The Proud To Be A Mason Program.

Much like the new Twain Awards Program sponsored by the Masonic Service Association on a national basis, the purpose of this new Vermont initiative will be to encourage more of our brothers to identify themselves as Masons within our communities. Its objective is to encourage a renewed level of pride in the fraternity and motivate a greater number of our brothers to discover quality men as membership prospects.

It starts with the wearing of Vermont’s new “Proud to be a Mason” pin. The pin is simple, but universal in design.  It highlights the square and compasses logo and the words “Proud to be a Mason”. For ages, the square and compasses have been the most recognized logo in existence, but for more than two decades it diminished in recognition, only now experiencing a comeback through movies and television. We will encourage all brothers to wear this pin, not just at lodge meetings or fraternal events, but more importantly in public places like church, work, recreational events and social gatherings. If we are truly “Proud to be Masons”, we ought to show this pride to the public and identify ourselves as a fraternity.

Other components to the new program will include:

• A related “Pride” card, made in wallet size and laminated (see below).  The card, which will be distributed to active Masons, will include a statement of why we are “Proud to be masons” and a list of talking points on the benefits of Masonic membership.
• A newly designed “Proud to be a Mason” polo shirt which will be made available to all lodge members. These shirts will be customized for individual members and lodges but we'll have one standard shirt worn throughout the state to create a much greater visual impact to the public. These shirts, individually embroidered with the brother’s name and lodge, will sell for $25.00 with a portion of the cost as a donation to Masonic Charities of Vermont for the CARE Program.  We encourage lodges to make the shirts available to their members.
• The program will also include a customized “Proud to be a Masonic Lady” pin and a coordinating polo shirt which will be sold by my Lady, Joanne, with proceeds also going to our CARE Charity.
• I will work personally to constitute a new Vermont Lodge called “The Vermont Young Masons Lodge”. It will meet in host lodges around the state similar to our Lodge of Research, but regular membership will be limited to brothers under 45 years of age. Associate membership will be available to all brothers. It will encourage and offer opportunity to young Masons in ritual, education and social enjoyment, but won't in any way compete with their involvement in home lodges. Brother Errol Hinton, our incoming Grand Lecturer, will head the committee to make this project a reality.
• A Masons Marketplace section will be added to our Vermont Freemasons web site. We're developing the criteria for this project now but expect it to be of considerable value to you as a Vermont Mason.
• The month of November has been designated “Vermont Month” at the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia.  To commemorate this event, we are planning a Masonic Education bus trip in early November to visit the Memorial and to hold an Emergent Session of Vermont Grand Lodge. It is expected that we will visit the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania’s famous building in Philadelphia along the way and visit other historic Masonic sites in Washington, D.C. Several brothers of Seneca Lodge No. 40 in Milton have agreed to assist in organizing this trip.

Are you PROUD TO BE A MASON? You should be!

Presented to the Grand Lodge of Vermont Annual Communication 2007 by Cal Keyler, Grand Master.

 

 

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