Page 9 - Sojourner Newsletter-Winter 2023 Final revised

Volume 100, Issue 1 9

FRATERNAL LIAISON COMMITTEE

Introducing the National Sojourners
®
Fraternal Liaison Committee

You may have heard that National Sojourners® has a Fraternal Liaison Committee and did not know of its
who, what, and why. After reading this narrative you should have a better understanding of the National
Sojourners® Fraternal Liaison Committee (FLC).

The FLC is a National President appointed committee that primarily works in the background of National
Sojourners®. It does not meet at either the Mid-Winter Meeting or Annual National Convention and is
mostly reactive in nature to primarily the tasking of the National President or the developments in Masonic
and/or Masonic appendant bodies. The National 2nd Vice President has oversight of the FLC. The
Committee consists of a Chairman and five members with the Chairman of the Chapter Revitalization and
Chartering Committee serving as an ex officio member.

Specific FLC Duties contained in the National Constitution and Bylaws (NC&BL), ARTICLE VIII
Appointive Standing Bodies, Section 6. Fraternal Liaison Committee follow.
• Advise the National President and the National Convention on all matters affecting the fraternal
relations of National Sojourners® with the various Masonic Grand Lodges and other "grand level"
Masonic and Masonic-related bodies.
• Be alert to changes in rules and edicts in the various Grand Jurisdictions and as appropriate notify the
National President, who must, in turn, notify affected Chapters and Area and Regional
Representatives. National Sojourners® is committed to ensure that all its activities comply with
Grand Jurisdiction Directives.
• Advise the National President in areas that could increase the effectiveness of the National Bridge of
Light Program.

In addition to its NC&BL specific duties, there are “other duties” that are derived from other National
Sojourners® Committees duties or befall on the FLC outside of the specific NC&BL duties. Examples of
those “other duties” follow.
• The National Bridge of Light Committee coordinates with the FLC to ensure maximum
understanding, effectiveness, and publicity of Committee activities.
• Assist with the preparations for the National Sojourners® sponsored breakfast at the annual late
February Conference of Grand Masters in North America Convention.
• In collaboration with the National Secretary-Treasurer develop and maintain a listing of the United
States Grand Lodge Annual Communication dates and Grand Lodge contact information.

The FLC does depend on the eyes and ears of the National Sojourners® membership as “look outs” to advise
the National President and/or FLC of any recognition changes or if Chapters are not adhering to their
jurisdictions constitutions, bylaws, directives, or edicts that could affect National Sojourners®. If you
become aware of any changes or Chapter violations in your jurisdiction it is requested that you contact the
National President, FLC, or National Secretary-Treasurer.

Sincerely and fraternally,

Ron

Ron Stites