Making Membership a Priority Red Wing Lodge No. 8 Masonic Membership Conference Grand Lodge of Minnesota – AF & AM February 26 th, 2011

The State of Red Wing Lodge in 2005 Red Wing Lodge Membership: A fairly typical example of the late 20 th Century drop in fraternal engagement, bitter disagreements over whether to rent Lodge space as a revenue generator, and caustic personality disputes led to substantial loss of membership from 1970 – members in the early 1960’s become 5 active members in General sense of futility leads to discussion regarding the surrender the Charter in 2003.

The State of Red Wing Lodge in 2005 MWB Charles Baltos Sent from Texas in the winter of Requests that members not act on Charter surrender until he has an opportunity to speak with them in person upon his Spring return. WB William Callister & WB Dan Ellison Sitting Area Deputy and District Representative petition for membership to the Red Wing Lodge, and with the Brothers work to collectively put a halt to the surrender plans.

150 th Anniversary Celebration Celebration Planning – Summer of 2006 Immediately gave two new Lodge Brothers an opportunity to become engaged in and feel they add value to the Lodge. Existing Lodge Brothers enthusiastically threw their support behind the effort. Entire community was engaged in the Anniversary.

150 th Anniversary Celebration

Success of Anniversary event laid foundation for more events and community engagement: KidsID programs in the Community Annual Table Lodges Special event and dinner planning at Communications Launch of a website Charity Events Bikes-for-Books program in the elementary school Courtesy work for area Lodges Masonic Cancer Center Fundraisers

Red Wing Lodge Membership Despite a proportionally large loss of members since 2006 due to death, NPD drop or transfer: new members have held overall Lodge membership steady; and the number of active members has increased 70%.

Masonic Membership Conference We were instructed today not to discuss membership theory, rather to give a “hands-on description” of what was done to change the course of the Red Wing Lodge.

Hands-on Description 1. Programming. Create meaningful programming, with a pragmatic eye on what can actually be accomplished with just a handful of Brothers. AVOID BURNOUT!

Hands-on Description 2.Avoiding the “Den of Vipers”. Innovation is rightly frowned upon in Masonic Ritual. Both in 2005 and today Red Wing is “Viper” free. Unfortunately that institutional ethos can lead current members to create a culture outside of that Ritual which is hostile to new ideas, new programs, or new life in the Lodge It can also kill membership efforts with acidic vitriol.

Hands-on Description 3. Continue the Lodge’s progression by: - Implementing the Lodge Recognition Program - Sustaining a robust Mentorship Program - Scheduling regular L.E.O. Presentations - Compete for awards (i.e., Mark Twain Award) - Etc.

Hands-on Description 4. Create a radically welcoming environment. Everyone’s engaged, no one’s left sitting on the sidelines. Unkind, un-fraternal, un-Masonic behavior is not tolerated. Make the Lodge a place Brothers actually want to visit, and memorize lines, and wash dishes, and raise money, and volunteer, and... No reasonable idea is frowned upon! Do not be afraid to take chances!

Questions?