The Grand Lodge Advisory Committee has approved the use of a more permanent, plastic membership card to replace the annual dues cards. Ohio will be joining several other Grand Lodges and appendant organizations in making this change to a more practical and efficient form of Masonic ID.
The membership card will be identical in size and shape to a credit card. The face of the card will be colorful with several Masonic emblems. Information on it will include the usual information regarding a Brother’s name and Lodge membership. A new feature will be a bar code printed upon the card, which would allow Lodges to check membership status, and for a more streamlined registration at the annual Grand Lodge communication.
The reason for the switch is cost savings. Instead of printing some 85,000 paper cards annually, the plastic cards will only need to be replaced occasionally. Additionally, the use of the membership cards will save Lodge secretaries time, effort and postage.
Ohio Freemasons should look to receive their new membership cards after they pay their dues this fall.
