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What would you change?

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
I have thought about this topic frequently, and even started discussions on this board. I believe sincerely, that we can keep true to our ancient landmarks, and still make Masonry relevant to the 21st century man. We can upgrade and modernize some of our administrative procedures, and streamline the process. We can publish our minutes on line. We can enable members to pay dues online. We can revive some of our practices, which were very popular decades ago. I would love to see the lodges revive the Masonic Employment bureaus. I have suffered the scourge of unemployment, and I can tell you, the state employment agencies just AIN'T CUTTIN' IT!

A number of my bodies already circulate minutes by email and allow electronic payment, either by Paypal or standing order. Have you made a motion in your lodge to do so? When did you last attend your lodge?

I don’t think the fraternity has the resources to run an employment bureau, and certainly doesn’t have the expertise found in public agencies, or even private groups, such as LDS Employment Services. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
A number of my bodies already circulate minutes by email and allow electronic payment, either by Paypal or standing order. Have you made a motion in your lodge to do so?
-Yes


When did you last attend your lodge?
- I attended my mother lodge, when I went back to KY, for my father's death (My mother chose not to have a masonic funeral). I live in VA, and I do a lot of international work. I choose to keep my membership with my mother lodge in KY. I am able to visit lodges overseas, and when I am back in the USA, I visit lodges in VA/MD/DC. What difference does that make? I am just as much as a Mason, as if I lived next door to my mother lodge, and attended every meeting. If regular lodge attendance (at your mother lodge) were a requirement for Masonry, you would have to expel all of the retired people who live in Florida, and keep their membership in other states.



I don’t think the fraternity has the resources to run an employment bureau, and certainly doesn’t have the expertise found in public agencies, or even private groups, such as LDS Employment Services. There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

-How can you assert that "the fraternity" does not does not have the resources to run an employment assistance bureau? I am certain that some Grand Lodges could provide administrative support to their lodges, and some would not . I have been unemployed several times. I have sought out the services from the state employment services in KY, MO, TN,VA,NJ,etc. Over the past 25 years, I can tell you, that they are all uniformly bad. My brother just moved to NC, and he has a job. His wife went to the state employment bureau (NC), and all they had was Wal-Mart greeters, and box-stackers. (His wife has a college degree, and she has 15 years in public relations. )

During the depression of the 1930's Masonic lodges did a terrific job, in assisting members in securing employment. We did it before, we can do it again.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
As our membership declines, we are experiencing an increase in the number of Masonic widows. I would love for our lodges to reach out to our widows, and provide them with assistance. Simple things like a poinsettia (sp?) plant at Christmas, or a fruit-basket. A yearly "widow's appreciation" banquet at the lodge. The one demographic that is increasing in Masonry, is the number of widows.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
One topic that I have thought about for many years, is "Sweat equity". I believe that support your local lodge, and Grand Lodge, does not end with dues payment. Every mason (who is able) should be given a "calling", and encourage him to support his lodge, with labor and expertise. Men who have experience in heating/ventilation/air conditioning, could assist in keeping the building system maintained. Members with experience in IT, could assist on the lodge website committee. Members with writing experience, could assist with the lodge newsletter (either print or on-line), and so forth.

The WM should assemble a roster of the various areas, where the lodge needs assistance. Members can volunteer to help, in their area of expertise. If no particular job is apparent, the man can serve as a go-fer. I am certain that many men would like to assist with "sweat equity", but have never been asked.
 

hanzosbm

Premium Member
Well, while I'm not sure of the extent to which you were looking for an employment assistance bureau, I do wish that there was better networking among Masons. Here are a few items I'd love to see:

A list where I could see (and also search) for a brother's company and role. Both for networking in trying to get a job, and for employing someone for a service you're in need of. I struggled for awhile to get a job at my last company and once I did, found out that there were several brothers who worked there who all said "I wish I'd have known, I could've greased the wheels to getting you hired". There are a lot of lodges around here, so it's not realistic to know every brother and where they work. Likewise, I needed to hire a contractor awhile ago. I'd love to be able to give that work to a brother if possible, but without knowing if there was a Mason in the area who was a contractor, I had to go to the yellow pages.

A service for helping brothers move. I have moved more times that I'd like to remember, and when the day comes, I'm either begging for help from 2 or 3 friends and end up working ourselves to death, or spending a TON of money on professional movers. If there was some kind of electronic volunteer board where I could sign up to be notified when a brother in the area was moving so I could help out, in exchange for help when I need to move, that would be a godsend. Have you ever moved where you had 50 people helping? I did once, and it was amazingly simple for everyone involved. Imagine 50 brothers, who you may or may not know, showing up to help you move and having it all done in an hour. I'd be happy to spend an hour each weekend helping others.

Now, I'm not saying that these are the changes in Masonry I'd like to see (as was the original point of the post), but I think these things would be amazing.
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
When I was in Illinois the GL added a job board on its web site. I didn't see a single job posted. I think this is why state employment agencies do not work well. Each of us can do at least as well on the many job boards on line.

I have seen Shrines attempt employment services. No idea how well it works. As mentioned I think networking of who is at what company would work. I've seen Shrine membership tables with who does what work, which is similar but not the same.

I currently use LinkedIn for connections. This includes letting recruiters know when I am looking. The connections on LinkedIn partially handle the person to person networking aspect of who works at what company. The fact that recruiters use LinkedIn to mine for both jobs and candidates supplies the employment agency aspect.
 

hanzosbm

Premium Member
When I was in Illinois the GL added a job board on its web site. I didn't see a single job posted. I think this is why state employment agencies do not work well. Each of us can do at least as well on the many job boards on line.

I have seen Shrines attempt employment services. No idea how well it works. As mentioned I think networking of who is at what company would work. I've seen Shrine membership tables with who does what work, which is similar but not the same.

I currently use LinkedIn for connections. This includes letting recruiters know when I am looking. The connections on LinkedIn partially handle the person to person networking aspect of who works at what company. The fact that recruiters use LinkedIn to mine for both jobs and candidates supplies the employment agency aspect.
I agree, and I use LinkedIn also (for anyone reading this and not using it, you're wrong! Get on it. I went from begging and groveling to find jobs to having recruiters coming after me with extremely lucrative offers. Within 2 weeks of polishing my LinkedIn profile and being open to offers, I got and accepted a job offer for a 65% pay increase).
But, I'd love to see something as simple as our Grand Lodge site (which already lists every brother and usually his contact info) having a section where each brother could voluntarily add their company, position, and maybe some keywords on their professional skills.
 

Rifleman1776

Registered User
I belong to a Missouri lodge. We sing 'odes' at opening and closing. Singing? Sounds more like universal groaning. I would do away with the ode singing thing.
 

Glen Cook

G A Cook
Site Benefactor
-How can you assert that "the fraternity" does not does not have the resources to run an employment assistance bureau? I am certain that some Grand Lodges could provide administrative support to their lodges, and some would not . I have been unemployed several times. I have sought out the services from the state employment services in KY, MO, TN,VA,NJ,etc. Over the past 25 years, I can tell you, that they are all uniformly bad. My brother just moved to NC, and he has a job. His wife went to the state employment bureau (NC), and all they had was Wal-Mart greeters, and box-stackers. (His wife has a college degree, and she has 15 years in public relations. )

During the depression of the 1930's Masonic lodges did a terrific job, in assisting members in securing employment. We did it before, we can do it again.
Because I’m actually involved in the fraternity and understand it’s not just s financial commitment, but one of a knowledge base. We no longer have the company owners represented in the fraternity as we once did either. That family can’t find good jobs is irrelevant as to whether the fraternity can handle this

While it is disappointing you’ve had unemployment, that is irrelevant as to whether the fraternity can manage this task.

Do you have a citation for how well the fraternity did in the depression in this endeavour?

You missed my question as to when you last attended lodge.
 
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LK600

Premium Member
We no longer have the company owners represented in the fraternity as we once did either. That family can’t find good jobs is irrelevant as to whether the fraternity can handle this

While it is disappointing you’ve had unemployment, that is irrelevant as to whether the fraternity can manage this task.

Maybe he is referring to something concrete, but I would suggest it is EVERY Brothers duty to assist a Brother down on his luck whether that be helping him locate a job, pulling strings, or vouching for the same. We are either Brothers or we are not? I can see how something concrete like an actual bureau might be beyond the Fraternities means unless it was much like a self posting jobs board.
 

hanzosbm

Premium Member
I can see how something concrete like an actual bureau might be beyond the Fraternities means unless it was much like a self posting jobs board.

And that is the kind of thing that I think we could, and should do. I don't know about other states, but here in CA the Grand Lodge's website has a members section where you can search for other brothers. I would like to see there be an optional section where a brother could include their company, role, and a few keywords that could be searched. That would be a fairly simple change to the website and the rest of the effort would fall to the individual. That way, if I'm looking for a job in Project Management, I could search brothers in my area who are also in that field, or if I am applying for a job at Bob's House of Lawnmowers, I can search to see if there are any brothers who work there that I could contact and ask for a recommendation or some pointers.
 

hanzosbm

Premium Member
And that is the kind of thing that I think we could, and should do. I don't know about other states, but here in CA the Grand Lodge's website has a members section where you can search for other brothers. I would like to see there be an optional section where a brother could include their company, role, and a few keywords that could be searched. That would be a fairly simple change to the website and the rest of the effort would fall to the individual. That way, if I'm looking for a job in Project Management, I could search brothers in my area who are also in that field, or if I am applying for a job at Bob's House of Lawnmowers, I can search to see if there are any brothers who work there that I could contact and ask for a recommendation or some pointers.
When I stopped waiting for someone else to make the Lodge glamorous and starting standing up in Lodge and educating the Brothers myself.

It dawned on me that I sat here (literally with a cup of coffee in hand) complaining about things and saying how "someone should do this!". So, I took brother pointwithinacircle2's example and emailed the administrator for our Grand Lodge website suggesting the changes. No telling what will come of it, but I'm assured that NOTHING will come of it if I just sit here complaining.
I would encourage all the brethren reading this to reach out to your respective Grand Lodges and make suggestions for what you'd like to see. Let's make it happen.
 

Andy Fracica

Site Benefactor
Premium Member
I agree, and I use LinkedIn also (for anyone reading this and not using it, you're wrong! Get on it. I went from begging and groveling to find jobs to having recruiters coming after me with extremely lucrative offers. Within 2 weeks of polishing my LinkedIn profile and being open to offers, I got and accepted a job offer for a 65% pay increase).
But, I'd love to see something as simple as our Grand Lodge site (which already lists every brother and usually his contact info) having a section where each brother could voluntarily add their company, position, and maybe some keywords on their professional skills.
I wish I could agree about LinkedIn. I've been a member since 2006, at my high point, I had over 4500 connections, lots of recruiters. I never had one contact me with a job offer. I've been under employed since 2010 when I lost my job as Director of Marketing. I found a few jobs but none have lasted a year, except for my college teaching job as an adjunct (part time) instructor, which I've had for the last 5 years. I have an MBA and 35 years experience in the HVAC field 15 of those in Marketing. I'm almost 60 now and semi retired, but it was tough when I was actively looking.

I've since reduced my connections down to about 800 people that I actually know, or have corresponded to through work or through Masonry.
 

cemab4y

Premium Member
Because I’m actually involved in the fraternity and understand it’s not just s financial commitment, but one of a knowledge base.

--ALL masons are "actually" involved in the fraternity. The depth and intensity of their involvement varies.



We no longer have the company owners represented in the fraternity as we once did either.

--So what? Company owners do not normally hire applicants, that is why companies have human resources/personnel departments.

That family can’t find good jobs is irrelevant as to whether the fraternity can handle this

--The Masonic fraternity has helped masons (and their dependents) locate employment in the past. We can do it again.

While it is disappointing you’ve had unemployment, that is irrelevant as to whether the fraternity can manage this task.

--Some Grand Lodges have the resources to assist Masons/dependents in locating employment. Some do not.

Do you have a citation for how well the fraternity did in the depression in this endeavour?

--I have no specific figures. I do know that the Grand Lodges, and subordinate lodges, assisted unemployed Masons in locating employment in the past.

You missed my question as to when you last attended lodge.

-- I last attended my mother lodge in Kentucky, in October 0f 2010, when I was in Kentucky at the time of my father's death. I reside in Virginia, and attending my mother lodge is difficult. I have attended lodges in other states, since then. I do a LOT of international work, and attending lodge is not always possible.
 
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