BOARD RESPONSIBILITY

The Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Nova Scotia, Chapter VI, Section 3.

• (a) The Board of General Purposes shall be responsible for all matters concerning the operation of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Nova Scotia.
• (b) All Committees shall be responsible to the Board of General Purposes for all matters concerning the operation of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Nova Scotia.

Additionally, the Board of General Purposes shall review and reinforce the Policies and Procedures of the Board annually.

BOARD MEMBERS - COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

The Board composition ensures the widest possible range of experience, expertise, leadership and representation from each and all Districts of its Grand Lodge jurisdiction:

• incumbent Grand Lodge Line Officers - overall leadership of the Craft;
• Past Grand Masters - experience and guidance;
• Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer - experience and guidance;
• District Deputy Grand Masters - experience and guidance, especially from Districts;
• Elected members - experience and guidance relative to the whole Grand Lodge jurisdiction;
• Specifically appointed present and past Grand Lodge Officers - special and particular expertise and guidance.

The Board and its members are responsible for:

• the administration of Grand Lodge including jurisprudence, finance, Masonic education, library, ritual, supplies, public relations, long range planning, fraternal relations and awards;
• the setting of goals and priorities for the administration and guidance of Grand Lodge and the betterment and advancement of freemasonry within its jurisdiction;
• the management of its agenda to ensure sufficient time to deal adequately with all agenda items and to respond to urgent and unforeseen needs;
• the selection and appointment of Committee Members, giving consideration to personal skills, expertise, available time and the need for long term member continuity in relation to the requirements of committees and the Board's composition (which includes a minimum of 19 new members annually, the J. G. W, 14 D. D. G. M., 4 elected members, who in most cases may have no prior knowledge of Board activities);
• the collective leadership of the Craft by ensuring that issues raised by and/or brought before the Board are dealt with in an efficient manner while taking into account the resources available, and
• an effective means of communication between Masons, Lodges, Masonic Districts and the Board.

BOARD MEMBERS - INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Members individual responsibilities include:

• regular attendance at meetings of the Board and any committees of which he is a member; becoming knowledgeable on issues coming before the Board and its committees; participation in discussion and debate on issues before the Board and its committees;
• establishing means of communication with Masons and Lodges of Districts;
• doing work necessary to be done between Board and committee meetings;
• speaking on Board activity at District Association and Lodge meetings; communicating the interests and concerns of the Masons of Districts to the Board.

BOARD MEMBERS - COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

Grand Lodge and elected Board members embrace a collective responsibility to act for the greater good of Masonry within the whole Grand Lodge jurisdiction. Notwithstanding, there will sometimes be dissenting views The Board shall provide ample opportunity for members to debate their views while carefully considering a course of action conceived from within the Board or directed to the Board at a Grand Lodge Annual Communication.

BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTMENT TO COMMITTEES - MEMBERSHIP CONTINUITY

All Board committees need membership continuity to ensure that work carried over from one year to the next proceeds in a smooth and coherent manner. This requires the judicious appointment to committees of members elected to serve on the Board for three year terms. Committee chairmen shall be carefully selected for leadership ability and be eligible to serve for a minimum of two years unless having previously served as a committee member. The Long Range Planning Committee's mandate calls for special consideration as much of this committee's work is ongoing from year to year. The judicious appointment of Board members to this committee shall be augmented, as required, by others appointed by the committee Chair.

BOARD ACCEPTANCE OF POLICIES, GOALS AND PROJECTS - MEMBERS AND COMMITTEES

Board policies, goals and projects may originate from a Grand Lodge Annual Communication or from within the Board and its committees. Those originating from within the Board may do so at times remote from an Annual Communication. In some circumstances investigative work may be required (sometimes to completion) before presentation for final approval. Once accepted, Board members have a responsibility for completing a mandate.

t is essential that all Masons be informed of Board activities, the nature of projects, the benefits anticipated, the progress being made and on completion, if a Notice of Motion is required, early circulation and explanation of the Notice. A communications plan properly designed and executed by Board and committee members is an essential supplement to approved projects for providing key information to all Masons. Members assigned to tasks shall produce communication plans for announcing and regularly explaining the work undertaken.

BOARD POLICIES, GOALS AND PROJECTS - ONGOING DEVELOPMENT

Board policies and goals should be consistent from year to year, particularly when they are not achievable within a single year.

At the conclusion of the Grand Lodge Annual Communication, the Deputy Grand Master, as Chair of the Board, shall appoint an ad hoc committee for this purpose consisting of the Grand Secretary, Grand Treasurer, one P. G. M. and one member each from the Long Range Planning, Masonic Education, Ritual, and Public Relations committees (elected members must have served at least one previous year on the Board) to review ongoing goals and projects together with any known new criteria emanating from the Grand Lodge Annual Communication or other acceptable sources. The committee's report and recommendations shall have priority on the agenda of the new Board's first meeting for debate and ratification.

BOARD COMMUNICATION - WITH ALL MASONS OF THE GRAND LODGE JURISDICTION

Communication between the Board and all Masons is essential to the proper and progressive management of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia.

The Board shall communicate on a regular basis information on its goals and projects and explain how the work will benefit the Craft. Project communication plans shall invite response and suggestions from Lodges and their members.

The Board's communication activities shall encourage the use of District Associations, create and take advantage of opportunities for Board members to speak at District, Lodge and other Masonic meetings and utilize direct mailings to all Masons of the jurisdiction as this facility becomes available.

The Board shall invite individual Masons to attend, on observer status, any of its committee meetings except the Jurisprudence Committee. Masters and Wardens of Lodges and District Deputy Grand Masters Elect shall be especially invited to attend Board and Long Range Planning committee meetings.