) who are regularly attending and one of those is not planning on staying active past the end of this year. Looking at the raw numbers we have a standing record showing 12 or less members coming to every stated meeting, 6 or less coming to special communications. How many officers are there in lodge? Count them with me: Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Secretary Treasurer, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Senior Steward, Junior Steward, Marshal, Chaplain, Musician and Tyler. That adds up to 13. Think back, what has happened in the last 3 stated meetings? We have had to ask visiting Master Masons to fill in for one or more of our missing officers (we should be asking a Green Lake Lodge member to fill in, but ALL of the Green Lake Members who can fill in are already doing so). Yet still some members don’t want to change anything at all.

Brethren it isn’t that some THING has to change, it is that A FEW THINGS need to change. Masonry is not dead, nor do I believe that is going to die. As we have already seen time and time again lodges which became a social “this is how we always did it club” for the few remaining men die with those men. When enough of our members become unable to come to the meetings there will be no more meetings. When I was approached to become Master I said I was not going to sit idly by and just fill the chair. I was asked (tasked really) with rejuvenating Green Lake Lodge. I take the responsibility of Master very seriously and have spent months reading about other lodges, jurisdictions that have pulled themselves out of similar situations. I have spoken with dozens of past masters of now active lodges. I have dozens of ideas, just as many plans of action and even more stuff in waiting. I have been filtering these down to what I think we CAN accomplish and what I think ARE appropriate for our Lodge to establish as traditions.

No I have not spent a lot of time talking to past masters of Green Lake Lodge. Why?! Because, if they had a solution to this they would have already done it in the last 10 plus years! I am discussing each and every point of the changes as I am trying to make them active with my officers (who I remind you comprise of the majority of the still active past masters of Green Lake Lodge.)

There are HOURS of background data to review, many examples to go over and multiple action plans to analyze to begin to explain how it all fits together. You can email me from this very site and/or call my cell phone (206-380-2036) which has voice mail on it. I am here, I am paying attention and if you really want to know why, what and how I am doing things you have but to ask. If you ask then be prepared to join me and spend a few hours going over ONE change. There is no way I can lay it all out in a couple of hours. If you have an idea present it in detail to me.

When there is a lot of work to be done I have learned that people get disheartened if you show them precisely how much there is. People deal better with small steps and achievable goals. They feel the momentum building as they see goals being met. We need that energy and excitement.

I believe in Masonry. I love the Fraternity far more and deeper than most of my brothers know and for reasons only a few understand. I have participated in and paid close attention to many past Grand Lodge research efforts on what new Masons expect and get from the Craft. I have personally spoken to numerous Masons involved in, doing or participating in similar research. I have corresponded with respected Masonic researchers on the topic of what are most lodges missing to not only gather new Masons but to keep them engaged and enthusiastic. I continue to study this topic. I am applying ALL MY SKILL in the Craft to make Green Lake Lodge the shining light that other lodges will look to as an example on how best to do the work. It is an honor to serve as Master, and serve I shall until the work is done.

Look to your heart, find the ember of Masonry there, give it the fuel of your hopes, enjoy the feeling of the light of Masonry glowing from your soul again, let go the reins on your enthusiasm, pick up your tools and join me in the work of building a Masonic Lodge the likes of which is rarely seen in Masonry!

Fraternally,
WB Leeland Artra
Master Green Lake Lodge No. 149

January 1, 2009 From The East

Brethren, please know that you all have my personal highest wishes that you know only joy, health and wealth in the coming year. Like many others I cannot help but spend some time on New Year's Eve considering what has happened in the previous year(s). 2008 has been both amazing and scary. It seems that the world is falling apart around us. Yet we also seem to be making great strides forward. In the midst of economic tragedies, wars and atrocities I have also witnessed medical advances that have created replacement limbs which act and react like the lost limbs, advances in technology that promise longer healthier lives and cancer rates have actually gone down in 2008.

What 2008 shows is that even in adversity life continues. We have choices to act or not to act. When we choose to act we have even more choices. Perhaps I am unique in that I am not really happy with the time I spent watching television. I measured myself this last week and found that since my family has turned television on again (we didn't have television for nearly 10 years) I have fallen into the habit of watching about 2.34 hours of shows every day Sun-Sat. That adds up to 16.38 hours every week spent watching the news, history channel shows, Myth Busters and re-runs of Stargate. We have DVR or TIVO and I admit that is very nice, yet I wonder if I would have watched as much without it. When I do not have a pre-recorded show waiting I have sat down, looked at the guide for the next hour or two and in all 200+ channels saw nothing at all of any interest. Meaning I turned off the television and got back to doing other things.

So my "New Year's Resolution" is to reduce those hours spent by 25%. That will give me back 4 hours a week. Doesn't sound like much and you'd think it would be easy. I suspect it will be hard. However, it is a reasonable goal and it is measureable.
Stretching, reasonable, attainable, and measurable are the keys to good goals as well as your successful achievement of your goals. Stretching means that you actually have to work a little bit harder than normal to achieve results. Reasonable means that even though it will be challenging it is actually within your abilities to achieve. Attainable means that it is possible to do. Measurable means you have identified a means to know exactly where you are and when you have crossed the finish line. A final key is to focus attention by keeping the number of goals being worked on to only a few and preferably closely related.

I have set such goals for my year(s) as Master of Green Lake Lodge. I have shared most of them with the lodge officers in the December Officers' meeting and a little with you here. The key to all of the other goals, the lynch pin if you will, is to increase our regular lodge attendance group by 6 members. I want 6 brethren whom I have not seen regularly in Lodge to be attending every meeting and degree night by the end of 2009. I want at least 3 of these to be from the currently inactive group of members we already know are around and at least 3 new brothers. I also stated that I wanted to see 90% of all our newly initiated brothers prove up as Master Masons in the traditional fashion and to be attending practically every event for Green Lake Lodge. In other words Green Lake Lodge needs to work to stay “connected” and “engaging” with our new initiates.

I ask that you all join me in working towards this New Year's Resolution as a group of brothers and friends. We have a wonderful Lodge, beautiful traditions, a long history of amazing lessons and an honorable creed like unto no other. What is needed? Simply making sure you know of all the Green Lake Lodge Events and making attending those events a priority in your life. I promise to work to insure that each and every event will be rewarding for you.

Fraternally,
WB Leeland Artra
Master Green Lake Lodge No. 149

November 8, 2008 From The Traveling Man

Brethren, I am honored, nervous and worried at my recent election to Worshipful Master of Green Lake Lodge No 149 F.&A.M. This is an interesting time to travel to the East. Our lodge is alive but ailing. Membership seems at an all time low and we have been forced to fill the officers line with past Masters of Green Lake. It should come as no surprise than that my primary goal is stabilize the lodge. So the question remains is how? To this end I have spoken with the officers, sought council with a few VWBs who have been my mentors over the years and continue to do a lot of reading on Masonry and lodge management. From all of this the way still remains a little hard to find. Yet, I believe I have found a door and know some of the maze beyond to achieve our goals. The key to the maze is membership. Our members need to be proud of being Masons, proud of our history and proud to be a member of Green Lake Lodge. The officers and I have consulted and we are following a plan, which we will adjust as needed. I will be sharing all of our plans as we pull them together. For now I can tell you that these items have already been started:

1. We will have an excellent meal for both our monthly business meeting as well as the now firmly established degree night.
2. We will have a fixed degree night every month including through the summer. If we do not have a candidate ready to take the next degree we will walk through the degree, floor work and lectures looking for where we can improve the presentation.
3. I have begun looking for a lodge Ritual Instructor who will be responsible for insuring all of our ritual work is top notch.
4. I have made arrangements so that the lodge now has a parking lot 1 1/2 blocks from the lodge so that parking is no longer an issue.
5. We will have these three agenda items at every stated meeting:
1. Masonic Minute - A short 1-5 minute presentation by a Green Lake brother about something he finds interesting or educational about Freemasonry
2. Meet Your Brother - There is a short list of items that every brother should know about all his fellow lodge brothers. To that end I will be taking volunteers so that each meeting one brother will answer one or two questions of his choosing in a short 1-5 minute presentation to the lodge.
3. Masonic Education - A 20-30 minute presentation by an invited dynamic speaker about Masonry.
6. We will have live music for the dinner hour at every stated monthly meeting.

There is more but that is enough for now. Small doses, small steps and large rewards in the end.

It my specific goal that within 3 years:

1. The officers line will be filled with zero past master sitting in (unless they are moving through the line by choice).
2. The officers line will follow the pattern:
1. Marshall
2. Junior Steward
3. Senior Steward
4. Junior Deacon
5. Senior Deacon
6. Junior Warden
7. Senior Warden
8. Worshipful Master
3. Every member of Green Lake Lodge will be personally contacted every 90 days by a different fellow brother just to stay in touch.
4. Green Lake Lodge No. 149 F.&A.M. will be a serious contender for the Washington State Lodge Officers Proficiency Award every year.