2005 Ritual Competition for Master Mason
 
 Whose Bright Idea was this? The concept of searching the "best ritualist" while performing as a Sr Deacon (hear the drum rolling) after 
submitting a registration form NLT April 30, 2005. The winner takes a free trip to Grand Lodge where he can parrot his brilliant performance
in front of an awed audience including the Grand Master himself! Give me a break!!
 
 Good intention but a misplaced approach. This "Who’s-Going-To-Be- the-New-Star" Talent Show was not only outdated but definitely
a copycat wannabe. If the Grand Lodge wanted to recognize those who performed above and beyond, get with the District Inspectors who
 are in the perfect position to select within his district. In that way chances is that more deserving Brothers could be recognized instead of
a single "ritualist of the year." Turning the serious lesson into a game/contest is the akin to "One-Day conferral" scheme. A bad joke that 
could lead more Brothers to wonder where in the heck we are heading to?
 
 I attended the Secretary's Meeting at San Francisco last Oct. After introducing the outstanding leaders/officers, the main speaker spoke
about the issue of that "California don’t have membership problem but leadership problem." I was tempted to walkout in protest to that 
statement and its rationale in defense to the local Lodge leaders I knew but my ride stayed. So I stayed and listened to the concept of 
"quantity is better than quality." That ANCOM was a wasted trip even in SF.
 
 In retrospect, now I believed that the speaker spoke truthfully--- we have leadership problem and it’s not a local issue.
 
F/
 
Rudy Olano
Lincoln Lodge No. 34

Hanford Lodge No. 279

19Jan05