Secretary Duties w.r.t 50 Year Awards 

By about September or October of each year the Secretary of the Lodge should determine which members of the Lodge will become 50 Year Members during the next year.  This information may be important when determining if the dues need to be increased as more 50 Year Members means less money coming into the Lodge.  The burden of paying the uncollected moneys falls upon the members who have not been a member of the Mason for 50 Years. (I assume this means the next calendar year, not the next Masonic Year, but I am not sure as of 12 November 2010)

It the Lodge Remits the dues for its 50 Year Members, which does not seem to be required by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, the Secretary of the Lodge should, at the September, October or even the November Stated Meeting  make a motion to remit the dues for all eligible Members who are or will be 50 Year Members during the next year.  A separate motion is required for each 50 Year Member to remit the dues.  Usually the Senior Warden will second each motion and the Worshipful Master will call for a vote.

If there are any new 50 Year Members that need to be awarded the 50 Year Emblem the Secretary of the Lodge must order a 50 Year Emblem for each new 50 Year Member from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania website.  This is located in the area of the website that is restricted to Secretaries of a Lodge and is accessible only by a password.

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania will then send the correct amount of 50 Year Emblems to the Secretary of the Lodge.  There does not seem to be any charge for the 50 Year Emblems, yet.

Obviously the Secretary of the Lodge needs to notify the 50 Year Members who are to receive the award to ascertain if they will be able to visit the Lodge to receive their 50 Year Emblem.  If a 50 Year Member is not able to get himself to the Lodge, provisions need to be made to see that he can get to the meeting.  If the new 50 Year Member cannot attend the Lodge then the 50 Year Emblem should be delivered to the residence of the eligible 50 Year Member.  I think this is to be done by the Worshipful Master.  If the 50 Year Member lives out of the area some other Lodge may be willing to make the presentation.  I think that this has been done in the past.

The date of the Presentation should be published in the Notice for the month.

The Secretary of the Lodge needs to get Masonic History of the new 50 Year Members from GLOP website or from some other source.

Upon delivery of the 50 Year Emblem the Secretary of the Lodge shall send a report to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.  The required report will have been sent to the Secretary of the Lodge along with the delivery of the 50 Year Emblem and Wallet Card.

The 50 year pin is usually presented by the DDGM at his annual Official Visitation, however it can be done by the Worshipful Master.  The DDGM should be offered the opportunity to present the 50 Year Emblem.  He may do so during his Official Visit or at a time of his choosing.  The DDGM may have the Worshipful Master present the 50 Year Emblem in his absence.

Order of Operation For 50 Year Emblem (this seems to be correct)

1) Early Fall: Determine who is entitled to receive it.

2) Contact the DDGM to determine when he can present Emblem or Emblems.

3) Contact 50 year member to see if he can make meeting

4) Get Masonic History of 50 year member from GLOP website or other info.

5) Order Emblem or emblems from GLOP on GLOP Website

6) Announce the upcoming presentation in the Monthly Notice.

7) Record in minutes

8) Notify GLOP of results of the event