Year: 2022

Whats so good about your Lodge?

Mark Davis

So, you are in a Lodge. Your Lodge is in a Province, your Province is in the UK. It’s a big place and everyone wants candidates to join their Lodge. Like it or not you need to compete for candidates within your Province. If a candidate can only attend a meeting on the night you meet, and can only get to the centre you meet in, then you have an advantage. However this candidate is in the minority and he can pick and choose between many different Lodges. So why should he join you? Your Lodge is the same as everyone else’s Lodge. If you are reading this and thinking “Marks wrong” then I’m really pleased to hear it. But it’s your potential candidates that need to hear it.

As some of you will know, I am the Social Media Officer for Berkshire, I spoke to a Lodge recently about their Social Media use, particularly for recruitment. We had a frank and open discussion and that is exactly what was needed. There were two members of the Lodge who didn’t use Social Media, didn’t think we need to use it and felt that as we have managed for over 300 years we can probably do without it. I hear them, I appreciate their views and part of me thinks it would be great if we didn’t need to use it. The reality is that recruiting in the numbers required, will not be possible by just waiting for a member to discover someone who is interested in joining. If we don’t “advertise”, we will struggle to ensure Lodges and provinces thrive. The best way to do this and the most effective is to use the various social media platforms available. Facebook and Twitter is a great starting point.

Search various posts on both platforms from Lodges and Provinces, you can then get a flavour of how they use them. When developing the Social Media for your lodge you need to consider and show the following:

  • Your unique selling point, What can your Lodge offer? Why should they join? What’s different and special about the Lodge?
  • Show the personality of your Lodge. Avoid Masonic terms that non Masons don’t understand. Titles and ranks mean nothing until you have joined and eventually start to understand it all. Use terms such as Head of the Lodge instead of Worshipful Master.
  • Avoid constant formal photos in regalia, standing to attention with not even a smile. This is okay now and again but isn’t attractive to all. Also avoid every social photo standing or sitting holding up glasses of alcohol all the time. Yes we are a very social “club”, but we are not always out boozing!! Again, make photos fun and with personality.
  • Create events on Facebook such as meeting details for visitors, open days, social events and white tables etc.
  • Share provincial events and information, share links to your website and posts from your members following visits (get permission first).

You will probably find someone in your Lodge who uses social media, ask their advice. Ask them to teach and share information with your members. At the bottom of this post you will see guidance from UGLE, this is a very useful document for you to share and refer to.

To conclude, grasp Social Media, enjoy it and use it. We are probably the oldest Social Network and now we need to embrace the newest Social Network.

Follow me if you wish:

https://www.facebook.com/BerksFreemason

social-media-toolkit-pdfDownload

The story so far and what’s ahead…

Mark Davis , , , , , , , ,

So the end of my active year as a Provincial Grand Steward is nearly here. After our summer break I will hand over my collar to another very worthy Brother. I have had a brilliant two years in office due to Covid. I have had the pleasure of visiting all of our centres and many Lodges. It has been lovely to see meetings returning to normal even though numbers are understandably low. The standard of ritual has been very good, I think this is due to the amount of time given to learning whilst our meetings were suspended. I will certainly miss being in active office but I’m very pleased to know that another brother will partake of the enjoyment I have had.

My Masonic workload will not slow down though, I am still heavily involved in managing the Social Media and Social Media team in the Province of Berkshire.

September will see me being installed as Master of The Be Prepared Lodge in Berkshire (www.bepreparedlodge.org.uk), this will be my second time as Master of a lodge, Be Prepared is a young, fun and enthusiastic lodge. Im looking forward to working with their team and supporting the new members, I am planning on having (hopefully) a ladies evening or weekend and many social activities for the members to enjoy. I will be on the circuit and visiting as many lodges as I can fit in to represent BP Lodge, I look forward to seeing many other WMs on my travels.

Some of you may be aware that I have been working on setting up an Emergency Services Lodge in Berkshire. Its been a year in the planing so far and I’m very pleased to say that we are now able to submit our application to the Province for consecration. We have all of the offices filled and a good number of founders. we are of course still taking applications for Founders and joining members. Membership is open to all past and present members of the emergency and support services, NHS, Prison and Voluntary services. We will be holding 2 meetings a year with additional meetings as and when required. We had a curry night with potential founders and members and the decision was made on only two meetings a year to ease the commitment around shifts etc. This has actually proved very popular and I’m sure has resulted in founders joining who would not have joined had we been having more meetings. I would encourage others to consider this when planning a new lodge. To find out more about this lodge and to follow our activities go to www.emergencyserviceslodge.org.uk .

I will continue to be Director of Ceremonies, Membership Officer and Preceptor of The Old Sunning Lodge: www.oldsunninglodge.org.uk. Like many lodges Old Sunning has lost a few members and is rebuilding itself. We are pleased to have two new candidates joining us and will make sure they have a great time.

The summer break will give all members and lodges time to plan and look forward to the next year. Lodges need a “game plan” and need to look at publicity for attracting new members and looking after their existing members. Update your websites, work on your social media, plan a lodge night out or jolly. Use the summer to have some down time and enjoy the company of Brethren in a social setting with their partners and families.

It is my personal opinion that due to covid Freemasonry is slightly fragile at the moment, we need to rebuild, re-energise and plan for the years to come. We need to engage with our members, especially those who feel unable to attend at the moment. Keep them informed, remind them they are still part of us as much as they have always been. Consider assigning them jobs they can undertake from home if they are willing to do so eg Festive Board, Social Planning, online help with ritual for junior members who are delivering it etc etc. We need to work on our future now, we can’t assume that all will be well.

Now I’m going to return to reading my blue book in preparation for my Installation (1st September, Wokingham Masonic Centre, all Freemasons are very welcome to attend!!). Plan for the next LOI and rehearsal, work on the provincial social media and a few other bits. Have a fantastic summer and hopefully I will see at least some of you around in September onwards.

Take care, be safe!!