Join us on a captivating journey as we explore the intriguing world of Masonry with our special guest, R:. W:. Tom Haber, is a third-generation mason with a rich history and invaluable experiences. Born into a family of Masons and raised in Cabul Lodge, Right Worshifold has served at various reputable lodges, climbing the ranks to the 32nd Degree of Masonry. His journey is one of dedication and commitment, offering listeners a rare opportunity to learn from his experiences and gain a deeper understanding of Masonry.
During his tenure as the Deputy District Grandmaster of the 23rd District, R:. W:. Haber faced a slew of challenges, including the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian, but his unwavering focus on unity, peace, and brotherhood remained steadfast. In our conversation, he shares insightful reflections on his time in office, presenting a unique perspective on the roles and responsibilities of a District Deputy Grandmaster. His strength and resilience in the face of adversity are an inspiring testament to the core values that underpin the Masonic craft.
As we wrap up our enlightening discussion, R:. W:. Haber emphasizes the significance of membership growth and quality over quantity in Masonry. He shares his thoughts on the essential role of mentorship, the impact of 'festering zombie lodges', and his reflections on the Grand Communication 2023. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in Masonry's dedication, commitment, and service. Tune in for a captivating exploration of one of Masonry's pillars, R:. W:. Tom Haber.
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Join us on a captivating journey as we explore the intriguing world of Masonry with our special guest, R:. W:. Tom Haber, is a third-generation mason with a rich history and invaluable experiences. Born into a family of Masons and raised in Cabul Lodge, Right Worshifold has served at various reputable lodges, climbing the ranks to the 32nd Degree of Masonry. His journey is one of dedication and commitment, offering listeners a rare opportunity to learn from his experiences and gain a deeper understanding of Masonry.
During his tenure as the Deputy District Grandmaster of the 23rd District, R:. W:. Haber faced a slew of challenges, including the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian, but his unwavering focus on unity, peace, and brotherhood remained steadfast. In our conversation, he shares insightful reflections on his time in office, presenting a unique perspective on the roles and responsibilities of a District Deputy Grandmaster. His strength and resilience in the face of adversity are an inspiring testament to the core values that underpin the Masonic craft.
As we wrap up our enlightening discussion, R:. W:. Haber emphasizes the significance of membership growth and quality over quantity in Masonry. He shares his thoughts on the essential role of mentorship, the impact of 'festering zombie lodges', and his reflections on the Grand Communication 2023. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in Masonry's dedication, commitment, and service. Tune in for a captivating exploration of one of Masonry's pillars, R:. W:. Tom Haber.
Connect with us on:
Email us directly!
Hey, chris, yeah, fred, what's a Mason?
Speaker 2:That's a really good question, fred.
Speaker 1:You've reached the internet's home for all things masonry. Join Chris and I as we plumb the depths of our ancient craft, from the common gavel to the trowel. Nothing is off the table, so grab your tools and let's get to work. This is On the Level. Well, chris, here we are. What Grand Lodge.
Speaker 2:Grand Lodge Communication 2023.
Speaker 1:We're in a salon, and we're in salon 18.
Speaker 2:I didn't know what to make of that. I didn't know what to make of that?
Speaker 1:Well, you do, I guess.
Speaker 2:I got a little hanging on. I posted a photo on Twitter and some guy hated what I said and he said that I looked like I was trying to break my neck with that comb over.
Speaker 1:And I was like wow, oh man.
Speaker 2:This is time to shave, I think, when you get the comb over comment on Twitter. I always think that if you get insults, like that you're doing something right.
Speaker 3:You know to me you're touching a nerve. Yeah, that's true.
Speaker 2:If you're not making people mad in radio.
Speaker 1:You're doing it wrong. Yeah, I mean by making them mad.
Speaker 2:I might have said I like red velvet cake.
Speaker 1:It was nothing like you know, really earth shattering stuff that makes me mad, I don't know. Well, you don't like red velvet, I don't eat cake. Who are you? Did we just?
Speaker 2:meet. You know that I just saw you down a bag of potato chips. That's because some of the bag of potato chips and a piece of cake.
Speaker 1:That's because somebody scheduled an interview without consulting the executive director Speaking of. Speaking of our first interview of the Grand Communication ever Ever. This is our first interview ever, that's right, that's right, wow, I am going to introduce you in his proper role, which would be right-worshifold district deputy grandmaster Haber.
Speaker 3:Thank you. Thank you for at least two more days or three more days, is that right? When's your last day, wednesday morning, they will install the next right-worshifold district grandmaster in 9 free, and then at that from that point forward you're just right-worshifold Haber.
Speaker 2:Then I'm your brother. You're always our brother, that's right.
Speaker 1:The brother that makes your butt pucker when he wants in the room. Okay, Chris is on one.
Speaker 2:Ladies, and gentlemen, I thought you had a machine to beat me out when I say dumb there we go yeah, I do, I do. You better just keep your finger on that.
Speaker 1:I will, I will, I got it, I'm ready to go so right-worshifold, haber, it's an honor and a pleasure to have you on the show as our first interviewer. Truly.
Speaker 2:Truly an honor.
Speaker 1:So tell us give us kind of just your masonic history, a little bit of it Sure, and then also maybe a little family background, just so we can get to know who you are.
Speaker 2:This isn't the humble history.
Speaker 1:This is like the people that are listening.
Speaker 2:Damn it, he's going to be dangerous at that day there's people all over the world listening that won't know who you are.
Speaker 1:So you know, let them know. Yeah, we know you, we know and love you.
Speaker 2:I could probably do this.
Speaker 3:We want the world to know and love you as well. No worries, no worries. So yes, my grandfather was a mason in the shrine, was large in the Dima Lake but didn't do as much in Blue Lodge. He was actually mayor for a day of St Louis through his Dima Lake chapter and went on to be master counselor and all that Did you say mayor for a day?
Speaker 2:He was. He has a key. How the hell is that work?
Speaker 3:I don't know. I wasn't born young.
Speaker 2:Oh.
Speaker 3:But from that he basically raised me with masonic values. All right Nice. He became a mason in 2011.
Speaker 2:I was raised Was that in Kabul.
Speaker 3:It was in Kabul Lodge.
Speaker 2:Kabul Lodge.
Speaker 3:Cable number 6116 over in Green Cove Springs.
Speaker 2:What's the proper way to say that? Cable, cable, that's how they said it Cable Lodge it's pronounced C, I mean it's spelled C-A-B-U-L, so in my mind it's Kabul.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 3:Isn't that a city. It is a city, I believe, kabul, you're thinking Kabul.
Speaker 1:That's in Afghanistan. That's spelled with a K.
Speaker 2:K right, We'll go back in time and be this whole conversation out.
Speaker 1:Apparently, we're having an interview with Chris. Sorry, sorry, sorry, I've listened to the podcast.
Speaker 3:This is how it goes. This is definitely how it goes.
Speaker 1:Yes, our guest is ready.
Speaker 3:Cable, cable.
Speaker 1:Go on, sir. I'm sorry.
Speaker 3:No words Raised in Kabul Lodge. So then I moved to the west coast of Florida. When my wife got cold on the east coast and started getting more active at Manatee 31, which is my home lodge on the west coast Shout out to Manatee and then in 2015, I was part of the Manatee and Liberty Lodge, which is a daylight lodge here, Shout out to.
Speaker 1:Was that Worshipful Robert? Yeah, robert Leonard, he's here somewhere, we'll get him.
Speaker 3:Third Master of Liberty in 2019. And I was given the opportunity to be District Deputy Grandmaster last year by most Worshipful Rob Lambert.
Speaker 2:But you also served in Independent Body as a leader.
Speaker 3:I am the monarch of Samore Grotto right now.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I will do your term at Samore. I'm Scottish Wright, 32nd Degree Mason.
Speaker 2:Oh, I didn't know you had done the Scottish Wright. I am.
Speaker 3:Excellent. Yeah, I wanted to be part of Rusty Glendennig's class.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow, yeah, that's great, and you were.
Speaker 3:I would have been, but he was not able to make that ceremonial?
Speaker 1:Oh right yeah.
Speaker 3:But otherwise that was a big deal for me.
Speaker 1:That's why I joined Scottish Wright when I did Well. That's a good reason, because he was a good man, Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Did you do this one day thing before you did?
Speaker 3:No, no mine was before that. Mine was before that right.
Speaker 2:So you got the real deal, you saw actual degrees conferred.
Speaker 3:I did. I believe you may have been in one of my degrees, I think so. Thank you. Yeah, yeah, I wish will bury heart.
Speaker 2:Yep, all right. All right, we're gonna. You will be now Right.
Speaker 1:So how about our family?
Speaker 3:married, wife, children married beautiful wife, 33 years, two daughters. Youngest daughter has two children now, so I have two grandchildren. That's great. Less than work, life and masonry kind of have the trifecta nice.
Speaker 2:What do you do for a?
Speaker 3:living. I lead a group of men who inspect storage tanks non-metallic storage tanks all non-metallic storage?
Speaker 2:Did you?
Speaker 1:say all over the world they do.
Speaker 3:Oh wow, that's very live in their house, wherever that happens to be, and we'll fly them to the job site for the inspection.
Speaker 1:No kidding, yep, that's a highly specialized Skill day, Absolutely yeah.
Speaker 3:There's not many of us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right, yeah, I get that, I get that. So tell us a little bit about so deputy. District deputy grandmaster for the 23rd district.
Speaker 3:Rolls off the tongue. Rolls off the tongue.
Speaker 1:But tell us a little bit about the year past, sure? What are some of the things you saw? Let's, let's, let's start with the good stuff. What did you see that?
Speaker 2:was really good. Oh, absolutely I'm gonna get to some bad stuff. I am and I'm implying nothing right to the bad stuff.
Speaker 3:There was bad, there was, there was a, there was, there were challenges, there were challenges.
Speaker 1:Perhaps I don't know, but we could discuss those if there's time. But let's stick with the positive stuff. What, what did you see?
Speaker 3:So for me, one of my biggest things this year Besides working with Grand Lodge and making sure most worship Lambert's message was pushed through the craft was that we all share In unity and that we all work together and we truly act as a brotherhood, at least in our district. It was very important to me that we all work together, because we can do a lot more together than we can alone.
Speaker 1:You know, yeah, that's, that's a fact. How very Masonic of you. Well, thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and it worked well, honestly. Current master Sarasota 147 sitting here now.
Speaker 1:I am among Giants.
Speaker 3:Yes, he's literally jobless y'all six foot three, helping lead all of us that is true Helping lead all of his brothers, the other masters in the district, to make sure that this peace and harmony and unity work through our district all year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so anything in particular that sticks out through the last year, that that kind of comes to mind Something you're real proud of or something you know, something that happened made it to the end.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, other than making it to the end which is a hell of a comment.
Speaker 3:Yes, they'll have my. No, we had an outdoor degree recently. Yeah, that was one of our lodges and I believe five different lodges Participated in the conferring of that master Mason degree. Yeah so for me that was very outstanding Because it showed all of our brothers working together to do an outstanding degree for some great young men.
Speaker 1:I was there and I got to tell you. You know, you get these moments right. So we're outside and we're in Englewood in the woods as you guys know, you guys yeah. And it's still in quiet and there's a rainstorm coming and there's a giant moon behind me. Yeah, and all of a sudden you did. You guys hear it a whipper wheel. Oh did you hear that whipper?
Speaker 2:I heard lots of stream sounds whipper wheel. I know that's very, very bird.
Speaker 1:It's a bird, yeah, okay, yeah but there was just this moment and it was quiet Did you do the sound? No, the T. The Tiki torches were going right and it was just a solemn moment, and I thought, man.
Speaker 3:I just love this stuff. Yeah, you're, yeah, I just love this.
Speaker 1:and you're right, there was a representation From the district. I mean big representation from the district. That was a really good night.
Speaker 3:I see a lot of that, yep.
Speaker 1:I see a lot of crossing over, a lot of traveling within our district. I hope so and and hopefully we can get we will be interviewing People from other districts. I'm interested to find out what's going on. You know, throughout the state, as far as you know, getting getting lodges to visit each other, getting lodges to be more involved with each other.
Speaker 3:That's a you will be one of your big goals. You're right, friend.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I think that, from my point of view, I think you achieved it because we even had a. We had a Esoteric discussion group. Yeah, and it was just at Chris's house. Yeah, 15 guys, five worshipful masters and six lodges represented when that was barely trying.
Speaker 2:That was barely trying. Yeah, that was just the guys wanting to do it. Yeah, everybody wanted to do it. It was just a matter of where, and as soon as we picked a place, everyone showed. And now it's gonna be even bigger. This next one we're doing on the 20th, I think.
Speaker 1:I saw yeah, yeah, it's coming up worshipful for Don's house. Yeah, I hope he understands the internet, so go get it. Yeah, these 30 guys knocking on his door and send him some pizzas on that night. He's gonna need some pizzas, man.
Speaker 2:No, but I think it'll be even bigger, because there's one thing we know for sure is that people want to talk about the esoteric parts of Freemason they do, they do, and, and we had a gentleman come in to the MMA, which is not fighting, by the way. Yeah, my wife keeps saying every time I say MMA, she's like who's fighting? Yeah, she's all excited, right.
Speaker 1:No, not like that, but I lost my train. See, darn it. Chris, you're welcome again, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2:You were talking about the master Mason's a nice Mason. Well, obviously you get a lot of lodges there it's meant for all the lodges together. Yeah, yeah yeah but we do struggle we have some lodges in our district that struggled to Participate in that and I don't really know you probably know better than me why but ever since I've been in this district there's always been a couple lodges that tend not to participate, although this year we had one that never does. That did quite a bit.
Speaker 1:Yes, so that was a win.
Speaker 2:Oh, who was that Peace River?
Speaker 1:Oh right, and then?
Speaker 2:yeah, I'm gonna go to also put a quarter. Yeah, both of them actually know that I think about it, right? Yeah, I don't do a lot of things and gave a lot of reports and right man. I heard a lot of like EAs and we're doing degree work and we're right, yeah, yeah, both lodges are doing well. I don't know if maybe they always do that. They just didn't come to the meeting, so I didn't know what they were doing.
Speaker 3:Well, in our district both of those lodges came from other districts Relatively recently, so they're still becoming more acclimated to what we do.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay.
Speaker 3:We're still trying to bring them into. I fold a little bit, which, honestly, is one of the reasons why I wanted the district to work together, so that everyone could see that together we're stronger and no one has to try to struggle to do a degree on their own, mm-hmm plenty of brothers to help you.
Speaker 1:You just have to ask that's right and, yeah, that's something that I, that I see you know, is that like you get asked all the time to come over and help, help out and you jump in and then people we need people over one four seven, they jump in and and it's like there.
Speaker 2:I got a call Friday from a woman whose husband had died. She's a member of our lodge and he had just died, like two days earlier, and she was telling me all these stories about Him and he was big-time Mason, he was lying and stuff, and so I'm laughing. You know she's crying.
Speaker 2:Yeah and I said I'm so sorry, I don't mean to be rude, I'm only laughing because I can relate to brother and even though I don't know him, and so I started to talk about some of the Things we do and she started laughing. Right, and we're there, she's crying and laughing and I'm kind of crying and laughing, yeah, and we're having a conversation that led to you know, I want to be in his funeral, obviously myself now, and go there and do that. But it's about us reaching out to each other and this is what I told her we are waiting for an opportunity to show somebody that we care.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because words don't mean anything. We all know that and I said you're, he's gone, but you may not know this. We made an obligation to him to take care of you. Yeah and if you please would tell us when you need you lawnmower, when you need your groceries picked up.
Speaker 2:It's an opportunity for us to show him how much we loved him as a brother. All right, so you're doing us a favor. So this is how I look at the degree work in the lodges too. A lot of lodges want to be proud and say we do it ourselves, we can do this ourselves, which I have no problem with.
Speaker 1:I get, I get that mentality, a certain point, but yeah, yeah, there's a pride in doing it yourself.
Speaker 2:That I do understand, but it can go too far and I think the value is even higher in bringing other people in and giving them a chance to show you how much they love you by coming in doing work with you right. Because doing work together, as we know, is how we gain light and that's right yeah and how we Just search for the lost word is through the work.
Speaker 2:So doing it together is really important part of that and you have been an essential part of that this year. Yeah, you really paved the way for most of the masters because we all want. Every year we say we're gonna do these things right and they do and I think they intend to. But you know, you're a past master. Once you get installed all the, you know all the world comes falling on you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the business rears its ugly head. Yeah, all of a sudden that takes up so much time, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's like a boxing match. I got a great plan until you get hit in the face the first that's Mike Tyson right.
Speaker 1:Everybody's got a plan until you take a punch in the face same thing being a master, everybody's spends years putting these.
Speaker 2:Come on like just get in there and like, keep the lodge together and hopefully you'll come out the other side better than you went in, and then you did a good job. That's a good goal, I think that's right.
Speaker 3:Leave a lot stronger than you found it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I hear a lot of talk about yeah, five-year plan and being able to.
Speaker 3:I love that to.
Speaker 1:You know, a worshipful master lays out an agenda for the next worshipful master and then that past master, he, he picks up the mantle of the things he tried to start and follows them through after he's gone, his year after that he's gone, yeah, and I just think that is a really successful Conversation. You know that we should all be having, because anytime you got an organization that turns turns its administration over every year.
Speaker 2:Almost completely.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well then you're gonna end up where?
Speaker 3:and there's a lot of talk right now. What do you think about that? I think it's outstanding. I think it keeps the past masters involved and I think the past masters of your lodge are much more integral in doing things than people really Understand there's a lot of scholarship programs and widows. Yes, and things like that that the past masters will help you with. You don't have to do it yourself, unless you want to. Yeah right, that's right, yeah and I don't know.
Speaker 1:I shouldn't say this, I suppose, but I don't know why you would, because it's just so much fun. I would beep you, but I can't reach. You, can't reach it, that's my button.
Speaker 2:You're not allowed to do that either. I've lost all power with this new technology. I don't like it anymore.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love it. I slept with it last night.
Speaker 2:Okay, anyway, touch that. All, it's all yours.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm a bit of a wire geek, I gotta be honest.
Speaker 2:All right, so that is a.
Speaker 1:Right worth for paper.
Speaker 2:I'm sorry. What's objective to this? Thank you be here apparently people like this.
Speaker 3:Around the world around the world.
Speaker 2:Everyone likes to see the car accident on the side of the road to slow down and go is anyone? They look okay.
Speaker 1:So what do you see for the future? Now, who yours, your successor, coming in?
Speaker 3:Yes, sir.
Speaker 1:Right, where's full Tom?
Speaker 3:Hey, not quite, but almost almost. Left where's full. Yes, I'm.
Speaker 1:Davey, tom Davey, thank you, it's coming in. What would you what? I'm sure you've already had this conversation with, but what would you? Several times yes yes, what would you? What are you telling him? What advice are you giving him? What are you? What are you sharing with him as far as the future goes?
Speaker 3:Well, in our case it's very difficult because each Grandmaster selects his Choices of what he wants done that year.
Speaker 1:So okay, each of us honestly, is the Grandmaster's representative.
Speaker 3:So, in truth, I don't have an agenda this year. My agenda is the Grandmaster's agenda and it's only to pursue that. That's explained to you pretty quickly that you are the Grandmaster spokesman right. Not your spokesman representing anyone.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So what was Lambert, as big as you were, about the Harmony and working together. I felt like that was more. Some of your words were getting put into that.
Speaker 3:Well, the unity thing is directly from the Grandmaster. And then I did expand upon that, yes, because it fit well with what I wanted our district to do also.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, I get it. I get it so um.
Speaker 3:So it's hard to give Tom Advice because I'm not sure what advice he would need, just what the lodges in the district is not as much, because most of our brothers are in good shape now.
Speaker 1:I got a feeling he's gonna get, he's about to get, all the advice he's ever gonna need so yeah, he's about to get all the phone calls, yeah. But you maybe we'll have him on here too, we'll see.
Speaker 2:That's the kind of advice you can give him is how to handle those phone calls right yeah, because I don't think. Maybe Grand Lodge preps them as much for that kind of day-to-day stuff. Is, as they do, the big picture things.
Speaker 3:Well, I've learned, each, each district is different also, and each one of us as DD GM's is different because I was fairly well known, right, soon to be right, where she'll Davey will also be well known. But some are not. So you have to go out and explain to people who you are a little bit. I had the benefit of being fairly well known already because I had done work around in the district and helped a lot of my brothers out.
Speaker 3:Yep man right, that was a benefit to me, and so it made it easier to talk to my brothers.
Speaker 1:So a key part of the role and actually I was talking to Tom the other day a key part to this position Is getting out there and getting to the lodges, meeting, the meeting with brothers and talking with them on a regular basis, so that's a big job it is if you are the Grand Master's representative in the district.
Speaker 3:So you are his eyes, ears and mouthpiece, right if there's questions at your job to answer them. You know once you get his answers and be the direct link to the Grand Master from the brothers.
Speaker 1:So how many districts are there in Florida? Do you know of? Him 29 so the Grand Master has 29 representatives out there there.
Speaker 2:That's correct, that are reporting to him.
Speaker 1:Wow, that's no joke bro.
Speaker 2:Yeah, huh, it's true, and he's got a hand pick him himself, wow, in every district. So you know he doesn't know you Everybody in every district.
Speaker 3:So I assume they rely on people, they trust in certain areas, sure, sure, but I will tell you that I'm sure they each meet each of us individually. I mean, 29 seems like a lot, but when you're they travel a lot.
Speaker 2:Yes, they do yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:That makes sense, sure. Well, one thing you really excelled at as a district deputy grandmaster that I have seen others fail is you did a great job of being a man of the district and not a guy that got picked in your lodge. You see, these guys who are, like, I'm the district deputy, but that means my lodge has got the district deputy and they're all about their lodge.
Speaker 2:Right and not as much about the district. You definitely, I feel like, took steps to try to make sure that you didn't do that. Was that a conscious thing, or is that just who you are as a guy? You just did that.
Speaker 3:I'm sure some of it's unconscious just who I was raised to be, but I would tell you that it was something that I wanted to pay attention to. I have seen that also. I'm not interested in being out there for any one lodge right now because, honestly, if I was, it would be just for the grandmasters Lodge, because that's my job, Sure but I had done again. I had done a little bit of ritual work and a lot of our lodges before I was ever district deputy.
Speaker 3:So a little bit so I could go around and sit with my brothers comfortably, before I was DD and then yes, for me it made it much more comfortable when I was the district deputy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I know that I mean there. Our, our stated meeting is the second and fourth Tuesday of the month and I I'm sure you were there More than you weren't on our meetings. I see you were there all the time. Yeah, no.
Speaker 3:I tried to make every special event.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I had the opportunity to do a lot of really neat presentations, you know.
Speaker 3:So I look at that as one of the blessings of this job that I did Was being able to give a 50 year Mason presentation Remember one time we were a stated meeting.
Speaker 1:I don't know I'm sharing this anyway, I don't care, but we are a state of stated meeting and Our secretary had forgot to close it. Now ours, our secretary's office door is connected to the lodge and he left it open and I walked back over to his desk.
Speaker 1:That may have been our first meeting maybe, and I just love I, just I could see it in my mind and Randy sat down. That's our secretary, randy, shout out to Randy and we were about to get going again and right where Schwell Haber stood up and said where's what, master, I don't feel comfortable with the door open in a sti in a tiled lodge and everybody was like Tough to be the guy that's got a stand.
Speaker 2:I thought it was great.
Speaker 3:It's not a strength of mine, because one of the reasons I have enjoyed masonry is because it puts me in Uncomfortable speaking positions. Yeah, not a great person in front of people, mmm. When I sit with my brothers, I'm very comfortable right typically just in a public situation. I'm happy to stand in the background to be an assistant. I don't need to be in front, didn't?
Speaker 2:you give a presentation for work. I did give a couple of them.
Speaker 3:Keeps coming to me, but it's honestly, I don't think it's something that I aspire to, but right, it does come to me.
Speaker 1:So I've learned yeah, public speaking is it's a learning thing. You have great presence. Yeah, yeah yeah, when you, when you do speak, when you stand up and speak, you have a real strong presence.
Speaker 2:So I think it's the authenticness comes through absolutely people like that, absolutely yeah.
Speaker 3:Thank you guys. I appreciate that it. Usually, if I'm speaking, it's something that I mean. Yeah not a lot of just fluff and banter.
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm, I'm not real good with that yeah no I get it fluff and banter.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we, we don't know anything about that, do we Chris?
Speaker 2:I'm just proud that you made it.
Speaker 1:Thank you.
Speaker 2:Made it that you did this? Because I know that you're not that guy and to me I mean as a guy who's in the pits working hard with my brothers in the quarry. I mean, yeah, I think of the Flintstones when you say that, but I don't know why, whenever you say quarry, I picture Flintstones.
Speaker 1:All right, rabbit trail right. Great picture of a quarry right now.
Speaker 3:This is how you get on your rabbit trail.
Speaker 1:Okay, where was I going with that? I think you were telling right. Where's Wilhaber? Something positive, yes.
Speaker 2:Yes, that you didn't do the ass-kissing game to get where you've got right and ice I've been.
Speaker 2:I was around a lot of people in my early days in Mason sure and Seem like they were really obsessed with the how to get there right, and I heard a lot of here's the steps. You got to join the Scottish right. Then you got it. You got to be the president of the master Mason Association and then you got to get on a competition. They had these steps. They thought you had to do. I heard those things too. You did okay, so I'm not crazy, and in my mind I was like man. People spend a lot of time.
Speaker 2:Thinking about stuff that's gonna come to you if you just do your job.
Speaker 3:Most of those people giving me advice at that time had never, done this job. Yeah, and that's pretty typical, right. So what I learned quick was if you truly think that you have an interest in a job like this, talk to the people that've done it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's right, not the guys who would like to do it. Yeah, well, sage advice right there.
Speaker 2:For sure, my favorite thing is to ask it out, going DDGM I. Is there anything that surprised you, because you know you did talk to a lot of past.
Speaker 1:DDGMs. I did and you're close to some of them.
Speaker 2:Correct and you, you were through the orientation and I'm sure they told you stuff and you have expectations in your mind. So now that you're at the end of it, looking back, was there anything that actually shocked you that you didn't see coming or didn't expect?
Speaker 3:There's always something. One of the masters and one of the lodges one of my nine lodges, uh, decided to not continue to pursue masonry halfway through his year, so that was unexpected. Mm-hmm made things a bit challenged, but the lodge persevered and did really well in the end, honestly. So that was unexpected. Hurricane ian.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh yeah, right, two days before your grandmaster visit right, we're supposed to have our grandmaster's official visit right Two days before they start using our venue as a hurricane shelter.
Speaker 3:Because he and hit us, that that that day comes a shock to you. It was, and I tell people don't think that everything wasn't planned. The food was ordered. Always rented they actually used our hall is uh staging for florida power and light?
Speaker 1:Wow, yeah, well, that's. That's what they always use it for, florida, power light. It's always our robots arena during hurricanes. So tell us a little bit about the hurricane. What, what went down in your position? Were you having a heart attack at that time.
Speaker 2:Well, how stressful was it.
Speaker 3:You know, like most of us, we were living through it at the time too, so you're yeah, that's responsibilities to your family in your house. Yep, that's right. But then the next day, um, our district instructor right, where's full dobs? And I got into his truck and we drove down to see all nine of our lodges. We couldn't get to peace river at the time because Arcadia river, I mean, it was flooded going out to Arcadia.
Speaker 1:So we couldn't get them.
Speaker 3:But we knew their roof was still on. We saw peace. I mean, put a gore to the next day and half their roof was gone. Um Englewood lost a number of trees and everything on the outside of their building. Venice is a brick building, a brick lodge, but they lost everything off the outside trash cans every awning.
Speaker 3:Right everything there was. Uh, there's a tree outside of venice lodge, if you look, one of those large, tall pine trees. Half of the needles are stripped off of that tree on one side, so the wind blew so hard.
Speaker 1:It's amazing. Yeah, it was amazing.
Speaker 3:So several lodges had significant damage Um. The southern lodges really suffered pretty badly not as bad as district 24. They actually lost the lodge, I heard they did, master mason, I just heard that, yes, they couldn't lost the lodge couldn't recover from the damage. I guess that was done to their lodge. Yeah, they're. They're now meeting with another lodge, so hopefully they can recover from that right?
Speaker 3:Well, you know, if they want to, they will, because we're here, we're all here to help, you know Well a lot of times these things will galvanize the brothers and bring Brothers who've been away back and start building it up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's right. That's the irony of that situation you were talking about earlier, because I saw that happen as an outsider.
Speaker 2:I tried to stay away from what was happening there, because I have a history With that lodge in particular and I don't ever want to Be my intentions misconstrued, so I tend to try to stay away. Yep, at least they did at that time. But we all knew something was going on and we were all scared that it was going to be so bad for them. But when you look back, that was about the best thing that probably could have happened to those guys.
Speaker 3:That grew their officer line very close together. Yeah, they had to.
Speaker 2:They had to be a unit. They had to stop.
Speaker 3:It was very important to me that in the beginning, when that situation was happening, that they understood that they had my support and everyone in the district support and that we would not let them fail.
Speaker 2:It's been different since then. Right, they've been a lot more open and Involved and I think the officers have stepped up and you know, it's kind of odd how those Difficult, challenging situations can be positive.
Speaker 1:Well, it's adversity. You know it's a strong, that's right.
Speaker 3:Well, much like your lodge. That lodges also Relatively strong, with a good group of past masters in the background that can help them through difficult situations.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I assume that's why you were there so much. The grandmaster was like you. Better keep an eye on those guys.
Speaker 1:Bring the handcuffs.
Speaker 2:Have them on, you know. You know, I'm just in gate.
Speaker 3:One of my goals this year was to do a good enough job that the grandmaster didn't have to be involved in our district very often. So we we spoke about that. He's aware of the situation, but oh really, yeah, no, it's, it was handled by us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's what how it should be handled right, and you handled it Well, I think nobody got hurt in that situation.
Speaker 3:Thank you. You know, everybody walked away with their honor as best as they could.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that was my goal in the end.
Speaker 1:So so let's change the subject, if you don't mind, just a little bit. The future this coming year yes, sir, what do you?
Speaker 2:What? What challenges? Culture change right. Yeah, how do you go from the top of the hill?
Speaker 3:For me.
Speaker 1:Personally but, also, just as you know, the craft in general here in Florida. What do you see? There's a lot of. There's talk of a couple of big issues Out there, right, and they're certainly going to be buzzing around here about that. I don't think this is the format to bring that up, but what do you see going forward this next year? What? What are some of the challenges coming our way?
Speaker 3:Sure, Well, continued membership. We need to continue to work to grow membership. From the numbers I've seen that's going well. We just need to continue to work in the right direction there.
Speaker 1:Well, would you consider a membership right now, membership as a problem? Are we, or are we, our numbers Low to where it's a problem, or are we just in need of just growing? Where are we at?
Speaker 3:Do you know, I think I may be in the minority on this, because I'm not a fan of huge numbers, right, okay, I'm a fan of the right numbers. I agree with that and I don't know what the right number is, but I know I don't need a million brothers to know, just to pick per capita.
Speaker 1:Right, right, numbers for numbers sake is a great way to kill an organization, right, yeah, that's right.
Speaker 3:I see it now as we're growing again, at least in Florida masonry. We seem to be growing. We are bringing in good men, we're giving them reasons to be here, which will grow the fraternity and in the long run, that's what perpetuates us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, I like that.
Speaker 2:That's right yeah there's definitely a schism on the membership thing. You hear people like me pushing numbers, because that's what we're here to do. We have blue lodges to raise new masons, and so I'm like I'm gonna do my best at doing that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's right.
Speaker 2:And then you have the other camp, which is quality matters more than quantity, and I agree with that too.
Speaker 3:I definitely do, but you know Well, sometimes you find a diamond in the rough, though.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, and we talked about this in lodge the other day. We want young brothers.
Speaker 3:We look forward to bringing young men into masons so that we can help mold them. But when I was 30, 35 years old, I was not the man that you see sitting in front of you now. So if a 50 year old brother had pushed me away at 35 because I was immature at the time which I was you might well not see the brother you see sitting in front of you now. That's right.
Speaker 3:So, you have to be willing to put your hand out to people who aren't like you and are going to change you also. Yeah, but that's difficult for all of us. That is difficult.
Speaker 2:But then you know, the challenge you have is a lot of lodges can't support even adding a couple of new members. They can't even open their lodges, they can't get the meetings done hardly. You have the same people being the same positions for years after years, because this is all they have to keep it going. And I think you know somebody at some point up, further up the chain has to say this is hurting us. We got to cut it out. I think that has to go away, because we tried to support them and they couldn't turn it around, and at some point, you know, because the more of those festering zombie lodges we have out, there, I think the more the hole hurts.
Speaker 1:Did you just say festering zombie lodge?
Speaker 3:Where was your beeper?
Speaker 1:The beeper, that one should stay. I think that's going to stick around, I think. I think I'm going to make a button out of that Festering zombie lodge. Sometimes you get some winners out of the festering zombie lodge they are.
Speaker 2:They're like out there, they're dead already, but they're still functioning and it's like they're dragging everybody around them down. You know, it's like making us all look bad. So, yeah, I think some. If we're going to talk quality, which is the argument I get when I do my presentations is it's not about? Numbers, it's about quality.
Speaker 1:Well, it's about both, is it not?
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's start at quality from the bottom too. Let's cut out the stuff that's not working then, and if we're going to bring people, bring them into functional lodges. That's yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1:I think that the mentorship programs as they come in, you know, but I guess I don't know how I feel about it. Quality matters, it matters Quality.
Speaker 2:You don't have to have an opinion.
Speaker 1:I don't have a grand lodge guy.
Speaker 2:So you get the luxury of you know, right Saying I don't know how I feel about it. I don't know how I feel about it and I'm okay with that. I'm okay with that.
Speaker 1:Because you're right, it doesn't what I think doesn't really matter.
Speaker 2:What applies to all of us.
Speaker 3:Here's something to consider. I sat through the memorial service this morning and listened to the fact that 800 plus of our past brothers passed away last year 800.
Speaker 1:800.
Speaker 3:Wow, so Wow. If we don't bring 800 masons in this year, we will decline in numbers.
Speaker 1:There, it is there Just for that reason. There you go.
Speaker 3:Yep, that's that's, and it's not for me that then we chase numbers, but that just is what it is If there's not 800 good men out there in Florida, in all of Florida.
Speaker 1:I would be shocked. Yeah no, there is, there is, and we far more here to find them, right?
Speaker 2:That's right, that's right.
Speaker 1:Well, right Words for Haber. This has been a great interview, our first interview of the show of our show.
Speaker 3:And it's fitting.
Speaker 1:It's fitting that it's you.
Speaker 3:And you've heard the show right. Absolutely, I think I've listened to everyone.
Speaker 1:Oh, hey, wow.
Speaker 2:Do you have any feedback for us?
Speaker 1:Hold on, hold on, I'm going to be, Having heard every no, no, I think it's I think it's outstanding.
Speaker 3:I think your true friendship and your banter comes across well and I think that's why people enjoy it, because they can feel your discussions.
Speaker 1:Well, I appreciate that. That's that's how we feel. That's how we started this Right. It's good, it's a conversation.
Speaker 2:It was a decision that we made for sure early on, because when we did it we did record like eight or nine episodes and didn't tell anyone or let them listen to it.
Speaker 1:Right, so not even our moms. We did like no, seriously, I don't think I never let anyone listen to it. No me either.
Speaker 2:So we put one out tentatively and let some of our close friends listen to it, sure, and the feedback we got was all over the place. You know, people were like too many rabbit holes. You guys got to keep it more professional, stay on track, so we had to look at ourselves and say who are we going to be Like? Do we want to be that Like no, I don't think so.
Speaker 2:I think we're always going to be this, so it was a choice we made, knowing that some people don't like it or, you know, may not get it. That's life. Yeah, no, that's right.
Speaker 1:That's right. We got to be us, yeah, and we've always said you know, if we're not going to, we're not going to hide who we are, but we are going to be open to anybody who disagrees with us. They go to the front of the line.
Speaker 3:Sure, we want to talk to them.
Speaker 2:We love those kind of conversations, we love those guys, that's how you love them we love them.
Speaker 1:We love everyone with gentleness and respect. And Masonry is just that. Any man can come in here with a belief structure and become a brother and grow in his life. Very unique organization.
Speaker 2:So, unique.
Speaker 3:You won't find that anywhere else.
Speaker 1:You know you got to be part of the prevailing, you know group. You know you got to do the group think. Well, I don't have to do group think, I do have to to behave and perform in the way Masonry has laid down the foundations of Masonry within. You know, with my brothers. But I bring a very unique perspective to Masonry and everyone I meet does and it's just for me it's been an absolute thrill.
Speaker 2:That's our strength. Our strength is that we look at things from so many different angles.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and we can still get stuff done.
Speaker 2:So go find that somewhere else in this world.
Speaker 1:You won't find it Right. We're Sphahaber. It has been an absolute honor and pleasure, sir.
Speaker 3:Thank you, my brothers and we are very grateful that you've been here.
Speaker 1:You came on, chris, you got anything else.
Speaker 2:Is there anything you'd like to share that we didn't talk about? We're not professional interviewers. We don't really get a chance to interview people very often, so I don't know. If there are things, maybe you wish that we talked about that. We didn't?
Speaker 3:No, no, really I enjoy the banter. I would say keep it as fun as you are doing now.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 3:This is something that's different for most of us, so it's just really growing, at least in our district that I'm aware of in the state.
Speaker 1:It's definitely growing. We're seeing a lot of big numbers, yeah.
Speaker 3:So much like your esoteric group you talked about. This is something that brothers want.
Speaker 1:Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 2:I mean it's still. Brothers tell you they don't want it. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Follow your heart.
Speaker 2:Well, the ones that don't want it don't come right, Right.
Speaker 3:Isn't that the way?
Speaker 2:They just don't come.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 1:This is the way, all right. Well, we have been interviewing Wright Warshville.
Speaker 2:He has a big ball to get to.
Speaker 3:I think tonight I do, I do it's 7 or 7.30 this evening is the Grand Master's reception District.
Speaker 1:Deputy Grand Master Haver.
Speaker 2:Yes, thank you, he has a big ball.
Speaker 3:He has a big ball to go to. Yeah, big ball, head, and you and me both, brother, yes, and this is here we are.
Speaker 1:We're signing off from the Grand Communication 2023. Here in beautiful Orlando, Florida, Chris, I will see you on the next one.
Speaker 2:Thank you for coming, tom. My pleasure, my pleasure, see you soon.