Critical Failure

I posted a link to this brother's blog about a week ago. I've been pretty impressed with what I've read so far and thought you guys might enjoy this as well.

http://braden168.wordpress.com/2014...es-a-lodge-decline-to-the-point-of-no-return/

Sorry if this has been posted already.

Good read and it is a good point. When is that point of no return and are most lodges their?

RyanC said:

Good read and it is a good point. When is that point of no return and are most lodges there?

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The point of no return is when the charter is surrendered, and not before. Ten years ago, my lodge was teetering on the brink. Grand Lodge was discussing not if, but when, they were going to come down and take the charter and figure out the disposition of lodge properties. It didn't happen, and today we are a solid lodge with all the chairs filled, none of the progressive line are PM's and are all under 50 years old, some considerably younger, and there are young brothers on the sidelines waiting to get into the line.

At Grand Lodge a few weeks ago, one of our brothers was given the Minnesota Mason of the Year award, another was made a District Representative, and I was installed as Grand Lodge Education Officer. Lodges can, and do, come back from the brink.

Lodges can, and do, come back from the brink.

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This is very true, my lodge is an example of this as well as there was a time that I'm told the brethren rarely had enough members present to open and bills were often paid out of pocket by the few active members that showed up.

Today we are pretty healthy, not all the chairs are filled but we're a small lodge in a rural community. It's my opinion that what the article describes most accurately is the downward spiral that may lead to surrendering the charter eventually, but it doesn't have to be the case.

JJones said:

This is very true, my lodge is an example of this as well as there was a time that I'm told the brethren rarely had enough members present to open and bills were often paid out of pocket by the few active members that showed up.

Today we are pretty healthy, not all the chairs are filled but we're a small lodge in a rural community. It's my opinion that what the article describes most accurately is the downward spiral that may lead to surrendering the charter eventually, but it doesn't have to be the case.

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But in case like how your lodge was in, would it not be better to merge with another that is in close proximity. The lodge I have joined is healthy right now but the brother have told me as few as 5 years ago they where close to selling the lodge. With a good amount of investment they where able to hold on, last year with just raising dues and having fundraisers (open to the public but mostly for brothers from the surrounding lodges) they where in the black. Now many other local loges have sold their buildings, and rent within their towns for meetings. The question I have would it not be better for all to merge, my lodge and two others are just about 15 minutes apart. This would add more members over all as well as over chairs and members on the sidelines.

I can understand why my lodge didn't want to merge at the time, it was a few years away from it's 150 year anniversary and is the oldest lodge in the county. Is this enough reason to keep a lodge on it's last legs standing? Maybe, maybe not...still, perseverance was to the lodge's advantage in this case.

There are several lodges 20 or so minutes from my current lodge but I don't think merging would increase the membership at any of the other lodges...there's very little visitation in my district as it is.

Yeah, one of the problems of rural lodges is that merger isn't really an option. Oh, it happens on paper, but they often merge with a lodge 30-40 minutes away or more, and the brothers of the lodge that gets absorbed don't go to the new location.

I think his argument for the tipping point is accurate. When members stop showing up because they are no longer interested in what is going on at lodge/don't enjoy going you have a problem. I've noticed that problem at my own chapter/council meetings. Meetings seem pointless to me, we spent 10 minutes discussing what color shirts we wanted to get made. Attendance at that meeting was just enough to open. They asked me what chair I wanted to fill starting in June and I demurred claiming, "I'm not sure what my schedule will be like" (Which is not entirely untrue, but that is besides the point), but I don't know if I want to keep going back.

Relevancy to the mason, for whatever reason, is what keeps members coming back to lodge. Find their niche and involve them in it.

I have a developed an outlook on life which has served me very well for many years, it goes like this: "Anytime I am blaming someone else, I am wrong".

The beauty of this idea is that if something is my fault, I can fix it.

I try to remember that speaking while waiting for someone else to fix the problem is called giving advice, very few people are truly interested in my advice.

I try to remember that speaking while waiting for someone else to fix the problem is called giving advice, very few people are truly interested in my advice.

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Great advice brother!

On a more serious note, I personally subscribe to the same mentality, more or less...or at least I try to. Everyone is always sitting around waiting for someone else to take action, might as well be that person.

As I am new to this these types of teaching articles are just what I need at this point, thanks.