A motion came to the Lodge floor at the last stated meeting, August
9, 2010, to change our By-Laws. This motion was to increase the
Beulah Lodge Secretary’s duties to include the responsibilities of
the Secretary for all tax forms and to see that they are recorded and
filed with the correct information and to the correct agency.

As Secretary, I requested that the motion be submitted in writing, so
that everyone will have a chance to review the motion to make such a
change.

In the past, a Brother Trustee has committed himself to this task. As
this Brother is about ten years older than the average age of the
other Trustees, word was spread that the other Brothers in this Lodge
thought that he was getting too old to continue as Trustee and
although he said that he feels he can continue and is in good health
and that he would be willing to continue in this position for as long
as he was re-elected to the post, the Lodge voted another Trustee
into his position at the last election.

When tax time came and forms were sent to us, out present Trustees
would not even consider making them out and sending them in. I took
the property tax exemption forms to the county office to file them
myself. I was told that they would not accept my signature on the
forms because it had to be signed by the building owner. After I
explained that I was the Lodge Secretary, they told me that the
building owner would be a Trustee.

I mailed the forms to a Trustee. He called me and asked why I had
sent them to him as he had no intention of doing them. I explained to
him what I had been told at the Court House Office.

The former Trustee who was not renewed in office was sent the papers
and he provided me a copy for our files. He had signed the papers
as “Trustee”.

In effect, the Lodge caused this Brother to perjure himself in the
Lodge’s name. If the tax officials find that the Lodge is committing
perjury, I fear we could lose our “tax exempt” status.

I would respectfully request that this motion be voted down. It would
make it even more difficult to find a Brother to take the Secretary’s
position when we continue to “pile on” the already difficult duties
of this job.

Please also keep in mind the older Brother and former Trustee when
our next election comes in December. He had told me himself that he
would take the Trustee job again if elected.

Respectfully and Fraternally,
Larry Harms, P.M.
Secretary of Beulah Lodge # 578
beulahlodge.org