{"id":2638,"date":"2016-05-09T09:58:01","date_gmt":"2016-05-09T16:58:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theeduca.mywhc.ca\/?p=2638"},"modified":"2016-05-09T09:58:01","modified_gmt":"2016-05-09T16:58:01","slug":"where-did-all-our-freemasons-go","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ashlarcollege.ca\/ashlar-archived\/where-did-all-our-freemasons-go\/","title":{"rendered":"Where did all our Freemasons Go?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Where Did All Our Freemasons Go?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Adapted by V.W. Bro Norman McEvoy from a paper presented by R.W. Bro. Gordon Crutcher. Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario (Canada)<\/p>\n

I would venture a guess to say there’s not one single Lodge within our (any) Grand Lodge that isn’t concerned about membership and Lodge attendance. Each year on the Official Visit your Secretary and your Master fill out their report and one of the questions is about Lodge attendance.<\/p>\n

What I believe Grand Lodge is looking for in these reports, is to know if the Lodges are active and healthy.\u00a0 Fortunately, I’ve got a few ideas of my own on this subject. I think I can explain why Lodge participation is such a problem in some Lodges.\u00a0 I even have a few suggestions about what a Lodge experiencing these issues might do to improve in this area.<\/p>\n

First of all, membership and Lodge participation are two very different things.\u00a0 I know, I know–they are very often lumped together as one and the same, but they are most certainly not the same issue.\u00a0 They are very different issues.\u00a0 I’m sure I’ll raise a few eyebrows by saying the far more serious problem isn’t new membership–it’s Lodge participation.\u00a0 Lodge participation is really the problem you must solve–nearly every other issue your Lodge may be facing from financial issues to lack of new members most likely tracks back to your participation problem.<\/p>\n

If you think I’m wrong, ask yourself a couple questions:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 a.) how many members show up for your meetings?\u00a0 How many members does your Lodge have?\u00a0 I’ll bet there is a dramatically larger percentage of members who don’t attend than do.\u00a0 Why is that?\u00a0 b.)\u00a0 How many of your newer members are attending?\u00a0 How many have dropped off?\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 And now for the big question\u00a0 c.) What is the point of continuing to add new members to your rolls when you can’t keep your old members or your brand new members involved?<\/p>\n

I’ll answer that last question for you–it’s pointless to keep adding members to your roster until you figure out why you can’t keep the ones you already have.\u00a0 And I’ll tell you the most common reason why Lodges challenged with these issues can’t keep members involved.\u00a0 It’s quite simple actually.<\/p>\n

Your meetings are boring!\u00a0 Sorry to be so blunt, but it’s true–right?\u00a0 If you fix that problem, you’ll go a long way to fixing all your problems.\u00a0 As one Past Master so frequently says, “when they stop having fun, they’ll stop coming.”\u00a0 It really isn’t any more complicated than that.<\/p>\n

I have six things you can do to improve your meetings–I have many more, but lets start with six.\u00a0 Let me be clear–all these things are well within the constitution of our Grand jurisdiction\u2019. And make sure they do not counter your Lodge By-Laws, please do not go against your By-Laws on any of these suggestions and say \u201coh the DDGM said it was ok\u201d\u2026as I can get in enough trouble all on my own.\u00a0 Do not feel you have to do any of these suggestions, as this is merely what they are suggestions.<\/p>\n

But if these suggestions are within your by-laws and you try a few of these suggestions, I think you’ll find your members will find much more enjoyment in your meeting than they do currently.\u00a0 Those meetings may even become something the Brethren look forward to attending again.<\/p>\n

And here they are: Reading<\/u><\/strong> of the Minutes<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The purpose of reading the minutes is to make sure your Secretary is doing his job correctly.\u00a0 That he is recording things accurately and to ensure he hasn’t left anything out or gotten anything wrong.\u00a0 That’s it.\u00a0 I was in a meeting a few days ago where the Secretary spent fifteen minutes reading the minutes of a meeting that only lasted an hour the month before, right down to who sat in what chair.\u00a0 And all fifteen Masons sitting in that room knew exactly what happened in that meeting the month before, because it was the same fifteen guys.\u00a0 I sit through that every month, and it’s dreadful every month.\u00a0 I did the same thing as Secretary in my Lodge (although I only hit the highlights in my Lodge to try and keep it short).\u00a0 But it’s the 21st century folks.\u00a0 Secretaries could print those minutes and have them available for preview prior to the meeting, or some Secretaries email the minutes of the meeting to members right after the meeting concludes.\u00a0 The minutes should take minutes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Comment <\/u><\/strong>In many Jurisdictions it is permitted to share Lodge Minutes by email. By utilizing this method of sharing, not only are ALL brethren informed but it is now possible to seek approval of the Minutes as circulated.<\/p>\n

Treasurer’s Reports <\/u><\/strong>It took the Treasurer ten minutes to give his report in the same mind-numbing detail as the Secretary (right down to the check numbers).\u00a0 Same thing.\u00a0 Why not print the report and hand it to the members or email the report to them prior to the meeting?\u00a0 Most members don’t even listen to the details of how much the power bill was, and how much they charged to fix the vacuum sweeper.\u00a0 They tune out.\u00a0 They’ll be more likely to look at the treasurer’s report if it’s printed than they are to listen to one.<\/p>\n

Comment <\/u><\/strong>In a number of Masonic bodies in which I have membership a Budget is struck in late fall & upon approval of the Membership, requires the Treasurer to simply report if the Budget is on target or not. This is saving valuable time.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Announcements (For the Good of the Order)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Announcements often go on so long they actually refer to them at the end of our meetings as “the dreaded announcements.”\u00a0 You’ll have three or four guys usually that will stand up in turn and list off one event after another after another after another–a degree here, a pancake breakfast there, a golf outing here.\u00a0 We had a degree in my Lodge last week, and I glanced at the clock–announcements took a full fifteen minutes.\u00a0 I’d been to four meetings\/degrees in the last couple weeks and I’d heard the vast majority of those announcements over and over again.\u00a0 And of course you have the guy that has to ask three times “what’s that date again” or “what time did you say that starts again.”\u00a0 It’s without question my least favorite part of any meeting, and I’m not alone there.\u00a0 You’ll see very few Masons writing things down during announcements.\u00a0 There are better ways to do announcements.\u00a0 First of all, social media and the internet are far better means to get the word out about events.\u00a0 In my own Lodge, we have a tool called “Callout List” where I can call every member of my Lodge in about two minutes to remind them of an event using a recorded message.\u00a0 One of the best ideas I’ve ever heard, however, is a little more old school.\u00a0 One Lodge Secretary told me that for years, they’ve had no announcement (or very few) during their meetings.\u00a0 He hangs an old fashioned desk blotter calendar on the wall of the Lodge–two months at a time with a box of markers next to it.\u00a0 Members and visitors of the Lodge write their events on that calendar prior to the meeting or degree.\u00a0 When, where, and what time.\u00a0 They don’t do announcements during the Lodge meeting.\u00a0 He said many of the members just photograph that calendar on the wall with their phone when they’re leaving and update their calendars at their leisure.<\/p>\n

In my opinion, that’s the best idea I’ve heard in years, and that Secretary is deserving of the highest Masonic honor that can be awarded a Lodge Secretary!\u00a0 What a fantastic idea!<\/p>\n

Comment <\/u><\/strong>Personally I have not encountered this problem as I have experienced Brethren simply passing greetings from their Lodges.\u00a0 Possibly, the news could be shared that no advertising in open Lodge will be permitted. That could chase that type of thing to the Festive Board.<\/p>\n

So Now What?<\/span>\u00a0 <\/strong>Lets say you do these three things.\u00a0 You’ve cut down dramatically three areas that the vast majority of Masons dislike intensely.\u00a0 That’s just saved a good forty minutes that we can now put to better uses.\u00a0 Perhaps since we now have a little more time we could do one or two of the following.<\/p>\n

Education Every Meeting<\/span> ==<\/strong>Education can be anything you want it to be.\u00a0 My suggestion is to share inspired articles from the Grand Lodge Education News Letter or the Protocol and Etiquette\u00a0Newsletter,\u00a0and then discuss it.\u00a0\u00a0 If you have a Lodge instructor or somebody good with ritual, you might have him go over a point in the ritual that everyone gets wrong.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Test your Masonic knowledge.\u00a0 Have somebody put together some trivia questions and perhaps elected officers can compete against appointed officers.\u00a0 Whatever you decide to do, have fun with it.<\/p>\n

Comment <\/u><\/strong>As Director of Masonic Education for a Lodge I am now experimenting with the idea of having my upcoming paper shared with the membership, by including it in the Notice calling the meeting. \u00a0It saves on two counts. Firstly, the brethren now have prior knowledge of what is coming up & it just might entice attendance. Secondly time is saved by eliminating the reading of the paper in Open Lodge.\u00a0 The Brethren are requested to bring their own copy & a few are made available for visiting Brethren. The key here is to stimulate Discussion and eliminate the Lecture & it is working!!<\/p>\n

Invite a Speaker<\/span>\u00a0 <\/strong>One of the best meetings I recall was one a few years ago.\u00a0 A lodge helped a young woman go on a trip to Germany as part of an exchange program.\u00a0 She came and talked to the Lodge when she returned.\u00a0 The Lodge went to refreshment, we invited her in, and she gave an excellent talk about her adventures–she even brought the Lodge a gift.\u00a0 It was a wonderful evening.\u00a0 Speakers can be members of your Lodge, or somebody from the Shrine.\u00a0 Perhaps a WWII vet with a great story to tell.\u00a0 Got a local Masonic author, scholar or researcher–from experience I know they’re very often more than happy to come and talk to your members for fifteen or twenty minutes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Comment <\/u><\/strong>Wonderful idea, and could stimulate a Dinner before the meeting and inviting your ladies & prospective candidates.\u00a0\u00a0 (Good News needs to be shared)<\/p>\n

Topic For Discussion\u00a0<\/span> <\/strong>One Master I spoke to said that each month he announces a topic of discussion for the following month.\u00a0 Maybe it’s about a historical event, or a famous Freemason, or the meaning of a certain symbol.\u00a0 The Brethren have a month to think about it.\u00a0 He tells me their discussions are extremely entertaining.\u00a0 That’s a great way to spark a little discussion in your lodge.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, he says sometimes they announce the subject on their Facebook page and they get guests from other Lodges interested in taking part in that discussion.<\/p>\n

Comment\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong>Love the idea and it works.<\/p>\n

Author<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Sometimes Masons get so involved in the business of Masonry we forget why we became Masons to begin with–to learn, to serve, and to become better men.\u00a0 Business is an important part of a meeting, but so is learning, discussion, and fellowship.\u00a0 If you want established members to keep coming, and new members to get involved and stay involved, your Lodge has to engage them.\u00a0 You have to give them something they’ll look forward to.\u00a0 They have to feel like they’re getting value from that time they spend in the meeting, and the only thing dull meetings provide are reasons for Freemasons to stay home and watch the game.\u00a0 If you can build a Lodge like that–they will come.\u00a0 And they’ll talk about it and invite their friends to join as well.\u00a0 A lack of petitions won’t be your problem, scheduling all the degrees will be.\u00a0 And that’s a problem every Lodge would like to have.<\/p>\n

Comment\u00a0 <\/u><\/strong>Think about creating a “Caring Committee” This kicks in when a Brother has missed two meeting in a row. A simple phone call to inquire if all is well.\u00a0\u00a0 IT WORKS<\/p>\n

Closing Comment<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

We Live by Brotherly Love; Relief and Truth & must always remember to practice it!!
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

My compliments to the author for tackling this touchy subject and providing some very workable solutions.\u00a0 Have a Wonderful Day & God Bless\u00a0 ===Norm<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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