2001 Grand Lodge of Minnesota Annual Communication Proceedings
2001 Grand Lodge of Minnesota Annual Communication Proceedings
2001 Grand Lodge of Minnesota Annual Communication Proceedings
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56 GRAND LODGE OF MINNESOTA<br />
ladles, too. The foundation conducts its busln€gs through a ssrlss ol committeos presentlng<br />
opportunities for service tor all who are inler€sl€d. lf you or oth€r members ol your lodg€ havg<br />
trne and inclination, please conslder b€mming an Ambassador ot the loundation. Pleas€ contact<br />
any dir€ctor or <strong>Grand</strong> <strong>Lodge</strong> olficar t mako your d€slrBs known,<br />
Resp€ctlully submitted,<br />
Maft A. CamDbell, Presldent<br />
Repon Ot Th€ it€mb.rshlp Co|nmlltaa<br />
't /h€r6 are we traveling?' "Do you taks passenge6?" Th6 answgr to those quoslions, r,Yhon<br />
plac€d in the conte)t ol addresglng th€ m€mb€r8hlp challenge vades greatly among <strong>Minnesota</strong><br />
lodg€s. The overall statistics shorr,/ a conllnued downward spiral In number ot Masons in our stale,<br />
How6var, som€ lodg€s are sxceptlons; they ar€ malntaining lh€lr nr€mbeBhip ot growing. What<br />
ar6 those lodges doing that is dlflerent? Thoy ar€ "taking pass€ngars. on a great l\4asonic<br />
ioumey.<br />
<strong>Lodge</strong>s that are succe€ding hava a numDsr <strong>of</strong> elements in common: namely, a proactive<br />
approach to msmborship, functloning lodge education programs, communlty and family<br />
Involvomenl and Intorssting, and, yss, ovsn lun, rnootngs and/or 6vents. Shadng lhs Light that<br />
Masonry has to <strong>of</strong>fsr snergizes lhsm. Thoso lodges disprove tho naysayers that think that<br />
Masonry is no long€r relBvant ln today's soclety or men are not Inl€rested in joinlng a fratemity.<br />
Rathgr, they have found that nothlng could be furt€r ftom tle truh. TheG exists a hunger ior lhe<br />
tgachlngs mntalDed In our tratemlty 8nd mon truly want to b€ pad ot our Gentle Clatl.<br />
How do they attract now membefs? The comn|on denominator in thos€ lodgss is the guest night.<br />
Tho way guest nlghls are held varles lrom rathor formal dinnErs to soup and swaalshlrt<br />
gatherlngs. Elther way, r|e prosp€cllve rnemb€rs ls Introduced to Masonry and more than liksly,<br />
qu€stlons that e)dst aft, answeEd, <strong>Lodge</strong>s lhat do so are amazod at the success they have had In<br />
acqulrlng new members and can't walt lo r€p€at lhe 6vent. When lodges get petilions, they do lho<br />
d€gr€6s, they have dlscussions about tha meanings <strong>of</strong> tr'|e degBes around th€ table and Masonry<br />
happ€ns!<br />
The <strong>Grand</strong> Lodgs M€mborshlp Commltlee will b€ standing at lha ready to assist sach and €v€ry<br />
lodgs that deslres to, onc€ agaln, starl taking on pass€ngersl lf you need help in calllng out lhe'all<br />
aboard!' please contact anyone on lhe Membershlp Commitle€ via the <strong>Grand</strong> Lodgo otfice and<br />
h€lp Ydll be on ths way!<br />
The s€cond challenge faclng lodg€s is keeping members they already have, lt is being<br />
successfully addresssd by a number <strong>of</strong> lodgss through a program that virtually elimlnales the<br />
ne6d to strike membors from the folls for non-paymenl <strong>of</strong> du€s. The prog/am was rolled out at ths<br />
2000 <strong>Grand</strong> Lodga session and a number ol lodgos implgment€d it with great rssults. By doing<br />
so, those lodges llve up to th€lr obligation to help, aid and assist all poor distr6ssed Brothef<br />
Master Masons. Codes <strong>of</strong> the dues collection system are again being made avallable to you.<br />
hdg€. (lt ls Included In your registrallon packet) Additional copies ar€ available by conlacling ths<br />
Gtand <strong>Lodge</strong> <strong>of</strong>ilce.<br />
Ths vlslbility ol your lratemity was anhancsd by adv€tlis€ments on WCCO radio Inviling lhe publlc<br />
lo vlslt our booth at lhe <strong>Minnesota</strong> State Fair. An altractive, inlormative speclal gdilion ol lh€<br />
Mlnn€sota N4ason has b€en publlshed and is availablo for your us€ at prospective nnmber nighls,<br />
lundraisers, KidslD ev€nis and th€ like. sign posters prc\loking interest and Invithg lnquirl€s<br />
about membershlp on our web site (mn{tason.org) have been prgpared lor distrihJtion during [|s<br />
<strong>2001</strong> session. Also In the w<strong>of</strong>ts are plans for enhanced recognition <strong>of</strong> lhose brothors and lodg€s<br />
obtalnlng petition. HoweveI, such r€cognition vr'lll require the utilizalion <strong>of</strong> the pockot petition and<br />
tha roturn ol the post card by lha lodge secretary. Comments, suggestions or ideas on<br />
m€mborship development ar6 eamestly solicited and always '/v€lcome.<br />
Th6 Mombershlp committes asks that each lodge do no less ttEn institute lhs du€s collection<br />
system and host guest nighb during the coming year. we will be monitodng and rewalding yo{rr<br />
olforts thrcUgh yOUr dlstdct representatlve.<br />
By calllng out lhe "all aboard" and keoping the m€mbers you havg lrom leaving their seats, your<br />
lodge will have more passengerE to onjoy our graat Masonic ioumeyl<br />
ResPecllully Submitted,<br />
Steven Fl. Johnson, Chsiman
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