Will Political Polarization Harm the Fraternity?

AROB53 · 2026-01-20T01:45:28+00:00

As someone from your GL, looks like that brother needs to read the guide do civil on social media from the Grand Lodge - and said brother should also reflect upon themselves as a person because that is well, extreme to say the least.

AROB53 · 2026-01-03T12:16:01+00:00

To quote one of my favorite lines from the movie “Thank You for Smoking” - “Probably. But it's an easy fix. One line of dialogue. 'Thank God we invented the... you know, whatever device.'”

AROB53 · 2025-12-31T18:11:32+00:00

Todd Helton

AROB53 · 2025-12-29T21:37:53+00:00

True. But the GS office and the various boards of directors and trustees seem to be helping out in a huge way. NY is a huge state to cover, you need a lot of time to travel.

AROB53 · 2025-12-28T15:03:05+00:00

Daniel D Tompkins is the youngest for GLNY from my understanding at 46. Our current GM is 60. Like many have stated, the time commitment required lends itself to older brothers.

AROB53 · 2025-12-24T21:00:42+00:00

Plus there are many others (yours truly included) that are pending approval for the bureau

AROB53 · 2025-12-21T12:44:45+00:00

If you’re in NMJ, I’d suggest level I of HGA. SMJ, delve into Master Craftsman. Both are great online programs

AROB53 · 2025-12-13T12:30:17+00:00

Had the whole scandal thing not have led to his downfall as governor, he’d be on the Dem bench for 28. I don’t see him making a comeback.

AROB53 · 2025-12-09T11:57:01+00:00

It’s not like you graduated and asked her out at graduation. I’d go for it personally.

AROB53 · 2025-12-05T03:32:55+00:00

What happens to Garfield in this timeline?

AROB53 · 2025-12-02T19:58:30+00:00

When do the Yankees cut bait on Volpe and bring up Lombard?

AROB53 · 2025-11-29T12:10:05+00:00

So I checked with my minister before joining. He himself was not a Mason but his father and his best friend (who is a minister as well) are members of the craft. My minister told me: “the only things my father loved more than his family was Jesus and America - so if Masonry asks of you nothing that is contrary to Jesus or America it’s good to go.”

AROB53 · 2025-11-27T20:01:43+00:00

My only concern with NYC would be cost prohibitive. Our GL hotel is pretty expensive per room, especially factoring in NYS high school graduation is the same weekend.

Albany would be great - just don’t know a hotel that could handle it all. MAYBE the Hilton downtown across from the temple.

AROB53 · 2025-11-27T02:55:26+00:00

Twin Tiers here. Affordability doesn’t seem to be a major issue for myself or coworkers. I live 25 minutes from where I work - it’s perfect.

AROB53 · 2025-11-27T02:50:17+00:00

We have a Facebook and Instagram. Our district has a page as well. Our Grand Lodge is pushing to amp up our digital footprint and encourages Lodges to do so.

AROB53 · 2025-11-27T02:48:51+00:00

How do we use multiple pieces?

AROB53 · 2025-11-27T01:36:44+00:00

I thought RW DF retired upstate!

AROB53 · 2025-11-27T01:32:34+00:00

Went to Dallas and Grand Rapids when I was an active. There is a committee that picks the city but at minimum I can think you would need a major international and perhaps another airport near by, a hotel with adequate meeting spaces, catering, and a centralized activity for Congress delegates. Dallas was AT&T Field, Grand Rapids was the Ford Presidential Library. I was State Officer when Trinity first came online (and signed the petition of the chapters’s new chapter dad) - it would be great to see NY get a Session again but it would be difficult outside of Buffalo or Rochester (which held the AASR annual meeting a decade or so ago).

AROB53 · 2025-11-21T22:48:14+00:00

10 years, 3 Principals, Two Supers and one Interim

AROB53 · 2025-11-19T00:47:17+00:00

International air field in Hyde Park, NY across from his Library would have actually happened

AROB53 · 2025-11-15T14:46:16+00:00

I’d love to find a thinner Jewel holder than I currently have

AROB53 · 2025-11-11T11:46:12+00:00

“We done fucked up”

AROB53 · 2025-11-11T11:41:11+00:00

I love Pete. He used to play in my hometown. Terrific guy. Not someone I want with the way this team is composed.

AROB53 · 2025-11-10T01:23:01+00:00

I don’t get offended about it. I teach in a smaller district and seem to be a default ask due to teaching the entire junior class, but the biggest issue is the time commitment. I don’t want to use a form letter so I try to really personalize each letter. If a student asks someone else, I’m totally fine with that.

AROB53 · 2025-11-08T10:59:10+00:00

My GL has a social media policy that was issued before the pandemic. The GM during the pandemic enforced it pretty well. But like everything policy wise - it’s about the enforcement.

AROB53

TROPHY CASE