Grand Lodge Advisory Committee Proposals For Passage At the Phoenix Grand Lodge Session, July, 2011
(A variety of changes - some requiring Statutory Changes – others not!)
At their recent annual meeting the GL Advisory Committee has approved the following issues for some changes in our Order wherein the Committee on Judiciary and Advisory Committee on Laws must now prepare and distribute these proposals for the delegates at Phoenix, July 2011. It is hoped that a set of proper proposals will reach the Lodges in sufficient time for them to review prior to the Convention.
Time may not allow these proposals to be properly disseminated between now and then. There may be other proposals added to the growing list of new legislative issues as it comes time and place for voting in July, 2011.
The Advisory Committee is asking that everyone keep an open mind and positive mindset that some changes MUST be made for the Good of the Order. Some may not require any change in the present Laws of the Order and some will require Statute changes!
Grand Lodge:
1. Change the name of the Grand Lodge to “National Lodge” (Passed & effective 2011)
2. Modernize titles of “National Lodge” Officers: (Passed & effective 2012)
· National President from Grand Exalted Ruler
· National Vice President from Endorsed Candidate for GER. (Elected National Vice President will be elected a year earlier and will automatically become National President the following GL year.)
· Sergeant At Arms replaces Grand Esquire, Grand Inner Guard and Grand Tiler.
· National Chaplain from Grand Chaplain.
· National Trustee(s) from GL Trustee(s).
3. Eliminate Elks Training Program (annual review of Statutes) (Passed & effective 2011)
4. Eliminate Membership Benefits Program. (Effective when present contract expires)
5. Eliminate the printing of GER Acceptance Speech for audience opening night and not in the daily Convention newsletter. The Elks Magazine will keep it in a later issue. (Passed and effective 2011)
6. Eliminate the spouses’ entertainment on Tuesday morning. (Passed & effective 2011)
7. Eliminate the “bull pen” roped off area for PGERs at the Exalted Ruler Ball on Wednesday evening of the Convention. Attending PGERs will still be introduced. (Passed & effective 2011)
8. Eliminate all “Honorable” titles for all Grand Lodge Officers. (Passed & effective 2011)
9. Sunday evening GER Dinner to start at 4:00 PM until completion (approximately 6-6:30pm, thus allowing for State Associations to conduct Sunday evening parties. (Passed & effective 2012)
10. Restructure Grand Lodge Committees as follows: (Passed & effective 2012)
Activities Committee
Community Project
Public Relations
Youth Activities
Hoop Shoot Program
Fraternal CommitteeAmericanism
Elks National Foundation
Flag Day
Memorial Day
Membership
Lodge Activities
Veterans
Auditing & Accounting Committee
Committee on Judiciary
Ritualistic
Eliminates virtually ALL current Committees, including Government Relations, Drug Awareness, Hoop Shoot, Veterans Commission, etc. Only Auditing & Accounting, Committee on Judiciary and Ritualistic survive!
11. Grand Secretary will develop a bank of Elk Building Plans for purpose & use of and by Local Lodges in rebuild actions. (Passed & effective 2011)
12. A uniform job description for Special Deputies duties and responsibilities to be created in Grand Lodge. (Passed & effective 2011)
13. More Meetings by Grand Lodge will be by electronic (along this line, teleconferencing is being considered where it may be practical in costs) (Passed & effective 2011)
14. After February 2012, the February GL Advisory meetings and Grand Trustees Meetings will be held in Chicago Headquarters without spouses attending. (Passed & effective 2012)
15. Amend Statutes to provide where Lodges may collect dues annually or semi-annually. (Passed & effective 2011)
16. Remove all references to Communist party. (Passed & effective 2011)
17. Repeat Accident Prevention State Chairpersons attend their national seminar every other year. (Passed & effective 2011)
18. Standard Elk Stationary for all. Personalizing is okay. (Passed & effective 2011)
19. Create an Elks Web Leadership School on internet for access by Elks in local Lodges. (Passed & effective TBD)
20. Allow Local Lodges (optional), by By-Law, to collect dues and be credited and/or grant other suitable rewards for members who recruit other members that remain “paid up” member for one full year, plus. (Passed & effective 2011)
21. Reduce the GL convention by one full day. (Passed & effective dependent upon hotel contracts-TBD)
22. For Phoenix - For Committee Chairpersons to have their written reports to be published on the Web site. Chairperson introduces the Committee members and thanks Lodges for their support and participation. All awards will be published in the Daily Convention newsletter and received at the booth. On Tuesday morning the majority of the Session will be devoted to the discussions of aspects, presented by the Future of Elkdom Committee and approved by the Grand Lodge Advisory for the Lodges and their representatives. (Passed & approved for Phoenix Convention)
23. Grand Lodge personnel spouses may wait until the weekend of the actual Convention beginning to come and attend the Convention. (Passed & optional by Ladies)
Changes affecting the DDGER:
1. No longer required for the DDGER to witness and grade the Initiatory Ritual at the official Lodge visit made by the DDGER. DDGER Report still sent. No GER response will be made. State Sponsor may still comment and make recommendations to the Lodge. (Passed & effective 2011)
2. DDGER will no longer receive Business Cards and is no longer an allowed expense by DDGER. (Passed & effective 2011)
3. Will no longer conduct a January DDGER Clinic. (Passed & effective 2012)
4. No longer DDGER Indoctrination in Chicago. All DD Indoctrination would be arranged by State Sponsor within the State. Budget funds for the State Sponsor’s indoctrination would be applicably made for DD Designates. (Passed & effective 2012) Apparently DD would no longer attend Grand Lodge Session!
5. Lodge Officer memorization of the Ritual parts would no longer be required. (Passed & effective 2012)
Subordinate Lodge:
1. Change the Name of “Subordinate Lodge” to “Local Lodge.” (Passed & effective 2011)
2. Lodge Meeting may be held once per month, or more often at the Lodge decision (Lodge altar already be set up and remains set up as the ER closes the Lodge)
3. The Local Lodge may opt to shorten the Lodge Opening & Closing rituals by By-Law Change.
4. Local Lodge change in Officer titles:(Passed & effective 2012)
President -- from Exalted Ruler
1st Vice President -- from Esteemed Leading Knight
2nd Vice President -- from Esteemed Loyal Knight
3rd Vice President -- from Esteemed Lecturing Knight
Sergeant at Arms -- from Lodge Esquire, Inner Guard & Tiler
Secretary -- from Lodge Secretary & Treasurer combined
Trustee(s) -- retain name of Trustee(s) & one of who would be signatory on checks & provide for paper trail
Inner Guard & Tiler -- would be eliminated - see Sergeant At Arms
5. Allow for one community program to be solely identified as the Elks sponsored Lodge in each community. This would answer the question in the Community as to what the Elks are known for in that community. (Passed & effective 2011)
Suggestions made by Future of Elkdom Committee where NO Legislation is required:
1. Local Lodges are encouraged to make facilities available for use by civic groups so long as all laws are obeyed. (Passed & effective 2011)
2. Local Lodges establish Mentoring Program for Lodge Officers. (Passed & effective 2011)
3. If not already existing, local Lodges to establish an Activities/Entertainment Committee. (Passed & effective 2011)
4. A New Member Welcoming Committee for Local Lodges is seriously recommended. (Passed & effective 2011)
5. Installation and use of electronic games (i.e.; Wi-Fi) and other games in Game Room of Local Lodges (for members and children) (Passed & effective 2011)
6. Place the Membership application on the GL Web site. (Passed & effective 2011) (This would be a Grand Lodge action)
7. Create a suggested format for State Association’s meetings and conventions with emphasis on less reporting and more training of Elks. (Passed & effective 2011)
8. Suggested dress code for GL Advisory Committee after Sunday be optional for business casual. (Passed & effective 2011)
