Wilkerson College Sessions 2 and 3

I finished the last 2 weekends of Wilkerson College. As I posted before, it is an educational class put on by the Grand Lodge of NC and the AASR Orient of NC designed to help teach deacons to prepare them to be effective masters of their lodges.

The second weekend we spent in Oxford, NC at the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. It is one of only 5 Masonic homes left in operation. That is a wonderful facility and each mason in NC should be very proud of the work they do there. We continued the lessons started at the first session and were taught by some of the most respected men in NC masonry.

We followed up the Oxford session a few weeks later with a full weekend in Raleigh, NC. Friday night we were able to visit the Grand Lodge facility and see the renovation work that has been going on this past year.  Our Grand Lodge building is administrative offices only and does not have a lodge room. There are many great artifacts important to NC masonry on display. One of the most interesting items was a warrant from the Grand Lodge of England in 1771 proclaiming Joseph Montfort Provincial Grand Master of America. He was the only man in history to hold that title.

After a great night of relaxing with the brothers and their wives we had another full day of classes. We ended up that afternoon about 5 and had a graduation banquet that was open to our wives. We had a great meal and heard from Dr. Bill Brunk, SGIG of the Orient of NC, AASR and Robert Gresham Jr, Grand Master of Masons in NC. We had a great time and fellowshipped with many great brothers from across the state.

Some have said that $600 was to much to spend on an education program. Some of us had our lodges to pay for it. Some paid for it themselves. Some even received scholarship money to attend. Considering that we got 4 nights lodging (2 nights at the last session in a single room for us and our wives), all meals paid for, and materials provided, I would consider it a bargain. The courses were great and we learned a lot of valuable information. One of the most important things though was developing relationships with brothers from across the state that should be master at the same time that you are. We are able to bounce ideas off each other and can stay in contact with them. There are some situations that can come up within a lodge where you want to be able to talk to someone outside of your district. This gives us the opportunity for that. We also were able to develop relationships with quite a few past grand masters, PDDGM’s, PDDGL’s, and PM’s that we are able to contact as well for any reason.  It was well worth the time and money. I will honor the experience and friends that I made through it. I thank each and every brother that had something to do to put this event on. I am very honored to be included in the 320 Wilkerson College graduates. I hope that I can take what I learned and help my lodge, district, and fraternity as best as I can.

Wilkerson College - Session One

The Grand Lodge of NC and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Orient of North Carolina started a school for those filling the Deacons chairs to help prepare them to serve their lodge as master. The thought is that the deacons have a few years to work and plan for their year as master. This past Friday and Saturday night I attended the first of three sessions of this years class.

We started out with a tour of Whitestone Masonic and Eastern Star Home in Greensboro, NC. Whitestone is a 100 year old retirement community with anywhere from homes to skilled nursing care. It was wonderful to spend some time touring the facilities and talking to some of the residents that live in the community. They are one of the major charities sponsored by the Grand Lodge of NC. I would urge any mason in NC to visit and see what we are doing with our money.

After the tour we met at Haw River State Park Conference Center  for dinner and to start our sessions. After a great meal we met up for an informal social time where we met each of the brethren present and were introduced to the staff. There are 36 students that make up the class and every one of them is sitting as either a Junior or Senior Deacon.We spent the remainder of the night getting to know each other.

The following morning we had breakfast and then was supposed to take part in a Fitness Course for team building exercises. We had bad storms that night so the events were moved inside where we participated in team building events. We then started the formal classroom sessions. Throughout the day we had sessions on Planning I and II, Whitestone, How it really began, Communications I, and Motivating your lodge. It was a full day and a lot of great masonic knowledge was shared.

The next two sessions will take place at the end of March and April and will be held at The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford located in Oxford, NC and The Grand Lodge of NC in Raleigh. I look forward to these next two sessions and hope to be able to be an effective leader in my lodge if elected to do so. Many thanks go out to those involved in putting together this school and for the instructors passing on their knowledge.

I would encourage any mason that has the opportunity to take part in leadership courses offered by their Grand Lode to do so. You will gain valuable information as well as meet brethren throughout the state that you might not have had the chance to meet. Click here for more information of Wilkerson College to find out the history and what is covered.