By- Laws of Arcadia Lodge No. 249

A.F. & A.M.

Ames , Iowa

Revised November 3, 2005

SECTION 1. TITLE

This Lodge shall be known as Arcadia Lodge No. 249, A. F. & A. M.

 

SECTION 2. WARRANT

The Warrant of this Lodge is a legal unreclaimed charter granted June 2, 1869 A.D., 5869 A. L., by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Iowa to whose Constitution, Laws and Edicts implicit obedience must be paid by its officers and members.

 

SECTION 3. MEETINGS

The stated or regular meetings of this Lodge shall be held on the first Thursday of each month at seven thirty p.m. at the Masonic Temple in the city of Ames, Iowa. ( 10/7/1999)

The stated meeting shall be held on the second Thursday in the event that:

1. The first Thursday falls on a legal holiday or

2. A weather disturbance or other emergency prevents the holding of a stated communication. ( 3/5/1992)

 

SECTION 4. SALARY

The Secretary shall receive as salary the sum of $125.00 per month ( 10/2/2003)

 

SECTION 5. FEES

The initiation fee for the degrees shall be $100.00. ( 4/3/1986)

 

SECTION 6. DUES

The annual dues of Arcadia Lodge No. 249 shall be set at the stated meeting in September upon recommendation of the Finance Committee (10/6/2005) plus current Grand Lodge Dues. Three dollars ($3.00) of these dues will be paid to the Charity Fund.(4/7/2005) If membership is consummated on or after July 1, dues for 1/2 year will be paid. (This goes into effect for 2007 dues. Dues for 2006 will be $40.00 plus Grand Lodge Dues for a total of $60.00)

 

SECTION 7. BOARD OF TRUSTEES

1. The Board of Trustees shall consist of three members: The Worshipful Master and two elected members. One trustee is to be elected at each annual election of officers for a term of two years, said term to begin and end with the annual election of Officers.

    The Secretary and Treasurer shall, during their term of office, be ineligible to the office of Trustee.

3. The Board of Trustees and the Secretary and the Treasurer of the Lodge shall constitute the Business Sub-Committee of the Lodge. Three members of the Business Sub-Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be voting members. Approval shall consist of three affirmative votes.
( 12/3/1992) The Business Sub-Committee shall meet monthly as a board, keep minutes and report all actions of the Board to the Lodge. The duties of the Sub-Committee shall be:

    a. To authorize payment of all recurring expenses which accrue to the Lodge including: gas, water, electric, sewer, custodial, refuse removal , interior minor repairs, snow removal, lawn care, contents & liabilities portion of the insurance, telephone, grocery, paper products, newsletter printing and postage permit. (3/7/2002)

    b. To present in open Lodge expense statements, which do not reach a three-fifth, majority vote or which are beyond the jurisdiction of Number 1 above.

    c. To report in writing to the Lodge at the stated meeting in October a summary of its actions during the year. ( 3/7/2002)

    d. The Board of Trustees shall be responsible for the cleaning and supervision of the Masonic Temple and all other duties consistent with those provided in Chapter 13, Sections 180 and 181 of the Masonic Code of Iowa. (12/1992)

 

 

SECTION 8. LODGE OF SORROW

The Worshipful Master may open a Lodge of Sorrow at the beginning of his term, and must close the Lodge of Sorrow before the end of his term.

 

SECTION 9. CHARITY FUND

1. The Arcadia Lodge Charity Fund is established as outlined in the Masonic Code of Iowa, Chapter 14, Section 2 , and is supplied with money as follows ( 3/7/2002)

    a. A sum of $3.00 to be diverted from members' yearly dues to replenish and perpetuate the fund.(4/7/2005) (goes into effect for 2006 dues)

    b. Such gifts as may be forthcoming in future years, which may be given to be used for charitable  purposes.

2. The Charity Committee, which consists of the Master and the Wardens shall administer the Charity fund.

 

SECTION 10. GRAND LODGE COMPENSATION

Arcadia Lodge shall compensate the Master and Wardens or their legal proxies for their attendance at, and participation in the annual Stated Communication of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.

1. Such compensation shall be determined by the Master, based on actual expenses for room. The Master shall be compensated for expenses over and above the amount paid to him by the Grand Lodge of Iowa for attendance at the annual Stated Communication.

2. Eligibility for compensation shall be on an attendance basis to be determined by the Master or his proxy and reported by him to the Lodge at the first stated communication of Arcadia Lodge after the Grand Lodge Communication. ( 4/3/1986)

 

SECTION 10 A. PAST MASTER'S JEWEL

At the conclusion of his term as Worshipful Master of Arcadia Lodge, the Worshipful Master shall be issued a check in the amount of $100.00 to apply towards the purchase of a Past Master's Jewel. Said check shall be issued whether or not the purchase of a Jewel is contemplated.

 

SECTION 11. DANCING - CARD PLAYING

Arcadia Lodge will allow card playing of a non-gambling nature and dancing on its premises.

SECTION 12. FINANCE COMMITTEE

1. The Finance Committee shall consist of the Senior Warden, Junior Warden and one member to be appointed each year for a two-year term by the Worshipful Master. (12/3/1992)

2. The Finance Committee shall, following the stated meeting in September, prepare a review of the year's expenses and meet with the elected officers of the Lodge to review the financial condition of Arcadia Lodge and begin preliminary Budget preparation for the ensuing year. They shall make recommendations as follows:

  a. Increase or decrease of dues.

  b. Increase or decrease of usage contributions from Masonic and Masonic affiliated bodies. ( 3/7/2002)

  c. Other recommendations as they may deem necessary.

     3. Their recommendations are to be presented at the October Stated Meeting for action by the Lodge.

     4. The Budget shall be presented at the December Stated Meeting. (12/1992)

 

SECTION 13. PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BOARD

1. The Property Management Board shall consist of five members appointed on a rotating basis for five-year terms, one member to be appointed by each incoming Master at his Installation for a five-year term. Vacancies shall be appointed for the unexpired term. Members may be re-appointed to this Board.

2. The Worshipful Master shall be an ex officio member of the Property Management Board during such time only as he remains Worshipful Master of Arcadia Lodge. In the event of a term appointment on the Board when elected Worshipful Master, the Master shall appoint a substitute voting member to serve during his year as Worshipful Master.

3. The Board shall elect from among its members a Chairman and a Secretary-Treasurer.

4. The Board shall meet with the Master, Wardens and Board of Trustees of Arcadia Lodge during the month of February of each year, at the direction of the Master, and at such other times as directed by the Master to review the financial status of the Board, its activities during the preceding year and to discuss such other matters as may come before the meeting.

5. On behalf of the Lodge and the Board of Trustees, the duties of the Property Management Board shall be as follows:

    a. To manage all rental real estate belonging to the Lodge, to lease the same and to collect rents there from, to pay the expenses in connection with such rental property, including mortgage and contract payment.

    b. To invest and reinvest monies received for the purpose of acquiring or constructing at some future time, a new temple for the Lodge.

    c. To insure all properties and where appropriate the contents of properties and in January of each year to present the insurance coverage plan to the Board of Trustees.

    d. To report to the Lodge, at the stated meeting in March, its financial status, a summary of its actions during the preceding year, and its agenda for the current and future years.

    e. To develop and maintain a long-range plan of from two to three years of strategic property improvement (including remodeling and construction) with an accompanying plan to cover the costs with current and future incomes.

    f. To decide all maintenance and repair matters involving Lodge buildings and appendages. ( 3/7/2002) To manage and arrange for interior minor repairs, snow removal, lawn care, etc.. The payment for such items to remain as spelled out in SECTION 7, BOARD OF TRUSTEES 3.a. (10/2/2003)

    g. To present in open Lodge all capital expenditure items with the Board's recommendations prior to a final decision. ( 4/4/1993)

    h. To manage, operate and maintain building security. To issue keys and maintain records of same.
( 3/7/02)

 

SECTION 14. FUNDS OF THE LODGE

Monies collected by the Lodge for general purposes, charity, grand lodge dues or scholarship funds shall be held in separate, interest bearing, accounts.

SECTION 15. ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE BY-LAWS

A committee of three members, one of whom shall be the Worshipful Master-Elect will be appointed at the stated communication in January, whose duties will be to review the By-laws of Arcadia Lodge and make recommendations as to needed changes at the stated communication in February.

SECTION 16. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these By-laws must be made by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present and voting at a stated meeting, providing such proposal shall have been

submitted in writing by the mover and read at a previous stated meeting of this Lodge and

announcement made that the same will be for action at the next stated meeting. All amendments must refer to the section number of the By-law being amended or to a new section number. All members shall be notified in writing of the proposed amendment .

(Prepared by Dan Shaffer and stored in data base)