It is an extremely intangible thing, tough to describe, but that 'sense of energy and optimism' in a Lodge that you mention is the most important thing!
When traveling around to as many Lodges as I have, you get a feel for that. You can tell those Lodges that have that feeling, and Lodges that don't. Those that do are always more fun, more interesting, and draw people in. Those that don't, well they don't.
Awesome to know that one of yours is developing that feeling!
I'll be taking the Truck back to headquarters this morning. We've had many come up to us and tell us that we are improving the Annual Communication's business meeting even more. We covered a LOT of material, in a considerably shorter time than expected.
It was great being able to talk with Brethren throughout the Jurisdiction of Washington, as well as other Jurisdictions, and learn about their areas, their Lodges, and how the culture and way of life in their communities affect how they run their Masonic Lodges. This is one of many things that I look forward to every year with this event.
Lastly, I do not know who provided the second bin of Jelly Bellies, so whoever it was, a sincere Thank You. I finally found out who ran off with the first bin, and while it took a extended path through the conference room to satiate those Brothers who enjoy Jelly Bellies, it did return to the desk, albeit only 1/4 full now. But you know what? It was FUN. I'm glad those Brothers had fun with it, and it didn't disrupt anyone. It was great.
Kudos to MWB Steve Martin for an Excellent year as the Grand Master, and Congratulations to MWB Jimmy Norton to his ascension to Grand Master. Also Congratulations, as you note, to now-RWB Bill Hubbard, who is now our Junior Grand Warden.
Thank you VW, you too! We'll be pulling into Centralia pretty late tonight I think, following our stop in Yakima.
It was indeed a really efficient Annual Communication this year! As I was sitting there and we were burning through the voting, I had visions of how we did it years ago, before the adoption of electronic voting. How long it took for things to get done via paper. Technology is indeed good for a lot of things, including instant results at the Annual Communication!
I'm with you, I always love coming to the Annual Communication, as does Melinda. It is a truly wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends from everywhere around the Jurisdiction and beyond. I find it extremely energizing to see so many friends, all in one place.
Congratulations to you as well, for your re-appointment as Assistant Grand Secretary! I heard a lot of guys talking these past few days about how helpful you are to them when they have an issue and give you a call.
I think you are right, if we don't get our new Masons involved, they won't feel needed, or that anything is expected of them, and that is disheartening.
You can walk into a lodge and tell if it is growing or not by the energy in the room and how long their business meetings are, assuming they are being efficient. A active lodge has a lot to do. Keeping in mind it cost money to operate, one could expect higher dues in a active lodge.
I certainly agree that you can get a great feel for how the Lodge is doing by just feeling its energy. A Lodge that is doing well will make you feel happy to have visited. A Lodge that is doomed makes you wonder why you took the time to visit. It doesn't matter what words are said, as you rightly point out, it can just be felt.
A couple of years ago, I wrote a bit related to that. With a bit of Woo thrown in:
In discussing that very topic at lunch after that presentation, we agreed that it seemed that having a full time office person at the temple during the day was probably the bigger influence on attracting new members. Having the lights on during the day provides the curious the ability to walk in off the street and ask questions, get a tour, etc. It shows a bit more effort on the part of the person than just filling out a form online. I wish lodges had the financial wherewithal to afford such a luxury.
That's an interesting observation, thank you for pointing it out, I'd missed it.
I have, randomly, on two different occasions, banged on the door of a Lodge in the middle of the day. The first was at the magnificent Scottish Rite Temple in downtown Portland Oregon. That got me a great tour of the facility. The second was at the central Guadalajara Grand Lodge Temple of Occidental Mexicana GL. That didn't work as well, while someone did answer the door, there was a private/non-Masonic event going on. I presume a one off rental of the facility.
But you're right, having someone there to open the door if a fellow is going by and curious about Masonry is a solidly good thing.
Good morning Brother. Yes, I do work at the Masonic Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:30 and while it is convenient for our members to have access at any time we do not get many random people coming in. They go through the Grand Lodge Website and inquire. The majority of responses when I ask how they found out about us is word of mouth or seeing one of our members with one of our bright blue hats on. Since Wenatchee is a small town, the community "sees" what we are doing "If you are not seen, you are forgotten". Such things as making a donation to our new K-9 department in East Wenatchee speaks volumes in our community. It's the little things and plenty of them that make a difference. Every day I try to make it a priority to wear something Masonic, a conversation starter for anyone and everyone. Then I get to pitch what an amazing group of Brothers I have the privilege of working with. A stagnant lodge will remain so or go away completely.
>>>Every day I try to make it a priority to wear something Masonic, a conversation starter for >>>anyone and everyone.
I too do this. With a suit it is a Masonic Ring and lapel pin, maybe a tie as well. But dressed casually it is always a Masonic polo shirt along with the ring, and sometimes a watch as well.
Benefits as I see it? If anyone has the slightest question or interest in our Craft, they can see that I'm a person they can ask. And they do. This past weekend I was at a non-Masonic conference, dress was casual. So everyday I was there with my Masonic polo shirt, ring (plus Scottish Rite ring) and watch. And I ended up having two long, detailed, conversations about Freemasonry. Will either of those conversations result in a new member for my Lodge? Probably not, because people attended the conference from across the country and indeed Canada and the UK as well. But, they may well result in a new member for a Lodge somewhere, and that's a very good thing!
The only drawback to this whole plan, which I never even considered until this weekend, is that all my polo shirts are the same. All made by Bro. Andre at InkNutz, and all the same color. Alas, the four days I was there people could have assumed that I wore the same shirt for four days! 😁 Finally realizing that after all these years I've decided that I'll have to branch out on color a bit!
The other thing we can do, which is completely without cost and super easy to set up, is create a Linky Thingy like this:
I gave the folks I talked Masonry with that link, so if they want more information they can easily contact me. As I say, there is no cost to creating something like that, and it can be done in about ten minutes with no technical knowledge required.
One of my Lodges is just starting on a path similar to Wenatchee.
I feel a sense of energy and optimism in that Lodge.
It is an extremely intangible thing, tough to describe, but that 'sense of energy and optimism' in a Lodge that you mention is the most important thing!
When traveling around to as many Lodges as I have, you get a feel for that. You can tell those Lodges that have that feeling, and Lodges that don't. Those that do are always more fun, more interesting, and draw people in. Those that don't, well they don't.
Awesome to know that one of yours is developing that feeling!
Safe travels, MW Cameron.
I'll be taking the Truck back to headquarters this morning. We've had many come up to us and tell us that we are improving the Annual Communication's business meeting even more. We covered a LOT of material, in a considerably shorter time than expected.
It was great being able to talk with Brethren throughout the Jurisdiction of Washington, as well as other Jurisdictions, and learn about their areas, their Lodges, and how the culture and way of life in their communities affect how they run their Masonic Lodges. This is one of many things that I look forward to every year with this event.
Lastly, I do not know who provided the second bin of Jelly Bellies, so whoever it was, a sincere Thank You. I finally found out who ran off with the first bin, and while it took a extended path through the conference room to satiate those Brothers who enjoy Jelly Bellies, it did return to the desk, albeit only 1/4 full now. But you know what? It was FUN. I'm glad those Brothers had fun with it, and it didn't disrupt anyone. It was great.
Kudos to MWB Steve Martin for an Excellent year as the Grand Master, and Congratulations to MWB Jimmy Norton to his ascension to Grand Master. Also Congratulations, as you note, to now-RWB Bill Hubbard, who is now our Junior Grand Warden.
Thank you VW, you too! We'll be pulling into Centralia pretty late tonight I think, following our stop in Yakima.
It was indeed a really efficient Annual Communication this year! As I was sitting there and we were burning through the voting, I had visions of how we did it years ago, before the adoption of electronic voting. How long it took for things to get done via paper. Technology is indeed good for a lot of things, including instant results at the Annual Communication!
I'm with you, I always love coming to the Annual Communication, as does Melinda. It is a truly wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends from everywhere around the Jurisdiction and beyond. I find it extremely energizing to see so many friends, all in one place.
Congratulations to you as well, for your re-appointment as Assistant Grand Secretary! I heard a lot of guys talking these past few days about how helpful you are to them when they have an issue and give you a call.
My hat (figuratively) is off to Wenatchee. Getting them involved is at least as important as being seen.
I think you are right, if we don't get our new Masons involved, they won't feel needed, or that anything is expected of them, and that is disheartening.
You can walk into a lodge and tell if it is growing or not by the energy in the room and how long their business meetings are, assuming they are being efficient. A active lodge has a lot to do. Keeping in mind it cost money to operate, one could expect higher dues in a active lodge.
I certainly agree that you can get a great feel for how the Lodge is doing by just feeling its energy. A Lodge that is doing well will make you feel happy to have visited. A Lodge that is doomed makes you wonder why you took the time to visit. It doesn't matter what words are said, as you rightly point out, it can just be felt.
A couple of years ago, I wrote a bit related to that. With a bit of Woo thrown in:
https://emeth.substack.com/p/the-egregore-of-a-lodge
In discussing that very topic at lunch after that presentation, we agreed that it seemed that having a full time office person at the temple during the day was probably the bigger influence on attracting new members. Having the lights on during the day provides the curious the ability to walk in off the street and ask questions, get a tour, etc. It shows a bit more effort on the part of the person than just filling out a form online. I wish lodges had the financial wherewithal to afford such a luxury.
That's an interesting observation, thank you for pointing it out, I'd missed it.
I have, randomly, on two different occasions, banged on the door of a Lodge in the middle of the day. The first was at the magnificent Scottish Rite Temple in downtown Portland Oregon. That got me a great tour of the facility. The second was at the central Guadalajara Grand Lodge Temple of Occidental Mexicana GL. That didn't work as well, while someone did answer the door, there was a private/non-Masonic event going on. I presume a one off rental of the facility.
But you're right, having someone there to open the door if a fellow is going by and curious about Masonry is a solidly good thing.
Good morning Brother. Yes, I do work at the Masonic Center Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 4:30 and while it is convenient for our members to have access at any time we do not get many random people coming in. They go through the Grand Lodge Website and inquire. The majority of responses when I ask how they found out about us is word of mouth or seeing one of our members with one of our bright blue hats on. Since Wenatchee is a small town, the community "sees" what we are doing "If you are not seen, you are forgotten". Such things as making a donation to our new K-9 department in East Wenatchee speaks volumes in our community. It's the little things and plenty of them that make a difference. Every day I try to make it a priority to wear something Masonic, a conversation starter for anyone and everyone. Then I get to pitch what an amazing group of Brothers I have the privilege of working with. A stagnant lodge will remain so or go away completely.
>>>Every day I try to make it a priority to wear something Masonic, a conversation starter for >>>anyone and everyone.
I too do this. With a suit it is a Masonic Ring and lapel pin, maybe a tie as well. But dressed casually it is always a Masonic polo shirt along with the ring, and sometimes a watch as well.
Benefits as I see it? If anyone has the slightest question or interest in our Craft, they can see that I'm a person they can ask. And they do. This past weekend I was at a non-Masonic conference, dress was casual. So everyday I was there with my Masonic polo shirt, ring (plus Scottish Rite ring) and watch. And I ended up having two long, detailed, conversations about Freemasonry. Will either of those conversations result in a new member for my Lodge? Probably not, because people attended the conference from across the country and indeed Canada and the UK as well. But, they may well result in a new member for a Lodge somewhere, and that's a very good thing!
The only drawback to this whole plan, which I never even considered until this weekend, is that all my polo shirts are the same. All made by Bro. Andre at InkNutz, and all the same color. Alas, the four days I was there people could have assumed that I wore the same shirt for four days! 😁 Finally realizing that after all these years I've decided that I'll have to branch out on color a bit!
The other thing we can do, which is completely without cost and super easy to set up, is create a Linky Thingy like this:
https://linktr.ee/cmbailey
I gave the folks I talked Masonry with that link, so if they want more information they can easily contact me. As I say, there is no cost to creating something like that, and it can be done in about ten minutes with no technical knowledge required.
You may have to find a color to mix well with your hats. 😁 I will definitely be checking out the link. Thank you M.W.