| From the East - Apr 2010 |
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My Brothers, I recently attended a District Deputy installation in Newington. Over dinner, I had an interesting conversation with our Deputy Grand Master. He got me to thinking about what can be done to improve participation by members of a lodge. On one extreme are the officers and the regulars, who come to just about every meeting and event. (We thank you for your presence and your efforts.) On the other extreme are those who for good reason are unable to attend. You have moved away, are shut-in, or have long term conflicts with job and family commitments. (We miss you, and hope that circumstances allow you to return, even if only occasionally.) In between are all the brothers who find it difficult to attend because of competing demands on their time and energy. Typically, one of these brothers might say, “I like coming to lodge and to its events, but there’s nothing particularly for me to do, no contribution I can make, nothing to make me feel needed. So, when a lodge activity conflicts with something else, it gets easier and easier to choose the other activity.” I myself had similar feelings after being a Mason for a couple of years – I was only a spectator in lodge meetings, and my other community service organizations’ events often conflicted with those of the lodge. (We miss you too, and recognize that there are other demands on your time.) Of course, we can not tell you that lodge is more important than your other activities – all we can do is make the lodge such a meaningful place that you decide it is more important. (Things started to change for me when I was personally asked to do specific tasks at community events, and to do small parts within the ritual. I had reasons to come – I felt needed and wanted. As a result, it became easier to choose the lodge over another activity.) So, I ask all brothers for your feedback – no matter how regularly you come. What would make it easier for you to decide to come to lodge more regularly? Is it helping on activities? Planning and leading an activity? Maybe seeing new activities? How about participating in lodge meetings, like being a Craftsman or presenting the Tools or Charges? We have already started providing these opportunities to the Fellow Craft Club (our Master Masons of less than 5 years) – is there interest in expanding the FCC, to include more “seasoned” members? Any and all feedback is welcome – no idea is too strange … I ask another favor – help reaching out to those who do not have or do not read emails. I am a product of my generation, among whom the internet is a natural form of communication – it is hard to even consider sitting down and writing letters or calling everyone. We have something like 170 brothers, of whom about 110 have emails. So, please pass this on this to a brother you know who doesn’t read emails. Fraternally, |
