As the prospect manager in my district, I've wrestled with this topic for quite some time. My elevator pitch goes something like this:
"We're the world's oldest self-help group. We're here to help you become the best version of yourself that you can be, with the idea that you will share that light with the community around you."
I tent to ramble on a bit from there, but I do always mention the fact that as a Mason, I have access to a wealth of knowledge about any topic, interest, and occupation. And that he men with that knowledge are excited to share it with another Brother.
I have yet to figure out a good elevator pitch. In fact, I was attending an NRA instructor class a couple of years back when a fellow attendee approached me, just as we were breaking for lunch, and asked about my license plate on the truck. He had also noticed another attendee approach me a few minutes earlier. The other attendee was a fellow Mason that I did not know, but he introduced himself by saying he noticed my license plate, and he shook my hand, concealing the grip of a Master Mason. We talked for a bit, as he told my his true brother was going to be initiated the next weekend.
At any rate, this first attendee who approached me made the comment that he saw my Masonic plate and then said, "I suppose you can't talk about it, right?"
Of course I responded that I absolutely could talk about it. He wanted to know more so I invited him to have lunch with me and ask me whatever questions he had. I told him I might not be able to answer some of them, but what I could answer, I would.
He is now a Master Mason and contributes greatly to our lodge and is a Brother I cherish having around.
An elevator pitch just wouldn't do it. I prefer to have the conversation and answer the questions one-on-one. That way, we can tackle the complexity together and not leave a potential Brother wondering if it's worth it at all.
I do really like it when people I don't know come up to me with questions about our Craft. And it happens from time to time because I always wear Masonic stuff.
My most recent one was at a clothing store. A guy came up to me and asked me how he could learn about joining a Lodge. I invited him to one of my Lodge's informal discussion nights and gave him my phone number.
The thing was though, he had called the Lodge in his own city, more than once, left messages but never heard back from anyone. Whenever I hear stories like that I've got to shake my head because those same men who will ignore prospective members reaching out will bitch and moan and complain about the lack of members in their Lodge.
Anyway, the fellow came to a couple of our informal discussions and got a chance to meet some folks. Ultimately he decided that my Lodge wasn't for him, but that he really enjoys the Lodge just to the north of us. He's hanging out with them now, and I presume will be petitioning within the next few months.
I’ve only had I think one person come and ask about masonry. Every other time it was some woman who used to be in rainbow or jobs daughters, remarking how much they loved the masons as a kid. I also have had men who were former demolay come up to chat, but they obviously never joined the fraternity. I never asked why, wasn’t my business.
But someone coming up and asking questions about the craft in obvious interest? Must be location location location as I don’t think anyone at work would ever dream of joining or even ask about it. The organizations outside of masonry I belong to are filled with men who never ask me about it either. It’s really odd.
Freemasonry is the world’s oldest fraternal organization, focused on the motto "making good men better." Masons use the tools of stonemasonry as symbols to teach moral character, charity, and brotherly love, while connecting men of all backgrounds through lifelong friendships.
So, after you give the elevator speech, stop talking. Let the person you are facing absorb what you said and ask a question or lead the conversation. I use elevator speech almost every time someone asks me what I do. It works almost every time and the conversation flows from there.
I think this is very well said, and I think I shall start adopting it as my "elevator pitch." I think it also is relevant to our discussion last night re: whether a topic is "masonic." Does it build fellowship among good men from all stations of life? If yes, then yes.
I agree. Everything is, or can be 'Masonic' in one way or another. If we take a look at the vast range of topics covered in the writings of Mackey, Pike, Waite, and others it shows how truly broad Freemasonry's range can be.
And ultimately, if Brotherhood and friendship are a primary goal, then anything that strengthens those bonds is Masonic.
I do think, when presenting on topics, it is likely a good idea to hook the topic back to Masonry in some way. I think that sometimes we may assume that others see the tie to our Craft that we see, but that is probably rarely the case. Best to show it if we can.
"Freemasonry is an opportunity for fellowship with good men from all stations of life.’" Yes --
simple, plain, understandable. It needs no further elaboration. That is all, despite embroidery and elaboration, all that it has ever been. When it forgets that, it dies. Slowly, but it dies.
The "Gain/Loss 15 years" numbers don't appear to me to make any sense which, in my mind, calls into question the entire table. The overall trend, though, is obvious.
I also think that there are lots of variables in the numbers that make it at best an aproximation.
For example, in my Jurisdiction we count each membership. But some Masons belong to more than one Lodge, which leads to an inflation if we are using Lodge memberships to try to figure out how many Masons there are.
Yes, I realize that there a lot of variables and I realize there are Masons who pay their dues but haven' seen the inside of a Lodge in years as there are lot of religious folks who haven't been inside a place of worship in years. I wonder what our active public image is today.
I used to try and bottle up the esoteric and give it as some kind of tonic-explainer - that only brought me plenty of glazed eyes and eye-rolls.
Anymore, I tell people we are "the world's oldest fraternal self and mutual-improvement society. A group of men who are supposed to strive to become better versions of themselves and help each other do the same."
I'm going to have to add your bit about fellowship with men of all walks of life.
And ungood is a valid word, as is double-plus-ungood (this describes someone who is out for UMC).
MWB Bailey, the part I have come to really appreciate about it is the Haven it creates. A pocket in time and space that enables us to discuss and explore concepts we might otherwise never have the opportunity to give voice to.
Perhaps a friendly amendment? “Freemasonry is an opportunity for fellowship and inspiration amongst good men across all of life’s stations and places.”
I find rather than trying to define it, perhaps describing it does better justice? For example WB Lane up in Seattle runs all over managing their Prospect programs across 4-5 helping others find the path and take their first steps. VWB LaVigne travels regularly to support Lectures and Masonic education events. RWB Coe and the Brothers of Daylight support the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra and the arts throughout the greater Seattle area. I know a number of Brothers assisting with skill development and non profit missions throughout the area.
Perhaps we merely need to show the Prospects the various kinds of Masonry that exist and let them determine for themselves what it means to be a Mason? I think the reason we don't have one Lodge model is the same reason we don't only see one vehicle manufacturer. Everyones needs are just a little bit different. At the end of the day, it will take you on that yet to be discovered place, from whose borne no Traveler returns... if they do their part.
Great topic MWB Bailey! I think think this would make for some lively discussion.
As the prospect manager in my district, I've wrestled with this topic for quite some time. My elevator pitch goes something like this:
"We're the world's oldest self-help group. We're here to help you become the best version of yourself that you can be, with the idea that you will share that light with the community around you."
I tent to ramble on a bit from there, but I do always mention the fact that as a Mason, I have access to a wealth of knowledge about any topic, interest, and occupation. And that he men with that knowledge are excited to share it with another Brother.
I do like the 'self help group' angle as well, and have also used it in the past. I think it is true, and uses the language of today.
My problem is my rambling! There's just so much that I value in our Craft that I tend to go on and on. A verbal editor would serve me well!
I have yet to figure out a good elevator pitch. In fact, I was attending an NRA instructor class a couple of years back when a fellow attendee approached me, just as we were breaking for lunch, and asked about my license plate on the truck. He had also noticed another attendee approach me a few minutes earlier. The other attendee was a fellow Mason that I did not know, but he introduced himself by saying he noticed my license plate, and he shook my hand, concealing the grip of a Master Mason. We talked for a bit, as he told my his true brother was going to be initiated the next weekend.
At any rate, this first attendee who approached me made the comment that he saw my Masonic plate and then said, "I suppose you can't talk about it, right?"
Of course I responded that I absolutely could talk about it. He wanted to know more so I invited him to have lunch with me and ask me whatever questions he had. I told him I might not be able to answer some of them, but what I could answer, I would.
He is now a Master Mason and contributes greatly to our lodge and is a Brother I cherish having around.
An elevator pitch just wouldn't do it. I prefer to have the conversation and answer the questions one-on-one. That way, we can tackle the complexity together and not leave a potential Brother wondering if it's worth it at all.
I do really like it when people I don't know come up to me with questions about our Craft. And it happens from time to time because I always wear Masonic stuff.
My most recent one was at a clothing store. A guy came up to me and asked me how he could learn about joining a Lodge. I invited him to one of my Lodge's informal discussion nights and gave him my phone number.
The thing was though, he had called the Lodge in his own city, more than once, left messages but never heard back from anyone. Whenever I hear stories like that I've got to shake my head because those same men who will ignore prospective members reaching out will bitch and moan and complain about the lack of members in their Lodge.
Anyway, the fellow came to a couple of our informal discussions and got a chance to meet some folks. Ultimately he decided that my Lodge wasn't for him, but that he really enjoys the Lodge just to the north of us. He's hanging out with them now, and I presume will be petitioning within the next few months.
I’ve only had I think one person come and ask about masonry. Every other time it was some woman who used to be in rainbow or jobs daughters, remarking how much they loved the masons as a kid. I also have had men who were former demolay come up to chat, but they obviously never joined the fraternity. I never asked why, wasn’t my business.
But someone coming up and asking questions about the craft in obvious interest? Must be location location location as I don’t think anyone at work would ever dream of joining or even ask about it. The organizations outside of masonry I belong to are filled with men who never ask me about it either. It’s really odd.
Freemasonry is the world’s oldest fraternal organization, focused on the motto "making good men better." Masons use the tools of stonemasonry as symbols to teach moral character, charity, and brotherly love, while connecting men of all backgrounds through lifelong friendships.
It's good, but I don't think I could get all of that out without quibbling and qualifying. There's too much that I'd feel a need to further explain.
So, I'd have to be muzzled.
So, after you give the elevator speech, stop talking. Let the person you are facing absorb what you said and ask a question or lead the conversation. I use elevator speech almost every time someone asks me what I do. It works almost every time and the conversation flows from there.
I think this is very well said, and I think I shall start adopting it as my "elevator pitch." I think it also is relevant to our discussion last night re: whether a topic is "masonic." Does it build fellowship among good men from all stations of life? If yes, then yes.
I agree. Everything is, or can be 'Masonic' in one way or another. If we take a look at the vast range of topics covered in the writings of Mackey, Pike, Waite, and others it shows how truly broad Freemasonry's range can be.
And ultimately, if Brotherhood and friendship are a primary goal, then anything that strengthens those bonds is Masonic.
I do think, when presenting on topics, it is likely a good idea to hook the topic back to Masonry in some way. I think that sometimes we may assume that others see the tie to our Craft that we see, but that is probably rarely the case. Best to show it if we can.
"Freemasonry is an opportunity for fellowship with good men from all stations of life.’" Yes --
simple, plain, understandable. It needs no further elaboration. That is all, despite embroidery and elaboration, all that it has ever been. When it forgets that, it dies. Slowly, but it dies.
Thank you Brother!
I also think that it prevents us from making claims that a new Mason might eventually decide to be untrue.
In the United States, today, how many dues-paying Masons are there?
Around 800K? The latest numbers I know of from a credible source are here:
https://msana.com/services/jurisdictional-totals/
The "Gain/Loss 15 years" numbers don't appear to me to make any sense which, in my mind, calls into question the entire table. The overall trend, though, is obvious.
I noticed the same thing when looking at it.
I also think that there are lots of variables in the numbers that make it at best an aproximation.
For example, in my Jurisdiction we count each membership. But some Masons belong to more than one Lodge, which leads to an inflation if we are using Lodge memberships to try to figure out how many Masons there are.
Yes, I realize that there a lot of variables and I realize there are Masons who pay their dues but haven' seen the inside of a Lodge in years as there are lot of religious folks who haven't been inside a place of worship in years. I wonder what our active public image is today.
I used to try and bottle up the esoteric and give it as some kind of tonic-explainer - that only brought me plenty of glazed eyes and eye-rolls.
Anymore, I tell people we are "the world's oldest fraternal self and mutual-improvement society. A group of men who are supposed to strive to become better versions of themselves and help each other do the same."
I'm going to have to add your bit about fellowship with men of all walks of life.
And ungood is a valid word, as is double-plus-ungood (this describes someone who is out for UMC).
MWB Bailey, the part I have come to really appreciate about it is the Haven it creates. A pocket in time and space that enables us to discuss and explore concepts we might otherwise never have the opportunity to give voice to.
Perhaps a friendly amendment? “Freemasonry is an opportunity for fellowship and inspiration amongst good men across all of life’s stations and places.”
I find rather than trying to define it, perhaps describing it does better justice? For example WB Lane up in Seattle runs all over managing their Prospect programs across 4-5 helping others find the path and take their first steps. VWB LaVigne travels regularly to support Lectures and Masonic education events. RWB Coe and the Brothers of Daylight support the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra and the arts throughout the greater Seattle area. I know a number of Brothers assisting with skill development and non profit missions throughout the area.
Perhaps we merely need to show the Prospects the various kinds of Masonry that exist and let them determine for themselves what it means to be a Mason? I think the reason we don't have one Lodge model is the same reason we don't only see one vehicle manufacturer. Everyones needs are just a little bit different. At the end of the day, it will take you on that yet to be discovered place, from whose borne no Traveler returns... if they do their part.
Great topic MWB Bailey! I think think this would make for some lively discussion.
"Freemasonry is an opportunity for fellowship with good men from all stations of life."
Dayumm, that's the best answer I've ever heard. Seriously.