Grand Master's Message

Grand Master John Hanright (Jack)'s Summer Message for 2023

THE GRAND MASTER'S MESSAGE
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Message from the Grand Master

Dear vasa brothers and sisters,

The spring and summer season has been fantastic. In April, Lindbergh Lode 505 in NY, DL-4 celebrated their 95th anniversary at The Marconi Manor in Islip, LI. Many Grand Lodge officers and neighboring local lodges attended. It was a very special event and many local lodge members received service pins. One especially significant membership pin was presented to Alice Schmutz. Alice became an 80-year member. It was a great honor to be there and take part in such a magnificent celebration. There is an article further in this issue with more detail. In May, Inger and I visited with District Lodge Norra Sverige DL-19 at the Elite Grand Hotel in Norrköping. District Master Maggie Ahlin-Thelin and the executive board ran a very fine meeting. The meeting was held in an older bank building across the street from the hotel. It is a very elegant meeting space and was enjoyed by all. Inger and I then spent a few days in Gothenburg visiting with family and friends. The following weekend we attended Södra Sverige DL-20 in Ljungby at the Hotel Terraza. District Master Mats Holmberg and executive board members did a fantastic job. Our Grand Lodge Deputies Einar Grön (D-19) and Åke Mellnert (D-20) conducted the elections and installation of officers in grand style. Grand Lodge Historian Erik Gustavson and Cultural Director Marianne Andersson also joined us.  Thank you all for your hard work and careful attention to detail. I was very pleasantly surprised to be joined by Past Grand Master Tore Kellgren and former First Lady and DL12 Grand Lodge Deputy, Birgitta during both of these meetings. To make it especially memorable I celebrated my birthday with the lodges and was treated to very heartwarming congratulations. In early June we traveled to Edmonton Canada to visit with Alberta DL-18. It’s been a long time since we have been to DL-18 due to COVID, and it was especially nice to see everyone again. District Master Carol Banks ran a great meeting and Grand Lodge deputy Fae Doty conducted the elections and installations expertly. Fae also served as District Secretary. GLEBM Donna Englund was in attendance and also serves as District Treasurer. It was a great trip, and everything was very well planned. Congratulations to these lodges for your successful conventions. DL-2 Massachusetts is planning their convention for September 16th in Raynham, and we look forward to visiting with them.  Our Scholarship program made many awards this year and continues to support our younger members and their educational pursuits. Please consider donating to the Grand Lodge educational program. Your generosity can have a big impact on our scholarship support. Well, it’s been a year now since being elected as Grand Master and it’s been fantastic. Traveling and visiting with all of the district and local lodges has been very rewarding. Our Grand Lodge Board has been working together very well and I look forward to the upcoming year.

In Generosity Truth and Unity

John Hanright (Jack)

Grand Master