I too have been very pleasantly surprised by the fact that Brothers who have moved away, or otherwise don't have any ability to attend have participated in Lodge Zoom meetings. It has been a superb way to re-connect.
I think that part of what has made this possible is how easy it is to actually use Zoom. There just aren't any real barri…
I too have been very pleasantly surprised by the fact that Brothers who have moved away, or otherwise don't have any ability to attend have participated in Lodge Zoom meetings. It has been a superb way to re-connect.
I think that part of what has made this possible is how easy it is to actually use Zoom. There just aren't any real barriers to participation over it.
In Washington we do have a small handful of Lodges that have refused to do anything on a virtual platform. I fear that they have very badly missed the boat, and unless they get new leadership that is at least willing to give new methods a try they will not survive as Lodges.
Certainly it is 100% better for the Lodge to remain connected to the Brother who, for reasons of health, can't attend Lodge in person anymore, than to just let his participation slip away.
In fact, now that we all understand that new technologies allow a Lodge to continue bringing men like this into our regular fellowship, I would argue that it is a Lodge's Masonic responsibility to do so.
When my grandmother was dying a few months ago, at age 99, she was able to connect with distant relatives and friends over Zoom. How truly wonderful that was.
I have to wonder how a Lodge can justify acting otherwise.
I too have been very pleasantly surprised by the fact that Brothers who have moved away, or otherwise don't have any ability to attend have participated in Lodge Zoom meetings. It has been a superb way to re-connect.
I think that part of what has made this possible is how easy it is to actually use Zoom. There just aren't any real barriers to participation over it.
In Washington we do have a small handful of Lodges that have refused to do anything on a virtual platform. I fear that they have very badly missed the boat, and unless they get new leadership that is at least willing to give new methods a try they will not survive as Lodges.
Certainly it is 100% better for the Lodge to remain connected to the Brother who, for reasons of health, can't attend Lodge in person anymore, than to just let his participation slip away.
In fact, now that we all understand that new technologies allow a Lodge to continue bringing men like this into our regular fellowship, I would argue that it is a Lodge's Masonic responsibility to do so.
When my grandmother was dying a few months ago, at age 99, she was able to connect with distant relatives and friends over Zoom. How truly wonderful that was.
I have to wonder how a Lodge can justify acting otherwise.