Looking Ahead to the Annual Communication

Mansour Hatefi , PGM, Grand Secretary

The Voice of Freemasonry, which is dispatched to each and every member of the constituent Lodges of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, apart from presenting articles of import and timely reports, is also a valuable means of communication and dissemination of information to the membership in order to keep them abreast of the various events, activities and developments in the Jurisdiction.

In the last issue of the Voice the subject of the Grand Lodge membership and the merits of attendance and participation in the Grand Communications were discussed. It is with the same intent that some of the actions taken by the Grand Lodge at the SemiAnnual Communication on May 9, 2007 are being reviewed, here.

Let us begin with the decision to change the dates of our Annual and Third Communications from 2nd and 3rd Saturday in December to 4th Saturday in October and 2nd Saturday in December, respectively.

It is not intended to reiterate the rationale presented for this change, here and in full. Suffice it to say that holding the Annual Communication on an earlier date (Saturday, October 27th this year) will reduce the number of Grand Lodge meetings in the very busy month of December and will offer the Grand Masterelect and other elected officers a much longer period to confidently plan and prepare for a speedy and effective start in the ensuing Masonic year. Furthermore, by inviting guests from sister jurisdictions to the Third Communication, rather than the Annual Communication, the time consuming process of the reception and recognition of the invited guests will be eliminated, affording more time for the conduct of the Grand Lodge business, open deliberations and the election of officers.

Attendees can anticipate a streamlined morning agenda that is much lighter on ceremony and weighted towards getting down to business. Lodge representatives can look for an abbreviated introduction process for representatives from various Masonic organizations and youth groups. As in the past years, the business session will see the presentation of the Report of the Grand Master and reports of the Grand Lodge officers and committee chairmen requiring Grand Lodge action, consideration of the resolutions submitted to the Grand Secretary’s Office, presentation of Valentine Reintzel Medals to deserving brethren, and nomination of the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal, if one is to be awarded.

The afternoon session, after lunch, will feature the election of the Grand Lodge officers, one Grand Lodge Trustee and the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal. Other business will be taken care of, while the ballots are counted and tabulated.

The Third Communication, however, will be of a more ceremonial and social nature. The Annual Membership Banquet is to be held on the 2nd Friday in December (December 7th this year), at Renaissance Washington D.C. Hotel, for members, family, friends and guests. The Third Communication, which is also open to family, friends and guests, will be held the next day, to bid farewell to the outgoing Grand Master, honor the Distinguished Service Medal recipient, receive and recognize invited guests and dignitaries. This event will culminate in the installation of the Grand Lodge officers, followed by a sumptuous reception as a fitting start for the year-end festivities.

A second action of the Grand Lodge had to do with the findings and recommendations of a committee appointed by the Grand Master to review the voting and balloting system in our Grand Communications. The committee, based on the determination of the Jurisprudence Committee that the process of recording attendance, voting and balloting at Grand Lodge was up to the Grand Secretary and could be implemented at his pleasure, recommended a new registration and voting system for the delegates to our Grand Lodge. The purpose of such a system is:

a) To obtain higher accuracy in recording of members in attendance