…presented at King Solomon Lodge No. 329, Jarvis, March 20, 2007.

Right Worshipful Sirs, Very Worshipful Sirs, Worshipful Sirs, Distinguished East and Brethren all.

Tonight, I have prepared my final talk on Grand Lodge Committee's. I have already Discussed Twelve committees in my last two outings.

The committee I'll start with tonight is Audit and Finance. Everyone of us always wants to know why and how Grand lodge is using the money that we as lodges and brethren send to them using the yellow envelope or the dreaded grand lodge return forms. If you refer to the grand Lodge Proceedings you will find that the 150 anniversary committee had a profit of 40,657.00 from the sale of various items and $35,000 of that is to be invested for that 175 th anniversary celebrations. Does anyone here know what the budget for grand lodge operational expense for 2006-2007 is? I can tell you, it's $665,930 up $74,000 from LAST Years actual expenses. Brethren this Information is all found in the Proceedings.

To move on to a more visible committee of Benevolence. Last year this committee gave out a total of $88,120.00 to people in need in the form of 36 grants and Christmas gratuities from the memorial Fund. This year the committee has received eight applications and there are three more of which the committee is aware but have not been received. The committee has dispersed $23,000.00 to Nine brethren and or their families who are in need since our 2006-07 fiscal year has begun in May 2006.

The Seminars and workshops committee organizes and continues to focus on seminars to be held at grand Lodge in July. Some of the topics that will be put forward this July will include: Office of the District Secretary, Effective Speaking and Computer resources, these were well attended last year. New Topics being worked on to interest the Brethren are: The Lewis Jewel- History and Information, Lodge Finances- Keeping a just Account, What are the chances of that happening? - Masonic Stories to remember, Are you tired of just going with the flow- How to be an active part of your lodge meeting, and my personal favourite title 5. The Masonic dating and escort service - Getting our membership out to lodge. This ought to be a seminar to remember.

If all the brethren here, were to take these seminars we would be well on our way to improving our own Leadership development. Grand lodge also has a leadership development Committee that is for the Grand lodge officers and members of the board. This committee helps these distinguished gentlemen to form and run a committee. It writes a summary of the duties of a chairman and membership meeting deadlines, how to deal with the media, even grand lodge officers need to follow the established and consistent party line. And finally a Skills inventory worksheet is established in order for the grand master and the deputy grand master to match the best and most skilled person for the job at hand.

Computer resources are headed by Brian Bond. All the secretaries of Brant District now are computerized. The next step is to make them all email capable in order to save the secretaries' time and the lodges DOLLARS every month. Remember Brethren for every notice sent by email the lodge saves at least 60 cents. The secretary and his assistant save time to compiling them. Another plus for emailing your lodge summons is that each and every brother of the district could be on your mailing list thereby improving communication throughout the district and beyond.

I will close my talk tonight by mentioning the Committee of Credentials which we have the Chairman right here in our midst this evening. The Right Worshipful Brother Kenneth Schweitzer His job I believe is to count and confirm that the brethren who voted at grand lodge are true and valid members of the fraternity. I believe that the Right Worshipful Sir knows a great number of mason's Throughout Ontario. He reported to Grand Lodge that 2,485 Delegates were registered at the past Grand lodge and 3,297 votes were cast for our present Grand lodge Officers, and Members of the board. For this report I thank the right worshipful Sir.

Although, I have spoken about the committees of Grand lodge during three of my official visits I have not covered all of the grand Lodge Committees. If you would like to learn more ask the secretary for a copy of the grand lodge proceedings and you too can delve into the workings of grand lodge.

Brethren Thank-you for the kindness you have afforded me this evening and I close with words of wisdom from my Grandfather Right Worshipful Brother Leonard Meiler "I'm as just as busy as a cat covering a slate roof with boxing gloves on and a mile to carry the material."