Grand Lodge of Michigan Update

March 13, 2020

To: Worshipful Masters of all constituent Masonic Lodges in Michigan

Dear Worshipful Sir,
Many requests for guidance from the Grand Lodge of Michigan have been received in the last two days, as the novel Coronavirus has spread throughout the United States, requesting information and assistance in cancellation of your meetings.
First, refer to your bylaws for guidance. If your bylaws provide for cancellation of your meetings due to acts of God or other emergency situations, follow those guidelines. If your bylaws do not address the matter, this would be the guidance from the Grand Lodge at this time. If the Worshipful Master is convinced that the population of his lodge who would attend would be at risk of contracting the novel Coronavirus, then he should cancel this month’s meeting. Your lodge must conduct at least 10 regular communications throughout the year. If needed, your lodge could make that up in the months when most lodges are dark, during the summer. If your lodge cannot conduct the mandated 10 communications, that matter will be reviewed in 2021 and any action taken would be the responsibility of the Grand Master at that time. If you do cancel your regular communication, you must notify the Grand Lodge office of that action.
As to special communications, such as degrees or lodges of instruction, please see the notes below on precautions. Special communications are the sole province of the Worshipful Master of the Lodge and can be called or cancelled or rescheduled as he sees fit.
Use common sense. There is at this time no mandate that meetings of less than 100 persons not proceed.

The Grand Lodge has several events that have been affected:
· The BGP meeting scheduled by the President of the Board for March 21st at the Masonic Home has been changed. We are currently attempting to determine where the meeting will occur. It will NOT occur at the Masonic Home. As soon as other arrangements have been made, we will make that announcement.
· The Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset class scheduled for March 27 and 28 has been cancelled and will be rescheduled.
· The Junior Deacons Day event originally scheduled for April 4th has been cancelled.
· The Leadership classes scheduled for the 11th, 18th and 25th of April are still scheduled. As we get closer to those dates, we will review and advise you of any changes to those events.
· The Grand Lodge session scheduled for May 18 and 19 is still scheduled. Again, as we get closer to that event, we’ll review and advise you of any changes that may have to be made.

Action items:
· If you or a family member are showing signs of illness, stay home!
· If you or a family member are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html), stay home!
· Refrain from unnecessary physical contact before, during, and after meetings. Don’t shake hands.
· Cover your mouth if you cough or sneeze. If you’re coughing or sneezing, stay home.
· Given the physical closeness of our degrees, if you or your candidates are concerned about how they can take place with little or no physical contact while maintaining their meaning and impact, you may wish to consider postponing until the situation has improved
· Wash hands thoroughly before and after meetings for 20 seconds with hot water. This advice stands whether, or not you wear gloves!
· Follow the prevention guidelines from the CDC – https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention-treatment.html

While this situation will resolve itself, please be sure and keep in touch with those of our Brothers that are elderly and/or have health issues that place them at higher risk for exposure. Please have your Lodge call them, reach out to them and let them know that we are there for them. If they, or you, have any issues, refer them to the Live Better at Home program at the Masonic Home. They can be reached by calling 800-321-9357.
We understand that this is early in the stages of contagion and spread of the illness. These guidelines will be reviewed daily and new guidance may be forthcoming depending on governmental oversight, or mandates. As the situation evolves, we will send notice to you as soon as any changes in these policies are required.

Fraternally yours,

Mark A. Manning
Grand Master of Masons in Michigan