The Grand Lodge Messenger

I hope you’re enjoying our summer! The weather has been ridiculously hot for a few days now, so fortunately it’s cooling down some. Now that many of our Lodges are either going dark for the summer or going informal, we can really kick back and enjoy this time of the year.

The Annual Communication went even better than last year, from what I’ve heard from the Brethren. A lot of business was conducted in a very efficient manner, and there was plenty of fanfare. We are building on lessons learned from previous annual Communications, and the improvements are noticeable by all who attended. Also important was the opportunity to meet you in person, as it’s one of the few events that we meet from all over the Jurisdiction in one place. It’s a great opportunity to catch up on things that we’ve discussed over the year.  

I would also like to thank those of you who assisted us and the Arrangements Committee in the moving of the Grand Lodge furniture and other materials to and from the Grand Lodge office to the Wenatchee Convention Center, and the set up and take down. There is a lot involved with these moves, and your assistance made things much easier. And, of course, I would like to thank VWB Pat Baker, WB Pat Hall and WB Scott Ross of the Arrangements Committee for your work in this project. It was fun working with you. The same goes for the Credentials and Tech committees, where the improved communication between us really assisted in moving the business of the Annual Communication along in a concise and efficient manner. Thank you as well!

As you might guess, we’re still working up here to process all that we have done at the Annual Communication, and while many of our Lodges are dark over the next couple of months, there are still several who are active, doing degree work (including outdoor degree work!), Table Lodges, and participating in local parades and festivals. A new take on Lodges going dark that I’ve noticed this summer is Brothers from other Jurisdictions, in the United States and from overseas, who are on vacation and wish to visit a Lodge in the area while they’re on vacation, only to find that most of the lodges in the area they’re visiting are dark. It can be tricky for us to be able to tell a visitor what events are going on in their area, as there are dozens of events, picnics, barbecues, etc. that happen throughout the Jurisdiction during the summer. We will do our best to contact Lodges to find out if they have an event while a visitor from another Jurisdiction is near their Lodge. 

You’ll see further down in the Messenger a list of many upcoming summer events. I’ll be attending some of them, and I look forward to seeing you this summer!

And yes, I’m still working on that drum of Jelly-Bellies. A special thank-you to whoever bought them. 

      
                             
Fraternal Regards,

Clayton LaVigne
Assistant Grand Secretary

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Edward C. Woods, PGM
Business Development Director