Issues Policies & Resolutions

PAST ISSUES

Latest Disinformation Campaign
Patch/Copyright scare
Grand Chapter of NY
National & Regional Coordinators
WSMRA Web Sites
Copyrights & Patches

Issue:
Disinformation - Brother Davenport Threatens California

12/18/2013
This false rumor is being passed around by the negative influences within the organization as a further attempt to cause confusion in the craft. As alluded to on our front page notice, the Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association has recently incorporated as a legitimate Not For Profit Association with a 501(c)(10) designation. As a duly registered association we are now a legal entity which may own its own property, represent itself in legal matters, and offer benefits and services to the entire membership which has been previously unavailable. The winged patch logo has been transferred to the association which now owns full rights to our logo and identity. One of the legal requirements for incorporating as such is that a board of directors or Executive Council must be appointed, as well as association bylaws or Articles of Association being submitted. The WSMRA now has an Executive Council consisting of seven officers which will oversee the administrative or executive branch of the organization. Upon completion of their terms, Executive Council offices will become elected positions where each officer is elected by a vote of the entire membership. Association bylaws may also be amended through a vote of the entire membership through regularly scheduled legislative sessions and votes using the same methods and procedures for Grand Lodge legislation. Our Executive Council is currently comprised of our founder, a Past Grand Chapter President & Coordinator, 2 Past Grand Masters, a State President, and 2 other esteemed members of the association and Masonic fraternity.
Jurisdictional (state) Autonomy has been preserved as it pertains to internal state business affairs. However WSMRA rules and policies will no longer be dictated by an Elite Class such as small handfuls of state or chapter presidents who mistakenly feel they may dictate policy beyond their jurisdictional borders or speak for the association. We are all truly on the level now as every single member is protected under the umbrella of the WSMRA bylaws and each is afforded a vote within the organization. The days of presidents, cliques, and ad-hoc committees speaking for and controlling the association are over. Just as the United States Constitution protects the rights of American citizens and limits the power of government, the WSMRA Constitution protects the rights and liberties of every member and limits the powers of our Executive Council.

There is a small faction of self-appointed Elitists within this organization who have taken it upon themselves to speak for the association and are threatened by the implementation of a WSMRA Constitution. This group has been at the core of the disunity and confusion within our organization, and has contributed to the downfall of our reputation & the desirability of our organization among our peers in the Masonic Fraternity. Freemasonry is and has always been a regulated institution. Our behavior and the landmarks and practices of the fraternity have been regulated since time immemorial. The WSMRA Constitution & Bylaws while preserving jurisdictional autonomy has implemented accountability from its jurisdictions, chapters, and members in the same way that our Masonic Obligations and Grand Lodge Constitutions regulate our lodges and the behavior of our members. As an organization we are now more in step with the fraternity of which we are all members.

This latest step in our evolution as an organization has been finalized and cannot be undone. However a disinformation campaign has been started in a desperate effort to preserve the interests of the spurious brethren within this organization who like the 3 ruffians in the Hiramic legend have tried to claim rights which do not belong to them, and have tried to take those rights by force. The following transcript is the latest piece of disinformation being distributed by this spurious faction:

Issue:
The right to use our patches will be taken away

This is the latest false rumor being spread through the illicit website 'widowssonsinternational.com' where it is claimed that brothers Carl Davenport & Fred Broecker are denying the use of our logo and patches or may soon do so. This rumor is FALSE. The origin of the rumor stems from a copyright complaint issued against a single website 'widowssonsinternational.com' and their associated Facebook page where the sites in question are representing themselves as the website and pages for the WSMRA. As previously mentioned in this section, the sites are not sanctioned Grand Chapter or chapter websites and none of the proprietors have the authority to make such claims. This website 'widowssons.com' has been and remains the only authorized homepage for the WSMRA since being accepted as such by those brethren who organized our association back in 2000-2002.

Widowssonsinternational.com is owned by John Pawlowski of Virginia and is operated & managed by the following brethren: James Mowel, Scott Frum, Mike (Stickman) Wade, Robert (Bagger Bob) Gill, David Adams, Andy Stocker, Rick Munday, Ken Belt, and a handful of other supporters. While the purpose of the site falsely claims to be a legitimate resource for our Association it has been used since its inception to supplant our founder Carl Davenport, his assistants and supporters, and the widowssons.com homepage. For 2+ years the site has been the sole source of spreading disunity, discontent, confusion, and hate throughout the organization through the use of lies, disinformation, and slander. Their proprietors have no other agenda than to empower themselves within the WSMRA by supplanting our founder, and to forcibly restore the positions of our former "appointed" Coordinators.

Due to the relentless hateful & inaccurate rhetoric and scheming on their site's forums, the reputation of the WSMRA as a Masonic-oriented organization has suffered greatly. Brethren who have tired of the un-Masonic behavior among that group have quit the organization to join other Masonic rider clubs, have been forced out for speaking against their activities, and as a result of the disharmony the entire WSMRA is now viewed as being 'undesirable' by our Masonic peers in various Grand Lodges.

We have been denied permission to set up new Grand Chapters in 3 consecutive Masonic jurisdictions, which is unprecedented in our history. Our jurisdiction in Prince Edward Island was only charted late last year and has just announced that they have resigned from the WSMRA and are returning their charter. This is also unprecedented. The denials to form chapters in Australia, Nevada, Idaho, and the resignation of an entire WS jurisdiction is directly attributable to the statements and activities of the spurious brethren on the illicit website.

We have kept quiet and not engaged ourselves in overt actions against the clandestine website and their proprietors because it was hoped that they would eventually leave our organization due to their dissatisfaction, or that our WS jurisdictions would tire of the endless hostile rhetoric & plotting and speak out against them for the good of the order and to restore harmony. Because this has not happened and we have been unable to police the negative activities of our own members, Grand Lodges are starting to see us as a liability, rather than an asset to the fraternity. This negative perception of the WSMRA by our peers in Freemasonry and by our own members is growing at an increasing pace and unless corrected may be impossible to recover from. Therefore our copyright owners decided that it is imperative to exercise our only power to restrict them which was to deny them the use of our logos on their clandestine website & Facebook page.

Determination:
No chapter, Grand Chapter or member is in danger of losing permission to use our logos or wear our patches. Our actions were only directed towards that specific group and their sites and will not be extended towards any legitimate chapter or member. In response to having to remove our logos from their sites, their owners have tried to allude that everyone is in jeopardy and even engaged themselves in a silly & adolescent attempt to design a new patch and submit it to the Association. It is our opinion that these spurious brethren are too self-absorbed to realize the damage they have done and continue to have on the peace and reputation of our organization, or are too arrogant to care. Therefore we will continue to deny them the use of our logos until they eventually leave or are forced out of the organization. No one else will be affected by this or any future action. Please inform your members that the rumors being spread about losing permission to use our patches or logos is untrue as it applies to our current legitimate chapters and members. The rumor is nothing more than another spurious attempt at panic-peddling in the hopes of gaining support for their illicit and unapproved website.

Issue:
Grand Chapter of New York

A recent controversy erupted after outside influences attempted to supplant the Grand Chapter of New York (based in Long Island) by issuing a bogus Grand Chapter Charter to the Rochester chapter in NY. After a thorough investigation, numerous documents and communications were obtained and examined which indisputably establishes the Long Island chapter (under the direction of Brother Lee Thompson) as the original and only authorized Grand Chapter of the Widows Sons within the state of New York. In one of the files which was dated on June 23rd 2009, one National Coordinator acknowledged the Long Island chapter as being the NYGC and also stated that he was aware that another National Coordinator was currently assisting them in regards to issues proprietary to their state at the time. We have in our possession many other files, documents, and communications between the President of the NYGC and the former Coordinators as well as a collection of other GC Presidents who he was in communication with. Every file in our possession was dated prior to any claims that were made by the Rochester chapter, and several pre-date the existence of the Rochester chapter. There are business receipts from neutral parties or businesses which establishes the Long Island chapter as the Grand Chapter.

As to what caused the confusion or misunderstanding within the Rochester chapter, it has been determined that it was due to the following reasons:

• The NYGC was not properly mentored by the National Coordinators.
   

• The NYGC was approved by the National Coordinators according to non-standard procedures and requirements which caused all Widows Sons in NY to be at a disadvantage. (They were approved without receiving implied permission from the Grand Lodge of NY and allowed to order patches which contained unauthorized modifications to the WS patch design.)
   

• The Rochester chapter mistakenly interpreted their Grand Chapters' lack of possessing a paper charter as meaning that they were not chartered. The fact is that once a new Grand Chapter submits their paperwork and is approved to order patches and wear them, they become 'chartered' at that time regardless of whether the charter has been printed and presented to them. It is common information and in no dispute that the former National Coordinators has approved many Grand Chapters but neglected to send their printed charters. The absence of a printed charter does not invalidate a Grand Chapters' authority once they have been approved. To illustrate Rochester's confusion in this matter, this statement was written by the President of the Rochester Chapter to the President of the President of the L.I Chapter within the past few days: "If LI had any charter in 2009, Rochester would have gladly accepted you as GC of NY,as you know we asked you many times for a Charter when you led us to believe you actually  had one".
  In his own words the President of the Rochester Chapter states that they had asked the L.I chapter for a charter several times, and unequivocally demonstrates that he had previously deferred to the L.I or "Grand Chapter" for his own chapter's charter.
   

• The Rochester Chapters' gross misunderstanding of what constitutes the chartering or approval of a Grand Chapter was further complicated by the fact that former National Coordinators in concert with ambitious members from other states had sought to give Rochester bad advice or counsel in an attempt to supplant the existing Grand Chapter of NY and further their own political agendas.

• The Coordinator(s) who approved/chartered the Long Island chapter were grossly negligent. You DO NOT approve a newly formed group under a conditional agreement and allow them to not only order patches and form new chapters, but also allow them to modify the patch in a way so they could wear them without having their GL approval. Once the NYGC or L.I chapter was approved to order patches that made them the chartered Grand Chapter and superseded any conditional agreement. To go in 3-4 years later and arbitrarily select one of the Grand Chapter's constituent chapters as a replacement for the Grand Chapter is also grossly negligent and something that should never ever be done because of the precedent it sets. In essence, this organization does not give something to someone only to take it away and give it to someone new at a later time.

• The group of fellows who recently attempted to charter the Rochester chapter had no authority to do so. The former Coordinators no longer have that authority, and neither does anyone who they may have appointed as a Regional Coordinator. The controversy regarding NY was created by spurious brethren who saw fit to use the brethren in NY as political pawns. Had NY been left free of undue influence from members in other states, there would be no controversy. The brethren from outside of NY who involved themselves in another jurisdiction's business are in direct violation of the WS Landmark regarding sovereignty/autonomy and should be expelled from the Association.

Conclusion:
It should be noted that the Rochester Chapter has more or less been victimized by several out of state parties which have clearly violated the Widows Sons Landmark which prohibits any member, chapter, Grand Chapter or jurisdiction from meddling in the affairs of another. The issues or misunderstandings between the NYGC and their Rochester chapter is New York Business and must be resolved between both parties in that jurisdiction without interference from members in another state or jurisdiction. The WSMRA acknowledges the sovereignty and authority of the NYGC (Long Island) based upon the records, receipts, and communications in our possession. The charter issued to the Rochester chapter is not only to be considered null & void, but is fraudulent in nature. Should the Rochester Chapter be able to provide their own documentation, receipts, minutes, or other records which they feel supports their claim; they may submit it for further review. In the absence of such supporting evidence, this issue is now closed.

Issue:
National & Regional Coordinators

There has been a lot of confusion as to whether there are National Coordinators or Regional Coordinators in the WSMRA. Regardless of what anyone is saying, the position of National Coordinator was eliminated in September of 2010. The original purpose of Coordinators was to guide and mentor new groups of brethren who wanted to form a Grand Chapter. The Coordinator would assist them through the process of preparing their bylaws, receiving permission from their respective Grand Lodges and also from the local dominant MC's, and in electing their officers. Once the applicants had met the requirements for inclusion into the Association, the Coordinator would then authorize the new Grand Chapter to order patches and announce their formation to the member jurisdictions within the Association.

In 2010 it became apparent that the 3 Coordinators each performed their tasks in a different manner, used different methods & policies, and contributed to a lack of standardization and consistency among our new chapters. Many chapters were not mentored correctly (if at all), and would not have their requests for guidance answered upon being approved or chartered. In many cases which we have documented, requests to the Coordinators by new groups of brethren went unanswered or ignored after several requests. There was little communication between themselves and between them and the rest of the Association. In several cases the formation of new Grand Chapters went unannounced to the Association as well as to each other. They operated with no accountability to the Association or to each other.

These are just a few of the many examples which led to the end of the Coordinator program. It was determined that our Grand Chapters or member jurisdictions would hereafter sponsor, mentor, and charter new groups into the Association in the same way that Grand Lodges sponsor each other into the fraternity in accordance with Masonic tradition. This method was originally intended to be used once the Association grew to where we would have enough Grand Chapters to serve in this duty. The Coordinator program was never intended to be a permanent fixture.

Much of the controversy since the end of the Coordinator program in 2010 stems from one or two of the former Coordinators refusal to abandon their titles and relinquish their former duties to our Grand Chapters. Since many new Grand Chapters have since been sponsored into the WSMRA by existing Grand Chapters, it became obvious that the duties of the former coordinators would never revert back to them. So an effort by at least one former Coordinator and his supporters was made to redefine the purpose & duties of a Coordinator in an attempt to retain their title or position and force another level of government within the WSMRA.

As a part of this effort the brethren involved in promoting the Coordinator concept have repeatedly attempted to influence brethren in other jurisdictions to gain support for their agenda. As a result, much disharmony has been created within the WSMRA over this divisive issue and individual brethren & whole chapters have been retaliated against for voicing their opposition against it. In one instance an attempt was made to extort the ownership of one of our logos from the owner and through their influence have him removed from membership in the WS. Their efforts were unsuccessful. The campaign by these individuals against certain members of the Association directly violated the WSMRA Landmark which prohibits each member from meddling in the affairs of other chapters or members.

Most recently, after a series of failures these brethren have attempted to create the position of New England Regional Coordinator. Each state or jurisdiction within the WSMRA is not only allowed to, but it is encouraged to have a State Coordinator for managing events and growth within the respective jurisdiction. However National & Regional Coordinators by nature, violates the principle of jurisdictional sovereignty or autonomy. It has been presented that Regional and or National Coordinators would only serve as Advisors and Mediators, but the true purpose is to provide titles & positions which extend beyond a member's jurisdiction, and to allow the former Coordinator(s) and their supporters to retain some influence or a voice in Association-wide business.

Conclusion:
No state/province/country/ or member jurisdiction within the WSMRA is required to recognize or employ the services of any member who has been given the title or position of Regional or National Coordinator by a handful of select individuals who have sought to issue such positions of entitlement. The WSMRA does not recognize any such positions or titles which were issued by unauthorized individuals. It is recommended that any rulings, edicts, summonses, charters, or other communications issued by these individuals be ignored.

ISSUE:
WSMRA Approved Web Sites

WidowsSons.com is the only approved web site that services the WSMRA as a whole. It has served the Association since 2002 and is the homepage which was used by every group of brethren to contact the Association for forming new Grand Chapters. Every Grand Chapter came into the WSMRA through the WidowsSons.com web site. It was set up as the WSMRA portal when the WSMRA was created.

Grand Chapters and constituent chapters may have their own web sites but may only speak for their own chapters or jurisdiction. Individual members may not publish web sites which speak for any chapter or the Association. However individual members may publish their own web sites so long as they only pertain to their personal lives or experiences and do not use a domain name which would lead the public to believe their site is approved by or is a part of the Association. Masons may post web sites which address their lives as a Freemason but no Mason is allowed to publish a site which speaks for his lodge, his Grand Lodge, or as an authority on all of Freemasonry. Many Grand Lodges require that lodge and individual member sites be approved by their Grand Lodge Internet Committees.

While the WSMRA encourages Grand Chapters & chapters to have their own web sites. Web sites published by individual members or groups of individual members are prohibited from using the name Widows Sons, Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association, and any of the WSMRA copyrighted logos unless the web site has been approved by the Association. An example might be where a member wishes to publish a website regarding the history of the WSMRA or the many good works our Association has accomplished. Such a site would be reviewed for accuracy and how the Association is portrayed and then be approved. In a few instances the WSMRA has had disgruntled former members post derogatory & bogus web sites about the Association. It was demanded that those members remove all WS artwork from their sites and to refrain from using the name Widows Sons. Each of them begrudgingly complied under the threat of legal action for copyright infringement.

The web site: widowssonsinternational.com is not approved by the WSMRA. It has been masquerading as a "website owned by the members" but in fact is owned by a brother with spurious motives who went to lengths and expense to hide his identity when registering the domain name. No organization or association should hide their identity from the public. Chapters and Grand Chapters who own their own domain name should not use 'private registration' or register through a proxy service to hide their identity and contact information. Private registrations through a proxy service are fine for individuals who for whatever reason do not wish to have their personal information available to the public. However when a company or organization does so it gives the public the appearance that the company is shady or trying to hide something. Therefore all WSMRA websites should be up front and public in regards to registering their domain names.

Widowssonsinternational.com not only represents itself as the Association web site but has published contradictory information. It lists the former Coordinators as the persons to contact for assistance in becoming chartered, even though they have been removed from those positions due to their negligence and lack of accountability to the WSMRA. The website has a Forum which openly advertises itself as a replacement for the International Forum on WidowsSons.com. That forum is routinely used to engage in hateful and slanderous activities, disparage and attack brethren, engage in character assassination, and spread disinformation. Most of their Forum Administrators are disgruntled former administrators and moderators of the WSMRA Forum who lost their positions because they allowed and sometimes encouraged rampant un-Masonic behavior on the WS Forums.

Conclusion:
The proprietors of widowssonsinternational.com are cowans who are using their fraudulent site to spread disunity and disharmony within the Association for no other reason than to advance their personal ambitions. The site is considered to be clandestine and does not speak for or represent the WSMRA in any legitimate capacity. They continue to use the name of the Association and its copyrighted logos without authorization or permission. It should also be noted that those who operate the bogus site are not only involved with the spurious attempts to supplant the Grand Chapter in NY, but instigated the gross misconduct in that issue.

ISSUE:
PATCHES & COPYRIGHTS

The Widow logo was copyrighted on Carl Davenport's behalf in 2003 by Armando (Army) Nunez. While Army's name is on the certificate, it is because he filed the copyright application for Carl. Carl prepared the artwork and is considered to be the author but Army does share the rights. Some have spread rumors that Carl cannot revoke permission to use the patch. This is not true. Granting permission requires the consent of both parties. If Carl gave consent and Army did not, then consent cannot be issued because you cannot bestow half of a right or half-permission. If either party chooses to revoke consent the copyright consent is rescinded because both registrants of the copyright have not mutually agreed. In cases where a copyright violation has to be filed, either Carl, Army, or both of them may seek legal action or issue a cease and desist order as they share equal rights to the artwork and its use.

Many of the members in the WSMRA are under the impression that our logos are the property of the entire Association and each jurisdiction and member. This is not yet the case. At this time the logos are legally owned by the registered owners and no one else, although they were produced for the Association's use. However no one in the WSMRA except for the copyright owners possess the legal rights to the use of the logos as the WSMRA has yet to apply for and receive its own legal identity. Steps are currently being taken to change this and more will be reported on that part of the issue in the near future.

The modern or Winged logo was exclusively designed by Fred Broecker and he holds exclusive copyright to its use. He is the only person who may grant consent or revoke it. Over the past year he has issued Fair Use Agreements for the use of the logo which gives license to the use of the logo and the conditions for its use. The Widows Sons of Illinois and the New York Grand Chapter have been the first two jurisdictions to receive a Fair Use Agreement which legally establishes the right to use the patch and under what conditions. Brother Broecker will be issuing similar agreements to other jurisdictions who request it.

The Fair Use Agreements permit the jurisdictions to use the artwork or logo for their patches, to produce tee shirts, banners, pins, and any other accessory items of their choosing. Having such agreements allows our jurisdictions to manufacture WS items without having to seek permission, and secures their right to use our patches & logos.

In regards to the Widows Sons back patches, it has come to our attention that quite a few chapters have either knowingly or unwittingly employed their own vendors for manufacturing patches for their chapters without informing the copyright owners or seeking prior permission. Because the logos are copyrighted, no vendor may reproduce our artwork without first receiving permission or a license to do so. The un-authorized vendors have not been instructed as to what they are allowed to do and not do. We hope to have the copyrights upgraded to Trademark status later this year and it is imperative that each shop which has been employed to produce back patches becomes properly authorized and complies with the manufacturing terms and agreement. Vendors who refuse to apply for a manufacturing license or abide by the Vendor Agreement will be facing charges of copyright infringement which will make them liable for penalties of $25,000 per violation in addition to punitive damages. A new section for Vendors has been added to our homepage and all brethren are urged to have their vendors contact us immediately in regards to receiving their licenses.

Conclusion:
The 3 copyright owners are the only persons within the WSMRA who have the legal right to determine the proper use of the logos, assign rights to their use, and file charges of copyright infringement when such situations arise. Being a member within the Association does not grant members unrestricted rights to: the use of the logos, to have patches manufactured without permission, to modify the designs, display the logos in personal publications, and represent or speak for the Association. Grand Chapters and their constituent chapters who have been issued Fair Use Agreements do have the right to use the name and identity of the WSMRA as it pertains to their chapters only, and to use the logos in accordance to the limitations set forth by the Fair Use Agreements which have been issued.

Copyright © 2003-2007 Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association, All rights reserved