Online With Light: For Freemasons

In this conversation RWB Nick chats with Pam Marotti, an active member of the Masonic Family and queen of Pyremus Temple on the activity of Masonic Ladies' groups.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Brother Jerry Nero as he shares his journey through Freemasonry, leadership in multiple lodges, and the importance of brotherhood and service. Discover practical insights on lodge revitalization, mentorship, and the enduring values of Masonry.

In this conversation, Nick Ives interviews Jeff Blayman, who shares his journey into Freemasonry, his leadership experiences at Warren Lodge, and his upcoming role as Grand Junior Steward. Jeff discusses the importance of community, communication, and innovative outreach strategies that have revitalized his lodge. He emphasizes the significance of degree work and the impact of long-term leadership, while also expressing his hopes for the future of Freemasonry and the Seventh District.

In this engaging conversation, Nick Ives interviews Jim Saraceni, the Grand Senior Steward of the Grand Lodge, about his journey into Masonry, his experiences as a lodge officer, and the importance of brotherhood within the Masonic community. Jim shares insights into the history and spirit of Arc Lodge, the challenges faced during the COVID pandemic, and his role in the Legal Matters Committee. He emphasizes the value of camaraderie, community service, and the evolving nature of Masonry in today's world, while also reflecting on personal experiences and offering advice to those considering joining the fraternity.

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).

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.

There are lots of ways that we can be nervous as we approach out time in the East. RWB James M. Anderson, the Deputy Grand Secretary, talks us through his process for coaching incoming masters so that they can be effective and relaxed at the same time. Jim is a valuable asset to the Fraternity and his wisdom continues to help many Worshipful Masters as they prepare to lead their lodges.

Bro. Chris Bolster, SW of Village Lodge No. 29 talks with us about how his experience in theater arts informs his memorization and performance of masonic ritual. Learn more about how you can calm your nerves and perform some great ritual in your lodge!

WB Rob is the Associate Grand Tiler for the State of CT and is also the lodge education officer for Meridian Lodge No. 77 in Meriden, CT. For work, Rob is the Career and Technical Curriculum Coordinator for Wallingford Public Schools. 

Rob talks to us about how he structured his program and what key elements you should consider when constructing yours. you can get in touch with him by emailing Robertkovi@gmail.com and he would be happy to work with you to give a presentation to your lodge. 

It is great to be podcasting again! Expect a host of new podcasts on this next season as the CME revamps our seminar offerings.

As part of the Committe for Masonic Education RWB Nick Ives chats with WB Nick Valinsky and Bro. Chris Bolster about "The Meaning of Masonry" by Wilmshurst. Was/Is the craft misled from the spiritual path? We discuss.

RWB Andrew Melillo, the Grand Historian of CT, shares with us his historical findings on how our brothers were handling the Spanish Flu and how that relates to today's Covid-19 pandemic. He also talked about the importance of capturing the records of our past and present so we can better share our stories in the future.

The Deputy Grand Master RWB Bill Bohman talks with us about how important it is to have a process where we really get to know all potential candidates. We also chatted about what comes next when we return to labor and how excited we are to get back to it. 

Have you ever wondered what comes after our time off? WB Nick and I discuss what it is like during these unprecedented times in #freemasonry and how he plans to rebound his lodge. WB Nick is Master of Meridian Lodge No. 77 and a millenial who is changing the paradigm of what a good meeting should be all about. WB Nick is also a member of the CME and SW of Ouroboros Lodge. We explored handshaking and how lodge will change with the onset of the global pandemic.

We often say that we don't have time to do the things we hoped to. Now we Masons have plenty of that on our hands. In the time of the lockdown, are we maximizing our potential? RWB Jason and I explore what can be done in the quiet of your home to make you an even stronger Mason when labor resumes.

RWB George Frascarelli reminds us all of ways that we can still be doing our duty as Masons even during Social Distancing times. Bro. George is a Past DD and a past Master of two lodges, Village and St. Andrews Lodge. George is a straight shooter and I will remember to heed his words!

Bro. Cyril is a member of Quinta Essentia Lodge No. 500 in New Haven, CT. His lodge utilizes technology to make their meetings short and to the point, which has translated to a wonderful experience online. Bro. Cyril talks about his work in technology and how QE makes their meetings short and effective whether in person or online with a focus of fellowship and discussion.

As a 6 Sigma Black Belt and an expert on Lean Continuous Improvement, RWB Scott Bumps has a lot to say about how lodges can work to improve themselves. Reach out to RWB Scott if you feel like you could use a facilitation to look critically at lodge processes and how you can reinvent your lodge. 

I learned a lot with Bro. Scott and will use him as a resource going forward!

Now entered apprentice Ben Valinsky talks about his feelings about crossing over into becoming the first Entered Apprentice of Ouroboros Lodge No 151 U.D.  I asked him about his impressions and learn a lot about what the new EA thinks and feels. 

Please send voice notes through Anchor if you would like to be included on this show!

RWB Nick Ives and RWB Jason Morse chat about their experiences in smaller lodges. Bro. Nick is WM of Ouroboros 151 U.D. in Wallingford, CT and Bro. Jason is WM of Quinta Essentia 500 in New Haven, CT. Each have memberships in many lodges, yet their view as leaders of smaller lodges may inspire others to consider including the small lodge experience as part of their own. 

Prior to being initiated into the fraternity, Bro. Ben Valinsky sat down with RWB Nick Ives for a chat about his perceptions of the craft. He has since been initiated, so we release this podcast to share what he thought coming into the craft, a view we don't often get to hear. This will be an ongoing feature as he progresses, so we can learn more about what the incoming Freemasons think and feel on their journey.