Perhaps by spending some money on the building and promoting it as a place in the community for events we could increase revenue, awareness, and general well being. While doing this we can also send out a email saying this event is being held at Grand Lodge and if any of the members would like to come they can for X reduced amount. I again go back to my opinion that once a month Grand Lodge should bring in a well informed brother and do a speaking engagement. Some of these should be done in an open format geared towards everybody who would like to come. These open sessions should be a more of a historical summit, and it should be encouraged to bring families, friends and people looking for information. Record these events and stream it on the website. Some should be done in a closed format to discuss the past, present, and future. Create a lesson plan on how to educate the membership, encourage, and strengthen. Send out communication to the Secretaries about what is going on this month at Grand Lodge. Do it in the afternoons/evenings of a Saturday, so brothers can drive into Waco that morning and if they would like stay or go home.
Take the programs that are for members and make it into an interactive session via cd/dvd. We are in the 21 century and not in the 18th century. My brothers at lodge who may not be the most computer savvy still have a computer. Every January, lodges should be sent a CD that contains the Grand Lodge law, forms, petitions, and any other form that might be of necessity. This CD should also contain a financial break down of Grand Lodge budget both proposed and approved, a form for what lodges would like added or struck from future budgets, and ideas for future methods of expanding revenue within the organization. Paper costs money if there is a complaint about the cost of making a CD put a iso format where secretaries of the lodges can down load them. We waste a lot of paper, we could make this a much smoother process with the advent of the computer.
I think by increasing the visibility of Grand Lodge, potential of revenue, and membership activities we would see the Fraternity grow in a predictable and steadfast way. We have a one of a kind building and we should be using it for our benefit and not for a once a year meeting.
If we are struggling for funds we could also strike Art. 316 or potentially change it to say that if a person is not capable to pay dues then fill out form x which should be certified by the Secretary and the WM. I know this isn't a popular idea, it is strictly an idea for discussion.