it’s about membership
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Illinois Freemasonry. It’s About Membership. Translating Leadership into New Brethren. Introduction. Administrative matters Development and implementation of the programme. Scope of the Problem. Membership in 1955 – approximately 250,000 Average Age in 1955 – approximately 43 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Illinois FreemasonryIt’s About Membership
Translating Leadership into New Brethren
Introduction
Administrative matters
Development and implementation of the programme
Scope of the Problem
Membership in 1955 – approximately 250,000 Average Age in 1955 – approximately 43
Membership in 2007 – approximately 70,000 Average Age in 2007 – approximately 68
Average life expectancy – 75 years +/-
Recruitment
First-time candidates (i.e. “profanes”)
New Grand Lodge Programme
Billboards Advertisements in college newsletters New web site All lodges in the state may be involved
Membership at Every Meeting
Should be discussed at every meeting Read Ballot Ask Why
Work the prospect list Plan the next step
Membership at Every Meeting
Not a one-man show Together Everyone Achieves More
TEAM There is no “I” in TEAM
The Process
5-Step Process Meet Him Make Him a Friend Introduce Him to Your Friends Introduce Him to the Fraternity Ask Him to Join
The Masonic Process
3-Step Process Introduce Him to Your Friends Introduce Him to Masonry Ask Him to Petition
Membership Recruitment Strategy
Invitational (friend to friend) Builds relationship Built on sharing stories (not a sales pitch) Materials ready to be adapted for easy use
(see the resource list in Section 2, page 3) Consistency and organisation; not haste
Commitment to the ProgrammeStep by Step
A recipe for success Follow the plan Make adaptations to the plan once you have
been successful Edit as needed and appropriate
Step by Step
Prospect List Letter
First Call Second Call
Event Follow-Up Call
Event Follow-Up Call
ITP
Gathering Names & Basic Information
An individual effort or a team effort Set a goal Build a list of names Use a prospect information sheet Utilise an ITP when appropriate
Involvement
Try to link up prospect with a similarly-aged contact.
Invite prospects to functions. Get involved in your lodge’s degree work. Ask for referrals ASAP. Get new brethren engaged, including
Entered Apprentices and Fellowcrafts. Must use the intender programme.
Brethren Whom The Prospect Knows
Men whom he may already know
and think well of Someone he might talk to For use in phone call and other discussions
Creating a “Hot List”
Pared down list for current focus What is the magic number???
Facility Letters Telephone calls! Budget
Based on optimum performance
Mailing Prospects’ Letters
A friendly, invitational letter Invitation to see a video and hear some
information Does not seek membership decision
Merely opens the proverbial door
Letter formats
The First Telephone Call
Essential part of the process Needs to be done well Utilise the outline but do not read from it Practice, practice, practice Keep it invitational in tone
The Follow-Up Telephone Call
Within an appropriate window of time (3, 5 or 7 days)
Set prospect at ease Answer questions Clarify arrangements Reinforce the commitment
The Gathering or Contact
Individual, small or large group Welcoming atmosphere Very well planned and executed Brief Story-based (with video) Make the invitation !!
Rules of Engagement
DO wear one or two pins. It shows that Freemasonry is a fraternity of which to be proud.
DO use first names. It’s more engaging, more casual, and friendlier.
DO look for potential in a man, and not a finished product.
DO know enough about Freemasonry to answer his questions.
DO be honest. If you lie and he finds out, he will not be impressed.
If you don’t know the answer to a question, DO ask someone who does.
DO find out a man’s interests and DO introduce him to brothers with similar interests.
DO involve your brethren in progress in events. Because of their enthusiasm, they make good promoters.
DO let your guest do most of the talking. This gives him a chance to ask the questions that are important to him.
DO make sure all guests have left before commenting on any of them.
DO give your guests something to take home.
Rules of Engagement
DON’T wear more than two pins; it looks like an uneducated kook.
DON’T gang up on, or monopolise, a guest for the entire evening. The first practice makes him uncomfortable, and the second makes it hard for the rest of the members to get to know him.
DON’T ever, ever leave a guest alone.
DON’T use “inside” jokes or nicknames. It’s rude and makes your guests feel even more like outsiders.
DON’T talk fraternity business in front of a guest.
DON’T congregate in large groups.
DON’T wait to be introduced – introduce yourself. But DON’T butt rudely into a conversation.
DON’T forget that the average man knows very little about Freemasonry. Take the time to explain the basics and clear up any misconceptions he may have.
DON’T use foul language. You’ve got to first be a man’s friend before you can act like a jerk in front of him and get away with it.
DON’T criticize brothers. You’re trying to sell brotherhood, not backstab.
Answers You Will Need
How much does it cost to join? On average, how much will the
fraternity cost me? Are you “really” close to every
brother in your lodge? Why is your lodge so small or
so large? What do you do for service
projects? Does everyone have to do them?
What do I have to do to be initiated, passed, raised?
Have you noticed a change in your lodge since you joined?
I don’t think I can afford the fraternity...
My family don’t want me to join. What if I just didn’t tell them?
I don’t think I have time to join a fraternity...
Will I be hazed? What will you guys make me do?
Follow-Up Contacts
Avoid “buyer’s remorse” Answer questions Finalise or facilitate petition Facilitate fees Confirm and reinforce his interest and your
interest in him
Prepare Candidates for Initiation
See that he has all the information he needs Schedule Location What he needs to know . . .
Refer him to any information provided and web sites
Invitation to Petition
Could be the first step in the process, but should the last.
Used when you can’t get a man to ask.
Will likely result in objections. Be prepared to answer objections.
Tracking Your Prospects
Know where each prospect is in the process.
Know when to take the next step. Post it somewhere visible in the lodge.
Prospect Matrix
Letter Call 1 Call 2 Event 1 Follow-Up Call
Event 2 Follow-Up Call
ITP
William 5 Jan 20 Jan 2 Feb 7 Feb 12 Feb
Andrew 2 Feb 15 Feb
Utilise Your Newer Brethren
Get a “hot list” from each new brother Newly-raised Work-in-progress
Involve them in events Be sure they can speak intelligently
Start meeting their friends
Recruitment-Retention-Reclamation
RecruitmentChairman
MembershipChairman
AssimilationChairman
EnrichmentChairman
ReclamationChairman
Retention
Retention
Assimilation Incorporation
Intender Programme
Choose the correct coach Should be someone the candidate knows Should understand the candidate’s and
lodge’s goals Can’t be a forced relationship Continues after raising
Communication
Regular contact by intender and lodge Add to mailing list Add to email lists Add to call lists
Invited to all lodge events – personally Participation/attendance at degrees Introduce to travel, where feasible If we do a good job, we won’t need reclamation
Retention Through Enrichment
Enrich the mind with knowledge Enrich the soul with fellowship and activity
Programming
Interest survey Generational differences – workbook
elements If we do a good job we won’t need
reclamation.
What is a good event?
Meets goals. To measure the success of an event (or
anything), there must be a goal, be it explicit or implied.
To control and event, state the goals.
Planning
No successful event is accidental. Discover the details for your programme. Form an event team. Define the team’s duties. Set deadlines. Publicise. Follow up. Critique the event afterward.
Elements of Reclamation
At risk: one year of non-payment of dues. 180 days – Don’t wait!
Best face-to-face Ask why. Done by team.
Not the dais nor secretary. Use the script – but don’t read from it.
For More Information
Please visit www.ILMason.org
or Resource list (Section 2, pages 19-20)
Special Requests
Please send all home-grown and enhanced Forms Ideas; and Techniques
Electronically (e-mail, CD, flash drive, etc.)
Special Requests
Benny L Grisham MWPGM
Grand Secretary
Grand Lodge of Illinois
2866 Via Verde St
Springfield IL 62703-4325
Earl F Wys
2625 N Woodhaven Dr
Peoria IL 61604-2015
or