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New Years Initiative: Lodge Offers $1.00 Dues to Men Who Just Want the Association


Seattle, WA - Newberry Lodge is among a few in the district who are offering a new initiative. While lodge dues are going up all over the nation, Newberry’s are going down…for some. In a landmark move Newberry is offering $1.00 dues to men who have been long time members but do not attend.

John S. Ward, Worshipful Master said “We know they're out there, and we know they value the membership, but they don’t attend. So why make them pay for all the amazing things we’re doing in a lodge? They just want the membership, so they can pay for the $1.00 version.” Members taking on the $1.00 membership will of course get what they paid for, that being email notifications, robo-calls and a special dues card which signifies their member status or tier.

The idea of tiered Masonry is somewhat of a new concept that's being put in place. Members on the $1.00 plan will have restrictions, for instance; they must donate the required amount before eating, are not invited to special dinners and can not visit other lodges. “Folks complain about the dues being high, but they aren’t here to see what we do, so if they don’t see the value, they don’t want to pay for it. This solves it.” said WB. Ward.

Some members have complained that this is "unbrotherly", the idea of a tiered system, but when the lodge invited them to come out for the vote, they didn’t show.

Worshipful, Dr. Chaz Nagler, Esq. 49˚​

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pointwithinacircle2

Rapscallion
Premium Member
While this is perceived as humorous, I find that the exact opposite is both more humorous and more accurate (perhaps the opposite is too accurate?) . It would be even more humorous of the article said that for $300 a year one would purchase a membership that had no requirements to memorize anything, attend meetings, or participate in pancake breakfasts.

What this post fails to take into account is the very real phenomena that the brand is more valuable than the product. For example (in case you didn't know) Harley-Davidson makes more profit selling licenses to put the H-D logo on consumer goods than they make selling motorcycles! The great money making power of Freemasonry is not in the 10% of Masons who attend Lodge but in the 90% who still pay dues but never show up. It is time for Freemasonry to start claiming their share of the profits from those who wants the brand without the product!
 

JJones

Moderator
I came expecting this to be another Past Bastard blog post.

Still waiting for the punch line...
 
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