Table of Contents
3 Good Men Getting Better . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Making A Difference, One Lodge at a Time . . . . . . . . 5 Making Your House a Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Masonry Lives Here Campaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Power of Time in Building Relationships . . . . . . . . 8 New Neighborhood Coming to Masonic Pathways . . . . . 9 Messages from our Appendant Bodies . . . . . . . . . 10 Freemasonry, Fraternalism, and our Reason for Being . . .
Robert Conley System CEO Michigan Masons
Upcoming Events
Feast of St. John the Evangelist Festive Board with Prince Hall December 27, 2019
Weber’s Boutique Hotel & Restaurant, Ann Arbor, MI
Charitable Foundation Florida Reunions January 25 - 31, 2020
Mike Logan CEO Michigan Masonic Home
Charitable Foundation Arizona Reunions February 22 - 24, 2020 Masonic Pathways Junior Deacon’s Day April 4, 2020 Masonic Pathways, Alma, MI
Grand Lodge Annual Communication May 18-19, 2020 Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI
Page 2
Walt Wheeler Executive Director Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation
Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
Freemasonry, Fraternalism, and our Reason for Being By Mark Manning - Most Worshipful Grand Master Freemasonry at its very core is a philosophy of life and conduct, taught by symbolism and allegory, reinforced by a Brotherhood of men who care, support, and uplift one another. It teaches a man to strive for virtue, act charitably, obtain balance in his life, and pay reverence to a Divine Creator. For more than sixty years, participation in fraternalism has fallen, and the result in our families, workplaces, and communities has been devastating. At one time, our fraternities permeated and set the tone for our towns, villages, and cities. They set the course of good conduct for men in their families and workplaces. Now, you need only watch the news to see the results of broken families, greed in the business place, and a lack of integrity, character, and ability in our public officials.
Ask yourself a simple question: Are our men more respected than they were sixty years ago? Are the learned professions of law, medicine, or the conduct. The goal is to become clergy more valued than they better husbands, fathers, were sixty years ago? Do our co-workers, partners, and businesses look out for their leaders in our communities. customers or workers more Freemasonry is on the rise. than they did sixty years ago? Are our Will politicians “We build better men, Freemasonry and political husbands, fathers, attract all institutions more admired co-workers, and leaders.” men? No, nor should it. The than they were first lesson we are taught in sixty years ago? The answer is Freemasonry is to “subdue our uniformly “NO.” passions and improve ourselves in Freemasonry.” Many men Now, for the good news. simply cannot “subdue” their The pendulum of lack of passions with an eye toward fraternalism is swinging back. improvement. Much of what Men and women are “fed Freemasonry teaches may be up” with this trend. They are lost on many men, but to an seeking men of character and ever-increasing number of men integrity; men who work hard in society, they are desperately and are devoted to supporting seeking what our Craft offers. their families, and who seek In Michigan, petitions from new to set an example of good Candidates are rising. Our duty as Freemasons is to recommit ourselves to the importance of our reason for being. We build better men, husbands, fathers, co-workers, and leaders, and therefore, better families and communities. Our future is bright.
Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
Page 3
Good Men Getting Better By Robert Conley - System CEO, Michigan Masons Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Michigan Masons Cornerstone magazine! This is a result of corporate changes that started two years ago. Building on the strengths of each of our corporations, the Masonic Home, the Charitable Foundation, and our Fraternity, we have been able to provide more support, benefits, and value to our members.
series of training programs for the spring. We will have had the Tri-State Degree in November, and we’re gearing up for a great Festive Board celebrating St. John the Evangelist Day on December 27, 2019 (details on this event are available elsewhere in this edition). Lodges are busy this month installing their new officers and making plans for the new year!
Michigan “Your time, your presence, With all of that produced a and your knowledge is in mind, let me fine Masonic crucial to the fraternity.” ask you this: magazine what have you for many done for your lodge lately? years. It was discontinued What have you done for your several years ago due to cost brother lately? Far too often and logistic problems. Now, we the answer is “not much,” if have a staffed, professionally anything at all. The fraternity managed Marketing and Public rises or falls by the activities of Relations department that its brethren. We are not, and has the ability to produce a never were, intended to be high quality magazine for our a “join and then do nothing” Michigan Masonic family. Our organization. It was intended Cornerstone magazine will contain articles of interest regarding our Fraternity, our Home, and our Foundation, as well as stories and items of interest from our appendant and youth organizations. This is the most exciting time that I can remember in my Masonic life! By the time this magazine reaches you, we will have conducted three Wardens and Officers training programs across the state, and we will be developing another Page 4
to make good men better. That happens when we join together in fellowship and ceremony. This shared system of support and encouragement has meant the world to me in my life! If you don’t have that, or haven’t found it yet, keep looking. If the lodge you joined isn’t where you are now, find one close to you. There are more than 260 lodges in this state alone. They’d love to have you join them and fellowship with them. Your time, your presence, your knowledge, and support is crucial to the fraternity. Frankly, it’s the only thing that can preserve our craft today, tomorrow, and for those yet to come. In closing, I’ll end this as I’ve ended my weekly messages for years – “Go to lodge!” You’ll be glad you did!
Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
The Number Every Mason Should Know
800-321-9357
As a direct result of the 2020 Project implementation, the new Outreach and Member Care department is fully functional! The mission of this new Shared Services department is to provide our members with quality services representing the whole fraternity, including the Grand Lodge, Michigan Masonic Home, and the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation. Masons and their families can access all services and programs of all three corporations by calling 800-321-9357. This single phone number will connect Masons to Live Better at Home, Outside Relief and Almoners Funds, and community outreach programs such as Child ID, Bikes for Books, and matching grant programs for charities and scholarships.
Making a Difference, One Lodge at a Time By Patti Nowak - Senior Director, Outreach and Member Care The cornerstone of the Outreach and Member Care department (OMC) is the Lodge Success Team (LST). LST specialists support our lodges in ways that provide the highest level of assistance in areas identified to contribute toward Masonic growth and success. Working on your behalf, the LST includes Corey Curtiss, David Bedwell, Jr., and Fred Kaiser. They visit with the lodges and complete Lodge Success Inventories, covering five key areas of Governance and Leadership, Financial, Membership, Operations, and Community Involvement. Then, working with our team members, lodges can use the inventory to set goals with a Lodge Success Plan. Our team then coordinates resources the lodge uses to be successful. The LST has been welcomed by over 125 lodges who candidly completed this process.
Already, this effort is bearing fruit in many ways. Inventory sessions tell us that lodges are looking for further assistance, education, and support in areas like lodge finances, membership, and training. The inventory process, for instance, uncovered that many Brothers will benefit from online training that fits their busy schedule. Delivering on this discovery will ensure that Masons can receive the convenient and thorough education they desire. Additionally, we are learning from lodges the successful strategies that they use to make an impact. The LST has helped lodges benefit by sharing the successes of other lodges and by connecting them to the skilled assistance of their fellow Masons. The bottom line: lodge needs will drive investment in Michigan Masons. Please take our calls and sit with us for 90 minutes. Let us capture a snapshot of your lodge, and use the information to help us all. In the meantime, if there is anything we can do to assist you, your lodge, or your members, please contact the OMC department and we will be happy to help!
Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
Page 5
Making Your House a Home Since 1930, the Michigan Masonic Home has provided residential and health services to thousands of Masonic family members as a premier retirement community, and the jewel of the Masonic Fraternity. Nothing escapes the passage of time, however, and your retirement community is now in need of substantial capital renovations in order to stay a modern and engaging environment for current and future generations of residents. Striving for continued excellence in residential living, the Masonry Lives Here campaign will build support to fuel revitalization that will improve programming and engaging spaces for our residents, enhancing their quality of life. The renovation of our residential ground floor, which has not been updated in nearly twenty years, will transform them from being just “space” to a place where residents can entertain, socialize, and enjoy the comforts of home.
In addition, the power of technology will provide even greater enhancements to quality of life, communication and engagement of our residents. A new sensory room and “Music Row” will bring both enjoyment and therapeutic value for those with cognitive impairments. There will also be opportunities for social connection, intellectual stimulation, physical engagement, and spiritual nourishment through the It’s Never 2 Late computer systems, which store applications that support core dimensions of wellness. Through these enhancements, we will be positioning our community to remain a center of caring excellence, fulfilling our promise to today’s and tomorrow’s Masonic family members.
Some of the highlights include: a modern community kitchen and common area to allow residents, their families, and guests to prepare and enjoy home-cooked meals together, and refreshed learning and entertainment facilities, including a sports club room, game room, library/media center, and state-of-the-art theater.
Page 6
Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
Masonry Lives Here Campaign For most of us the words “senior living� is something we don’t want to plan on or even contemplate. It is our hope that we can offer you a new way of looking at your future. Senior living should not be a place to fear, but a place you can truly call home; a place where you can enjoy an engaging lifestyle. We are creating a home designed to empower and serve the evolving needs of this generation and future generations.
Your gift today will directly benefit the residents of the Masonic Home. There is joy to be found in generosity, and it begins with a simple step of a commitment to contribute to this groundbreaking campaign.
With your help, we know this campaign will be a success, and residents of today and tomorrow will enjoy living out their years in a place they can engage with their families, bake cookies with their granddaughters, or watch the game with their sons and grandsons. You are giving them the experiences of home with the benefit of exceptional care.
We appreciate your generosity and your willingness to join us in investing in a better way of life!
To make a gift please visit our campaign web page: www.masonryliveshere.com or simply return your donation in the attached envelope.
As Masons, we all took an obligation to help those in need, especially our Brothers and Sisters. Your help is needed to renew the Michigan Masonic Home, to make it a place that we can look forward to living in. A vibrant community with the highest standards of wellness and care, offering the greatest quality of life.
Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
Page 7
The Power of Time in Building Relationships By Mike Logan - CEO, Michigan Masonic Home In becoming a new Master Mason, one of the values I learned through the Craft is the power of time in building healthy relationships. As many of you know, becoming a Mason and being a Mason takes time. Like all endeavors, the joy you receive from Masonry is equal to the joy you bring to it. By choosing to put time into building relationships, the rewards of a balanced life become self-evident; vocationally, personally, and socially.
our residents, family members, and staff members will create stronger relationships because of their investment in ensuring an engaged environment.
The residents at Masonic Pathways and Warwick Living Center are given the opportunity to build strong relationships through a variety of programs and activities. Social wellness is one of the critical elements in living a “whole” life, filled with joy and gratitude. The life enrichment staff at both of these As the CEO for the Michigan communities challenge the Masonic Home, I continually residents with engaging activities, make an effort to spend time with and it is easy to see my direct staff, employees, “Let us start the process these relationships in the activities family of building a strong throughout both members, communities. and residents. relationship together!” The number of As a Mason, I opportunities for engagement also devote time with members and relationship building is of my fraternity. Through these endless! interactions I am able to build quality relationships and strong The focus of the Masonic trust among key stakeholders, sponsored Program of Allresidents, and donors. Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE Central Michigan) is Simply stated, engaging in social the opportunity for social activities is key to encouraging a engagement on a daily basis life full of joy and gratitude. Being through our day center. around people is important. Located in Mount Pleasant, Masonic Pathways, Warwick the PACE center provides Living Center, and PACE Central daily case management, social Michigan can play an integral programming, wellness checks, role in providing quality social physical health management, and engagement opportunities physician management for those for residents and participants. senior adults residing alone in The greatest benefit of these their homes. programs is the ability to stop the onset of loneliness and isolation. Human beings are social animals, and I believe that through time, Page 8
Building strong relationships takes time, energy, and a sincere interest. We at Michigan Masonic Home believe that it is part of our job and mission to build these relationships. We hope that as you visit one of our communities, you will see the value in how we ensure a positive experience for our residents, family members, and staff. Come to Alma and request a tour of the main campus, Masonic Pathways. I would love to have an opportunity to meet you and learn more about how we can serve you. Let us start the process of building a strong relationship together!
Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
New Neighborhood Coming to Masonic Pathways Masonic Pathways has a new neighborhood, and you could be among the first to make it your next home. Unlike any other environment within the Home, Ashlar Terrace offers exclusive “top floor” living in an all-new beautifully remodeled venue. Like a penthouse, from the elevator you immediately enter an extraordinary living area distinctly designed to enhance neighborhood gatherings. All inhabitants of Ashlar Terrace will have quick and convenient access to their equally impressive individual units. “Formerly dedicated to memory care, we demolished the entire floor to create this new neighborhood,” said Michigan Masonic Home CEO, Mike Logan. “All eight units will feature brand new everything… built-in kitchenettes, walk-in wardrobe/closets, custom builtin storage and large spa-like bathrooms,” he added. There are two design options
and both can comfortably accommodate couples. Those who like open concept living will appreciate the studio floorplan. Those who prefer a more traditional layout might choose the one-bedroom suite with a separate sitting area and galley kitchenette. If you seek carefree independent living, or a light level of assistance, you will appreciate the Ashlar Terrace lifestyle. Within this new neighborhood, there is a conveniently located laundry room and an extra storage space dedicated exclusively to residents of Ashlar Terrace. Outside the neighborhood, residents of Ashlar Terrace will have access to the home’s many amenities, including formal
dining in the OES Dining Room, or more casual meals in Wright Place Café, weekly cleaning and laundry service, and a wide array of activities, entertainment and out trips. Construction is underway and pre-sales have already begun. If you are interested in more information about Ashlar Terrace living options, call 800-321-9357 and ask to speak with a member of the Masonic Pathways admissions team. Put your name on the Ashlar Terrace waiting list today!
Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
Page 9
JOB’S DAUGHTERS
Michigan Job’s Daughters has officially started the new term, and we are excited to announce the theme for this year is “Stand in the Light.” This theme is inspired by our motto, “Show them who you are.” Our goal as an organization this year is to shape the future by encouraging young people to not only accept who they are, but also be willing to show that person to others. We believe that once you possess the ability to unapologetically express yourself to the world, you are completely unstoppable. Michigan Job’s Daughters is pushing others to be bold, brave, and confident. This movement is paired with our continued efforts to spread kindness through the Pay It Forward initiative, which will be a consistent focal point within our organization as we move forward throughout the year. As quoted from Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Be the light!
RAINBOW GIRLS
This year, Krissy Garrett, Grand Worthy Advisor, will be taking Michigan Rainbow “Through the Looking Glass” with the Alice in Wonderland characters. Each of the receptions will have a theme related to some part of the story. The first exemplification, held in conjunction with the Grand Worthy Advisor’s Reception, took place at Masonic Pathways. The Grand Officers did a wonderful job at the initiation, and we welcomed two new Rainbow Girls! Krissy’s charity this year is CARE House of Oakland County, which is a children’s advocacy center that provides free help to victims of child abuse and neglect. We hope that you will join us at future receptions to see the other themes Michigan Rainbow will be creating from Alice in Wonderland!
Page 10
Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
DeMOLAY
Installation season has come to a close, and our officers are hard at work in their new positions. The State Team did a remarkable job throughout the Installation process, and it was a joy to see the sidelines full at each Installation. This support encourages our young men to work even harder to achieve success. State Master Councilor, Seth, has set his agenda to reflect this motivation. This year’s theme is “Take the Initiative,” and it is already apparent in the work of Seth and the State Officers. The term will focus on encouraging the Chapters in Michigan DeMolay to move forward with planning and membership growth. The State Master Councilor has asked that each Chapter hold a membership event, with the State Team assisting the Chapters as mentors. The first membership event was hosted by Clifford C. Reeves Chapter, and they held a “Nerd” night. Young men gathered together for an overnight party, with the evening full of video games and board games. Several prospective members were in attendance, and we look forward to those young men joining DeMolay. The addition of new events, like the membership nights, promotes the growth of our organization. With enjoyable activities on the way, and Michigan DeMolay expanding, we encourage you to witness this growth yourself. Attend an event at a Chapter, and support remarkable young men in their Masonic journey.
ORDER OF THE EASTERN STAR General Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star developed a new logo for themselves, as well as one for each state. The logo is much more stylized, and features a modern star. The paw print recognizes our worldwide charity of supporting service dogs.
The Starliner Journal, the Michigan Eastern Star publication, now features the new logo in their banner. The banner was first displayed at the Talbot-Groves Information Forum in August, where Dawn Talbot, Worthy Grand Matron, and John Groves, Worthy Grand Patron, gathered with the Grand Family to work on plans for the upcoming year. We hope that you will join us as we travel the state this year. We would love to see you. Michigan Masons - Cornerstone Magazine - Winter 2019
Page 11
FName LName Address1 Address2 State, City Zip
May the serenity of this holiday season fill your heart with peace.
At this time of year we reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and dream of the future. We wish you a season filled with joy.
Happy
Holidays!