WELCOME TO OUR ALABAMA GRAND LODGE COMMUNICATION FOR 2007 PHOTO PAGE
So many brothers are unable to attend, and are curious as to what happens, I have thrown togather a short photo record from this year's (2007) Grand Lodge Communication to give any curious brothers a little better idea.
So, what does our CURRENT Grand Lodge Building look like?
Currently we are renting space in this office building:
We currently also own two plots of land.
These land plots of of great discussion at the Grand Communication, as one is the focus of a sale while the other may be the home of our new grand lodge offices.
So much discussion of these two properties was recently made, that I felt a visit to both was in order and I now present these informational photos for your consideration.
We now own a 1-acre site in Millbrook Alabama that was recently purchased, and is where a new grand lodge office is planned.
We also own the much larger site in montgomery where the Masonic Home stood until recently torn down, and which is already developed with streets and utilities.
If you went to the Grand Communication this year, and left with the impression that this piece of land (former site of masonic home) was in a crime ridden area of montgomery, I am sad to say that information is not 100% true.
Before leaving town I visited both this large real estate section, and the new small 1-acre plot in Millbrook, and was amazed to discover neither piece of property is 100% as it was represented, at least in the discussions I witnessed at our Grand Communication.
The future Grand Lodge office 1-acre site is shown here:
While a great deal was said about strong restrictions of the Mill Brook plot, and that may be true for the land itself and the 6 acre plot next to it (still unsold), you also can see 100 feet or so away lies a strip mall on the main highway that no doubt is not covered by the same "restrictions" we were told about.
Please understand that I am not making note of this to show we were misled in any way, but since a photo speaks for itself, this is offered as an educational tool for the brothers who did not have the means or time to investigate these two properties. If you have any questions after seeing this, please direct them to the Grand Lodge commitees responsible for land purchase and building decisions, we only offer these observations and photos and as education tool for our brothers.
What is it about the masonic home property that causes it to be thought of as in such a "bad part of town, and so crime ridden"?
Here are photos of both the property, and the UPSCALE stores and shopping areas that have been built directly across the street from our property
All these UPSCALE stores (Talbots, Starbucks, Applebees, etc.) are DIRECTLY acoss the street from OUR property that we were led to believe is in a run down part of town.
There also was talk about the run down crime ridden neighborhoods that surrounded the land. I drove through these neighborhoods and snapped these photos. I boubt there was a house worth less than $150,000 in the area, and all were clean, neat and is top shape.
The actual piece of land the old masonic home occupied seems like the perfect spot to build a new grand lodge, and considering the Upscale neighbors ON ALL 4 SIDES, renting office space for top dollar also would seem like a breeze.
The ONLY property I saw in the area that did look run down at all, was the Baptist Church Building on an ajoining plot, and it seems to simply need a coat of paint.
Now I will say, that I myself am not from Montgomery, and I am not that in touch with local properties and values.
So I stopped at the Starbucks across the street FROM OUR LAND and asked a pair of policemen, plus a few employees who worked there, what they thought of this area.
All were of the same opinion that this was a fast growing upscale aiming part of town.
They did say there USED TO BE a lot of crime in the area, because there used to be a public housing developement right down the road, but they also said the public housing development had since BEEN TORN DOWN and that this was now a nice, safe, clean and upscale moving area. And as far as crime goes, I think the local POLICE officers who cover the area would be the ones to believe.
It is no secret the Private Academy across the street desires this property. And I would guess THEY understand how this real estate can go no where but up in value. While we as brothers are in the charity business, I doubt we want to give away property to a for-profit institution, when we could ourselves use it for a profitable use.
I would advise anyone interested in this land situation to drive around this area yourselves, and then address any concerns to the brothers who make these real estate decisions for you at the GL.
I hope these photos help shed some light on our organization's decisions for those who could not travel and see for themselves.
-Bro. Bob Martin
Calm before the storm. Early morning view inside the Hotel
First stop that Monday Morning, Brother Lonnie Sheffield Checks the brothers credentials and offers helpfull information.
Please give the man a cup of coffee!
The Brothers gather to study the work!
Afterwords, it is socializing, and fellowship until the
Grand Lodge Opens on Tuesday Morning.
Tuesday Morning the Grand Lodge Opens with a very large showing of brothers.
On the stage, a large collection of past Alabama Grand Masters Gather
2006 Grand Master James Smith reads over reports and conducts business
2007 Grand Master Larry Stinson and 2006 Grand Master Smith Welcome visiting dignitaries
More business is conducted and reports are read
Our own Bro. Bob Martin gets an unexpected thrill when asked to sit in for the Junior deacon for a few minutes.
Past Grand Master Marvin "Cotton" Leachman is presented with a special recognition apron by 2007 Grand Master Larry Stinson
We break for refreshment as a few brothers mug for the camera!
Bro. Bob Martin
Bro. Billy Malloy shows off his new pin
Bro. jack Sheffield says hi brothers!
Back from refreshment, the new officers for 2007 prepare for induction to their offices.
Let the inductions begin!
New 2007 Grand Master Larry Stinson is honored by family members helping him display his new office jewel.
Grand Master Stinson is sworn into office
Grand Secretary Jerry Underwood PGM takes his oath of office
Our new Grand Master Larry Stinson takes his place on the stage.
Welcome to our new grand master and Officers for 2007
And thanks to the wives and families who support our work!
Thanks for another years great work from Grand Secretary Jerry Underwood
Thanks also from our Grand Chaplin, and Grand Historian
Now Past Grand Master James A. Smith receives his PGM apron and the thanks from us all.
Grand Master Stinson thanks everyone for there support
Congratulations to our new Grand Master for the State of Alabama,
The Most Worshipful Larry Stinson, and his family!
