Editorial
By RW Bro Richard Dawes
Lodge Secretaries and the 21st century! A lodge secretary looks good to the brethren if the notice papers get sent out on time and if the minutes bear some similarity to what actually happened last month. Brilliant!
B
ut the other 7/8ths of the secretarial iceberg are hidden. Of course, some things get done and others don’t. Grand Lodge doesn’t check the details of 250 lodges.
R Secretaries are able to correct and change members’ details live.
Then a new secretary takes over and discovers that the lodge records are incomplete. He quails at the thought of updating and correcting several years’ worth of errors and omissions.
R Membership applications can be submitted electronically and relevant documents such as police checks can be uploaded.
This is all changing. The new improved Grand Lodge database system went live on 27 February. From that date, or soon: R Members have access to their own records and will be responsible for keeping their basic information up to date. They cannot blame anyone else now. R Members can download their masonic history. If there are errors, these can be reported and will be corrected.
AND... WE’RE BACK! R SEEKING THE GOLDEN LION R ORIGIN OF OUR RITUAL
v52 n3 September 2020
OF JEPHTHAH R LODGE VAUCLUSE PHOTO COMPETITION R THE STORY
Example entries on back cover
UGLQ CENTE
FREEMASON FOTO COMPETITION!
www.masons.org.au LODGE ANTIQUITY
WHO WAS NARY R
O
Back to business v54 n2 June
BOOKPLATES
R Eventually all forms will be able to be completed and submitted online. R Coming soon will be the ability to book online for events (and pay for them where applicable) and receive receipts and tickets. R Also, coming soon will be the ability for the secretary and members to make purchases from an online shop. This will start with the normal lodge stationery items, books and rituals. Other items will gradually be added. R There is a resource section which includes a training videos section;
R There are three special help desk email addresses for people having difficulties – MembersHelp@masons.org.au, SecretariesHelp@masons.org.au and DGIWSHELP@masons.org.au. People are encouraged to use these, with an expectation of having a reply within two business days. This will also help to keep track of common problems and fix them quickly. Many lodges are creating new and attractive formats for notice papers and perhaps in the future we will see these being made available to all lodges. Finally, the new database system will encourage all brethren to see what is available on the Grand Lodge website, and that can only bring us closer together.
v53 n4 December 2020
Integrity – Loyalty – Respect
R THE GUYOT HIRAM ABIF?
R Secretaries can submit the lodge monthly returns to Grand Lodge online without completing paper forms.
initially videos are available on using the system. Content will gradually be increased to include training videos for members, secretaries, treasurers etc.
R ORIGIN OF OUR RITUAL
Integrity – Loyalty – Respect
II R A PHILATELIC ERROR
v54 n1 March 2021
2021
Integrity – Loyalty – Respect
– Respect – Loyalty Integrity
Hill Brokofen contrasts – a town
Monumental Masonry Prince a Profile of
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