PROCEEDINGS GRAND LODGE - Freemasons of Wisconsin

3,696 members or $59,136 in income. In 2002, the per capita was raised to $26.00per year. From 2001 through 2005 we lost 2,821 members or the equivalent of$73,346 in income. These losses in income have been balanced by a reduction inexpenses and an increase in investment income allocation.We have put together a five-year plan covering membership and proposedbudgets. The Trustees have provided their expectations as to what the InvestmentIncome Allocation will be without reducing the principal or corpus of our investments.The Per Capita increased proposed by the Expenditures Committee willallow us the financial wherewithal to aggressively counter our declining membershipand to meet the goal of $300,000 or less from Investment Income that theTrustees have given us.In compliance with Section 24.01 of the Wisconsin Masonic Code, I have madearrangements to personally sign all mileage and per diem checks for representativesattending the 2006 Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Free andAccepted Masons of Wisconsin. Arrangements for distribution of the checks onSaturday, June 3, have been made in conformity with Section 30.06 of the WisconsinMasonic Code.Thank you brethren for the privilege and pleasure of serving as your GrandTreasurer this past year. It truly has been a learning experience for me. A specialthank you to William Day, PGM and to the staff at the Grand Lodge office. Theirpatience and very able assistance in answering my many questions is greatlyappreciated. And finally, a special thank you to our Grand Master Roger L. Magoonfor expressing confidence in me and allowing me to serve our Fraternity as a partof his team. It has been a good year and I am very honored to have been a part of it.Report accepted.Fraternally submitted,James M. HaysGrand TreasurerGrand Treasurer James Hays proceeded with a Power Point presentation onGrand Lodge Accounting 101, which showed the accounting practices of the GrandLodge. This showed our accounting system is based on a for-profit basis. Hisrecommendation is to change to a non-profit fund accounting basis. The trusteeshave agreed and have approved the funds for a software program to implement thischange in the accounting system.His slides went on to show the increase and decrease in membership and theamount of per capita collected, which is declining because of the increase in the lossof members. He explained the budget process followed by the Expenditures Committee.The categories were broken down and the accounts that had cost savingreductions applied were detailed.Brother Hays showed how just a $5 increase in per capita tax would help balancethe budget. There is a five-year plan that needs some tweaking, but it needs to bedone. He feels that the membership has not been good stewards of the Grand Lodgefunds. This needs to be changed and become a way of life. A look at the whole pictureis a must.75