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Poll: Masonic Member Retention

Do they dropout because of:

  • No time to dedicate to the fraternity?

    Votes: 10 15.6%
  • Conflicts of beliefs?

    Votes: 1 1.6%
  • Family issues?

    Votes: 1 1.6%
  • Work conflicts?

    Votes: 4 6.3%
  • Memorization work too demanding?

    Votes: 4 6.3%
  • Disappointment?

    Votes: 13 20.3%
  • Disillusionment as to what they were getting into?

    Votes: 18 28.1%
  • Politics?

    Votes: 3 4.7%
  • Other, please describe.

    Votes: 10 15.6%

  • Total voters
    64

jwhoff

Premium Member
Politics and inertia aside are those of us who could, and should, provide more light just to damn busy with other masonic obligations to make these lodges "rock/"

Let the power players play on, let us "island hop" the inert, let us start providing those programs that folks really joined masonry for.

Or, are we just expecting to much?
 
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dreamer

Registered User
I think 90% of dropouts can be avoided by informing potential candidates at the time of their interviews. Everything in the poll plays a factor, but if we sit down and inform the candidate what masonry stands for, what would be expected of them (timewise, monetarily, and memorywork, as well as finding out why they wish to join and confirming or denying if that's a valid reason.

At that point the candidate should know if he wishes to join or not. If not then they don't join and that's one less figure for retention.

I've seen personality conflicts take their toll as well but I suppose that cant really be helped.

I agree. We really need to be as honest as possible and nor paint only a rosy picture. Sometimes, we desire to increase our membership, but we can no longer afford to get the wrong people in. We really need to do what's best for the Craft. We we need to be tough. I would rather have committed Brothers than just a card carrying Brother. It's not about me, it's not about you, it's about the Fraternity!
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
As I read this discussion I come to a different conclusion than some -

This is why brothers in the line and grand line are supposed to focus on "more men in Masonry". Half of us die still current in our membership. Half leave for some reason or another. We need to figure out why brothers leave and improve, certainly. We also need to find twice as many candidates as we conduct funerals for Masonry to survive across the generations.

This also applies to attendance percentages. We need to figure out why brothers fail to attend and improve - And think what value Traditional Observance lodges with their high attendance should have. We also need to find 10 times as many candidates as we see attending lodge for our own lodge to survive across the generations. I'm okay with pumping brothers through degrees if all they plan on doing is moving on to appendant bodies or wear their ring, as long as they don't say they are going to come to lodge monthly then don't.
 

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
IMHO
I believe most men leave because lodge is not stimulating them or their minds. When they finally get raised if they make it that far find that the majority of our secret conversations and brightest minds are philosophizing on the quandary of dwindling membership. In short our focus is misplaced, not the candidates.
 

Thulsa Doom

Registered User
Here's an idea - stop dragging your feet and get busy including men into the fraternity. Investigate him well. Make sure he's the guy you want to include in the fraternity. Once you like him, include him. Do something fun. Entertain the new guy. Make him glad he joined. We call him Brother - how about making him a friend?
Everyone is so hung up on formality. Did anyone ever ask the candidate if that's what he specifically wants? Did he join for the ritual or the camraderie? Is he enthusiastic? Don't bore him out of his enthusiasm. After festive board does everyone go home not to see each other until next month? Yeah that sounds like a good time. Next year when he's writing that check with his wife looking over his shoulder, asking what he gets for those membership dues and if they can take that out of the budget as a wasted expense, does he give in because it's just not that big a deal to him anymore? Has he moved on?
We want him to give his time and energy learning proficiency and ritual and his money for dues. What does he get in return? If he's not a guy that feels great personal reward by learning proficiency and ritual acting is just not his thing then what else is the lodge providing him with? A business meeting and a bowl of soup?


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Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
I'm okay with pumping brothers through degrees if all they plan on doing is moving on to appendant bodies or wear their ring...
I'm not. Might as well stop investigating candidates and take every man with a checkbook. And water down the Degrees while you're at it. Oh, yeah, install a bar, too, that's all the candidates really want, anyway.
 

JTM

"Just in case"
Premium Member
most of the people I know that have a "problem with masonry" really have other problems that they act out through masonry.
 

Blake Bowden

Administrator
Staff Member
Meetings that are nothing more than just paying bills and passing around signup sheets for fundraisers to keep the lights on will run off members. Visit the Education forum of this site, find an interesting article, print it out and share it at the next meeting. When Brethren learn something at Lodge, it gives them an incentive to come back for more.
 

4thGenMason

Registered User
I have to agree with a lot of what has been said here. I often hear complaints about candidates being raised and still have a lot of questions. When they ask fellow brothers, they're met with, "I don't know." Many men want to learn, to thrive in masonry, but because there isn't any education beyond that taught in degrees, they feel dissatisfied. Let's face it, to really learn a LOT about masonry one must do a lot of research on their own and many just don't have the time. I'm not saying that fixing this problem will make a noticeable difference. But every little bit counts, and will eventually add up.

I also agree we should strive for quality candidates, not quantity. Will you make more from 20 candidates who quit after a year or 2, or from 3 who stay in it for life and participate in keeping the fraternity alive and well?

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