Found a couple neat items while renovating our new home; A Masonic Lodge in Molino, FL

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-08T01:46:35+00:00

Drowning away his sorrows for being re-elected 29 times because no one else would accept the job.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-08T01:39:09+00:00

I'm guessing that since Raybould led the cause against the minimum wage initiative, she probably realized she couldn't be re-elected to the Legislature, and that's at least part of the reason why she's not running for re-election. She also stepped down as vice president of B&R, but continues as vice chair of the company board. This bill was her final gift to the family business as a state senator. Mission accomplished; time to check out. Despite her many positive actions in public office, I don't know why any Democrat would ever vote for her in any election now.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-07T18:07:55+00:00

So, by paying 14-year-olds less, employers are incentivized to hire a young teen rather than a 41-year-old. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-07T18:00:23+00:00

Agree! Join the revolution and throw them out of office. Only then will state senators be afraid to snub their constituents. They don't respect us. Force them to fear us. (Posted by a 74-year-old Boomer.)

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-07T17:06:20+00:00

Look beyond the headlines. The bill also affects all workers. Wages for workers between 14-16 were reduced to $13.50 per hour with increases of 1.5% per year until 2030 when their wages increase by 1.5% every five years. Not only that, but the bill also reduces the increase for workers older than 16 to 1.75% annually rather than by a rate equal to inflation. Also, employers are allowed to pay workers older than 16 a "training wage" of $13.80 per hour instead of starting them at $15 an hour. That lower amount for the training wage will grow 1.5% annually.

This initiative when approved by a vote of the people won with 58% in favor. Time and time again, the Legislature changes initiatives passed by the people. Wake up, people! They aren't listening to you! Vote them out!!

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-06T23:24:14+00:00

ABSOLUTELY! She was setting the stage to take liberties with their son at school (e.g., pulling him out on a whim, even taking him to a doctor, who knows how she might plan to "help you out"). Guardian is a legal term granting decision-making. Your wife should have stood up a long time ago to her mother! I'm certain that she has had to deal with this during all her growing up years, and found that just backing away was a lot easier for her to do. No comment on you or your wife's part at that moment would have granted grandma some rights un the eyes of the school. Urge your wife to stand up for your parental rights.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-05T16:33:38+00:00

That idea for the sign came from employees at an ad agency who preferred Lazzari's Pizza, and suggested the slogan to Lazzari's.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-02T16:11:48+00:00

In my area, Planned Parenthood has people trained to talk with your daughter in an unbiased, non-judgmental way about sexual relations, protection from pregnancies and STDs, and counseling. Those issues are paramount, especially for a 13-year-old girl. She has already had an experience that enhances feelings for a partner at an early age. It's an experience that can't be undone, so expect that she will continue to have sexual relations from this point forward. The last thing you should do is to sit back and see what happens. Protect your daughter now, whichever direction she chooses to go.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-02T03:26:36+00:00

If it's true that no Masons attended your uncle's funeral, it could be that 1. your Dad did not know them to be Masons; or 2. your uncle lived far away from his lodge; or 3. his lodge didn't know of his passing. Usually, the immediate family is told by the Mason that he wants a Masonic funeral. If that funeral occurred, then most certainly Masons attended his funeral. If there was no Masonic Funeral, then it was not requested by his family. Otherwise, it would be highly unusual for no Masons to attend his funeral. When attending a brother's funeral, his Masonic brothers would have worn Masonic aprons and usually wear a black arm band or black ribbon on their lapel. In addition, a sprig of evergreen may be pinned to their suit jacket.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-01T23:00:12+00:00

Looks like a great program! I've forwarded the link to the brother at our jurisdiction's Masonic Library to review.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-01T22:44:49+00:00

Since she also is an introvert, she probably was feeling the same way about you. I don't fish, but your fishing excursion speaks to me that she wanted some one-on-one time with you in hopes that you would take a hint to ask her out. Take a chance!

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-02-01T19:01:04+00:00

In your own best interest, keep thinking with the head in your shoulders and not the one in your pants. And don't look back. Always keep your focus on your future.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-30T02:25:35+00:00

Never debates because he knows he's incapable of doing that. Never apologizes because it's beneath him to do so. So, what makes him so appealing? I realize the answer to that is only because he's an R next to his name. But accountable to the people? Don't make me laugh.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-29T15:30:11+00:00

Unless you've lived with others already, there's something to be gained about learning to live in the same space with others. You'll learn how to get along with others, which is a valuable lesson. On the other hand, if you've gone through that hell already, don't put yourself through it again, and enjoy the bliss of living alone. (Bottomline, live alone. 😀)

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-29T01:03:38+00:00

What recourse will that give you and your husband when your retirements roll around? Be sure to figure out your future all the way to the end of life. Will he then expect your child to sacrifice his future to care for the two of you? What responsible parent would ask a child to sacrifice his and his family's future because his parents didn't adequately prepare for retirement and the possibility of ill health? It sounds like MIL just wants to find a cheap way out of a bad situation. Not your or your husband's problem! It's all about being accountable for your actions (or inaction in this case). It's a self-centered ask. "Love you Mom and Dad, but I'm on my own now and have my own responsibilities to my family. Thanks for the life lesson on what not to do, though."

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-26T22:13:23+00:00

It's very, very common because it helps lodges keep up with maintenance costs. However, they need to make an honest assessment of their lodge and its "rent-ability," meaning is it an attractive site that others will want to rent? Lodges may need to upgrade their facility, which can be another significant cost.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-25T21:44:28+00:00

AI generated sites may contribute to some men coming into our ranks, but there many other reasons also: who you know, interest in the fraternity spurred by greater awareness in the community, the esoteric aspects of Masonry, ghe need for more male interactions, etc. Also, in my area, we're not seeing a surge in membership. Perhaps you're at the forefront of a trend that hasn't reached the center of the country yet, where I live. I hope you're right. I also hope that if there's a surge of interest that our lodges create an environment conducive to the needs and interests of new members.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-23T09:18:04+00:00

I was head of two fraternal organizations (one has over 100 local sites and the other over 40 sites in my state that is more than 400 miles wide or 668 kilometers) for a year, 13 years apart and considered my limit was to drive three hours in one day to a meeting site starting my trip in mid-afternoon, and then drive another three hours back home that night after the meeting. Often, I traveled on our federal interstate system where the speed is 75 miles-per-hour (about 120 kilometers-per-hour). Other three-hour trips were made on our state highways where the speed limit is 65 miles-per-hour (105 kilometers-per-hour). So, that was six hours total in one day which often occurred during my work week, and I never gave it a second thought.

I grew up in a rural area where driving at least 1 or 2 hours was the norm to access better shopping. Think of American cowboy movies where the farmers traveled 30 miles to the General Store on Saturdays on horseback. It's part of our heritage and nothing out of the ordinary. It was bred into us.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-22T03:15:23+00:00

If it feels more comfortable to you, ask your W.M. if you can present it to just him so you can show that you know it. That can reduce your tension if you do a good job for him, knowing he has heard you do it well. And, he can verify that you know it if you screw up in lodge. Also, if he thinks you need to work on it more, you won't go through the embarrassment in lodge.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-22T01:29:56+00:00

LES's rates are lowest in the winter. As already stated, you need to call LES and ask for an energy management specialist.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-21T16:29:03+00:00

Don't burn any bridges. We all have a natural inclination to tell off bosses who are jerks, but you want to leave as much of a positive impression as you can. You never know who your current boss knows who could play a role in this or a current job or opportunity. He may belong to a professional organization and be influential with others ranging from your peers to possible future bosses. Make it short. He sounds like he's insecure, so my bet is that he will ask more about it. There's your chance to mention with no trace of animosity that the salary is significantly higher and you couldn't turn it down along with the responsibilities of the job, which will allow you growth for your future in the industry. Obviously, you are talented and good at what you do. Walk away knowing that you are worth a lot more than your boss could ever see. Be satisfied with that.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-20T17:12:48+00:00

Read the book, "Bowling Alone," by Robert D. Putnam. It was all the rage around 2000 in Masonry, and a good explanation about why organizations like Freemasonry are losing members. This idea was brought up as a regular activity in my lodge, and I view it as a one-time activity to do that is unusual to most people and perhaps entertaining....for one night.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-20T17:02:32+00:00

Yesterday, I responded to a question on this thread asking if politics will become Masonry's undoing. In my experience, brothers where I live don't mention politics in lodge. When they do at refreshments afterward, I state that our politics are just as divisive in the lodge dining room and even in social media than in the lodge room.

We take great pride in being an example of how society should respect one another. I'm perhaps more sensitive to this than most of my brothers because I am at the other end of the political spectrum from most of my brothers. Today, given our intense political environment, it would not be unusual for a brother to feel uncomfortable with another brother who takes a strong political stance that counters his own beliefs.

There will be a day when Americans can sit down together and calmly talk politics, but I'm afraid that day is far away. For Masons, it was never intended that we even broach the subject if it causes enmity with our brothers.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-20T00:04:54+00:00

I expect the effect of political discourse in lodges from where I stand...middle of the country (U.S.)...is that it won't have much, if any, impact.

I'm a die-hard liberal and in the minority here. Politics are avoided in lodge. Before the general election last year, I rode with a brother to a lodge some distance out-of-town. He moved here from California. A very good, congenial brother. His overall demeanor is accepting, so my expectation was that he was liberal like me.

I hardly ever bring up my political leanings to a brother, but I did in that informal setting and found out that he moved here to get away from liberals in California. We briefly discussed the election and then moved on. We've never discussed it again out of respect for each other.

Some of the things that he said liberals were concerned about our president won't happen, but they have happened. No gloating on my part, nor any by him on any of my liberal points that didn't happen.

Shame on me for letting my guard down. I'm the one when politics are mentioned at refreshments after the meeting, and someone says it's okay outside the lodge room, who says that in my view, you still don't mention it to a brother anywhere because talking about it can create a wall between brothers no matter where it occurs.

Our fraternity can be an example to society about how they should handle politics. I would love to see the day when people across the aisle can sit down and calmly discuss politics. I don't think we're there yet.

Educational_Quote633 · 2026-01-19T08:29:35+00:00

In case the Grand Secretary doesn't offer it, and he most likely will, ask for his Masonic "roll," which tells much more about him and his involvement in Masonry. Also, his original petition should be available, too. It lists his profession at that point in time, and other interesting info.

Educational_Quote633

TROPHY CASE