2007 The Plumb Line

http://www.mn-rivervalley.org

Minnesota River Valley Lodge #6

"Issued with the Permission of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Minnesota"

Special Note from the Webmaster: The original email from the Grand Master had an attachment “Key Steps to a Strategic Plan” that was shared with the permission of the author.  Due to copyrights and MN River Valley Lodge #6 not receiving permission to post the document (PDF file) it is not attached.  If you wish to view the document please contact the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

Plumbline October 2007

Plumb line – “a cord by which a weight is suspended to test the perpendicularity or depth of something, a sounding line.”  I assume that this missive is the weight, and an attempt to determine perpendicularity, depth, and a sounding board with the leadership of the craft.
 
While walking in the cloudy moonlight of the pre-dawn today, even in that darkness, I was struck with the colors of fall. This naturally caused reflection on the cycles of nature. One thinks of the acorn and its sprout and then the concentric rings of growth and maturity as it wends its way through life.
 
The Grand Lodge Corporate Board is a bit like that acorn and the resulting oak tree. We started 150+ years ago, before statehood, and have in the ensuing years added rings and maturity.
 
During the time that I have served in the Grand Line I have been privileged to work with and witness this process. One always hopes that the ring you leave behind is a thick ring of growth from a good year, but we will not know until we see how nurturing the year has been.
 
The falling leaves remind me that it is time for us to begin to address this year’s growth and to plan transition to next year. Deputy Grand Master  Jackson, following the tradition established by the Grand Masters ahead of us, is planning for the Strategic Planning Retreat of the Grand Lodge and reinvigoration and growth of the Grand Lodge and craft in the year ahead. It has been our custom as handed down by past leaders to plan as and speak as a group.
 
Strategic Planning is an important process for all organizations, and definitely is a necessity for progressive groups. Senior Wardens, it is time to talk to your Masters and progressive members of your lodge. I would encourage each lodge to find time to stop for a day and vision and plan for the short and long term of your lodge. I am attaching “Key Steps to a Strategic Plan” from Michael Steinberg, M.J. Steinberg Associates and Dynamic Boards at www.DynamicBoards.com.  We are using Mr. Steinberg’s copyrighted material (attached as a PDF) with his permission. I have also copied in the definition of plan:

plan n

1. A method of doing something that is worked out usually in some detail before it is begun and that may be written down in some form or simply retained in memory
2. Something that somebody intends or has arranged to do (often used in the plural)
3. A drawing or diagram showing the layout, arrangement, or structure of something
4. A list, summary, or diagram that shows how the items that make up something such as a piece of writing or an organized meeting are to be arranged
5. A scale diagram showing a horizontal view of the arrangement of rooms and fixtures in a building on a particular level

v

1. vti to work out in advance and in some detail how something is to be done or organized
2. vt to intend or to make arrangements to do something
3. vt to make a scale drawing of something, especially a building

Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.  Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

I would strongly encourage each lodge to look seriously at strategic planning, the process allows great discussion, idea sharing, and group formulation of a plan that can be built on and added to on a yearly basis.
 
I have not been able to make the Area Conferences as I had hoped, but I am thrilled with the demonstration of leadership by the Area Deputies, District Representatives, and Lodge Officers. I am sure as the leadership committee labors, and with the work of the Grand Line liaisons and Fraternal Consultant, strategic planning and other leadership techniques will be utilized.
 
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PLEASE TAKE NOTE:  “Minnesota Melody”
WHAT: Minnesota Masonic Charities 3rd Annual GALA
WHEN:  Saturday, October 27, 2007
WHERE:  at the Minneapolis Club
                  729 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis
WHY:  A benefit for the Partners for Life campaign
HOW:  $120 per person / limited seating / semiformal attire
            6 o'clock:  Silent Auction & Social Hour
           7 o'clock:  Dinner & Delightful Entertainment
 
All proceeds from this year’s Minnesota Masonic Charities’ GALA will be for the benefit of the Partners for Life campaign. This means that when you make your reservations, 100% of your contribution will go directly to the goal of raising funds to build a new cancer research and care facility at the University of Minnesota. 100%! In addition, sales from the Silent Auction and the raffle will also be given directly in support of the campaign.
 
Did you know that that your attendance is fully tax deductible? Your contribution will be acknowledged as fully tax deductible both for attending and also separately for purchasing raffle tickets or silent auction items.
 
Please join your Grand Master, the Worthy Grand Matron and many others of the Masonic family for a wonderful evening...for an amazing cause. Call the Minnesota Masonic Charities office, 952-948-6004 or go online at http://www.mnmasoniccharities.org to make reservations.

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Public Service Opportunity

As we look at ways to promote our organization to our members and the community at large, we have an opportunity to utilize our facilities, save our members and the community some money, and market Masonry at the same time. The Driver Safety Program within the AARP organization provides a proven program to help drivers over 50 years of age to drive safer and longer and get a 10% reduction on their major auto insurance coverages. This program is offered through sponsors like Masonic Lodges, by volunteers who are trained to teach a proven curriculum to participants in the state of Minnesota.
 
A Lodge can participate in the program in one of two ways:
1.    Offer the use of the building facility during hours when Masonic activities are not occurring. Another organization like a community education group would advertise the service, register the participants, and look to the local Lodge to host one or more classes usually attended by 20 to 30 participants.

2.    Become a sponsoring organization by offering use of the building, advertising the classes, registering participants, collecting the registration amount, and partnering with the volunteer Instructor to support the classroom experience.

AARP provides the trained Volunteer Instructors, all classroom materials, and insurance coverage to hold the Lodge harmless as a sponsor of the activity. The opportunity for each Lodge member participant to save 10% on their major auto insurance cover ages is a strong motivation to consider hosting one or more driver safety classes. The added opportunity to invite the community at large to walk through our doors at least once every three years should be a strong motivation to consider partnering with AARP to sponsor classes on a regular basis.
 
We encourage you to add this subject to the meeting agenda at one of the upcoming Lodge gatherings.  For more information, contact Brother Rich Dohrmann, a member of Union Lodge No. 45 in Le Sueur, MN and an active statewide Volunteer for AARP’s Driver Safety Program:
                        Rich Dohrmann
                        18322 Cattail Ct
                        Eden Prairie, MN 55346
                        Cell Phone:            612-210-8771
                        Home Phone: 952-934-5157
                        email:  rfdohrmann@comcast.net

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Upcoming events:

October 6, 2007 Northeast Area Leadership Conference taking place at Mesaba Lodge No. 255 in Hibbing. All Master Masons are welcome, and all lodge officers are encouraged to attend. Lunch reservations need to be made so please contact Area Deputy Rolf Widstrand with your RSVP, rwidstra@mesabieast.k12.mn.us.

October 13, 2007 Combined Metroeast and Metrowest Area Leadership Conference taking place at Grand Casino Mille Lacs. All Master Masons are welcome, and all lodge officers are encouraged to attend. Lunch reservations need to be made so please contact Area Deputy Ken White with your RSVP, mmci24-1@msn.com.

October 20, 2007 Faribault Lodge No. 9 150th Anniversary celebration. For details please contact W. Master Douglas Remmey, dremmey@charter.net.

October 27, 2007 One-Day-to-Masonry in Owatonna at Star in the East Lodge No. 33. All candidates must be voted on by the lodges involved and have the candidate information to the Grand Lodge office by October 18th. All Master Masons are invited as sideliners and are most welcome to spend the day. If you will be present for the noon lunch please contact the Grand Lodge office with your RSVP so we can make the proper lunch arrangements, grandlodge@qwest.net.