MORI: The Masonic Online Registry InterfaceAn Introduction

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

What is MORI?

Complete web-based system to manage a Grand Body. It includes: Full in-house registry functions, Lodge, district and region management, Grand session reports package, Mailing room functionality, Fundraising module, Comprehensive subordinate body management

features for use by subordinate body secretaries, including: roster management, finance and dues tracking, and mailing lists for individual lodges.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Lots of Databases

The Problem: Many Grand Bodies maintain a database to track

their membership. Additionally each subordinate body also tracks their membership. Resulting in lots of databases. Total databases = number of subordinate bodies + 1

Keeping data in sync is very difficult.

The Solution: One Database, One System Move the Grand and subordinate bodies to one

database running at a central location, either professionally hosted, or at the Grand Body’s offices.

The synchronization problem goes away.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

End of Year Reconciliation

The Problem Time consuming end of year process to

reconcile the Grand Body’s database with those of its subordinate bodies.

The Solution: One Database Stays in Sync with Itself By using one database the complexity of

reconciling databases is eliminated. If everyone is using the same database reconciliation is simple.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Mail, Forms, Storage, Errors, Double Entry

The Problem: Most Grand Bodies receive change of information

forms from lodges (new members, degrees, change of address, dimits, NPDs, etc.) via postal mail, email, or non-integrated web forms.

The Solution: Let the secretary do the work. Allow secretaries to log into MORI and do their

own updates. Enforce strict business rules on the handling of all

data. Write business rules into the system to

automatically enforce your Constitution.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Address Changes

The Problem: The average American moves eleven (11) times in

their life. This translates into lots of address changes.

Getting timely address change information is difficult and expensive.

The Solution: USPS Address Correction Service Let MORI integrate with the USPS Address

Correction Service. MORI can process hundreds of address changes

per second.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Training

The Problem How do you get Grand Body staff, and subordinate

body members to use the system? How do you train them?

The Solution: It’s just a web page Use what they already know: The World Wide

Web. Hold regional training sessions. One trainer can

train 10-15 users in four hours. These users go on to mentor others onto the system.

Make available a simple “Getting Started Guide” for more advanced users as a download. (Over 50% of our adopters have started using MORI this way.)

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Adoption, Change, and Lodge Resistance

The Problem: Secretaries of subordinate bodies may have a

previous Grand Body provided system, or may have created their own.

The Solution: Solve the Lodge’s Problems for Them Get the acceptance of the subordinate bodies by

providing them with a one stop solution that includes all registry, finances, mailing lists and other functions.

Tie it directly to the Grand Body. No more double entry! No more paper forms!

They can fix their problems without a form or a phone call!

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Security

The Problem: How do you protect data from being abused? How do you protect data from being deleted? How can you protect from a rouge secretary?

The Solution: Rules, Audit Trail, Three Part Authentication MORI has a complete set of business rules to

manage the data in the system. End users do not have direct access to the data. Everything goes through the MORI engine.

Every change that is made by a Lodge user is recorded in an audit trail. We know who change what, when, from what to what. We save every record before and after editing.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Security

The Solution (continued) Every subordinate body user uses a three

part login consisting of their Grand Body Number, a password of their choice, and a key assigned to them by MORI. All three are required to log into the system.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

The Problem: Employees are Expensive

Running a registry department using manual entry of paper forms, emails, or re-entry of web based forms is expensive: Salaries, Benefits, Rent, Heat, Lights, etc. These

can add up to big money. Manual entry is boring mindless work, which leads

to errors. The Solution: Let the subordinate body

secretaries do the work. Leverage large volunteer work force to lower the

Grand Body’s expense of maintaining records. Giving subordinate bodies control over their data

creates a win-win situation. They get to fix issues. The Grand Body doesn’t need to do the work.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Plural Members

The Problem Managing plural members is troublesome

and highly error prone. The Solution: Let the Computer Handle

It Let the system enforce your Constitution

and its rules for plural members automatically.

When an event happens to a member send the secretary an automatically generated email telling them what happened.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Subordinate Body Mergers are Messy

The Problem: How do you preserve history? How do you determine where members originally

joined? How do you handle a plural member of two

subordinate bodies that merge?

The Solution: Integrate Mergers From the Beginning Mergers are completely integrated into MORI. MORI tracks complete subordinate history, with a

complete display of all mergers.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Masonic Fundraising is Complicated

The Problem: Masonic fundraising is more complicated due to the

subordinate body and district structure. Crediting donations to subordinate bodies, and

districts using traditional fundraising software can be difficult. What happens when a subordinate body merges mid year?

The Solution: Integrate Fundraising Fundraising is completely integrated into MORI, there

is only one member/donor record. No need to enter address information, deceases, etc. into two systems.

Donations can be credited to members, in which case the allocation to subordinate body and district are automatic.

System handles non-member donors.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Separate Registry and Fundraising Sys

The Problem If you have a fundraising system and a registry

system how do you keep them in sync?

The Solution: One System for Both Functions There are no synchronization issues for

fundraising because it is integrated directly into MORI.

By integrating fundraising into MORI it partakes of the USPS Address Correction Service. Your fundraising letters are more likely to get there.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

MORI Features

One database for all users and subordinate bodies.

Everyone in the jurisdiction uses the same system. No more islands of disconnected data.

Uses standard web interfaces, all you need is: A web browser An Internet connection

Built on an open source foundation. MORI uses a standard database engine

available via ODBC for custom reporting. The complete source code is available with the

system.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Why MORI?

Eliminate complaints, errors, and synchronization issues.

Automatically enforce your Constitution. Lower postal expenses. Lower staff expenses by eliminating manual

entry. Integrate fundraising with the rest of your

registry operation. Integrate with USPS Address Correction

Service and improve your mailings. Leverage volunteer workforce to maintain your

Grand Body’s records.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Future Directions

Create a multi-jurisdictional user community around MORI to share in development and ongoing maintenance of the system. Why should every jurisdiction reinvent the wheel?

MORI exists today.

Track foreign affiliations transparently to the end user.

Automatically manage offices held based on certificates of election and the Grand Body’s roster of officers, DD’s, etc.

Automate inter-jurisdictional communication for registry events, such as NPD, dimit, etc.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Why You Should Consider MORI for Your Grand Body

Many of the problems facing a Grand Body registry and fundraising department have been identified and dealt with.

MORI tightly integrates your subordinate bodies with your Grand Body. Let the subordinate bodies do the work.

MORI is a system designed specifically for Masonry, and Masonic related bodies.

MORI can automatically enforce your Constitution.

MORI is available today. MORI is supported by a professional services

company focused on Masonic IT solutions.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

About MORI & Vita Rara, Inc.

MORI is a product of Vita Rara, Inc. MORI: Blue Lodge Edition (Available

Today) MORI: OES Edition (Available 3Q06) MORI: Royal Arch Edition (Available 4Q06)

MORI is available under an Open Source License.

Vita Rara is available to install, integrate and help your jurisdiction get up and running on MORI.

© 2006 Vita Rara, Inc.

Getting on MORI

If you are interested in MORI contact Vita Rara c/o Mark Menard: mark@vitarara.net (518) 369-7356

Download this slide show and further information at: http://www.vitarara.net/mori.php