1. Past President General Ill. Jack Thomas 33 rd. WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL GRAND MASONIC CONGRESS I bring you greetings from the General Grand Masonic Congress. I continue to pray that each Grand Lodge and its subordinates have success in everything they do. I believe that this is possible only if you remember that when you put GOD first, all things are possible through Him that strengthens us. The Lord is my Light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life whom shall I be afraid? Psalms 27:1

2. TRAVELING CONTACTS Brothers and Sisters, We want to provide members and affiliates with a Secure List on our website of names, e-mails, and numbers provided to aid you in times of distress while traveling. The listed Brothers and Sisters have graciously volunteered to be available should you need them only for those who have been granted access. This is a positive step in bringing our Fraternal Order together, and living up to our obligations. ILL. Jack Thomas 33 rd Past President General

3. Masonic Congress Web Presence Website 2-way Window to the World Increased accessibility, retention, and growth Social media (attract target audience) Facebook Twitter Blogs Communication E-mail IM Video/Audio Conferences Education (lectures)

4. Website Statistics 234 million – Is the Total number of registered websites as of December 2009. 47 million – Is the number of Added websites in the year 2009 alone. ? ? – The number of potential members the General Grand Masonic Congress have and will reached with this Website & Social networks.

6. Link to Grand Lodge of California Link to Grand Lodge of Texas Link to Grand Lodge of Oregon Link to Grand Lodge of Louisiana Link to Grand Lodge of Massachusetts Secure webpage

7. Multimedia & Communication Microsoft webcasts are 30-90 minutes in length and feature interactive presentations, product demonstrations, and question-and-answer sessions. Multiple new live webcasts are offered every day, and all content is available on-demand. (podcasts) Instant messages (IM) are a popular type of real-time Internet correspondence that allow one-on-one private dialogue or simultaneous multiple private exchanges. Usually in the form of a box or small screen in which sent and received messages are displayed, instant messages are text based, but can contain links, images, even voice transmissions. Video conferences with Instant Messaging (IM) live response Q & A sessions. Conference calling on the phone with multiple participants. Blogs- posted comments Questions and Answers that allow an open forum about Masonry for public or private dialog and exchange of ideas, thoughts and feelings.

9. Social Media Facebook & Twitter More than 500 million active users 350 million – People on Facebook 50% – Percentage of Facebook users that log in every day 27.3 million – People on Twitter per day Twitter is ranked as one of the 50 most visited websites worldwide 126 million –Blogs on the Internet (as tracked by BlogPulse). More Facebook & Website Facts: Average user has 130 friends People spend over 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook and related websites.

10. Emails 90 trillion – The number of emails sent on the Internet in 2009. 247 billion – Average number of email messages per day. 1.4 billion – The number of email users worldwide. 100 million – New email users since the year before.

11. UPCOMING EVENTS: USC Biennial Session August 7 – 13, 2010 ***Holiday Inn Little Rock Conference Center *** The General Grand Masonic Congress & USC History and By-Laws MASONIC CANDIDATE ORIENTATION BOOKLET 2011 Palm Sunday service in Nassau Bahamas

12. Audio/Video/Photo 12.2 billion – Videos viewed per month on YouTube in the US (November 2009). 182 – The number of online videos the average Internet user watches in a month (USA). 82% – Percentage of Internet users that view videos online (USA). 81.9% – Of embedded pictures & videos are viewed on Websites and social networks daily.

13. Photo Gallery

15. SERVICE & FELLOWSHIP FAITH, HOPE & CHARITY Social Events List of charities each Grand Lodge Subordinate Lodges/ OES Scholarships Fund Raisers Quarterly News Letter Parties Birthdays Bar-B-Q Reunions

16. Why Do We Need A Website & Social Networks We will be Left behind in the 21 st Century Membership, Retention, and Growth will Die Websites & Social Networks will be the hub for all Masonic information and communication. E-mails & Instant Messaging (IM) is how information and documents are shared. Facebook allows all lodges to promote the events going on with in their cities, as well you promoting and keeping in touch. Twitter can instantly send out information to all your Masonic followers.

17. The End More facts and inf. Available if needed. Contact me: webmaster@ggmasoniccongress.com Thanks, ILL. Byron K. Amerson 33rd DGM of Texas