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Grand Registrar Freemasons New Zealand
Lodge Trustees. Grand Registrar Freemasons New Zealand
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The Grand Lodge of Freemasons of New Zealand Trustees Act 1903
Provides for: Grand Lodge Trustees Craft Lodge Trustees Powers of trustees Register of Trustees to be kept Title passes to new trustees without conveyance
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Where do we get our current property ownership regime?
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Grand Lodge Trustees All lands and any estate therein, and all moneys and securities for money,and all personal property now held by Grand Lodge.
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Craft Lodge Trustees Created or provided for under the 1903 Act
Provided for in the Book of Constitution Have onerous obligations.
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What is a Trustee? A person (or group of persons or a corporate entity) - who holds real or personal property, for and on behalf of others (the beneficiaries) In the case of a craft lodge to hold …“all lands and any estate therein, and all money and securities for money, and all personal property then held by the lodge”…..
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Appointment of trustees
Lodge makes the appointment Yearly appointment Should consider the skill set that potential trustees have to bring to the role
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Craft Lodge Trustee Why were our Trustees appointed? :
- he’s a good bloke, he’s been in the craft a long time, what else can we do with him, he will never get Grand Rank, it might shut him up.
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How are you appointed? By-Laws provide for the appointment of trustees for each lodge including how often and how many
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How some brethren say they were appointed.
I read about my appointment in last years installation booklet. I’ve been a trustee of this lodge since it started. Bob was a trustee so when he resigned he appointed me. I went to the wrong meeting – I wanted to be the outer guard.
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Duties of a Trustee Duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries Duty to act responsibly Duty to act honestly Duty to act personally Fiduciary duty
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Fiduciary Duty Means: A duty of trust and good faith;
to always act in the best interests of the beneficiaries; to avoid conflicts of interest and all questions of personal gain
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Things Trustees are not !
A replacement for the secretary the treasurer The lodge trouble-shooter
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Trustees are a resource for the Lodge
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Problems can arise as a trustee!
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Need to Manage Problems:
Don’t ignore issues – they wont go away; Make a plan to deal with them; Seek advice and assistance Don’t ignore advice once it is sought Saying it’s not fair is unlikely to be good enough Rules for trustees are evolving
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It’s a tradition – we can’t make a change!
Trustees can be leaders in the lodge for new ways of thinking Always remember “Just because you’ve always done it this way, doesn’t meant it’s not incredibly stupid”
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How should a trustee act?
Should seek professional advice Consider all relevant information Act honestly and efficiently Act fairly Act personally Ensure no conflict of interest Never mix personal and trustee interest
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As a trustee what are you responsible for?
The preservation of the lodge assets At the very least ensuring no losses in those assets The timely payment of any debts owed or incurred by the lodge
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As a Trustee - I have an indemnity from the lodge
Take care – its not cast iron Limits of indemnity Where does any liability start and end? How do I minimise that liability ?
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Vision for the Future (Grand Lodge Initiative)
We know from the data collected: Those lodges who plan have a future New buildings Exciting social programme High quality refectory Use your trustees as a resource to help plan for and shape the future for your lodge they are a resource for your lodge if chosen carefully.
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We need to focus on the future of the Craft
Be focused on the Brethren not the bricks and mortar Understand the costs of your Freemasonry Focus your resources on fraternity Explore your options
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Time to use Trustees as a Resource
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Your Lodge Your Future Your Way No Lodge No Future No Way
LODGE FUTURE? Your Lodge Your Future Your Way No Lodge No Future No Way
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