January 3, 2009 - INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

On Saturday, January 3rd at 1:00pm, Dunedin Lodge installed its officers for 2009. From my perspective, it was a good installation with plenty of food friends and fellowship. After turning the gavel over to me, I thanked my installation team and gave them small presents. I also introduced our Secretary Emeritus, W:.Rome Scerbo, who served the Lodge as Secretary of the Lodge for 17 years, more than anyone else. I also presented the outgoing Worshipful Master with his Past Master's apron, which he very much appreciated.

I then delivered my acceptance speech -

"A funny thing happened to me on my way here..." To become Worshipful Master in a Masonic Lodge, most people progress through the chairs going from Steward, to Deacons, to Wardens, and finally to Master. It can take as long as seven years. As for me, it has taken me 12 years with a detour through another Lodge and returning here as Secretary. In other words, I tend to do things DIFFERENTLY than most. Nonetheless, it is an honor to become Master of Dunedin Lodge and I will endeavor to tackle the assignment with the same enthusiasm as I had when I was first made a Master in 2003.

These are tumultuous times. We have a new administration coming into the White House, unemployment continues to grow like a cancer, we are engaged in a worldwide economic panic which I pray does not turn into a depression, we are still at war with terrorists who threaten our way of life, and the moral values of our society are eroding. In other words, we are embarking on a new year with suspicion, nervousness and great uncertainty.

Let us also consider the state of the fraternity in Florida since my last term as Worshipful Master in 2003. Since then, we are down by 7,160 members and for the first time in a long, long time we are under 50,000 members. This also means we have been losing approximately 1,200 members annually. What does this tell us? Has the fraternity lost its relevance? Is it nothing more than an old man's club? I think not. Freemasonry is a beautiful concept that has lost its brilliance due to complacency and stagnation. As Pogo said, "We have met the enemy and he is us."

As Masons we can ill-afford to conduct "business as usual." Maybe it's time to do things DIFFERENTLY. If we do not, we will be guilty of indifference and negligence of duty. I for one do not want to be accused by my successors as the generation who dropped the ball. Being a Mason used to mean something, but I cannot bring myself to believe it is an irrelevant institution.

We are supposed to be building men of character. This means promoting knowledge, morality, and trust. "Plumbum per Exempoator" is Latin for "Lead by Example." As Masons we must become the moral compass this fraternity used to be known as. By doing so, not only do we help ourselves, but we help our communities, and the world at large. Let not the fraternity be known as a symbol of yesteryear, but as a modern symbol of hope, morality, and integrity; a symbol which people, both young and old, can respect and admire. To do so requires new thinking, new attitudes, and new ideas. Let us avoid the humdrum. Let us avoid the monotony of routine. I admonish you to challenge the status quo.

Let us question; let us think; let us be DIFFERENT.

Let us be True Masons.

After closing the Lodge everyone came over to my office where we had a nice reception.

I then went to the Installation of Officers at my old Lodge, Sutherland 174, and congratulated the incoming Worshipful Master, Frank Gaughan, and wished him luck for 2009.

Later, I assembled a group of Brothers from Dunedin Lodge to go to Star Lodge No. 78 in Largo who was also having their Installation of Lodge Officers and, as a Called Communications, we seized on the opportunity to obtain the Traveling Gavel which was in Star's possession. The gavel is sponsored by our local Masters & Wardens Association to promote inter-Lodge visitations. My first order of business was to secure the gavel and bring it home to Dunedin, which I considered a bit of a coup. For more on this, and for a photo of the Lodge's new officers, please see the web site at:

www.dunedin192.org

This coming week, hold my first official meeting with my officers