Trinity No. 200 Grand Lodge Of South Dakota, A.F. & A.M. |
| An Important Announcement from the Masonic Building Association of Sioux Falls Brethren, Members, and Friends of the Sioux Falls Masonic Center, The Board of Trustees of the Masonic Building Association of Sioux Falls is pleased to announce that the MBA has accepted a full-price offer for the Sioux Falls Masonic Center. After careful consideration, the Board determined that the offer was favorable and represents a responsible solution following a due diligence process that has been underway, in one form or another, for several years. All Trustees of the MBA supported moving forward with the agreement and the next chapter for our Masonic Center. From Dreams, to "What If," to Reality Several years ago, conversations about the future of the Masonic Center came into greater focus as we faced the possibility of significant financial investments in aging infrastructure. Through hard work and careful management, solutions were found that addressed many of those needs in the short term. However, those solutions also reinforced something we already knew: continuing to maintain a facility of our current size indefinitely would not be the most practical or responsible path for the generations who will follow us. Over the years, the conversation has evolved from dreams, to "what if?", and now, finally, to the reality of right-sizing our Masonic home for the future. This is not simply about selling a building. It is about taking the resources entrusted to us and positioning our Masonic organizations for long-term success. What Happens Next? The accepted offer allows us to remain in the current Masonic Center for six months, with additional options available should more time be necessary. This provides us with an important transition period to carefully evaluate potential locations, determine our future space requirements, and make thoughtful decisions rather than rushed ones. More details will be shared as agreements are finalized and potential options are thoroughly vetted. Rest assured: the Masonic Center is home to all of us, and the Board is acting with the long-term interests of our entire Masonic family and future generations in mind. Preparing to Right-Size Our Home As we begin this process, we are asking each of our partner organizations within the building to carefully assess its current requirements for meeting space, operational space, and storage. Our current building provides an abundance of storage—far more than we should expect to replicate in a future facility. This transition gives every organization an opportunity to determine what truly needs to be retained, what can be preserved digitally, what can be relocated, and what may no longer need to be stored. Brother Kurt Swendson has graciously offered to lead an effort to help preserve our historical information by scanning and digitally archiving documents that have accumulated over the years. Once documents have been properly scanned and preserved, each organization can determine whether the original paper documents continue to have historical, legal, or archival value that warrants physical storage. This effort will begin soon, and additional information will be provided regarding how each organization can participate. Preserving Our Masonic Identity As part of our agreement with the buyer, we have also identified several items that should be removed from the building so that the physical symbols of our Masonic identity and history are appropriately preserved rather than simply left behind. These include, among other items: - The flagpole - The stone veneer and engraved emblems in the front vestibule above the interior doors - Embedded cornerstones - Masonic emblems, signage, and other identifying features throughout the property Removing some of these items will require more than simply taking them down. We also want to leave the affected areas in a clean, usable condition for the building's next owner. We are looking for individuals who are willing to lead or assist with these efforts, including removal, preservation, and restoration of the affected areas. If you have construction experience, specialized skills, equipment, ideas for preserving these pieces, or simply a willingness to help, please contact the MBA at siouxfallsmba@gmail.com. A New Chapter For generations, the Sioux Falls Masonic Center has been much more than brick, mortar, meeting rooms, and hallways. It has been a place where friendships were formed, degrees were conferred, families gathered, meals were shared, organizations grew, and countless memories were created. Those things are not contained within the walls of a building. They belong to us. We now have an opportunity to thoughtfully create a Masonic Center that reflects who we are today while remaining financially responsible and sustainable for those who will come after us. There is considerable work ahead, and there will be many opportunities for our members and organizations to participate as plans develop. Our address may eventually change, but our Masonic Center will remain our home. We look forward to sharing more about this next chapter as agreements are finalized and the possibilities for our future home are fully explored. Masonic Building Association of Sioux Falls Board of Trustees |
Trinity No. 200 Grand Lodge Of South Dakota, A.F. & A.M. |
Reminder Town Hall Meeting tonight, Tuesday December 16, 2025 at 7pm. The MBA board will meet to elect new officers briefly at 6:30pm and then start the Town Hall / Annual Meeting at 7pm. Date Correction (2nd Email) Apologies for the incorrect date being sent in the original email. The correct date of the meeting is the 3rd Tuesday of each month which is Tuesday December 16. Meeting at 7pm. Thank You to all of the interested parties that were alert and engaged in the communication! Message on behalf of the MBA (Original Email below) President - Rob Kirkvold Vice President - Brian Mehlhaff Treasurer - Dustin Johnson Secretary - Matt Gage Greetings, The Annual Meeting of the Sioux Falls Masonic Building Association (MBA) will be held on At this meeting, new Trustees (representatives) for each Lodge and Appendant Body will be formally announced for the 2026 term. From this group, the election of MBA officers will also be conducted. A significant portion of the meeting will be dedicated to the report of the Futures Committee and the recommendation of the MBA regarding the future of the Sioux Falls Masonic Center. There has been considerable discussion in recent MBA meetings concerning the findings and available options. In the spirit of full transparency, and in recognition of the sensitivity of this subject, this meeting is intended to be the primary forum for the open presentation of this information. We respectfully request that all discussion, speculation, and questions be reserved for the Lodge leaders are requested to distribute this message to their members. Leaders of Appendant Bodies are likewise asked to forward this information to their respective memberships. Thank you for your assistance in ensuring this important message reaches all who are impacted. Respectfully, MBA Board |