DAILY. Wed., Jul. 29, 2020
Wednesday, July 29, 2020
FVNews Daily.
No 76. Wednesday, July 29, 2020
From the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action TeamFVNews Daily is also available at www.FVNews.com.au
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Setting Lodge Dues (1)
• Craig Head, Grand Treasurer (pictured), writes: “Lodges are finalising their 2020-21 budgets. For many, there is a question about what amounts to include on members’ Dues Notices. The COVID-19 lockdown means that Lodges still have bills to pay, in full and on time. Lodges also need to benevolence funds on hand to assist members experiencing financial difficulty.
• “Grand Lodge has its own set of unique financial challenges too. Insurance and building costs have not gone away. There are also audit, operating and other statutory costs. Income from investments has fallen away.”
Setting Lodge Dues (2)
• Craig Head continues: “All billable members across the state each pay a ‘Capitation Fee’ of $130 per year (previously $125). To provide some financial assistance, Grand Lodge wholly forgave the $62.50 half-year Capitation Fee for the January-June half-year. Capitation Fees do apply for the July-December 2020 half-year.
• “In 2020-21 my own Lodge is billing members the same Lodge Dues as last year, plus the $130 capitation fee, less the $62.50 credit where applicable. Each Lodge will make its own decision on what is appropriate for them.
• “Lodge Secretaries/Treasurers needing assistance, or members with any queries, should direct their enquiries to the Grand Secretary. I will be pleased to receive all queries from him and respond promptly.”
A detailed letter from the Grand Treasurer about Lodge Dues and Capitation Fees is available HERE.
Mt Scopus tours New York
• Harry Adlerstein writes of last night’s (Tues.) meeting: “At tonight’s Virtual Meeting of Mount Scopus and Collegians Lodge No. 689, we were taken on a virtual tour of the New York Masonic Building for nearly an hour. Our presenter was Wor. Bro Shlomo Bar-Ayal, the Worshipful Master of the James W. Husted Fiat-Lux Lodge No. 1068, Grand Lodge of New York. This was followed by a Q and A session with 48 attendees.”
Can you help a Brother?
• Nick LeRay-Meyer writes: “I’m in the process of arranging memorabilia for my two sons – who reside in the UK. Back in the days when I was learning to fly with the RAAF, I had a movie camera and took some 500 ft of film during the 16 months that the course lasted. I recall that in viewing some of the film I was thankfully a better pilot than a cameraman!• “Before having it converted to a USB,I would like to determine what, if anything is worth the expense. That needs either a 8mm projector or an editor unit. Searching through the various websites has been unsuccessful; at least as far as a reasonable cost is concerned. I wondered whether any of our Fraternity would have either a projector or editor in a cupboard that they could loan/hire to me for my review.”EMAIL: nicklm2@bigpond.com
Back to Lodge: Success Story
• Gerry Sabel writes: “I have noticed that when Lodge Fraternal hold their online meetings, we catch up with members who previously did not attend Lodge on a regular basis due to work commitments; living in country Victoria and interstate; as well as a couple of members currently residing overseas. It’s a great way to keep in touch. Our last regular Zoom meeting attracted over 85 members and guests.”
Award for Jeff Cripps
• Bro. Jeffery Walter Casbourn Cripps 33° SGIG has received a special award in the Antient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for Australia. “Once in a very long time, and only on one occasion I know of in the past 35 years, has there been the opportunity to formally recognise the most outstanding contributions by one of our 33° brethren in Region 3,” says Garry Mauger.
• A unique jewel has been presented as a symbol of his exceptional and ongoing service. He has active membership in five Rose Croix Chapters, two Kadosh Councils, the Grand Consistory and Southern Cross Chapter of Improvement, regularly extending across the State, into New South Wales and Tasmania, and that service has never faltered over the entirety of his 43 years of membership. The only other recipient was V. Ill.Bro Graeme Norman Smythe 33° around 2005, a former District Commander of Victoria – Eastern. (Thanks to Richard Elkington for passing this on.)
All chained up
• Richard Elkington, Grand Master, has made it clear that the ‘Chains’ of office hold little personal appeal, compared to talking (and listening) toFreemasons across the state. But, seeing this is a ‘first’, FVNews Daily thought it was worth a mention. Richard will don the chains for the first time since the Grand Installation (June 27), when he attends the Grand Installation of the Order of the Secret Monitor for Southern Australia to be held online this Saturday (Aug. 1).
What’s On: online meetings
• www.masonsconnect.com
Famous Freemasons
• Bartholdi, Frédéric Auguste (1834-1904) – This French Freemason was the sculptor responsible for New York’s Statue of Liberty. His ‘Mother Lodge’ was Lodge Alsace-Lorraine, Paris. During the construction of the copper-clad monument, Bartholdi leaned heavily on anotherFreemason’s expertise, that of Gustave Eiffel, designer of the Eiffel Tower, for the intricate steel skeleton supporting the soaring statue.
More Famous Freemasons
• Eddie Levey of the Mildura Lodge writes: “After work you head for home so you turn on your car radio to hear the cricket scores as the Ashescricket match between Australia and England is on. “The Ashes” were created by Bro. Sir William John Clarke (1831-1897) who was initiated in the Tasmanian Union Lodge No.885 EC in Tasmania. Bro. Clarke was the first Grand Master of Victoria in 1883.”
Masonic Knowledge
• ““Yout get half the runs and I’ll get the rest.” – Bro. Bill Lawry, after his Northcote team had been set a mammoth chase of 9-514 by Essendon in the 1965-66 Victorian Cricket Association grand final.
Masonic Wisdom
• “Never forget posterity when devising a policy. Never think of posterity when making a speech.” – Bro. Sir Robert Menzies
INFORMATION TO KNOW
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I am very impressed with the feedback from the Grand Treasurer and thank him for his openness and honesty.
What I am interested in understanding is, given the nature of COVID-19, what steps is the Board doing to reduce unnecessary expenses? Where is the Board making changes to programs, especially around the management and maintenance of buildings that Freemasons Victoria own? What are the implications on membership and membership drives? Some of the program that I was involved in and where approved may no longer be relevant and other programs may have to take their place.
In addition, what allocations are being made above normal expenses to cover new projects and how will those projects promote Freemasonry and drive the membership experience (for both existing and prospective members) and most importantly, deep cleaning once we are able to return to our Lodges?