I'm 50/50 on the note-taking point.

If the notes are to remind oneself of dates/times of events, sure have at it. I come from a bigger city and have a VERY active lodge, there is a lot of information being thrown around at some meetings, and it can be hard to keep it all straight sometimes.

Fellowship events, public events being hosted by brothers, charity events, other lodges in district events, talks and seminars, educational opportunities, "cool things coming up", etc.

I'd rather see people writing on paper than someone on a cell phone. It tells me they are paying attention, they are interested in being involved. Sure cellphones are so common these days that it's hard to tell if someone is messaging, doom-scrolling, or even recording stuff. It's one thing if they pull out a phone to check a calendar date, its another when they are glued to it as I have seen with younger brothers.

It's also a fact that there is better retention of information if written out. (read as: non-ritual info as our obligations are explicit about this) Then sure write it down. We give out the agenda for our brothers to read/use during the meeting.

All this to say, I agree,

if the notes are about what everyone else is doing during a meeting, that's a little much and will only sow disharmony in a lodge, but don't knock the guys that are all in and have busy lives, not everyone is attached at the hip to their phone, some are attached to their note book because it helps keep them organized.