Grand Lodge to ban smart phones?

[Blake Bowden]

I received an email the other day stating the Grand Lodge is looking to ban smart phones from next years communication. Has anyone else heard of this?

Would you be willing to leave your phone at the door?

 

[MikeMay]

I received an email the other day stating the Grand Lodge is looking to ban smart phones from next years communication. Has anyone else heard of this?

Would you be willing to leave your phone at the door?

I haven't heard that...yet. But I leave mine in the car or off anyway, just as I do in church so as not to be distracted or cause a distraction...

 

[Dave in Waco]

First I'm hearing of this. I don't remember them creating that big of a distrubance this year. They might first try just reminding everyone to set their phones for stun, and enforce a "donation" of $50 if your phone goes off during the communication.

 

[cemab4y]

Virginia craft lodges permit you to bring your phone with you. But, if it rings during lodge, you are charged $20 (police, firemen, rescue squad,etc. are exempted). Personally, I prefer to leave my cell phone off, after work, since I am on the phone during work all day.

 

[Blake Bowden]

I was told they (GL) didn't like information being posted on sites such as...well ya know.

 

[JohnnyFlotsam]

Can you expand on this without getting anyone in hot water?

 

[Blake Bowden]

Can you expand on this without getting anyone in hot water?

For the past two years, we've posted election results of all the resolutions as many of our members cannot attend GL due to scheduling conflicts. I've been told the powers that be do not like this.

Now before everyone get's miffed @ GL, they have not contacted me directly about this issue. If they did, I would comply with their request.

 

[MikeMay]

I wouldn't think that is a problem since the results are sent out by emails anyway...

 

[Dave in Waco]

So supposedly they are upset that the outcome of things we are voting are being passed onto people in lodges that we represent at GL?

 

[Preston DuBose]

Alternately, they could work WITH you and the GL Web Committee to update the respective sites with accurate information more quickly.

 

[Dave in Waco]

GL could always set up a secure site and send out login info to lodges to set up webcasts in lodge rooms during a tiled MM lodge that have internet access. MM's watching the webcast wouldn't be able to take part in balloting or discussions, but they would get to see the proceedings. Plus they could webcast the open parts of the communication as well. I think webcasting the open parts like that could help in showing the general public that we are being open. I know some would want full access to everything, but they don't get full access to publicly traded company stockholder meetings either.

 

[Beathard]

Banning them would only delay the results by a few minutes. The next person out the door could report the results. Or are they planning on banning all exchange of information year round? 8( Not very enlightened eh?!

 

[davidterrell80]

This saddens me.

You know, in the days our ancient brothers built the great cathedrals, the Craft represented the most advanced engineering and fabrication technology on Earth.

What happened to teaching people correct principals and then letting them govern themselves? Why, in these enlightened times, must we constantly compel a free person to behave in "acceptable" fashion?

In my years in the chairs, I was raising a disabled child. He's an adult now, in spite of every physicians' expectation. But had this rule been in force, when I was in the chairs, I would not have been able to easily justify going to GL.

Mixed feelings...

 

[Benton]

I don't know that I see the point of the ban, unless people are video taping/taking pictures of tyled ceremonies. Otherwise, seems kind of pointless.

 

[Bill Lins]

Would you be willing to leave your phone at the door?

Not a chance. I own & operate a business plus I have a daughter at home with serious medical issues. I must remain available to my family, employees, & customers. I attend Grand Lodge on my own time and at my own expense as a way of serving my Lodge and the Craft. If I decide to keep my phone with me there (on "silent/vibrate", of course) it is my decision & my decision alone.

 

[jwardl]

They could always install a cell phone jammer... but I, too, don't see the problem with posting election results as they come available. If they're having a problem with cell phones going off, why not simply make a public announcement before proceedings begin, reminding everyone to turn them off or silence them?

Note that I haven't yet been to an annual communication, so forgive me if this is already done.

 

[Bill Lins]

They could always install a cell phone jammer...

Where are they going to find the money? They're already pleading poverty. If I find out they spent our contributions on something like a jammer, you can bet the farm there'll be a resolution submitted to prohibit its use.

 

[Benton]

Yeah, a cell phone jammer is a bit extreme. We're not high schoolers.

 

[jwardl]

Wasn't suggesting it brother -- just saying it is an option.

 

[tomasball]

Since you haven't had any communication from Grand Lodge on this matter, who is "stating" that this is afoot?