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The FreeFree StateState FreemasonFreemason a publication of the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Maryland Volume 33, Issue 1 Winter 2010 From the Grand Master 2010 Grand Line Officers Brethren, A new Masonic Year has begun and the holiday season is upon MW Grand Master Thomas M. Velvin, Jr. us. I am happy to report the continued activity among most of our RW Deputy Grand Master Stephen J. Ponzillo, III Lodges with the conferral of the three degrees. I am still hearing from Worshipful Masters from all over the jurisdiction that they are RW Senior Grand Warden Arthur R. Dickerson, Jr. very busy and aren’t sure how they are going to get all of the work RW Junior Grand Warden Jay W. Hodges done. On the other hand, there are some Lodges that are languishing and wondering when they will see a new petition. It RW Grand Secretary Herbert Y. Holcomb, III goes without saying, that I am very happy to hear from the Lodges RW Grand Treasurer William E. Gyr that are active and overwhelmed with work to be done. For those Lodges that are waiting for the volcano to erupt, my message is W Grand Marshal Ronald A. Block “don’t wait too long.” It is up to you to look within your walls to find the energy that exists there to make your Lodge a warm, inviting place that does interesting W Asst. Grand Marshal Shawn R. Winpigler, Sr. things and reaches out to the community in which you live so the folks who live there will know W Senior Grand Deacon Charles L. Carmichael who the Masons are, and that we are just like them. Try having an open meeting or a CHIP event that will attract non-Masons to your door. Once these men understand who we are and W Junior Grand Deacon L. Michael O'Kelley what we do for our communities, they will want to be a part of it. If you need some help W Senior Grand Steward Carl A. Stahlman organizing an activity, the resources of the Grand Master’s Office are there for your use. All you have to do is ask. W Junior Grand Steward William D. Gunn During the month of December, it is our tradition to elect the Officers who will take on the W Grand Tyler Michael G. Faby leadership role of your Lodge for the ensuing year. It is my hope that those who are elected Worshipful Master will take seriously the job they have been chosen by their peers to do. W Asst. Grand Tyler Jay W. Cochrane Being Worshipful Master is a job that requires management skills, leadership skills, and some W Grand Standard Bearer Avrum Tamres financial skills in addition to the requirement to be able to confer the three degrees of Craft Masonry, a working knowledge of Article XVI of the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of W Grand Sword Bearer George B. Little Maryland and having received the Past Master’s Degree. It seems that we ask much of our W Grand Pursuivant Roy M. Hodgson Worshipful Master and, we do. It is not a job to be taken lightly as you should have learned in the Leadership Seminar held last April. The Worshipful Master is the representative of W Grand Director of Ceremonies Donald A. Fisher every member of his Lodge when actions affecting them and their Grand Lodge are being considered. He agrees to attend on ALL committees and communications of the Grand W Grand Chaplain Elwood L. Ulmer Lodge when properly notified. This duty is just as important as is paying one’s dues in a W Asst Grand Chaplain Jack R. George timely manner with one exception. A Woshipful Master who finds that he cannot attend the meetings of committees he is assigned to or the communications of the Grand Lodge MUST W Asst Grand Chaplain Randal A. Schoch appoint a proxy to become the representative of the members. This past November, all but W Asst Grand Chaplain Walter F. Burgess three Lodges had representatives in attendance which is a significant improvement from the Semi-Annual last May. I am hoping the three Lodges whose representatives were absent will W Asst Grand Chaplain Edward E. Howard see fit to attend the Semi-Annual Communication next May. W Grand Organist Ronald L. Unger The programs that were instituted in 2009 have been very successful thus far. We will continue our efforts to resuscitate Lodges that are on the verge of going dark, the highly W Grand Lecturer Paul H. Fishell successful Child ID program, the Long Range Planning Committee and other projects to W Asst Grand Organist Kenneth C. Mars revitalize our Lodges and increase our membership. Updates will be reported as needed at the Semi-Annual Communication and the regional meetings. W Grand Photographer Mark E. Hartz Worshipful Masters will soon receive a letter asking for the nomination of one of the Officers of the Lodge to attend the Leadership Seminar for 2010. Information about this seminar can be found elsewhere in this issue of the Free State Freemason. In addition to the Seminar, we are also beginning to plan for the annual round of regional meetings. I urge everyone who can, to attend at least one of these meetings. The agenda is the same for all of them. They begin with coffee and buns at 8:00 AM, followed by the meeting at 9:00 AM. PAID We strive to present interesting and timely topics for your consideration and comment. There is always time for questions and comments from you who attend so that you have the NON-PROFIT ELKTON, MD ELKTON, PERMIT NO 85 U.S. POSTAGE ORGANIZATION opportunity to provide needed input to your Grand Lodge Officers. The schedule for the Regional Meeting will be posted on the Grand Lodge web calendar sometime before the end of December. Please make plans to attend. On behalf of the Grand Lodge Officers, the Office Staff and our spouses, I wish each of you a Happy Hannukah, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year or whatever you personally celebrate as we approach the December holiday period and the New Year. It is truly an honor and pleasure to serve as your Grand Master and I am looking forward to a busy and productive 2010 where we will see positive growth in our numbers for the first time in many years. Fraternally, Tom Velvin Grand Master Deadlines for submitting articles & information for publication in the Free State Freemason: the 1st day of March (Spring), June (Summer), September (Fall), and December (Winter). These dates are firm as the issue must be formatted and given to the printer the 2nd week of these months. Send mail to: Free State Freemason 304 International Circle Cockeysville, MD 21030 410-527-0600 tel 410-527-1276 fax The Grand Lodge of Maryland Ballroom Rentals Contact: Raymond J. Vogel, Ballroom Coordinator at 410-527-0289 [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected], Fax 410-316-9410 Office Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Monday - Friday by appointment. Catering: Approved list of caterers. Article Submission Ballroom Capacity: Receptions, 320, with a nice dance area. 410 for banquets These points should be followed for without dance area. Separate room for Weddings and Special Events. articles submitted for inclusion in the Free Rates: Call for information. State Freemason publication: Parking: Free on site, 178 spaces. Information: Foyer is marble with a fantastic staircase. Ballroom is 55 ft. x 111 ft., Original pictures or pictures from a with hardwood floors. Twelve brass chandeliers, dance area depends on table digital camera on disk are fine - use the setup. A must see in person to really experience the beauty of this facility. Call us highest resolution. and come see our Ballroom in this beautiful Hunt Valley setting. Ink jet prints or newspaper pictures License Plates will not reproduce satisfactorily. Masonic License plates are available to Maryland Masons, with vehicles registered in Maryland, as well as their wives, widows, and sons and If you desire the return of pictures, they daughters living at home. You do not have to wait for renewal of registration. must have submitting individual’s name Call Ray Vogel at 410-527-0600 to find out how it works and how easy it is to on the back. put them on your vehicle. (Motorcycle tags are not available) Be proud of your fraternity and display these plates on your car this year. Pictures should have accompanying documentation detailing who is in the Chair Plaques & The Tree of Life picture and what the picture represents if Chair Plaques are for chairs located in the Corinthian Room on the second floor of Grand Lodge. not accompanied by an article. Articles You may have your own name on a plaque, or have it in memory of, or to honor a person, club, or group. must be typewritten. The Tree of Life is located in the main lobby of the Grand Lodge Building. You can sponsor a leaf on the tree, or have it in memory of, or to honor a person, club, or group. Articles can be submitted to the editor by e-mail, fax, regular mail or dropped The Chair Plaques and the Tree of Life leaves cost only $200.00 each. off at the Grand Lodge office. This provides you with up to four lines on either, with twenty-one characters per line. Call Ray Vogel at the Grand Lodge at 410-527-0600 to make arrangements for yours.