Servant based Lodge Leadership Building a Foundation for the Future Slide #1 Leadership style is often times more important than leadership dedication and persistence. As Master of a lodge, a brother should know his goals and be consistent in pursuing them. MWB Neil Neddermeyer www.cinosam.net

How to Achieve Followship Fulfill new each member’s expectations. 2. Encourage members to contribute ideas. 3. Hold regular Officers meetings Greet all the members at the door Slide # 2 Yes it says followship. Here are certain ideas that will bond your officers together and will also establish you as a leader. Get to know your new members as soon as possible and that starts with the initial interview process. Share that information with all of the brothers. Empower all who attend meetings by asking for their ideas. Regular officer meetings may be the best way for the officers to start working as a team. Items like long-range planning and an overall mission should be discussed at these meetings as well as issues with the Lodge building and disharmony between Lodge brothers Have everyone greeted at the door. Pick the right Brother for the job and make sure proper introduction information is gathered from visitors. MWB Neil Neddermeyer www.cinosam.net

How to Achieve Followship 9. Personal notes Include Member’s names in Lodge Communications. 11. Give out Awards 12. Have a plan for Masonic Funerals Slide #3 9. A personal handwritten note from the Master can be a great way to thank a brother for his efforts, ideas and participation. 10. Everyone likes personal attention. Remember to give as much praise as possible to brothers in lodge communications. Another personal way to recognize brothers is to celebrate the anniversary of their raising during a monthly meeting. A note can be sent out beforehand telling them they will be introduced and inviting them to address the lodge. 11. Awards may be presented for years served as a Mason or other special instances. Make sure they are given out promptly and properly. 12. A Masonic Funeral is the only time for most of the public to see our work. Make sure that is done properly.

How Are You Using Time? Are your Meetings Boring? How much Time is spend on each Item? The Business Vs. The Experience Slide #4 It’s the Master’s responsibility to make sure the meetings are not boring and to satisfy the attendees’ expectations. Consider how much time is really needed for each agenda item and limit discussion if needed. Remember that most attendees are there for the “experience of Masonry” and to network with their brothers; and not for just another business meeting.

Steps To Save Time- Summarize Minutes. Begin meetings on time! Increase overall pace. Post minutes and Treasurer’s report. Slide #5 1. The Secretary may be asked to summarize the minutes, but don’t forget to always thank the Secretary or his efforts. It’s the Master’s responsibility to begin the meetings on time and to cover any items discussed quickly and appropriately. The minutes of the meeting may be posted along with the Treasurer’s report – but don’t forget to thanks them for their efforts. 3. Increase overall pace. 4. Post minutes and Treasurer’s report.

Steps To Save Time- Presenters need to be prepared. Introductions should be short. Limit remarks. Share the agenda with officers. Slide #6 Make sure all presenters are prepared and know exactly how much time they have. Introductions do not have to be lengthy to be respectful. Ask everyone to limit the time of their remarks Review the agenda at officers’ meetings so that many details do not have to be discussed.

Plan for a Perfect Evening Make your evening an event! Cater to their interests 2. Focus on quality. 3. Delight your customers. 4. Balance fellowship, food, ritual, and entertainment. 5. Involve your members in planning 6. Get out the word, promptly. 7. Ask for Feedback. Slide #7 Make each meeting night an event. Here are some ideas to consider: (Read items on slide.)

Steps you can Take- Force yourself to plan. Make something special happen 6 times a year. Show videotapes of interest. 4. Don’t forget Masonic enlightenment. 5. Invite an outside speaker Slide #8 Force yourself to plan by having two agendas prepared. The first agenda will remind you of the necessary responsibilities of the Master such as the pledge to the flag, reading the minutes, presentation of petitions and business items. Your second agenda should be a list of those brothers you wish to recognize. Remember all who have worked at lodge events and assisted in preparing for the evening. Prepare the lodge calendar so that special events will happen throughout the year. Assign various officers and members to contribute to these special events. Plan for Masonic Education through speakers, group discussions, or prepared lectures. Outside speakers, videos, and educational Masonic presentations should be considered whenever possible.

Examples of outside Speakers School Officials Police Financial Planners Firefighters Travel Agents Politicians Insurance Agents Farmers Career Counselors Our Wives Real Estate Brokers Health Care Specialists Slide #9 Here are some examples of outside speakers that may be contacted. Don’t hesitate to ask. Most people truly enjoy to talk about something that is their specialty.

Get the Ladies on your Side! 1. Get information to the wives 2. First Visit to Petitioner’s home?-meet the family. 3. wives are important. 4. Cater a Ladies Night. Slide #10 Make sure appropriate information gets to the ladies. If a family event is planned, make sure they know the proper dress and whether or not the event is appropriate for children. Consider a separate newsletter to the wives or a half a page in the regular newsletter that’s for them. Make sure the wife of a new member knows she is welcome and that you ask her for any questions that she may have. Specifically plan meetings or events that include the brothers’ ladies and perhaps the children.

Get the Ladies on your Side! 5. Share your calendar with your wife. 6. Thank the ladies when they help. 7. Ask for feedback. Slide #11 Share your calendar with your wife and encourage all the brothers to do so. Make sure you recognize their efforts and include them whenever possible. Make sure that you listen to their ideas.

Communicate with Your Members Dress-up publications. 2. Computerize member information 3. Make a list of newly raised Masons 4. Get Lodge information in the local papers. 5. Start an email communication list 6. Set up a web site Slide #12 Communication is truly a secret to success. This is the list of ideas that should be in the forefront of your communication needs. Adjust your choices to the preferences of your lodge brothers and be consistent with your communication style. (Read Slide) Each year a higher percentage of our new petitioners are finding and joining Masonry because of the internet. Consider constructing a webpage that is both useful to your members and informative to a potential new candidate.

Buddy Up and Connect Assign every new Mason to a Mentor. 2. Introduce new Masons to others. 3. Learn the interests of your new Masons and share that info. . Slide #13 The mentor plan offered by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota is a wonderful tool to help new members bond to the fraternity. Those lodges that have been using it indicate that it has made a substantial difference in new member retention and has made many new active members. (Read Slide)

Buddy Up and Connect 4. Invite new Masons to events. 5. Photograph new Members and post on bulletin board. 6. Ask for feedback from new Masons. 7. Watch for loss of interest and react. Slide #14 (Read Slide) Monitoring the involvement of our new members is essential. These are just a few ideas to assist the Master. However, he must continually evaluate monitoring efforts.

Make Involvement Pay Off Ten Ways to increase membership Identify member’s skills, talents and interests. Remember their names 3. Ask new members how they wish to get involved and follow through. 4. Provide members with the plans and goals of the Lodge. 5. Listen to what they are saying! Slide #15 These next two slides have ideas that have been found to empower members of the lodge and to encourage them in areas of recruitment, planning, and initiating programs. (Read the list of these two pages.)

Make Involvement Pay Off Ten Ways to increase membership 6. Invite new members to decision making meetings. 7. Contact the sick & shut-Ins. 8. Look for personal ways to support a brother outside of the Lodge 9. Reward real performance. 10. Give every Mason: SOMETHING TO DO AND SOMETHING TO LEARN. SLIDE #16 (Read slide)

Creating Followship 1. Fix the Products first. 2. Recognize the Importance of Change. 3. Make Something Happen right away. 4. Focus on Quality. Slide #17 Concentrate on your leadership skills and you will go far. Make sure your goals, activities, communication ideas, educational programs and schedule are in place. Embrace new ideas and positive change. Motivate and initiate activities from the start and insist on the best.

There are two kinds of leaders: “Those who are interested in the flock, and those who are interested in the fleece.” which one are you? Slide #18 (Read slide)