I am in two lodges. There are 2 members who are members of both and these act as a conduit to cross fertilize. We've been watching the success at these lodges with new candidates. One has always been good at it, the other initiated a lot of guys but did not hold them all. We are trying to apply lessons learned at both lodges over a considerable period of time... We're generally initiating young (25-40) year olds, and the main reason we loose them at my mother lodges is... wait for it.. because they move interstate. (Not all who have done so continue in the Craft).
The below all sound so simple but are so important. They're also so easy to do.
Step 1, be welcoming and friendly. Train all members,especially the SW and JW to approach any man alone in the festive board and talk to them, bring them into conversations. If a someone is alone in the festive board and not being engaged in conversation - your lodge is failing.
Step 2, success in all things in the lodge are the responsibility of each and every member. That might be through direct action, bringing a problem to someone elses notice, but we all "own" the lodge and have a responsibility not to damage it, but to nurture and grow it. As BROTHERS, we all have a responsibility to earn that title daily through concern for members and their family.. Candidates are one of the most important assets we have and it's easy to taken them for granted, especially if you have a good supply of them, doing that hurts the candidates and it hurts the lodges.
Step 3, invite potential candidates to dinner several times, preferably before they are proposed - see step 1.
Stgep 3a - last guy I proposed came to a dinner over 3 years ago. It was not a "masonic" function, just a bunch of guys with their wives/partners out to dinner (my partner wanted to eat a banquet and we wanted numbers to do it LOL). We were several hours in and outside smoking before the men realized all bar one was a brother...
Step 4, call members between meetings (it is6:20 pm here and I've spoken to 6 members (plus one wife, an important part of our "lodge family") on the phone today. (No, I am note retired, but own my own business). The most important working tool omitted from our ritual is the telephone. Use it well, use it often, use it to build relationships and caring between members. Suggest to one member that they call another. Foster communication.
Step 5, get new members involved, make them feel valued, make them feel like part of a community. Ritual ? Yes, one way, but an EA or FC is at best months away from ritual, so, even better, invite them out to dinner. Go to the pub for a drink with a few members (you don't have to invite the whole lodge).
Step 6, observe them. If you see something they dont like or understand, empathize, teach patience and educate. Listen to their suggestions
Step 7, ask them what they want out of Freemasonry and try to facilitate them getting it (one FC wants to master public speaking, he gave a toast at one of our last meetings).
Step 8, if their partners are coming to a function, walk over broken glass to make sure they have a good time. See step 1. DO NOT invite ladies, then leave them unattended while a lodge meeting takes place. DO NOT try to combine a lady's/family night and degrees (they often come in the one car). Try to facilitate friendships with new members and their partners through dinners in restaurants, small groups of 2-6 members in a venue suiting their budgets.
Step 9, encourage them to participate in ritual. Even if they dont want to deliver charges, help them appreciate it by explaining it and encouraging them to LISTEN then ask questions about it.
Step 10, give them some advice - a) listen to the ritual, it brings new things even after decades of doing that, b) keep asking questions through their entire time in freemasonry, c) teach them the importance of step 1.
Step 11, try to give them a sense of success - by preparing them for their degrees in a friendly and patient way.
Step 12, turn them into the future leaders of your lodge.
Step 13, always talk your lodge up. Always talk the Craft up.
Step 14 NEVER NEVER allow anything which makes their partners form a bad impression of the Craft
(oh, and we open here in First Degree, so EAs are there AND have full voting rights. They pay dues. They are also required to attend Masonic Education Program ("MAP" after each degree. They cannot be advanced unless they have attended. They also must wait no less than 12 weeks before doing their 2nd, hey must wait not less than 52 weeks after initiation before doing their Third - these all help but I have not included then as they are from GL and not our local plan).
Finally, remember most importantly you are creating a social group. Friendships are not built by meeting once a month. Look for activities OUTSIDE lodge they want to participate in. That will mean dinners or going to the pub. That does not mean trying to get the whole lodge together but connecting people (and partners who will mesh well.. Listen to what new members want and try to deliver it AND be seen prioritizing their wants (without allowing new guys to hold a lodge to ransom, stomp on that and manage those guys out, they will be disruptive, but if they are in, you're vetting process is broken.).
Don't go for numbers, go for quality, being a small lodge, one to two candidates a year who stick are enough to perpetuate our warrant, our history and our lodge. Remember it's not initiations but retention and developing leaders which will secure your future. That starts the moment you meet them and in every contact you have with them.