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I'm seeking advice really. We, my AASR Valley (along with 2 other masonic branches) own a four story masonic temple equipped with full theatre, dining room, full kitchen, class rooms, lodge room, huge library, etc...
About a year ago the building was on the market to be sold with a builder in contract to purchase it, in order to gut it and turn it into townhomes.
My class (Spring 2007) are the ones that forced them through promises of upkeep and general historical value and fraternal value, to take it off the market.
After 6+ Months (we've been doing unofficial cleanup days for the last 6 months, this is the first official one), and this Tuesday announcing to the brethren that we will have an official cleanup day, I, as always, am sitting here ALONE in the temple, polishing brass door knobs, cleaning windows, tile work, fixing the fax machine, and whatever else I can do to be a good use of time.
With a membership of around a thousand brothers, I still can't fathom why not one chooses to grace the lodge with their presence except during meeting dates. (Btw, I got applauded for setting this date at Tuesdays meeting by more than 40 brothers, at least ten mentioning they'd try their best to show up and encouraging the others to do so as well).
What do you guys say or do to encourage participation in the chores and upkeep of your lodge?
Bro. Kissmann you are doing the right thing. Just continue to do your part in Masonry. An most of our brother are fellower & not leader. How many young brother that was in your class & in your lodge ? Start with with first. An continue to remind the craft at every meeting. Challenge your brother to step up an be that Masons we suppose to be. But whatever you do please do not let the do nothing brother break your will in Masonry nor what masonry is all about. I know what you are going through because i am still challenging my brother in Masonsry also. I am trying to start a big brother program at our high svhools in Durham. But we have one high school here that has lost 3 kids to the gangs. An now they are died today at the ages of 16 to 17 in some very low income area. An i will be glad when we untied here in NC. This would be a great project for A&F & PHA to work together in the public. Brother keep me inform on this project.
Wow! You a truly a Freemason at heart. Just keep doing what you're doing. Sooner or later it'll be noticed by more and more men who will want to pitch in. The Grand Architect works in mysterious ways.
I take my hat off to you my brother... just keep it up... in due time, others will notice what you have been doing. Some of our brothers are just waiting for somebody to initiate the first move. What matters is that you have shown what is to be done... try to involve your family... it is worth emulating... if only I could fly to your side without any visa requirement i will be with you my brother...
and yeah, my fiancee, and my brother Rob and his wife, are usually the only ones there. The fiancee and wife help about 10% of the time for the smaller trips.
No kids, but I did mention to a brother that when I have kids, I plan to start up the demolay and rainbow chapters again, and oh yes, they will help take care of the lodge.
Our earlier project, and some of you may want to look into it for your lodges (if you havent yet), we replaced every bulb in the 4 story temple (with the exception of the long tube fluorescents and the few old bulbs that are two stories of fear high in the theatre) with the new "green energy" bulbs.
Anyhow, I've told our secretary that in addition to announcing the cleanup at every meeting I will announce the brothers that came and helped. So I'll be announcing one brother next month. Oddly, its our Canadian Brother, its sad that a guy that is here 4 months of the year cares more than the guys that see the temple every week/month.
brothers Kyle and Bill, i got myself in the same situation before, I tag along with me some of the petitioners and started the clean up, listed what were missing and ask for a financial support during the stated meeting and the brethren agreed. In fact some joined us and brought cooked food etc. It was fun... it became a family affair... i realized and figured that somebody must take up the cudgels someway... somehow...
good response, I was considering a similar act. One of our future petitioners was looking to get a tour of the temple before he joins. I may have to invite him to a clean up and offer him that tour.
Hello there Bro, the only thing I can say is keep up the good work. About 8 months ago at my lodge we were barely able to open. We were in a state of "the good ol'boys club". Myself and a few other guys hung in there, it was not easy being basicly new to the craft and having little direction. However some of the guys that had quit coming around have taken notice of what we have been doing and are slowly coming back. We now have a full line every other Tuesday for stated plus quite a few sideliners. And on off Tuesdays we have about the same coming in for practice and clean up. Stick with it it will come around.
Thanks for the confidence booster. Our KSA is starting up (well it has been for the last 6 months +) but they are finally getting organized so perhaps we will see them in the future attending cleanups.
Once I can get this off the ground, I'll start with the Blue Lodge (though they are near emaculate as is). But there's some "green" stuff we can do there.
I am in a much smaller rural lodge here in Idaho. I love my lodge and my brothers, but sometimes I feel intensley frustrated. I know that I should not expect my older brothers to be too enthusiastic. They have already put in their time, and are not going to be motivated to take on younger mens projects. Being the only young, active guy in my lodge, what am I to do? I feel your pain.
Bro. Warwick just hang in there. An just continue to do your part an maybe the young outsider will get interested in what masonry is all about. An also have some public fundraiser so the peoples can see the great work your lodge is doing. My brother you can bring change & make a differents in your lodge. The WM is only as good as the craft is. An the craft is the brother.
Cory Sigler
created this social network on Ning. 