Spent the day in Conference talking about membership, programs, young men who we want to come into the craft and how to relate to them, traditional lodges, social media and masons, the cost of conferences and several other relevant topics. This is the type of conference where we present a topic, the simply weigh in from our jurisdiction on what we are doing or not doing to address the topic. Even a simple thing like electing a Grand Lodge officer is different in each area. In Michigan we do it by nomination, just as Roberts rules would suggest. In other Areas, the officers are chosen without nomination, usually by trustees, Past Grand Masters or ballot without nomination. One of our youth groups use this method, and sometimes you can have 8 or 10 votes before a majority is reached. It is an interesting manner of choosing, but it does take the electioneering and politics out of the process.
