It’s an irony common among those involved in service organizations.
Who get’s the most benefit? Those who are served or those doing the serving.
‘You get back what you put into it,? according to Tom Braun, chaplain and a past master of Cedar Lodge #60, Free and Accepted Masons in Clarkston. ‘Masonry makes men better men.?
The organization does that, Braun said, because of a strong belief in deity and the emphasis on principles of living.
‘Life is more than you,? he said. ‘There’s a lot of things happening outside the circle of your own existence that you can have some effect on.?
Locally, the Clarkston group has made a special effort in the past couple years to ‘get back involved in the community.?
Many of the members have been involved in a reading assistance program at Andersonville Elementary School. About three years ago, the Grand Lodge of Michigan promised 200,000 hours of service, and the Clarkston lodge dedicated to give 200 hours.
Braun said the one-on-one involvement with students helps develop better reading comprehension, not to mention good relationships. He’s done about 45 to 50 hours himself.
‘These kids are quick to understand that you come there because you want to come there,? he said. ‘It’s not because you have to be there.?
The local lodge has racked up more than 180 hours as of the last school term, but Braun believes it will continue well beyond 200.
‘People participating in the program have so much fun that they just keep going,? he said. ‘I’m sure we’ll go beyond that.?
The Clarkston lodge also adopted a family at Christmas through Lighthouse Emergency Services, and donates to their food bank throughout the year. At each meeting, members pay a ‘price of admission? with a box or can of food for the ongoing donation.
Braun was attracted to the organization through business partner Stan Ray, who showed to be very trustworthy in his business dealings.
‘They say if a Mason gives you his word, you can take that to the bank,? Braun said. Seeing that trait, he asked about the organization and was sponsored to join in 1998. Since then, he has advanced to the 32nd degree, served as master of the lodge last year, and recently became deputy instructor for the Grand Lodge of Michigan.
Braun was motivated to increase his involvement after being mentored by a couple veteran Masons. He was impressed with the diversity and the interaction.
When you’re a Mason, everybody’s the same. It doesn’t matter if you’re a banker or a factory worker,? he said. ‘You have an opportunity to hear the stories from these guys. It’s like having 10 or 12 grandfathers. There’s a true brotherhood and a true friendship with these people.?
Braun is pleased that the lodge isn’t simply resting on past laurels or old members. ‘We have a real good young bunch coming in.?
By day, Braun is a vice president with Retrieval Methods in Troy, a firm specializing in data conversion and transfer. It’s a much needed service as older businesses need to upgrade from devices such as microfiche or even old computer servers.
He and wife Karen live in Independence Township. Son Tom is one of the newest Masons, daughter Stacy is recently married, and the family enjoys regular visits from grandniece Julia from Rochester, N.Y.
The family also includes three dogs and a cat. There’s one dog each for son and daughter; the other dog and the cat ‘just showed up? and were adopted by the family, he said.
When he’s not busy with the Masons or business, Braun finds fishing and golf to be methods to relax. Of his fishing, he said. ‘Sometimes I even have to use bait,? and of golf, ‘I’m just a hacker.?
He enjoys talking about the Masons, however, and noted a 150th anniversary celebration in planning for the Clarkston lodge in October. The Clarkston Masonic Lodge is also the meeting place for the Order of the Eastern Star, a sister organization for women which is active in giving local scholarships among their service projects.
The Clarkston Masonic Lodge has about 250 registred members. They meet at 7:30 p.m. the first Thursday of each month. For more information on the organization, call (248) 854-8388 or visit www.MichiganMasons.org on the Internet.