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facts about the budget that need to be con-
Masonic Tribune
Masonic T r i bune sidered. First, of the approximate $40,000
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shortfall, $10,000 is “depreciation” which is
really a tax-affected line item. In real terms,
Are we having fun yet? not a dime is expended out of any account.
That leaves approximately $30,000 in pro-
ay back in the day a Salty Old Sailor posed deficit spending. There is a good bit
Wused to repeat the aphorism “If you of the budget over which we have no real
ain’t having fun, you ain’t doing it right,” the control. Adequate business and casualty
meaning of which is left to your imagina- insurance, legal fees, accounting and audit
tion. I always took it to mean in part “don’t fees, and the other expenses of running a
take yourself too seriously” and especially business office are largely set as the most
“you don’t have all the answers, so do your responsible as well as economical expens-
best and enjoy the ride.” es. Some of the line items that are discre-
Our Grand Master has rightly adopted the tionary really are not, if we are to affect
theme of “Communicate to Educate.” We positive changes that are necessary to our
can all remember times in our lives when success as a Fraternity. We, the Executive
we made a decision in good faith and dis- Committee and Finance Committee have
covered too late that we were making that pared back every expense that we felt was
decision without having all the pertinent prudent. Can more be cut? Yes. Doing so
RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Brother
information at our disposal. Sometimes however would be a detriment to our ability
that is because the information was not to conduct the business of the Fraternity.
available, and sometimes the holder of
To address this shortfall, three emergent
Jim H. Kendall the result of a decision made without all cover the deficit in the proposed budget. ARDEN
DEPUTY Grand Master
that information did not share it. Usually
resolutions have been submitted that will
the information is still an acceptable result,
None of the three is palatable, yet one
and sometimes not. It is the “not accept-
needs to be passed if we are not to ac-
able” outcome that takes up an inordinate
cept a deficit budge. That is a decision that
amount of time.
the hands of the Grand Lodge Team. That
As it happens, your Grand Lodge Team rests in the hands of the body, and not in
spends time putting out fires of one variety is where the decision should lie. Please,
or another. Despite the (necessary) dis- pay close attention when the time comes
tractions caused by dealing with the brush for the Finance Committee to present the
fires, very real progress is being made in budget.
several fronts. Membership: We are hearing more and
Financial: The Finance Committee, Execu- more reports of enquirers entering and
tive Committee and office staff have been even completing the six steps program
arm-wrestling the budget for more than six and joining our Fraternity, in part because
months. The result is a clearer understand- they heard or saw our ads. At least one
ing of the magnitude of the issues and the Lodge reports great success using the 6 SENIOR Grand W
disparate causes of the perceived discon- steps program coupled with keeping an
nects between resources and obligations. up-to-date Lodge website. Retention of
So far, we have beaten the budget into our members is one of the most important
submission for the short term. There is a things we must tackle, and I am happy to
lot of work to be done yet, however. Long report we are seeing progress in that effort
term “fixes” simply don’t exist in the real as well.
world but strategies can and will be crafted Are we having fun yet? I am. I love the op-
to deal with budgetary issues as they arise. portunity to affect positive changes while
We are not there yet, but we have made having fun at the same time. Ask VWB
substantial progress. Romy Labonete how he conned the Grand
Budget: Speaking of financial issues, Master into loudly announcing that District
you have by now seen the budget 12 is the best district. Now that was fun!
submitted by the Finance Commit-
tee (in conjunction with the effort per RWB Jim Kendall
the previous paragraph). It is a defi-
cit budget, which seems to set some Deputy Grand Master
people’s hair on fire. There are some
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