Re: "Elevator" speeches

On May 14, 6:21 pm, "Dale Glover" <da...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"David" <arcade.mas...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

news:Xns9A9E63F9E3A88drfreemason@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx





* Jack Wise wrote in soc.org.freemasonry:

Freemasonry is a fraternity of good men working together to make each of
us a better person; better husbands, better fathers, better sons, better
members of society.  Our ceremonies are based on scripture and are
designed to make a lasting impression upon your life.

We have interesting events, meetings and programs, where, working
together with other Masons, you will form lifelong friendships that will
have a lasting effect upon your life.  If this sounds interesting to
you,  I'll be glad to sit down and give you more information at your
convenience.

Thanks Jack! Very nice.

--
David

I envy you Brother.  My lodge does none of those things.  When I attempted
to have programs, the WM looked at me and said "Programs?" with a blank look
on his face.  I tried to explain and gave examples, but to no effect.  The
other brothers also didn't know what I was talking about.  I, as well as a
few others, have tried to get the brothers to agree to programs or
*something* but without success for quite a few years.   Many of us,
therefore,  have not attended meetings for many months now.  The lodge does
grow, but the new members do not stay.  What a terrible shame.  I am looking
for a different lodge now, but the closest is a long way away and they are
no better, I'm afraid.  Has anyone else run into this problem?

S&F
Dale- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Brother Dale,
How's that go - been there, done that, didn't get a T-shirt. :-))
My original Lodge was such a Lodge. When I became WM - I just did it.
we always ate dinner before stated meetings, and I simply invited a
speaker (the local head of the US Forestry) to dinner. I excused the
officers ONLY and we opened Lodge quickly and then went to "rest",
invited the speaker into the Lodge room, had the Deacon escort him to
the East and gave him the floor. Some of the WPM were not happy, but
the majority of the Lodge members really liked it. When he was done
speaking, he left he Lodge, we moved back from rest and refreshment
and conducted business in speedy fashion.
We could do this since the business part of the meeting had
previously been heavily slashed. I imposed a budget and if there were
no bills not covered in the budget, then there were no bills to
discuss and the reading of the minutes was very quick. Afterward we
discussed the idea of speakers and the Brothers of the Lodge were very
much in favor of continuing the idea when we did not have degrees or
other major business. We ending up doing about 6 speakers a year
covering all kinds of topics. When we annoucned who the speakers were
ahead of the Lodge date, our attendance went up by almost 50%.

Steve Crane
Lakeside #42, Sandpoint ID
Creston #54, Creston BC
Topeka #17, Topeka KS

.

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