Endowed Membership Program

[Wingnut]

Has any lodges been getting any endowed memberships lately? Just curious if people are still getting them knowing that the lodge is not getting returns last year and most likely not this year.

I know we cant require endowed members to pay dues, but do any have a program whereby they request donations etc? I heard of one lodge that is asking endowed members to pay their normal dues to help the lodge (voluntary of course). They are then stamping WELL on their endowed membership cards (or so Ive heard)...

 

[Sirius]

Re: WELL Endowed Membership Program

They are then stamping WELL on their endowed membership cards (or so Ive heard)...

oh my goodness, we're really turning into the Elks.

 

[Wingnut]

Lol

 

[Zack]

We call them Perpetual Memberships and they are few and far between in my area.
It is 20 times the yearly dues in the year you take it. Our dues being $120.00 you can understand why. Most of the members around here probably don't have 20 years left, including yours truly. There is an installment plan but while you are making payments you have to pay regular dues until such time as you are paid up. I think we have 25-30 Perpetuals in our Lodge but they were bought when dues were $25-35 per year 15 or so years ago.

Personally,I am not for them as they do nothing to help the cash flow of the lodge. And the lodge is still responsible for paying the per capita tax to grand Lodge.

 

[JR Cotterell]

We raised our Endowment from $500 to $1K to slow down the purchases of endowments. We have not sold an Endowed Membership since it was raised. With 50 year Members and Endowed Members, one half of our Members contribute nothing financially to the Lodge. We have supplimented our income by working in vendor stands at the Rodeo and sporting events.

 

[TCShelton]

We raised our Endowment from $500 to $1K to slow down the purchases of endowments.

I think that I will try to do this in my lodge this year. We haven't had an endowment bought by a member in a while, but $500 is WAY to cheap. We do have this silly by-law where the lodge buys our oldest living past master and our junior past master an endowment every year. Not a fan of that at all, and we may look to do away with it this year.

 

[rhitland]

I think that I will try to do this in my lodge this year. We haven't had an endowment bought by a member in a while, but $500 is WAY to cheap. We do have this silly by-law where the lodge buys our oldest living past master and our junior past master an endowment every year. Not a fan of that at all, and we may look to do away with it this year.

oh you think so!

 

[Bill Lins]

We had 2 EM's bought last year & 1 so far this year. Sooner or later interest rates will come back up. I bought mine to provide income to my Lodges long after I'm gone. Many Brothers buy them so that they won't forget to pay dues & get themselves suspended. One of my Lodges has a voluntary program in which EM holders pay the difference between the EM distribution & the dues each year.

 

[Sirius]

I think that I will try to do this in my lodge this year. We haven't had an endowment bought by a member in a while, but $500 is WAY to cheap. We do have this silly by-law where the lodge buys our oldest living past master and our junior past master an endowment every year. Not a fan of that at all, and we may look to do away with it this year.

When it is absolutely necessary to mess w a hornets nests, I recommend a good strong kick. Then run like hell.

 

[JTM]

Sul Ross is one of the most blessed lodges out there, as we get several endowed memberships a year.

 

[Wingnut]

I think that I will try to do this in my lodge this year. We haven't had an endowment bought by a member in a while, but $500 is WAY to cheap. We do have this silly by-law where the lodge buys our oldest living past master and our junior past master an endowment every year. Not a fan of that at all, and we may look to do away with it this year.

I suggested we change ours to buying a memorial endowment for a dead past master or member of significance. that way you dont have to pay returns on them, plus you will pick up some money when we do get money from GL for them... (Or put the money towards paying someones returns/dues that cant afford it and raise the dues )

 

[Bro. Stewart P.M.]

We currently have members Endowing at my home Lodge (myself included). Personally I believe that it helps me to "expand" out into other apendant bodies.... For example, once my EM is paid off at my home Lodge, I will finally be able to afford to petition the Dallas AASR...

I still believe that the EM's are a good thing!