In this conversation, Nick Ives interviews Daniel M. Luft, a prominent figure in the Masonic community, focusing on his journey through Blue Lodge and York Rite Masonry. Daniel shares his personal experiences, the importance of mentorship, and the impact of leadership within the Masonic fraternity. He discusses the structure of York Rite, its charitable contributions, and the significance of community involvement. The conversation also highlights Daniel's achievements and awards, as well as the unique features of invitational bodies within York Rite. Finally, Daniel provides insights on how interested individuals can get involved in York Rite Masonry.
In this engaging conversation, Nick Ives interviews Al Johnson, the thrice potent master of the Valley of New Haven, discussing his journey in Freemasonry, community engagement, and the various bodies within the organization. Al shares insights into the importance of charity work, the fellowship found in Scottish Rite, and the innovative programs that enhance accessibility to degrees. The discussion also highlights the significance of education and outreach, particularly in supporting dyslexia centers, and concludes with a look at upcoming events and opportunities for involvement.
In this conversation, Nick Ives interviews Right Worshipful Brother Carl Anderson, the Grand Almoner, discussing the vital role of the Almoner program in supporting Masons and their families in need. They explore the evolution of the program, the importance of lodge support, personal stories of assistance, and the broader impact of Masonic values in community engagement. Additionally, Carl shares insights from his role as a chaplain and his experiences in fraternal relations, reflecting on his journey in Freemasonry and the importance of planning for the future.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Grand Almoner Role
03:00 The Evolution of the Ominor Program
05:50 Lodge Support and Community Impact
08:41 Personal Stories of Assistance
11:25 The Role of a Chaplain in Masonic Life
14:32 Fraternal Relations and Community Engagement
17:31 Reflections on Masonic Journey and Future Plans
In this conversation, Right Worshipful Brother Nick Ives interviews Right Worshipful Grand Treasurer Thomas Gondek about his journey in Freemasonry, from his initial interest to his current role as Grand Treasurer. They discuss the responsibilities and challenges of being a Grand Treasurer, including financial management, budgeting, and the importance of community within the Masonic Lodge. Gondek shares insights on the transition to a new lodge building, the significance of auditing practices, and personal growth throughout his Masonic journey. He emphasizes the value of brotherhood and the rewarding experiences that come with being a Mason.
00:00 Introduction to Freemasonry and Personal Journeys
02:45 Becoming a Mason: First Steps and Experiences
05:07 Transitioning to Grand Treasurer: The Path and Responsibilities
07:45 Financial Management: Selling the Old Lodge
09:51 Understanding the Role of Grand Treasurer
12:34 Budgeting and Planning for the Grand Lodge
15:05 Collaboration with the Grand Secretary
17:37 Trustees vs. Grand Treasurer: Understanding the Roles
19:37 Income Sources for the Grand Lodge
21:57 Expenditures and Financial Responsibilities
24:36 Auditing Practices and Transparency
27:07 Personal Growth as Grand Treasurer
29:25 Advice to New Masons: Embracing the Journey
In this engaging conversation, Nick Ives interviews F. Matthew Heinrich, Jr., the Grand Senior Warden, about his journey in Freemasonry, the importance of mentorship, the role of ritual, and the vibrant community life within the lodge. They discuss the evolution of membership, the significance of moral character, and the unique aspects of Connecticut Masonry. Heinrich shares insights on leadership, community engagement, and the excitement of welcoming new members into the fraternity.
00:00 Introduction and Summer Adventures
02:56 Joining Masonry: A Personal Journey
06:01 The Evolution of Membership in Masonry
08:37 The Role of Mentorship in Masonry
11:10 The Importance of Ritual in Masonry
14:29 Life in the Lodge: Community Engagement
17:15 The Value of Mentorship and Leadership
20:21 The Sixth District: A Diverse Community
23:10 Connecticut Masonry: Unique Aspects
26:03 Positive Trends in Connecticut Masonry
28:53 Encouraging New Members
32:11 Looking Ahead: Upcoming Events
35:04 Conclusion and Resources
In this conversation, Shane Dufresne shares his journey into Freemasonry, discussing how he discovered the fraternity, the values it embodies, and the impact it has had on his life. He reflects on his experiences as a police officer and how those values align with Masonic principles. Shane also talks about his leadership roles within the lodge, the importance of mentorship, and the lessons learned from traveling to different lodges. As the Deputy Grandmaster, he outlines his responsibilities and future plans for the fraternity, emphasizing the need to return to the fundamentals of Masonry and community service.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Masonry and Personal Journey
05:28 The Experience of Joining a Lodge
11:00 Mentorship and Its Importance in Masonry
19:28 Exploring the Housatonic Valley Masonic Experience
24:24 Bringing Change and Open-Mindedness to Masonry
29:26 Understanding the Role of Deputy Grandmaster
36:51 The Impact of Freemasonry on Personal Growth
Keywords
Freemasonry, Grand Master, Rinaldo Magliano, membership, Blue Wave, Masonic journey, leadership, lodge experiences, Connecticut Freemasons, personal growth
Summary
In this engaging conversation, Grand Master Rinaldo F. Magliano Jr. shares his personal journey into Freemasonry, reflecting on his upbringing, the influence of his father, and the pivotal moments that led him to join a lodge. He discusses the importance of mentorship, the learning experiences within the lodge, and the responsibilities he faced as a leader. Rinaldo emphasizes the significance of membership and the Blue Wave program aimed at revitalizing interest in Freemasonry. He also shares insights from his travels and interactions with Masons from other jurisdictions, highlighting the value of learning from diverse practices. As Grandmaster, he reflects on the challenges of his role and the importance of being approachable and welcoming to new members. The conversation concludes with Rinaldo's encouragement for prospective Masons to embark on their journey, promising a transformative experience.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Grand Master
02:18 Rinaldo's Journey to Masonry
05:26 Learning and Growth in the Lodge
09:05 Experiences as a District Deputy
13:25 Becoming Grandmaster: New Perspectives
14:34 Membership and the Blue Wave Program
16:16 Exciting Membership Moments
17:24 Learning from Other Jurisdictions
18:58 Challenges of the Grandmaster Role
20:30 The Importance of Being a Worker
21:52 Welcoming New Members
23:17 Upcoming Events and Degrees
25:09 Encouragement for Prospective Masons
25:49 Closing Thoughts from the Grandmaster
A conversation with RWB Ray Choinard and his journey to Masonry. Part of the CT CME series of content on what it means to be a Mason.
In this podcast I converse with RWB Mark Hawkins, the Grand Senior Deacon and the prospect manager for the entire Blue Wave Project.
We discuss best practices and how lodges can be successful with the program.
The Committee on Masonic Education hosted an online seminar that covered a variety of topics, from membership to lodge management to mission effectiveness. The core was four questions for eight very worthy brothers. It is easy to share a part of this with your lodge as a module of lodge instruction, like a lodge talk.
I speak here with Bro. Tony Gilbert, who is with the Masonic Medical Research Institute. I learn more about the organization, its roots and what it is working on right now.
You can learn more at https://www.mmri.edu/ or email Tony at tgilbert@mmri.edu to help support their great mission.
Kyle Podpolucha is a rising leader in the fraternity who has been tasked with reinvigorating the Child ID charitable program, which provides resources to families free of charge to be able to locate their child if something terrible happened and they disappeared. There are hundreds of thousands of cases inthe United States each year and this program aims to help recover children when the worst happens.
On this episode we talk about Brother Ken's experience joining Masonry. Ken is the head Chef of Krust Pizza in Middletown and owner of Ritual Pizza, where you can find his pop up happen at breweries and parties around CT.
This is the audio track from our Committee for Masonic Education of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut. I hope you get some value out of these presentations on membership attraction and retention, using the legal side of Masonry properly and creating great events. It was recorded on Zoom, so the audio quality is so-so, but we are happy to be able to share this with all of you.
RWB Steven Allinson and WB Chris Ozog worked very hard to bring the language up to date in the instructional booklets we have distributed for years. You will find the newest versions on Grand View for members. There are five of them: 1-Accepted (once petition is approved) 2-EA, 3-FC, 4-MM and 5-Historical Information about the degrees. All of these are a great way to structure your lodge of instruction to help onboard your newest brothers to the fraternity we love so much.
A big shout-out to Brothers Steve and Chris for over a year of hard work and collaboration!
Brother Benjamin Valinsky was recently raised to the sublime degree last April and now shares his thoughts as he transitions to the full wages of a Master Mason.
Sometimes we forget about what it was like to be a Fellowcraft. We see a number of degrees and they often run together. There is nothing like your first degree. I chat with Bro. Ben Valinsky, a member of Ouroboros No. 151 on his progress and what it is like to pass through the degree process at an especially strange time (COVID-19).
It is not easy to get your lodge trustee account on track. We have lodges that have ancient accounts and there are often changes in leadership that can lead to confusion. Bro. Andrew Boone of Hiram Lodge No. 1 and UBS talks to us about how we can approach setting our lodges into a more advantageous place financially.
The role of the Marshall can be difficult to pin down. Sometimes, we find it as the beginning of the line, or it can be a place for a revered past master. However that role is defined, it is important to have the Marshall of your lodge contributing in a meaningful way to the life of your brothers. We discuss many of the options and the history of the position.
Many Junior Wardens worry about what they are going to produce for meals when they are feeding the lodge. As intimidating as this can be, RWB Jason Morse talks to us about how he did that job for two years at his mother lodge. We also explore the concept of a Festive Board and how that can be a fun alternative to traditional lodge dinners.