Page 22 - 2017 Summer

Gr and Lodg e of W ashingt on Long Range Planning Committee
Grand Lodge of Washington
Masonic Tribune
Masonic T r ibune
Volume XCVIII No. 4 - Summer 2017 Issue - Page 22
Volume XCII No.1 - Summer Issue - Page 3
f you ask 100 Masons what is their definition of a Long
IRange Plan, you’ll probably get 100 different answers.
Deputies of the Grand Master There is no one right way to do something. However, we
REPORTS continued... can all agree on a direction or vision of what we’d like
things to look like in the future. How can we see the future?
Because, we absolutely know what we DON’T like about
Brethren, the past. By changing what we don’t like, will help us un-
For my final Tribune article as Deputy of derstand what we DO want for the future of this Fraternity.
the Grand Master in District 27, I thought I
would share with you some of the things I Before you can begin to plan, you have to know why you
am most proud of about my tenure and are doing it. The Grand Lodge of Washington has already
then offer some food for thought. developed a strong Mission Statement/Purpose which
In District 27 here are things of which I am reads: FreeMasons of Washington will be recognized as
most proud: a relevant and respected Fraternity, committed to attract-
1. The Cornerstone ceremony for the ing and retaining all men of high quality who strive for self
new Spokane Masonic Center. We had improvement and the opportunity to make a positive differ-
a successful ceremony back on October 22, 2016. While ence in their community.
construction on the Temple is ongoing, two of the Lodges Would you agree that is a good, strong Mission? I would
in the District have submitted By-Laws changes allowing say it is and submit that our current form of the Long
them to move to the new facility, while others are exploring Range Plan is a further descriptor or extension of our Mis-
the prospect. I give my thanks to WB Roger Nelson, Bro. sion statement, or a Vision Statement if you will.
Randy Guegel, and all of the Brethren, which helped to I’ve been asked on several occasions, “How are we going
make this event happen. to hold the Grand Lodge accountable to fulfill this Mission
2. When my tenure began, one of the Lodges in the District and a Long Range Vision?” Haven’t we all taken an ob-
was experiencing internal strife, largely because they took ligation to ourselves and to each other? If we can’t fulfill
actions without first consulting the Washington Masonic our obligations to each other then why are we part of this
Code. Since then, the members of the Lodge have taken Fraternity?
it upon themselves to study the Code (and they frequently
discuss portions of the Code at the Stated Communica- While this Long Range Planning initiative is designed for
tions). While they still need help with their ritual work, they the Grand Lodge of Washington and all of its Committee
have gotten into a steady habit of consulting the Code, Chairman & Committeemen to fulfill, the concepts of cre-
and they are getting a steady stream of candidates. It is ating a Plan or Vision for our Lodges are absolutely ap-
my hope they will continue to work on their ritual work and plicable.
start conferring their own Degrees. You might know of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Maslow’s
3. Several Brethren have been working on the Proficiency theory suggests that the most basic level of needs must be
in Lodge Management. As I write this article, two Breth- met before the individual will strongly desire (or focus mo-
ren have completed both parts A and B, with a 3rd who tivation upon) the secondary or higher level needs. Maslow
has completed part A. I look forward to working with that also coined the term “meta-motivation” to describe the mo-
Brother on part B. tivation of people who go beyond the scope of the basic
And now I give you some food for thought. Brethren, what needs and strive for constant betterment.
does the Code say? A Brother in my District recently con- The human brain is a complex system and has parallel
tacted me out of concern about the New Candidate Education processes running at the same time, thus many different
Program. Specifically, his concern was on the Master Mason motivations from various levels of Maslow’s hierarchy can
portion because, in his opinion, it leaves one to the impression occur at the same time. Maslow spoke clearly about these
that a Master Mason can serve as a Lodge officer without hav- levels and their satisfaction in terms such as “relative”,
ing completed the 3rd Degree proficiency. As I reviewed this “general”, and “primarily”.
for myself, I discovered that it doesn’t specify the requirement Instead of stating that the individual focuses on a certain
of completing the 3rd Degree proficiency before serving as an need at any given time, Maslow Stated that a certain need
officer. However, I pointed out to the Brother Section 15.03 “dominates” the human organism. Thus Maslow acknowl-
B.L. of the Washington Masonic Code, Officer Qualifications, edged the likelihood that the different levels of motivation
which states “All Officers of a Lodge, either elected or appoint- could occur at any time in the human mind, but he focused
ed, shall be Master Masons in good standing who are voting on identifying the basic types of motivation and the order in
members thereof, and who shall have passed a proficiency which they should be met.
on the Third Degree. Exception: The Chaplain, Musician and
Tyler, who may be members of other Lodges.” Physiological needs
Brethren, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve as a Physiological needs are the physical requirements for hu-
Deputy of the Grand Master. I leave you with this question. man survival. If these requirements are not met, the hu-
“What does the Code say?” man body cannot function properly and will ultimately fail.
Fraternally, Physiological needs are thought to be the most important;
VWBB Ryan Leonard they should be met first.
Deputy of the Grand Master - District No. 27 Air, water, and food are metabolic requirements for survival
(Continued in page 24)
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