Well I myself am a cybersecurity programmer and specialist not to mention I'm 28 years old and have very heavy experience with social media in all aspects. So from my point of view my particular Lodge does not do anything as far as social media really yes it does have a Facebook page that rarely post things and when they do they're not about things that are coming up and they're also not being posted to other groups or anything like that trying to interact with people. As far as what platform is best Facebook is the most widely used along with Instagram as far as my generation goes Twitter is still kind of used but more for the older generation but not really prevalent much anymore. The best way I can think of this going is somebody is in charge of social media for a large or a district and if a public dinner or something is coming up for example what would happen is some pictures or something could be posted on Facebook with information about the event inviting people to join in. Then that post could also be posted and shared by brothers or the original poster to other public pages in the community (theres alot of them) at that point people could comment on it asking questions or see it be interested in it and go check out the Facebook page which could also be linked at the same time to the website for that particular Lodge and could even have links on the Facebook page to the Grand Lodge if people are interested so it's all a matter of linking everything together if they're on your Facebook page you want them to be looking at your website as well if they're on your website you want them to also look at your Facebook page if they haven't started there to begin with. The key will be to start spreading masonry within social media and online I don't mean trying to teach the community that's not what I'm talking about I'm talking about letting them know we are here inviting them to come check us out or just interacting with them in general you start posting stuff like that a lot of people will get involved for example my one Facebook page that I used to run for my business made by myself was getting 50,000 views in a month so imagine if that's the lodges page... Just my two cents
Grand Lodge has a web page for each Lodge but it is extremely limited.
Let’s add functionality to that
- blog
- calendar
- messaging / inquiries
- about us (Lodge focus etc)
- moderated comments (Rob’s point is important)
I’m essentially arguing for Grand Lodge to offer a pre-formatted template so that it is easy for individual Lodges to post & update, and for others to share.
This doesn’t address FB, but can make it easier for a Lodge FB page to simply share a link.
Ok not a bad idea... However what about the people that don't know the grand Lodge website exists? What about the people that don't know anything at all about us or that we even exist? What about the.... Just checked .... 27,000 people In the public community groups on Facebook that use those pages to find events and local happenings ? Yes those links could be shared to fb by individual brothers but how often would that really happen? Again that would require a brother to actually be using fb anyway... Let's say for a second that grand lodge did step up there social media presence and directed ALL social media from the state to them.... Do you realize how many thousands of messages they would get ? There is no one one grand lodge would be able to reply to those messages in any reasonable time period.
Brother Roy I would gladly help with whatever I can and whatever is needed I agree at least some sort of a team but also let me bring up another idea what if Grand Lodge where to put together some sort of a team to form rules and regulations and then let The lodges operate within those parameters like if a lodge itself wanted to run their own social media with somebody there or a couple people there and have them just follow the rules that are set in stone by the Grand Lodge
Well I get that I was just trying to settle some uneasy minds I was just one option the other option and the one I would highly suggest is let some people like us that are tech savvy set up and run the social media we have experience dealing with it we know what can happen we know how to avoid things that's my ideal solution
GL has committees Technology, Membership just to name two and the GM tells them what to do. Its way past time for some accountability. The new GL web site was the product of the Grand Secretary, not his job but got tired of a poor product. Time for a change and study the committee structure is not going to help (personal opinion, milage may vary).
Social media platforms like FB, Instagram, etc have to be carefully policed as in my opinion it allows unstructured and in many cases unfiltered posts in public view. What we've seen in the last decade has been a partial membership that does not conduct it self reverently and through their actions they ruin it for every one. Political posts, etc. In my humble opinion many of these platforms allow the flourishing of "mob speak". That said the functionality of "staying informed as to events" keeps me coming back to these platforms untill the GL figures out how to stear people to a private system such as G2s OLP. However even then private portals are only part of the answer. The day of letters and email notification is long past. This is a problem we must address. 1. Not all of your membership use smart phones and Facebook. 2. Many of those platforms are crowded for attention any way. 3 If the GL produces any tooling for the use of the lodge perhaps a program to enable its membership to use a Social media portal would be necessary. 4. Policies need to be made, understood, and adhered to strictly
A properly managed fb page moderated by people who know what is up addresses all of the issues you mention. Alternate private platforms completely misses the point of utilizing social media. There are many ways we have people finding our lodge online and if we want to reach out to the young men in society, we must provide them with the avenues they are used to. This isn’t just about the existing members.
A lodge nowadays needs many tools in its toolbox. Not just a website and Facebook. Google business is another way people can connect. Making sure that there is a secretary who checks the lodge email consistently is another. Responding quickly to direct messages from facebook and other outlets is also vital. And as chris mentioned, active posting of current and future events is key in showing we’re still relevant.
And remember that utilizing these platforms isn’t about the older members not using smart phones or the internet. The lodges not willing to embrace technology in the 21st century is going to die. Plain and simple. The days of just relying on wearing the square and compasses on a hat are long gone, especially since the older generation isn’t frequenting places younger people patronize.
Its also important to remember that the past 18 months have been rough on lodges not being able to do anything socially to promote.
I agree, also I do understand what Robert's saying however a private group would work for pre-existing brother shirt but what about the people that don't know anything about it or might be interested and don't even know where to start? Hence social media. Obviously a largest page would not be posting political messages of any kind or anything like that it's strictly to promote the lodge and our craft that's it and make our presence known that is the whole idea and like I've said before and at the sake of sounding like a broken record the power that is social media is immense.
With these platforms comes a responsibility. That's my point. From what I've seen a lot of men can not control their toxicity. If were talking FB, many of your young folks don't use it. Social media disserves policy and a well thought out use case strategy. Don't enter in to it with out it.
" many of your young folks don't use it" .....would have to heavily disagree with you brother...my self and thousands of people I am in contact with on fb would also disagree.... Yes there is responsibility and I understand that completely as well as anyone that would be out in a role of social media for a lodge or district. If you believe the only thing posted on fb is toxicity that shows my point about alot of the brethren not having much experience with social media. And that's nothing agenst anyone it's just a fact.
True just kinda came across that way that's all.. yes alot of people are toxic...but even more are not was more my point. Yes it would have to be controlled and moderated that's not a problome. And when I say young I consider under 30
Brother Heck hit it on the nail. Easy to follow links on a calendar go along way. Also pictures of events, as much as allowed, are needed. Show them people having fun. Show them every one is suits. Pictures say a 1000 words, and social media is a great way to leverage that.
There should be little doubt that in todays world social media is very important. Unfortunately our lodges are filled with guys like me that struggle to just turn my computer on. We grew up in a non computerized age and most of us do not have the skill set needed to move our lodges into the new computerized, social media age. In my own lodge we are very fortunate to have several well skilled brothers that can work in this area and have done great things for us. I am certain that many lodges may not have a lot of those skilled people and need help. That is where Grand Lodge can make a huge difference by setting up templates for all lodges to use in making their own web sites with links to social media sites without a lot of hassle. To take it even farther Grand Lodge could offer classes to reach out in supporting the new media for local lodges and not just one but a long term suppport program focused on technology and using it for the betterment of our lodges. Yes, if we want to take advantage of social media we need a lot of help from Grand Lodge to move us in that direction. Doing it alone has developed into a hodge podge of good and bad and for many smaller lodges nothing to support what technology has laid at our footsteps.
So I've been reading a lot of these comments today and yesterday and it seems like there are a few Brothers such as me and brother Glen that do believe in the power of social media as well as a way to do it there are some others that also believe in the power but might be scared of how to do it or might be worried about repercussions what I propose (and this from a humble EA) is that grand lodge of they so wish set up a commitie of some sort to handle social media..... And set up a set of rules to Wich the lodges follow. And then have the lodges if they so wish pertisipate in a setting up (or updating) there websites and social media sights.... That way the lodge it's self or who ever they choose in the lodge can run and give the social media the time and effort it needs and deserves. All while following the rules of grand lodge... I will be more then happen to volunteer my time into teaching ANYONE. Who wants to learn ANYTHING about computers, social media or anything else and will even take it a step further ... I know I am but s EA (soon to be FC) but I will even volunteer to update or remake any websites or fb pages that are not being used or are not being updated or activity taken care of if need be
We must believe and respond to the younger generation. Thank you to Chris and all like him for pushing us older Masons ( gently of course but with a firm hand). We must listen and we must act accordingly.
You're welcome Dean that's what I'm trying to do but not push too hard either just offering my help and opinion as somebody that's heavily involved in IT and social media
Several years ago, my Lodges established a presence on Facebook. Two of them, Tenino and Centralia, have pages, while Chehalis established a Group. I became administrator on the two pages, and as such, I could bring up stats on those pages. One good thing about the shutdown is that I could share screen on Zoom and show the Lodge these stats first-hand. They found out that since the shutdown began in March of 2020, that the number of likes and follows started increasing, to where it’s over double what it was before the shutdown. Tenino Lodge took notice, and now a couple of our officers are posting more on the page, and getting responses. Centralia, not as much, but the membership is either; one, not on Facebook, or two, too busy to post things. And this is too bad, as when I was posting on the page more back when I wasn’t as busy, I got the attention of a gentleman who was originally a fan of the page, then later joined. He’s now a fellowcraft, but he moved to Kansas, so we’re working on getting courtesy degree work done.
Back on topic, to add awareness to Centralia Lodge’s webpage and the Facebook page, I created two QR codes, printed them on 8 ½ X 11 sheets of paper, and had the building superintendent post them on our Pearl Street entrance. Whether they are working or not, I don’t know, but it sure won’t hurt anything. A person walking downtown for a nice weekend might run across the Lodge, remember he’s interested, then take shots of the QR codes and get the link on his phone, to look at later, rather than forget about his Lodge encounter a few blocks later. I reminded the Brothers that since we’re now giving the public another opportunity to view our online presence, we need to keep it updated.
All good ideas! That's why I was leaning towards more of a specific person that wants to keep the social media and website updated all the time and interacting with people
Well I myself am a cybersecurity programmer and specialist not to mention I'm 28 years old and have very heavy experience with social media in all aspects. So from my point of view my particular Lodge does not do anything as far as social media really yes it does have a Facebook page that rarely post things and when they do they're not about things that are coming up and they're also not being posted to other groups or anything like that trying to interact with people. As far as what platform is best Facebook is the most widely used along with Instagram as far as my generation goes Twitter is still kind of used but more for the older generation but not really prevalent much anymore. The best way I can think of this going is somebody is in charge of social media for a large or a district and if a public dinner or something is coming up for example what would happen is some pictures or something could be posted on Facebook with information about the event inviting people to join in. Then that post could also be posted and shared by brothers or the original poster to other public pages in the community (theres alot of them) at that point people could comment on it asking questions or see it be interested in it and go check out the Facebook page which could also be linked at the same time to the website for that particular Lodge and could even have links on the Facebook page to the Grand Lodge if people are interested so it's all a matter of linking everything together if they're on your Facebook page you want them to be looking at your website as well if they're on your website you want them to also look at your Facebook page if they haven't started there to begin with. The key will be to start spreading masonry within social media and online I don't mean trying to teach the community that's not what I'm talking about I'm talking about letting them know we are here inviting them to come check us out or just interacting with them in general you start posting stuff like that a lot of people will get involved for example my one Facebook page that I used to run for my business made by myself was getting 50,000 views in a month so imagine if that's the lodges page... Just my two cents
Grand Lodge has a web page for each Lodge but it is extremely limited.
Let’s add functionality to that
- blog
- calendar
- messaging / inquiries
- about us (Lodge focus etc)
- moderated comments (Rob’s point is important)
I’m essentially arguing for Grand Lodge to offer a pre-formatted template so that it is easy for individual Lodges to post & update, and for others to share.
This doesn’t address FB, but can make it easier for a Lodge FB page to simply share a link.
Ok not a bad idea... However what about the people that don't know the grand Lodge website exists? What about the people that don't know anything at all about us or that we even exist? What about the.... Just checked .... 27,000 people In the public community groups on Facebook that use those pages to find events and local happenings ? Yes those links could be shared to fb by individual brothers but how often would that really happen? Again that would require a brother to actually be using fb anyway... Let's say for a second that grand lodge did step up there social media presence and directed ALL social media from the state to them.... Do you realize how many thousands of messages they would get ? There is no one one grand lodge would be able to reply to those messages in any reasonable time period.
All of this is manageable, but not by one person. We need a small team and a few Zoom meetings.
Mostly we need to lay out a vision of what we want, and how to get it with what we have.
What functionality do Lodges want? What’s doable with the current Grand Lodge system? How easy can we make it so it gets used?
Easy peasy.
I can help with the planning.
Can you help with planning & execution?
Can anyone else reading this help?
We need someone to help at the Grand Lodge end.
Cameron, who can you volunteer?
Brother Roy I would gladly help with whatever I can and whatever is needed I agree at least some sort of a team but also let me bring up another idea what if Grand Lodge where to put together some sort of a team to form rules and regulations and then let The lodges operate within those parameters like if a lodge itself wanted to run their own social media with somebody there or a couple people there and have them just follow the rules that are set in stone by the Grand Lodge
Not a fan of letting GL make even more rules.
Well I get that I was just trying to settle some uneasy minds I was just one option the other option and the one I would highly suggest is let some people like us that are tech savvy set up and run the social media we have experience dealing with it we know what can happen we know how to avoid things that's my ideal solution
Not more GL rules, more capabilities. Individual Lodges don’t have the capacity to manage this (with maybe rare exceptions).
GL has committees Technology, Membership just to name two and the GM tells them what to do. Its way past time for some accountability. The new GL web site was the product of the Grand Secretary, not his job but got tired of a poor product. Time for a change and study the committee structure is not going to help (personal opinion, milage may vary).
Well from my experience over the past 2 years I highly agree and again will volunteer my services if and when needed anywhere
Hi Chris. Let’s connect off the forum.
We’ll start our wish list and include GL and other. Totters as we go.
Sent you a friend request on fb.. but if you would rather my cell is (360-519-9573.. feel free anytime
Social media platforms like FB, Instagram, etc have to be carefully policed as in my opinion it allows unstructured and in many cases unfiltered posts in public view. What we've seen in the last decade has been a partial membership that does not conduct it self reverently and through their actions they ruin it for every one. Political posts, etc. In my humble opinion many of these platforms allow the flourishing of "mob speak". That said the functionality of "staying informed as to events" keeps me coming back to these platforms untill the GL figures out how to stear people to a private system such as G2s OLP. However even then private portals are only part of the answer. The day of letters and email notification is long past. This is a problem we must address. 1. Not all of your membership use smart phones and Facebook. 2. Many of those platforms are crowded for attention any way. 3 If the GL produces any tooling for the use of the lodge perhaps a program to enable its membership to use a Social media portal would be necessary. 4. Policies need to be made, understood, and adhered to strictly
You will have to forgive the spelling and grammatical errors. I typed with much haste. I did a cowaners job.
at least I'm not doing a ruffians job.
A properly managed fb page moderated by people who know what is up addresses all of the issues you mention. Alternate private platforms completely misses the point of utilizing social media. There are many ways we have people finding our lodge online and if we want to reach out to the young men in society, we must provide them with the avenues they are used to. This isn’t just about the existing members.
A lodge nowadays needs many tools in its toolbox. Not just a website and Facebook. Google business is another way people can connect. Making sure that there is a secretary who checks the lodge email consistently is another. Responding quickly to direct messages from facebook and other outlets is also vital. And as chris mentioned, active posting of current and future events is key in showing we’re still relevant.
And remember that utilizing these platforms isn’t about the older members not using smart phones or the internet. The lodges not willing to embrace technology in the 21st century is going to die. Plain and simple. The days of just relying on wearing the square and compasses on a hat are long gone, especially since the older generation isn’t frequenting places younger people patronize.
Its also important to remember that the past 18 months have been rough on lodges not being able to do anything socially to promote.
I agree, also I do understand what Robert's saying however a private group would work for pre-existing brother shirt but what about the people that don't know anything about it or might be interested and don't even know where to start? Hence social media. Obviously a largest page would not be posting political messages of any kind or anything like that it's strictly to promote the lodge and our craft that's it and make our presence known that is the whole idea and like I've said before and at the sake of sounding like a broken record the power that is social media is immense.
With these platforms comes a responsibility. That's my point. From what I've seen a lot of men can not control their toxicity. If were talking FB, many of your young folks don't use it. Social media disserves policy and a well thought out use case strategy. Don't enter in to it with out it.
" many of your young folks don't use it" .....would have to heavily disagree with you brother...my self and thousands of people I am in contact with on fb would also disagree.... Yes there is responsibility and I understand that completely as well as anyone that would be out in a role of social media for a lodge or district. If you believe the only thing posted on fb is toxicity that shows my point about alot of the brethren not having much experience with social media. And that's nothing agenst anyone it's just a fact.
QQ When I say young, what do you interpret that as? I also didn't say anything like the only thing on Facebook is toxicity.
True just kinda came across that way that's all.. yes alot of people are toxic...but even more are not was more my point. Yes it would have to be controlled and moderated that's not a problome. And when I say young I consider under 30
GL has a social medial policy
Brother Heck hit it on the nail. Easy to follow links on a calendar go along way. Also pictures of events, as much as allowed, are needed. Show them people having fun. Show them every one is suits. Pictures say a 1000 words, and social media is a great way to leverage that.
There should be little doubt that in todays world social media is very important. Unfortunately our lodges are filled with guys like me that struggle to just turn my computer on. We grew up in a non computerized age and most of us do not have the skill set needed to move our lodges into the new computerized, social media age. In my own lodge we are very fortunate to have several well skilled brothers that can work in this area and have done great things for us. I am certain that many lodges may not have a lot of those skilled people and need help. That is where Grand Lodge can make a huge difference by setting up templates for all lodges to use in making their own web sites with links to social media sites without a lot of hassle. To take it even farther Grand Lodge could offer classes to reach out in supporting the new media for local lodges and not just one but a long term suppport program focused on technology and using it for the betterment of our lodges. Yes, if we want to take advantage of social media we need a lot of help from Grand Lodge to move us in that direction. Doing it alone has developed into a hodge podge of good and bad and for many smaller lodges nothing to support what technology has laid at our footsteps.
So I've been reading a lot of these comments today and yesterday and it seems like there are a few Brothers such as me and brother Glen that do believe in the power of social media as well as a way to do it there are some others that also believe in the power but might be scared of how to do it or might be worried about repercussions what I propose (and this from a humble EA) is that grand lodge of they so wish set up a commitie of some sort to handle social media..... And set up a set of rules to Wich the lodges follow. And then have the lodges if they so wish pertisipate in a setting up (or updating) there websites and social media sights.... That way the lodge it's self or who ever they choose in the lodge can run and give the social media the time and effort it needs and deserves. All while following the rules of grand lodge... I will be more then happen to volunteer my time into teaching ANYONE. Who wants to learn ANYTHING about computers, social media or anything else and will even take it a step further ... I know I am but s EA (soon to be FC) but I will even volunteer to update or remake any websites or fb pages that are not being used or are not being updated or activity taken care of if need be
We must believe and respond to the younger generation. Thank you to Chris and all like him for pushing us older Masons ( gently of course but with a firm hand). We must listen and we must act accordingly.
You're welcome Dean that's what I'm trying to do but not push too hard either just offering my help and opinion as somebody that's heavily involved in IT and social media
Several years ago, my Lodges established a presence on Facebook. Two of them, Tenino and Centralia, have pages, while Chehalis established a Group. I became administrator on the two pages, and as such, I could bring up stats on those pages. One good thing about the shutdown is that I could share screen on Zoom and show the Lodge these stats first-hand. They found out that since the shutdown began in March of 2020, that the number of likes and follows started increasing, to where it’s over double what it was before the shutdown. Tenino Lodge took notice, and now a couple of our officers are posting more on the page, and getting responses. Centralia, not as much, but the membership is either; one, not on Facebook, or two, too busy to post things. And this is too bad, as when I was posting on the page more back when I wasn’t as busy, I got the attention of a gentleman who was originally a fan of the page, then later joined. He’s now a fellowcraft, but he moved to Kansas, so we’re working on getting courtesy degree work done.
Back on topic, to add awareness to Centralia Lodge’s webpage and the Facebook page, I created two QR codes, printed them on 8 ½ X 11 sheets of paper, and had the building superintendent post them on our Pearl Street entrance. Whether they are working or not, I don’t know, but it sure won’t hurt anything. A person walking downtown for a nice weekend might run across the Lodge, remember he’s interested, then take shots of the QR codes and get the link on his phone, to look at later, rather than forget about his Lodge encounter a few blocks later. I reminded the Brothers that since we’re now giving the public another opportunity to view our online presence, we need to keep it updated.
All good ideas! That's why I was leaning towards more of a specific person that wants to keep the social media and website updated all the time and interacting with people