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Here it is December already and it seems like only yesterday when I had
the honor of being installed as your Grand Master. There are many items
I'd like to cover in this message, but space doesn't permit this full
discussion. For this reason, throughout this message I'll be referring
you to other articles in this edition of the Grand Lodge Bulletin and/or
directing you to my website.
During the months of October and November, I had the pleasure of meeting many
Iowa Masons for the first time and also renewing old friendships at the 15 Grand
Master's Area Meetings held across the state. At these meetings, we presented i
nformation about my program for this year (Masonry is a Way of Life) and I also
asked the brothers present to jot down some action items, but more importantly,
to follow up and complete those action items in the first few days after returning
home.
We showed a brief video on leadership - Rock Solid Leadership. In the "G" lecture,
we are told that the terms Geometry and Masonry were at one time synonymous.
I maintain that today, "Leadership" and Masonry are synonymous: Rock Solid
Leadership - Rock Solid Masonry. With this in mind, write these dates in your
calendar: June 12-13-14. At that time, we will be holding leadership training
at Iowa State University in Ames. You won't learn about ritual, you won't learn
about making out a lodge budget, and you won't learn how to fill out secretary's
reports. But you will learn real, substantive leadership principles and how to
become a better leader for your family, your lodge, and your community.
Another significant date to write on your calendar is March 30. This fifth Monday
has been designated "Re-obligation Night" and I am strongly urging all Iowa lodges
to participate in this State-wide event. This ceremony-which will be available
early next year-will remind us all of the 18 promises we made in our Masonic
obligations and encourage us to live those promises in our daily lives.
Additionally, I am requesting that each Mason wear his lambskin or white leather
apron presented when initiated as an entered Apprentice. This physical connection
to our original obligation night is a very powerful part of the Re-obligation Night. We also talked about new opportunities for Iowa high school seniors to obtain funds while attending certain types of post high school education. Please read more about this program either on the Grand Lodge website at http://www.gl-iowa.org or on the Grand Master's website at http://www.IAgrandmaster.org. Likewise, another important new benefit was introduced, called Masonic Guardian Angels. This is a program designed to benefit college students in Iowa with a Masonic connection. Discover more about this brand new program at www.IAgrandmaster.org. Just over a year ago the Grand Lodge of Iowa pledged $250,000 to help build and operate Hope Lodge in Iowa City. Last year, construction had just begun, but today, Hope Lodge is completed, dedicated and open for business. But my brother, our work is not complete. At the time of this writing, the Masons of Iowa have raised and contributed approximately $110,000 toward our goal of $250,000. I know we can reach that full goal by the time Grand Lodge meets in Cedar Rapids next September, but I need your help. You should have received a package of return address mailing labels with my logo and your name on them. Please refer to the letter accompanying those labels and help support Hope Lodge as much as you can. Your lodge also should have received a Mason jar at Grand Lodge in Des Moines this past September, which I hope you and the brothers from your lodge will fill with change (Change for Hope) and turn in to the Grand Lodge office, completely filled. I know you can fill it at least once, but please fill it up and turn it in once per quarter. All these proceeds will go toward Hope Lodge. You can refer to http://www.iowahopelodge.org/ for more information about Hope Lodge and www.IAgrandmaster.org for more information about our commitment to Iowa Hope Lodge. The Public Relations Committee next presented information about how to get the word out after your projects or events. It has been said on more than one occasion by our younger members that if you don't have a website, you don't exist. Consequently, if your lodge doesn't have a website, you will be promoting the perception that you don't exist. A website is important not only for communicating with your members and letting other Masons and your communities know what is going on in and around your lodge, but it also leads new members to your door. Many of our new members find out about Masonry on-line and are well educated about our Fraternity before knocking on our doors. Many people virtually live on-line these days and not just the young. That is where they will be looking for your lodge, and if you're not there, you will miss out. Don’t forget the Grand Master’s One-Day Class scheduled
for Des Moines on April 28. A second one has just been scheduled for Iowa City on August 23. If your lodge has a website, you can enter the contest for the Grand Design Award, to be given annually to the lodge with the best website. If you don't have a website, all you need to do is go to www.iowamasons.com; click on the "Join Now" link and for $35 per year, Brother Daniel Shaffer will build, host and maintain your site. All you have to do is provide the information. Finally, we talked about an additional way to help out the residents at Hope Lodge - a way that won't cost you a cent. I'm asking you to donate books that are sitting around your house or business gathering dust to the library at Hope Lodge. In Masonry, we often say, "Let There Be Light," and what better way to provide light to the folks staying at Hope Lodge than by sharing your books. We will be providing the inventory for the library at Hope Lodge and a librarian from the Iowa City area has agreed to create a simple and orderly system that it can be maintained.
My brother, it only takes a little extra effort to make a big difference. In this message, I've asked you to do several things and hinted that you should do several others. None of those things are overwhelming in nature, nor will they break the bank financially. However, they can collectively have a huge impact on Iowa Masonry and the communities in which we live. At the end of our meetings, we watched a short video by Simple Truths, called 212 Degrees. When water is heated up to 211 degrees Fahrenheit, it is simply very hot water, but heat it just one single degree more and it boils, creating steam and steam can power a locomotive. The items I've asked you to complete really amount to no more than that one extra degree, yet they can have tremendous results. I'm counting on you.
Fraternally,
Jack L. Butler
Grand Master of Masons in Iowa