Lodge Leadership & Management Aka The
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Lodge Leadership & Management aka The Masters' & Wardens' Handbook Table of Contents Preface .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Be A Leader ................................................................................................................................... 2 Planning a Great Lodge Year ........................................................................................................ 11 Conducting a Good Lodge Meeting .............................................................................................. 19 Financial Planning and Budgeting ................................................................................................ 24 Lodge Budget Worksheet ......................................................................................................... 28 Examining Visitors ....................................................................................................................... 29 Focus on Fellowship..................................................................................................................... 30 New Member Orientation............................................................................................................ 35 Communications from the Lodge ................................................................................................. 38 Internet Presence – The Electronic Frontier ................................................................................. 39 Officers of the Lodge ................................................................................................................... 43 Duties and Obligations of Lodge Officers .................................................................................. 43 Setting up a three ring Binder ...................................................................................................... 53 Lodge Members ....................................................................................................................... 53 Minutes ................................................................................................................................... 53 Lodge Communications............................................................................................................ 54 Committee Assignments .......................................................................................................... 54 Other Communications ............................................................................................................ 54 Resources for Your Year ........................................................................................................... 55 Suggested Resources for Leadership ........................................................................................ 55 Suggested Resources for Lodge Administration ........................................................................ 56 Degree Teams .......................................................................................................................... 57 Annual Lodge Certification - Lodge Recognition Program ......................................................... 63 Grand Lodge Programs / Recognitions ......................................................................................... 68 Hiram Award ........................................................................................................................... 68 Duane E. Anderson Excellence in Masonic Education Award .................................................... 69 Lecturer Certification ............................................................................................................... 69 Monitorial Certificate............................................................................................................... 70 Masonic Light Award Program. ................................................................................................ 70 WaYfaring Man program. ......................................................................................................... 71 ii Minnesota Masonic Charities (MMC) - Matching Grants Program ............................................ 71 CommunitY & Fraternal Scholarships ....................................................................................... 74 Appendix A .................................................................................................................................. 76 Candidates Acceptance letter from the Master ........................................................................ 83 Letter from Master to Candidate’s wife who has questions ...................................................... 84 Letter from Master to new Entered Apprentice ....................................................................... 85 Letter from Master to new Entered Apprentice’s wife ............................................................. 87 Letter from Master to newlY raised Master Mason .................................................................. 90 Letter from Master to a Widow ............................................................................................... 91 Lodge officer sheet for planning............................................................................................... 92 Committee Development ......................................................................................................... 93 Risk Management for Lodges ................................................................................................... 94 Masonic Etiquette ..................................................................................................................... 106 Computer Use and Internet PolicY ............................................................................................. 119 Attachments .............................................................................................................................. 128 Relevant Code Citations ......................................................................................................... 128 Document Information .............................................................................................................. 131 iii Preface To paraphrase Potter Stewart, “I don’t know what leadership is, but I know it when I see it.” Leadership maY be an elusive idea which has elements that are different according to who You are and what You do. Competent leadership does, however, have one element that is alwaYs present: the ability to manage. Before one can effectively lead, one must effectivelY manage the entitY they are leading and the people that work within that entitY. This book has been prepared to help the Lodge Officers get a head start on their year as Master of the Lodge. Ø It contains ideas and forms to help plan the Years ahead. Ø It can help get You started with the planning process. Ø It gives time frames in which the future Master can plan all activities for his term, starting in his Junior Warden Year. Ø It gives guidelines and agendas for holding Lodge meetings. Ø It can help provide a continuitY of management from one Year to the next. Although manY suggestions are made, this book does not trY to tell You how to manage Your Lodge. It is not a “magic carpet ride” through Your Years as Junior Warden, Senior Warden, and Master. It cannot make You a strong leader. It is simplY a trestle board, a tool to help You plan and build; and it can be that first step toward strong and competent leadership… but only if You make it Yours and use it! There is onlY one Master of a Lodge, onlY one authoritY… one primarY Leader. There maY be, and should be, other leaders within the lodge: the progressive line officers, Past Masters, etc., however theY do not wield the authority of the gavel. In plain terms, mY Brother, You are the boss, the leader and the manager. AuthoritY is lost if the Master stands back and allows others, such as Past Masters or Secretaries, to wield the unseen gavel. There is simplY no excuse for allowing a leadership vacuum to occur. 1 Be A Leader "I now declare the officers of Your Lodge dulY installed." Following these important words, you are now Master of the Lodge for the ensuing Masonic Year. Are You prepared? Some believe that at this moment a clock begins and You have one Year to impact the Lodge. This is Your Year but it also is a culmination of the time You spent traveling to the East. The impact will You have and how will it be remembered starts long before You are elected to the East. For a Lodge to be vibrant, progressive and growing, it is important to remember that no man can accomplish everY task that is required on their own. Your Lodge is composed of the elected and appointed officers and Brothers on the sidelines who are Your team. Some are at home on "inactive reserve status"; some are on the "active reserves" sitting on the sidelines waiting and wanting to become involved; and some are the officers, Your "First string" who are in the trenches on a dailY basis. You as Master need to list the jobs that are required. Then give the Brothers the necessarY instructions and let them pursue their labors. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, assistance and / or guidance, Your membership will alwaYs be there for You. All you need to do is ask. There are two tYpes of leaders in everY organization: the Constructive and the Obstructive. The