FACTS ON THE 227TH COMMUNICATION

I hope this message finds everyone well and staying warm.

This year's Grand Lodge session promises to be a great weekend of events as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of our Masonic Medical Research Laboratory and the 227th Annual Communication of our Grand Lodge.

The Convention Committee has worked very hard to arrange for more rooms at the headquarters hotel and the Marriott Hotel across the street, in East Elmhurst, Queens. They have arranged for a rate of $149.00 per night per ROOM and because the Masonic Medical Research Laboratory is hosting the celebration and the Communication, you will only have to pay $3.50 per ROOM per night in additional fees. The rooms are all double occupancy.

We have had many Brothers calling us over the last few months saying they are facing room rates as high as $350.00 per night plus occupancy fees and sales taxes (13.38%).

The rates secured by the committee will save our members about 50% on their hotel stays, on average (depending upon the rates quoted by hotels in Manhattan), during the celebration and Grand Lodge session.

In addition, the Committee will be providing buses from the two hotels in Queens to New York City on Saturday, Sunday and even on Monday (for your Ladies). The cost per person, per day, is only $10.00 (much less than a taxi fare). The bus schedules will be available shortly and they will be emailed to your District Deputy Grand Masters, Grand Lodge Staff Officers, Assistant Grand Lecturers, Permanent Members and Elected and Appointed Grand Lodge Officers. These buses are in addition those regularly scheduled, that go to and from the Grand Lodge Building and are available Free of Charge to our members staying at either East Elmhurst hotels.

We realized that cost of coming to Grand Lodge sessions each year has been going up and we need to be watchful over those costs. Because of the special events scheduled this year we are able to achieve lower costs for those normally staying in Manhattan.

I am looking forward to greeting each of you this year at all of the events scheduled.

Best regards to all,

Neal Bidnick
Grand Master

PS: Attached is a CORRECTED FACTS sheet that shows the $149.00 price per ROOM instead per person which was typed in error. Please disseminate this Sheet to your Lodges in your District as quickly as possible. The Committee will be mailing to each Lodge a corrected sheet Monday. Sorry for the inconvenience.