So for a while we have been looking at different threads that show problems with the administration of Masonry and various states of Grand Lodges. These have taken place in the threads "Per Capita...", "Proposed Racism Resolution", and various others. Many times I have seen people posting refuting claims that Masonry is in a disillusion however today I read an article from the Masonic Service Association of North America that says just what we have been claiming on here. It seems our issues or gripes have been well documented and presented to Grand Masters all of the world at the annual Grand Master's Conference that MSANA hosts or at least participates in.
The Article I am refering to is called "About Time" and can be found at http://www.msana.com/aboutime_foreword.asp. Be sure and read it all since it spreads over several pages.
Some of the eyeopenig issues listed that I found are:
2. What is is currently happening within Freemasonry?
 There is a slight movement toward wanting to educate the public about the fraternity.
 There is recognition that traditional communications tools have failed to heighten public awareness.
 The inclusion of family members at Masonic events has produced mixed results.
 Masonry is no longer identified as an elite organization.
 There are disagreements regarding priorities of financial commitments to Masonic buildings and charitable obligations versus starting new programs.
 Current Masons do not understand the true meaning of our fraternity.
 A reliance on historic heroes inhibits Masons from achieving contemporary significance.
Heck they even list ways to help:
Take action now
1.Beginning at the lodge level, plan meaningful activities that put Masonic values into action. Consider how you and your lodge can make each and every activity uniquely Masonic. Listed below are just a few suggestions that place a focus on using your time to its greatest Masonic advantage:
2.Apply concepts of education and self-improvement to current print and non-print communications tools of individual lodges, Grand Lodges, and national Masonic organizations and societies.
3.Improve the environment of lodge-based fellowship; refresh the look of the lodge; welcome new members; improve presentation skills; provide mentoring to study degrees; and strengthen communications skills.
4.Organize group activities based on education and self-improvement that can enrich lodge-centered fellowship such as: welcoming committees, lodge renovation and clean-up campaigns, leadership development conferences, mentor meetings, workshops on such things as Masonic ritual, history, symbolism, architectural works, arts and cultural works.
5.Initiate workshops on personal growth topics. Learn more about Masonry.
6.Call on local educational faculty: expert lecturers on topics of unique interest to the lodge members that enrich the body, mind, and spirit of the brothers.
7.Tap the talents of individual members and build a community of experts to help Masons to help themselves and their communities.
8.Improve community accessibility to Masonry through public outreach and program hosting.
9.Offer Masonic recognition and incentive programs for educational initiatives, visitor programs and Chambers of Commerce presentations.
10.Honor the Mason within yourself.
11.Share success stories with other lodges.
The work began in 2004 when the Conference of Grand Masters asked the Masonic Information Center (MIC) to look into the possibility of creating a National Masonic Public Awareness Program. We accepted the challenge. By accepting that challenge, we assumed a greater responsibility: to test the integrity of what we wanted to communicate to the public about Freemasonry. We had to ask the tough question of ourselves: Who are we as a fraternal organization within the context of the 21st century?
There was little argument among our group that Masons were not the first organization wanting to improve their public image, and we knew that we could no longer gloss over our situation’s complexity. In his book The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman quotes business organization consultant Michael Hammer:
One thing that tells me a company is in trouble is when they tell me how good they were in the past. Same with countries. You don’t want to forget your identity. I am glad you were great in the 14th century, but that was then and this is now. When memories exceed dreams, the end is near.
Our Masonic memories are to be treasured, but our Masonic dreams have faltered. Simply put, we have forgotten our Masonic identity so that our memories truly do exceed our dreams. It is about time we brought our actions in line with our aspirations.
Thus began our study. Over a year later, we offer this report as a fraternal call to action. It is neither a step-by-step plan nor a scholarly document. It is our way of communicating to our fraternity the need to focus on making Masonry relevant to our changing communities and our 21st century lives. The style of the report is conversational and easy-to-read, representing the deliberations, fact-finding, and talking points of the Task Force. We ask you, as fellow Masons, to heed the call and to take the initiative to participate in building our own destiny, brother by brother, lodge by lodge.
This information was presented to the Grand Master's Conference almost 5 years ago yet the state of Masonry, in Texas at least, remains the same. If you look at the programs that a few of the Grand Masters have come up with each has fallen way short. The LAMP program many Lodges know nothing about and when we asked the LAMP Committee Chairman to speak at our Lodge he rambled on and gave a story about the "Dew of Herman" that had nothing to do with Lodge Assistance Mentor Program. The Additional Lodge Light Program has been outdated for 10+ years and the LIFE Program is lacking as well. We have a Wardens Retreat that allows Lodge Administration to go to but it is held in Waco and it costs a pretty penny for members to attend. The things I listened to when I attended were all things I could have heard at a very well planned Masters, Wardens, and Secretary meeting had these not turned into places for Masons to have titles read and listen to a speaker that normally has nothing to offer other than a story to tell or a program that we have all seen 50+ times.
The point I am trying to make is we have to do better. We have to do better as Lodges, MWSAs, MSBs, DDGMs, DIs, Committees, Grand Lodge Officers, and Masons. We have to expect more as well from all of these. To have committees that are funded but have no measurable achievements in a time that we are running at a $300,000.00 deficit are damning. To have programs out there that accomplish nothing is a waste. We need to raise the bar and not lower it. It is time for feelings to get hurt and for people to step move forward or step aside.
It is very apparent that the GLoTX is not the only one having this issue as you can see by the article produced by an internationally known organization. I would like everyone to read this article and take time to think about the experience you have had. We have become an organization that just because you are a Past Master or DDGM it doesn't mean squat because in three years time anyone can do it. Heck DDGMs are being appointed and they can't find their way in a Law Book much less have knowledge of it. It has become an organization of who can accumulate the most titles in the fastest time and not an organization of changing lives.
We have a huge oppurtunity to rebuild this organization from the ground up. According to Grand Lodge figures we expect to make $525,000 off dues which divided by $7.25 which is what each dues paying member (excludes 50+ yr) pays leaves just over 72,000 dues paying members which also counts plural members so the actual number is closer to 60,000 est. of dues paying members. So 60,000 members that are not a 50+ yr Mason so it is about to get bare in Texas. I pray that we have our minds right because I know we have to change our ways of doing things and get away from the distractions of focus of the principal tenets.
Better days are upon us but in order to get up we must fall.
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