Author Archives: rkingcade

Election of officers for 2019-2020 lodge year

At our regular communication on Thursday, June 6, we elected the following officers to serve the lodge for the 2019-2020 lodge year:

  • Master: WB Rick Kingcade
  • Sr. Warden: Br. Doug Jonesi
  • Jr. Warden: Br. Mike Gatchet
  • Treasurer: WB Steven Holbrook
  • Secretary: WB Hank Bedsaul

Installation of officers is scheduled for Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 3pm, with our annual Past Masters Dinner after.

Please join us in congratulating these brothers!

June 20, 2019 – early start for third degree

Raytown Lodge will be conferring a third degree at our stated communication on Thursday, June 20. We will open our meeting at 7pm with dinner served before. We need all available members and brethren to join us to help us welcome our newest Master Mason!

Lodge By-Law updates presented for consideration

Based on input from members and discussion at various meetings, the By-Laws committee of Raytown Lodge #391 has submitted the following five motions for consideration by the Lodge:

Motion #1 – Creates the definition of “Grand Lodge” for reference in other sections of the By-Laws.  This is a clerical/housekeeping amendment.

Motion #2 – Creates an expense stipend of $75 per month to be paid to the Secretary.  This was lodge practice for some time (at different rates) but has not been routinely paid for a while and was not reflected in the By-Laws.

Motion #3 – Identifies the officers who are designated as Lodge representatives at Grand Lodge, and provides for a flat stipend of $200 per office to cover their expenses (mileage/gas, meals, rooms, etc.) should they choose to attend.  We have had varying practices on this in the past but the By-Laws did not address the matter.

Motion #4 – Updates the lodge dues from $37.50 to $45.00 per year to cover increasing operating expenses.  Also aligns the By-Laws to cover past lodge practice of not charging Past Masters of our lodge the lodge portion of the dues, by the creation of separate dues “classes”. 

Motion #5 – Separates the duties of “Custodian” to two separate roles; “Custodian” to handle inside cleaning and maintenance and “Groundskeeper” to handle outside work, and splits the stipend paid between the two.  Increases the total cost from $75/month to $90/month ($45/month for each).

The By-Laws committee takes no position on any of these matters, and only served to review the various topics, assure they were in proper form and prepared the motions.

The proposed Amendments will lie over until the next Stated communication on April 18, 2019 to be considered, discussed and voted on.  Passage requires 2/3 majority of all members present. Amendments may also be offered and discussed at that time.

We encourage all interested members to joins us for this meeting as we consider these changes.

Social event – Beer and Pizza Night – 3/31

A reminder that Raytown Lodge will have our Beer and Pizza night on Sunday, 3/31/19 at the lodge, beginning at 5pm. The lodge will provide the pizza and you bring your own beverage. This event is open to Raytown Lodge members and families as well as members of other Kansas City area lodges and their families. We look forward to a good turnout!