Art. 333 subtitle 1. Reading, correcting and approval of minutes of previous meetings.Can meeting minutes be posted instead of read at every meeting?
The order of business, unless ordered by WM , shall be> I take that it can be balloting and then the reading of the minutes,( which I have seen done while voting wAS TAKING PLACE TO SAVE TIME) I hit cap lock in error.I disagree but may be wrong. That same article states "unless otherwise ordered by the Lodge or the Worshipful Master...."
If the master does not want or is voted on previously I would say no they do not have to be read. I plan on making a motion next meeting to accept minutes without reading for things like Degrees. I use a templete that is the same for each degree I do. In lieu of reading each degree and proficency I will instead just say we performed X EAs, X FCs, and X MMs etc. I think we should read Stated Meeting minutes for accuracy though. By the way this is just an idea and may never happen.
Reread Art.333 the order of business: 1,2,3,4, thru 11 can be changed by the WM to be 3,6,1,4 and so forth. The reading of minutes is necessary to make the necessary corrections before approved. I belive you can read the minutes during the voting, but that need to be checked, I can not find it in the GL laws.If I'm ever WM, I will do everything in my power to save 15 minutes every stated meeting by NOT reading the minutes.
Post them beforehand, "approved as posted." Done.
After opening lodge, it is clear that the minutes ARE to be read.corrected, and approved. It is the order in which they are read is in question.Here is the copy and past from the pdf of the 2009 Laws (there should be no change to this in 2010 Laws)
Art. 333. Order of Business. At stated meetings after opening
of the Lodge in due and ancient form, a quorum being present,
the Order of Business, unless otherwise ordered by the Lodge or
the Worshipful Master, shall be as follows:
1. Reading, correcting and approval of Minutes of previous
meetings.
2. Receiving and referring to Committees of Petitions and
Applications.
3. Reports of Special Committees.
4. Balloting on Petitions and Applications.
5. Reports of Standing Committees.
6. Communications from the Grand Master and the Grand
Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Texas.
7. Unfinished Business.
8. Motions, Resolutions and New Business.
9. Examinations for Proficiency in the proper degree.
10. Voting on Proficiency.
11. Claims and Accounts.
Each Lodge shall conduct its business as nearly as possible
according to the rules of order established in Articles 168 to 176
inclusive of the Laws of this Grand Lodge for the government of
the Grand Lodge.
The part that still gets me is the "unless..." the "shall" does not come into play if a motion to accept the minutes is passed by the Lodge Prior to them being read. Keep in mind this is just "The Order of Business" one could say that your By-Laws have the business to be handled and what order to be followed (at least ours does). I could be dead wrong on this but I personally know 3 Lodges that handle their minutes based on this one word.
I just wanted to free up more time for talks and fun vs. the constant "business" part. I feel this is what causes people to come in get raised and never come back.