Web helps spread the word . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Home named historic site . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

PR contest winners announced . . . . . . . . . 2

Elks have pledged to be patriots . . . . . . . 3

Honor our outstanding youth . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Efforts for veterans top $31 million . . . . . . 4

Lodges: Stay on top of charity records . . . . . . 4

Message from the Grand Exalted Ruler

District deputy visits begin this month

USA

http://www.elks.org Care — Share September 2008 Volume 44 • No. 2

GrandSecretaryBryan R . Klatt

CLMS becomesmandatory Oct. 31

Grand LodGe MeMbership CoMMittee

inside

Assign mentors to ‘Grow Elkdom’

Paul D .Helsel

Please see GROW Page 2

To all district deputies, exalted rulers, officers and members:

Hope you all had a wonderful summer complete with the typical family vacation, long weekends at the beach or wherever, or perhaps simply time spent relaxing and recharging the batteries. Now that you are recharged and the kids are back in school, it is time to get back to the routine. And for us the routine is, or should be, running a successful Elks lodge that is growing in size, operational stability and programs of service.

During this month the district deputies will again start their annual official visits to see how well the lodges are doing. They will assess the health and vitality of each lodge from the standpoint of participation in our programs, financial well-being, adherence to operational requirements and

membership management. They will assess what you and your lodge are doing to Grow Elkdom and service your community!

How will you and your lodge stack up? Are you and your lodge actively recruiting new members; actively working to keep your existing members; actively participating in our programs; and helping our veterans and others in your community? Has your lodge reached the $4.50 ENF per capita donation

goal? Well, seven months remain in this lodge year, which is ample time to make significant progress and turn any negatives into positives or make the positives even greater.

In our visits to the states, Jane and I are continually amazed and impressed with all the wonderful work that is being done for and in the name of Elkdom. And that is with maybe 20 percent of our membership involved. We are certainly far from our potential, but to do more and grow as we should, we need every Elk involved in the effort. Get involved, get all Elks involved and help Grow Elkdom and your lodge!

Thank you for all that you are doing for your lodge and our beloved Order. Together we will Grow Elkdom and in doing so, demonstrate that “ Care – Share”!

As announced at the Grand Lodge Session in Anaheim, use of the Chicago Lodge Membership System will become mandatory on Oct. 31, 2008. Download information can be found on the Grand Lodge Web site at “http://ChicagoLMS.NET ”. You will also find helpdesk contact information and a listing of state and district coordinators to assist you at elks.org.

We currently have more than 700 lodges from 49 states using CLMS and the list is growing daily.

Please be advised that CLMS will be the only membership tracking device authorized by Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge IT staff has been working on programs that will assist the subordinate lodges, which are using ELMS, to convert to CLMS. We also will look later into the feasibility of using other brands for

By JOhn C. LamantiaCommittee member

The +1 Program introduced at Grand Lodge in Anaheim suggests each lodge initiates an activation program designed to instill pride in membership and builds a positive member/lodge relationship to reduce lapsation. The first step in putting the program in place is expanding the lodge membership team to include an activation team.

The activation team’s job is to pair each new member with a mentor who makes sure the new member is offered the opportunity to participate in the activities checked on the application and described during indoctrination. The team should work closely with all lodge committees to ensure the offer to participate is seamless.

While new members may take advantage of only a few of the opportunities offered, they will:

1. Know they are valued members of the lodge who, in the words of Grand Exalted Ruler Paul D. Helsel, are “welcome, wanted

and needed.”2. Have an increased awareness of the

good works of the lodge and Order, which will foster pride in being members of an organization that’s making a difference in their community and nation.

It is suggested the lodge should also assign mentors to reinstated members to reduce the likelihood of a second lapsation and to current members who are not active volunteers or visitors to the club rooms. Mentors would interact with reinstated members much as they would with new members. Mentoring

Please see CLmS Page 3

Page 2 Grand LodGe newsLetter • September 2008

Grand LodGe pubLiC reLations CoMMittee

Web helps spread word

Home named historical site

Public Relations contest winners announced

activities directed toward inactive members should center primarily on personal contact to let the members know the lodge values their membership and to determine if they have interest in helping with a specific activity. The contact also offers an excellent opportunity to find if the member has “a problem with the lodge,” and if so, to resolve

the issue before it results in nonpayment of dues.

With the activation team and lodge committees working together, we can “Grow Elkdom” and ensure the Order’s unparalleled 140-year record of service continues well into the future. Contact a member of the Grand Lodge or state association membership team for additional information or assistance with developing an activation team and mentoring program.

Grow From Page 1

The Elks National Home has announced that it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register as a historic district.

“We are indebted to Betty Gereau and the Bedford Historical Society for their efforts in bringing about this distinction for the home,” said Dr. Ronald L. Plamondon, executive director of the home.

The Historical Society also made the Elks National Home the theme of its annual meeting in February. Dan Pezzoni, who prepared the nomination for the State and National Registers, gave

a presentation for the meeting, and later those in attendance toured the home.

Grand Lodge purchased the Hotel Bedford in a bankruptcy sale in 1902 and dedicated it as the Elks National Home on May 21, 1903. When the hotel no longer met the standards of the Order, a new facility was built on the same site. The cornerstone was laid in September 1915 and the home was dedicated July 8, 1916. Those buildings, with later additions, are still in use today.

For information, visit www.elkshome.org or call 1-800-552-4140.

By DOnaLD SanSOuSSiCommittee member

Elkdom — one of the best-kept secrets in town. Telling the American public about Elkdom is of paramount importance to the Order. We have left our accomplishments hidden from the public for too long.

It is time the Elks are recognized for their many benevolences. The word is starting to get out via the various Elks Web sites provided by our lodges, state associations and Grand Lodge. The information helps to show how Elks really do care and how they really do share. One can learn from these various sites of the many wonderful programs, activities and services to humanity being carried out in our lodges. The information to non-Elks can certainly be enlightening, and Elks will be even more proud of what we do to help make our communities and country a better place in which to live.

We have heard from people who have been helped by our efforts, be it someone helped by our medical and research programs, a scholarship recipient, Hoop Shoot participants, veterans, those less fortunate, and the list goes on. Many of them believe that “help” rhymes with “Elk.” Remember that your lodge and state Web site can bring new meaning to the old saying, B.P.O.E. — “Best People On Earth.” We therefore know that the efforts put into these various Web sites reflect a positive image of Elkdom, making the public aware of our fraternal purpose.

All inquiries or registrations for the Web Site Contest should be mailed to Grand Lodge Committeeman, Donald Sansoussi, 136 Lake Francis Dr. Lake Placid, Florida 33852 on or before October 1, 2008.

LodGe aCtivities/state

assoCiationsCoMMittee

By RiChaRD J. GOLDneRCommittee chairman

The Grand Lodge Public Relations Committee announced the 2007-2008 winners of several prestigious awards at the Grand Lodge Session in Anaheim.

The Best Image of Elkdom Awards (for photos submitted that tell a story without words) were won by:

1st – Wayne Cotterly, Lewiston, ME Lodge No. 371, “Youthfest Diabetes Detection”

2nd – W.S. “Buzz” Vigus, St. George, UT Lodge No. 1743, “Elks Hoop Shoot”

3rd – F.R. “Rusty” Stevens, Eatonton, GA Lodge No. 2549, “National Veterans Dairy Parade Float”

4th – W.S. “Buzz” Vigus, St. George, UT Lodge No. 1743, “Dixie Reads …School Library Fund”

5th – John J. Villa, Framingham, MA Lodge No. 1264, “Soccer Shoot Out”

6th – Jeanie Skinner, Searcy, AR Lodge No. 2247, “Drug Awareness Trailer”

The Focus on the Community Awards (for most impressive and effective newspaper articles depicting Elks’ charitable works in the community) were won by:

1st – Scottsbluff, NE Lodge No. 1367, “Elks Opening the Door to the Future”

2nd – Oxnard, CA Lodge No. 1443, “Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing Kids Party at Elks Lodge”

3rd – Mission Viejo-Saddleback Valley, CA Lodge No. 2444, “Elks Give the Gift of Learning”

4th – Prescott Valley, AZ Lodge No. 330, “Elks Honor Winners in Youth Programs”

5th – Bullhead City, AZ Lodge No. 2408, “Elks Honor Students”

6th – Sacramento, CA Lodge No. 6, “Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw Competitors”

The Best Single (Public Relations) Event Brochure Contest Awards (for external community activity) were won by:

1st – Sacramento, CA Lodge No. 6, “Elks’

Veterans Freedom Quilt Program”2nd – Tewksbury-Wilmington, MA Lodge

No. 2070, “Elks’ Dictionary Program”3rd – Wagoner, OK Lodge No. 2838,

“Elks’ 1st Annual Lakefest”4th – Manasota, FL Lodge No. 2734,

“Elks’ Youth Leukemia Benefit”5th – Asheville, NC Lodge No. 608, “Elks’

Children’s Christmas Party”6th – Winslow, AZ Lodge No. 536, “Elks’

Christmas Baskets for the Needy” Being Informed Keeps Elks Strong …

B.I.K.E.S. Positive public exposure of Lodge activities and Elk accomplishments enhances our community image and stimulates interest in our Order…thus attracting quality candidates for membership.

Grand LodGe newsLetter • September 2008 Page 3

Let’s demonstrate that we practice what we preach during National Patriotism Week

CLMS From Page 1Grand LodGe Youth aCtivities CoMMittee

Honor our outstanding young men & womenBy ROnaLD t. LamOtCommittee member

All too often the only publicity received by our nation’s young boys and girls is negative. The only teenagers mentioned in the media are those who for one reason or another have gotten into some kind of trouble. As Elks we can focus the public’s attention on outstanding boys and girls and help dispel the idea that people are inclined to remember only the bad things that some youngsters do.

Our “Student or Teenager of the Month/Student or Teenager of the Year” and Junior Student or Teenager of the Month/ Year programs are a great way to honor and recognize outstanding young men and women for their achievements in school and community life. The positive publicity generated by this program can do much to enhance the image of the young people in your community and counteract the negative publicity.

To start your lodge program, read the Youth Activities Committee Manual (Code 512100). Your lodge secretary has a copy in his or her office. If you are the Youth Activities chairperson you should also have a copy. On page 9 of the manual there are some suggestions on implementing the Student/Teenager program. This, along with other amplified instructions, certificates and material available from your State Youth Activities chairperson, will get you well on your way to having a successful program.

This program awards eight types of

certificates in two categories: Student/Teenager and Junior Student/Teenager, the difference being the high school (grades 9-12) and junior high school (grades 7-9). Tailor your program to fit your school system. Certificates are awarded monthly and yearly. Further, if you are not comfortable awarding all the certificates the first time, pick one or two and get started. You can always expand your program later.

Selecting a monthly and year-end Student/Teenager or Junior Student/Teenager is very easy to promote. Contact the principals of each school under your jurisdiction, requesting they appoint a student selection committee (not faculty) to select a Student/Teenager of Month and have its section forwarded to you. Inform them that you will award a monthly certificate to the student/teenager selected by the student committee.

You can have the school award the certificate at an assembly or announce it over the school P.A. system. You could also award the certificate at the lodge at a dinner or other suitable occasion. Try to have your local media place an article in your local newspaper announcing the winners and their accomplishments.

For the yearly certificates, the same student committee will review monthly selections and select one yearly winner. This type of award should be given at a dinner or other suitable occasion in front of parents, school authorities and the news media.

Let’s show our communities that “ Care, Share.”

By RiChaRD m. PaLanzOCommittee chairman

When I joined the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of the USA, I took an oath to live by following our Cardinal Principles. I also promised to be a patriotic American and support our country.

The BPOE is unique in that it requires its members to improve the quality of life in our country by striving to be a better person. The founders of our Order were filled with overwhelming gratitude for the freedoms that this country guaranteed its citizens and established our fraternity as a staunch supporter of democracy. This is a very important fact to remember as an Elk. Our very nature as an organization is dedicated to our country and our freedoms. We all try to be patriots. We have agreed that the United States is the greatest country in the world that we have pledged to love and defend.

Are you carrying out this promise in your lodge? What are you doing to help keep your

promise? The Grand Lodge of the Order of Elks has compiled many ways that you and your lodge can keep the promise. The Americanism Manual (Code 512000) with the current year’s insert gives you numerous opportunities to carry out patriotic activities. Have you reviewed the Americanism Manual lately for ways to promote Elk-led patriotic events? I urge you to obtain an Americanism Manual for every lodge officer and member of the lodge Americanism Committee. These manuals are just the program resources you need to get going with your commitment to America. The manual is available from the Grand Secretary’s office at $2.40 each or free of charge by downloading it from the “resources” section of elks.org.

The culmination of your activities can be celebrated during Elks National Patriotism Week, Sept. 8-14. By now you should know that the date of this celebration has been moved to the second week of September, to

coincide with Sept. 11, Patriot Day. I think it is very important for us as a patriotic American fraternity to really pull together and have every Elks lodge nationwide celebrate National Patriotism Week. The least your lodge should do on Patriot Day is have a moment of silence for the Americans who died on Sept. 11, 2001, but please do not stop there. Have your mayor or selectman help promote National Patriotism Week with a proclamation! You can find a sample proclamation on the Americanism Committee homepage at elks.org. Have a parade, hold a law and order night, have the local police and firefighters in for a “Thank You” dinner. I hope you are getting the idea and are becoming enthusiastic with the opportunity to bring our patriotic Elks fervor to the citizens of your home town.

Please do something, anything, to promote National Patriotism Week in your lodge and community. Make this an annual event. You will feel good knowing that you are keeping your promise!

Grand LodGe aMeriCanisM CoMMittee

Elks have pledged to be American patriots

conversion. All of this is free of charge. In addition, some important changes are

coming to the CLMS program. One that has had much discussion is the meeting minute’s option within the CLMS program. This was reviewed at the IT Subcommittee meeting in Anaheim and it is the consensus of the committee that other programs are available that would fulfill this need better than CLMS. MS Word and others include forms and spell check. Removing the minutes and other non-membership tracking information from CLMS will free up server space. This change will take effect on Oct. 1, 2008. We will place sample MS Word meeting minutes forms under the secretary tab for those interested in using an electronic format.

The consolidated data base should be completed by mid-August. Once this occurs, the lodge secretary will not have to send the monthly membership reports or annual and semiannual reports as long as the lodge is using the current version of CLMS and the lodge secretary is completing the offsite backup at least once a month. This CLMS membership information will be available to state membership chairmen, state secretaries, DD’s and PGER’s through the CLMS data base. The only exception will be if one of the above does not have web-access to Chicago and requires it sent by mail.

Thanks to the lodges and individuals who have accepted the challenges with making this program a reality.

As a reminder, the CLMS program is free and so is the use of the helpdesk.

JACK M . JENSEN, Grand Secretary

Benevolent and ProtectiveORDER OF ELKS

2750 N . Lakeview AvenueChicago, Illinois 60614-1889

September 2008NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. PostagePAID

CHICAGO, ILPermit No. 5244

Page 4 Grand LodGe newsLetter • September 2008

Stay on top of charity records

As fall begins so do the district deputy visits

ELKS NATIONAL VETERANSSERVICE COMMISSION

SEvERAL yEARS AGO we started publishing statistics which reflect the generosity of members and their spouses who work so hard to keep our pledge to the veterans of our Armed Forces. It is with a great deal of pride that the Elks National Veterans Service Commission lists the statistics for the 2007-2008 fraternal year.

Survey of volunteer veteranS Service ProgramSfor fraternal year aPril 1, 2007 – march 31, 2008

Compiled by the Office of the Grand SecretaryParticipants in Programs: 1,158,402 Elks Who Worked 143,750 Helpers 92,460 Combined Total 236,210Hours Donated: Elks 725,251 Helpers 340,469 Total Combined Hours 1,065,747Cash value of Donated Hours* $20,686,149.00Miles Traveled: Elks 3,135,079 Helpers 1,439,398 Total Combined Miles 4,574,477Cash value of Miles traveled** $2,332,983.00Contributions: Cash $3,507,121.00 Non-Cash 4,838,802.00 Hours Worked 20,686,149.00 Miles Traveled 2,332,983.00Total Contributions $31,365,055.00*The Federal Government has determined that the cost of work done by charitable organizations like the Elks would average out to $19.41 per hour if performed by social care and government agencies. **Mileage computed at $.51 per mile.—————————————————————————————————These statistics don’t tell the complete story. A dollar value cannot be attached to the care and love our volunteers put into their work with those who served America in times of peril.We thank our wonderful volunteers as they continue Serving Our Nation’s Veterans.

— Robert M. Hennings, director, Elks National Veterans Service Commission

By ROBeRt a. JOneSCommittee member

Members, by now your Charity Records book should be well under way with entries for Easter Sunday events, Youth Week Programs, Memorial Day functions, Mother’s Day programs, Flag Day ceremonies, and 4th of July events. Can you believe over one-third of our lodge year is behind us? Hopefully your year is going well and is everything you hoped it would be and expected it to be.

While you were at the Grand Lodge Session, I trust you spent considerable time at the Convention Center visiting all the Grand Lodge booths and picking up literature to bring back to your lodge for officers and members to review. They can use this information to put the programs into action this year.

As fall begins so do the District Deputy visits. Make sure you are fully prepared for their visit. Have all documents they request in order. Please take the time to type out all reports they request

to see. This will be easier for them to read and will help to make you and your lodge much more professional, thus helping to promote our image.

Remember as we come into fall and our lodge activities start to pick up, we now, more than ever, need to be ever vigilant of our non-profit status and our closed-door policy. As Elks we need to make sure that all

non-Elks in our lodge are signed in and also that they not purchase beverages over our bars. Members signing in guests should be making all purchases for them.

Also in September and October our Order recognizes our Grand Exalted Ruler with membership classes dedicated in his honor. Please work to have large classes in these months.

This year your Grand Lodge Government Relations Committee will work diligently to come up with an easier way for you to disseminate your Charity Records to your local, state and national legislators. This will promote our motto “ Care, Share.”

Grand LodGe GovernMent reLations CoMMittee

(continued on back)Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks • Grand Lodge

IMPORTANT!!(Attach this sheet to the Lodge copy of the 2007 Annotated Statutes to use until the 2008 edition of the Annotated Statutes is received at the Lodge.

THESE STATUTES WERE AMENDED WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2008, BY LODGE REPRESENTATIVES AND GRAND LODGE MEMBERS ASSEMBLED AT THE GRAND LODGE SESSION IN ANAHEIM, CA, AND AUTOMATICALLY TOOK EFFECT AS WORDED HERE AT 12:01 A.M. ON AUGUST 9, 2008, IN ALL LODGES.

(Lined-out words are deleted, and underlined words are added.)

Section 17.020 of the Laws of the Order, amended to read as follows:

Section 17.020.  A State Association has the right to propose a Law or an Amendment to a Law.  The proposal shall be sent to the Grand Secretary and the Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary by May 15th preceding the Grand Lodge Session to which it  to be proposed.   The Grand Secretary upon receipt of a resolution to amend the Grand Lodge  Statutes  from  State Associations  shall  forward  copies  of  said  resolution  to  amend  the  Constitution  and/or Laws of the Order to all Subordinate Lodges at least thirty (30) days prior to the Grand Lodge Session to which it is to be presented.  Only those resolutions so proposed and forwarded to Subordinate Lodges shall be considered for a vote at the Grand Lodge Session.  at least fifteen (15) days before the annual Grand Lodge Session.  The Committee on Judiciary shall present the proposal to the Grand Lodge with its recommendation.

Section 9.170, Subparagraph c., Laws of the Order, amended to read as follows:

Section 9.170. c.  The appointed Trustees  shall convert  to cash any property necessary  to pay valid debts of  the Lodge and written permission  to sell or  lease said real estate shall be obtained from the Board of Grand Trustees and the net proceeds shall be invested for the benefit of the trust, as provided by local laws relating to investments of trust funds, and shall be held until said Lodge be reinstated or a new Lodge or Lodges be organized in the same jurisdiction.  Provided, however, and subject to the approval of the Grand Exalted Ruler, the appointed Trustees may annually distribute to the State Association in which the Lodge in question was located, part or all of the net earnings of the Trust to be restricted to the sole purpose of paying expenses incurred in connection with the effort to form a new Lodge or Lodges in the same state.  Such distribution shall be in an amount that will not diminish the corpus or principal of the Trust.    If the net assets total $10,000.00 or less, said amount shall immediately be transferred to one or more tax exempt charitable organizations of the State Association in which the Lodge was located for use by that State Association for its major project or other exempt purposes within the State Association and within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding section of any future tax code.

Second paragraph of Section 14.180, Laws of the Order, amended to read as follows:

Section 14.180.  An unaffiliated Member  . . .    If  the  unaffiliated  Member  is  a  resident  within  the  jurisdiction  of  another  Lodge,  or  Lodge  in  process  of organization, he may apply  to  such other Lodge or  the Lodge  in process of organization,  to become affiliated therewith, provided he first obtain a Certificate of Release from the Lodge that dropped him from its rolls.  The release shall be granted to him upon paying to that Lodge the sum of ten (10) twenty (20) dollars but the Lodge granting the release shall have the right to make the recommendations as it elects as to the fitness of the applicant for re-affiliation with the Order.  . . .

NOTE: THESE STATUTES TOOK EFFECT AT 12:01 A.M. ON AUGUST 9, 2008, IN ALL LODGES, AND REQUIRE NO FURTHER LODGE ACTION.

Section 4.220, Laws of the Order, amended to read as follows:

Section 4.220.  The Board of Grand Trustees is the general fiscal agent of the Order, and, unless otherwise provided by  the  Grand  Lodge,  shall  have  general  authority  over  all  funds  and  property  belonging  to  the  Order.    It  shall be  the custodian of  the bonds given by  the Grand Lodge Officers.    It  shall be  responsible  for  the purchase of all supplies for  the Order utilizing competitive bids where practical.   No member of  the Board shall have an  interest directly or indirectly in any purchase.  The Board shall designate in writing the percentage above actual cost, F.O.B.  Chicago, not exceeding  ten percent,  for all supplies purchased from the office of  the Grand Secretary by Lodges, State Associations and Members of the Order.  The Board, with advice of the Advisory Committee, shall have power to purchase, sell, grant, lease and encumber all real and personal property of the Order, and to authorize, designate and direct all benefit programs for Grand Lodge employees.  . . . 

Amendment to Section 9.170, Laws of the Order, added a new Subparagraph e., to read as follows:

Section 9.170. e.  When the same members are Trustees for two or more Lodges in the same State or Territory, said Trustees may manage the assets of the defunct Lodges in a single Trust, provided that a separate record shall be kept of the assets and income for each defunct Lodge.

Amendment to Section 4.370, Laws of the Order, added a new Subparagraph h., to read as follows:

Section 4.370. h.  To approve all non-profit corporations and charitable trusts as permitted by Article III, Section 18.  None of the above is effective unless and until approved.

Section 7.020, Subparagraph c. of the Laws of the Order, amended to read as follows:

Section 7.020. c.  Appellate jurisdiction over decisions of the Subordinate Forum (Section 8.230) and decisions of a Lodge governing body as provided for in Section 14.170 and for review of compliance with the procedural provisions of Sections 12.130, 12.140 and 12.141 in applicable cases.

Section 16.010, Laws of the Order, amended to read as follows:

Section 16.010.  On or before May 1st of each year the Lodge Secretary shall furnish on an Annual Report form, furnished by the Grand Secretary, information requested as of March 31, the end of the Lodge and fiscal year.    This report shall be signed, sealed and transmitted to the Grand Secretary with payment in full of the per capita fee, in the format and manner prescribed by the Grand Secretary.    If a Lodge fails or refuses to transmit a timely Annual Report, it shall pay a fine of one hundred (100) dollars to the Grand Secretary.  Failure to send the report to the Grand Secretary shall constitute contumacy.

Section 15.070, Laws of the Order, amended to read as follows:

Section 15.070.  Lodges  shall  meet  at  least  monthly  but  may  meet  semi-monthly,  but  may  meet  tri-monthly  or weekly as provided in the Lodge By-Laws.  In the months of July, August and December at least one meeting must be held.  The Grand Exalted Ruler or the District Deputy may grant a dispensation to omit a regular meeting except during the month of February.  Special meetings may be called by the Exalted Ruler upon three days’ notice to all Members  of  the  Lodge.    The  notice  shall  state  the  special  business  to  be  considered;  no  other  business  shall  be considered or transacted.  No Lodge meeting shall be held outside the jurisdiction of the Lodge, without the prior written consent of the Grand Exalted Ruler.