Page 4 - Sojourner Newsletter-Winter 2023 Final revised

4 THE SOJOURNER

NATIONAL SECRETARY’S DESK

The first six months of this year has proven to be both challenging and frustrating at
the National Office. We were short-staffed while trying to process Chapter Annual
Reports (CARs), process post-Annual National Convention (ANC) activities,
results, and changes, publish the summer issue of The Sojourner magazine, standing
up a new Chapter (Treasure Coast Chapter #568 was chartered on 4 July 2022), and
continue work on digitization efforts, updating forms, and the digital creation of a
standard Constitution & Bylaws template for Chapters to use. There are many
projects, tasks, and opportunities that would benefit from volunteers assisting the National Office.

The ever-increasing cost of merchandise for the Retail Store, office supplies, and costs associated with
shipping or mailings have been a concern for some time now. We have worked hard in recent months to
renegotiate costs with existing manufacturers, find new manufacturers, streamline processes, and find new
shipping methods and options. Reference the Resale Activities Committee Mid-Year Report.

The National Sojourners Membership Manage System (MMS) is being utilized now more than ever by
Chapter Secretaries. I am seeing an improvement in member data and Chapter operations since the Secretaries
have been empowered to access the MMS. They are able to correct or update member information (resulting
in better member outreach), able to download a variety of reports (resulting in better Chapter operations) and
provide the National Office with expedient and current information.

We are seeing an influx of new Secretaries or Assistant Secretaries in the Chapters, and we appreciate their
zeal, energy, and enthusiasm they provide their Chapters. I had hoped to have a Secretary Handbook created
this year that would be beneficial to both new and experienced Secretaries, but so far that has not happened. It
is another one of those opportunities that would benefit from volunteers assisting the National Office and the
National-Secretary Treasurer.

We have been wanting to improve the website experience of our members for some time. We have finally
found a WordPress expert whose company has created or revamped both commercial and Masonic websites
using WordPress (like nationalsojourners.org). He is not a Sojourner but he is a Mason, and that has been
VERY helpful in his understanding and relating to our needs and wants. The IT Chairman and Webmaster,
Brother Bill Hickey, and I engaged him to evaluate our website and make recommendations. He
recommended our website be decluttered, untangled from broken links and multiple links, better organized so
users can find things easier, modernized and take advantage of innovations in technology that were not
available when our website was first created, add in better security modules, setup for enhanced capabilities
we want to add to our website later and give it a newer, fresher, and more organized look. He would also
provide training to our Webmaster. Brother Hickey and I agreed his recommendations made sense and
approved for the work to be performed. That work has been accomplished to our satisfaction, and those
coming to the Mid-Winter Meeting (MWM) will be able to see a preview of “Phase I” of the new and
improved website before it is released and goes “live”.

Finally, our thoughts and prayers go out to our Office Manager, Ms Janine Kovack, Grande Dame, whose
husband, Skylar, passed away at home surrounded by family on Saturday, January 7, 2023.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Mark W. Underwood
National Secretary-Treasurer

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