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Grand Lodge of Virginia-2005 Membership Survey Results

This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button Select “Meeting Minder” Select the “Action Items” tab

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Grand Lodge of Virginia-2005 Membership Survey Results

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  1. This presentation will probably involve audience discussion, which will create action items. Use PowerPoint to keep track of these action items during your presentation • In Slide Show, click on the right mouse button • Select “Meeting Minder” • Select the “Action Items” tab • Type in action items as they come up • Click OK to dismiss this box • This will automatically create an Action Item slide at the end of your presentation with your points entered. Grand Lodge of Virginia-2005 Membership Survey Results Matt Szramoski 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  2. Reading the Survey • 6,851 brethren responded • 21.48% response rate • 71+ can be looked at as a control group • Lack of an answer should be looked at as no response 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  3. Members 61 and older are… • Likely to have had two or more children and be married • A high school graduate or attended some college • Probably a member of another fraternal/civic organization • Retired 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  4. Members under 61 are… • Likely to have less than two children and are married • A college graduate • Probably not a member of another fraternal/civic group • Is a professional, self-employed or civil service worker 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  5. Why did I join? (Multiple answers allowed) • Reputation of the organization (52%) • Fellowship (46%) • Family Members (43%) • Business Opportunities (7%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  6. If a relative or friend asked me about joining Freemasonry I would… • Obtain a petition & discuss Freemasonry with him (59%), for those under 71 (68%) • Refer him to another member (12%), for those under 71 (16%) • Say nothing, unless asked again (4%) • Tell him he would not want to join in today's society (4%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  7. Demographic Challenges for the 21st Century 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  8. Lack of younger members in other fraternal/civic organizations • Less exposure forFreemasonry to men in other like minded organizations • Is a national trend due to increased work and family obligations 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  9. Decline in Masonic Youth Organizations • 13% of our members over the age of 71 joined due to a child being in a Masonic youth organization • Today, less then 2% of our new members are joining for this reason • Large portions of Virginia have no Masonic youth organizations 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  10. Family Obligations • 1 in 13 Masons in Virginia have a family that does not support their Masonic membership • This increases to 1 in 10 for Masons aged 31-60 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  11. Failure to attract the “Baby Boomers” • Less then 5% of our members over the age of 51 have been Master Masons for 5 years or less. • The vision of seeing large numbers of these individuals joining after retirement is not occurring • These individuals have been the lowest percentage of “joiners” of any demographic group in U.S. history 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  12. Lack of Spouse Membership in Fraternal Organizations • Continual decline in the number of wives belonging to OES, Amaranth, etc. • Current trends will result in less then 1% of our members having a wife in Daughters of the Nile, Amaranth and the Ladies Oriental Shrine in 10–15 years • Eastern Star will fare only slightly better • The end result will be fewer wives with a familiarity of fraternal organizations and their activities 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  13. What do I like to do? (All) • Television (39%) • Hunting and/or fishing (38%) • Reading (37%) • Sports/Golf (35%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  14. For those under the age of 71… • Television • Hunting and Fishing • Sports/Golf 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  15. I am a member of… • Scottish Rite (34%) • Shrine (25%) • Royal Arch (22%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  16. Officer Statistics: • Almost 1 out of 3 brethren who completed the survey have served as Worshipful Master • 25% are currently serving as an officer in their lodge 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  17. As a Mason, I have attended: • Grand Annual Communication (28%) • Reid Simmons School (9%) • Division Leadership Conference (29%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  18. In the ritual, I… • Perform an officers station in the ritual (23%) • Perform the Worshipful Master’s portion of the ritual (19%) • Read/present the charge (18%) • Teach catechisms (11%) • Present a lecture (7%) • Do not participate (36% for those under 71) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  19. I feel the ritual is… • Important for new members to understand (46%) • Primary reason for Freemasonry to exist (43%) • Something to be discussed in lodge programs (35%) • Timeless (34%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  20. What I enjoy most about stated communications is… • Fellowship (51%) • For those under the age of 71, (68%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  21. I also like… • Ritual performed well (40%) • Organization (30%) • Dinners prior to meetings (27%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  22. One thing I don’t like stated communications is… • Too long (18%) • Boring (18%) • Has poor ritual (14%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  23. I have not attended lodge in… • A year or longer (25%) – the most inactive age group is 61-70 • 10 or more years (7%) • 5-10 years (5%) • 2-5 years (6%) • 1-2 years (7%) • ½ - 1 year (9%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  24. I don’t attend because… • Date/time/work schedule conflict (18%) • Location (8%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  25. If personally invited to attend a Masonic function I would… • Probably attend (22%) • Decline (8%) • Concerned that I would be unable to do the dueguards/signs, etc. (5%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  26. The main reason I will become more active in lodge is when… My schedule allows! 21% 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  27. But…5% said they would never become more active! 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  28. I would attend lodge if… • Refresher course on the ritual was given (14%), for those under 71 (17%) • More social activities (11%), for those under 71 (16%) • It was more organized (9%) • More communication (9%), for those under 71 (12%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  29. Programs that would encourage me to be more interested in attending are… • Quality speakers on a Masonic subject (38%) • Presenters on general interest topics (30%) • Family Activities (24%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  30. My lodge does not do enough… • Family activities (20%), for those under 71 (28%) • Teaching/educating new members (18%), for those under 71 (26%) • Charitable Work (13%), for those under 71 (18%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  31. Money!!! • Only 4% felt the fee to receive the degrees was too high, 43% felt it was appropriate. • 57% felt their lodge dues were appropriate, 12% felt they were too high while 5% would pay more! 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  32. Freemasonry has… • Made me a better man (63%), for those under 71 (74%) • Introduced me to lifetime friends and allowed me to meet men with like beliefs/values (53% each), for those under 71 (62%) • Increased moral standards in my life (45%), for those under 71 (60%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  33. Freemasonry has not… • Made me feel welcome (7%) • Been the organization I thought it was (7%) • Been a good use of my time (5%) • Consisted of men I wish to associate with (4%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  34. In my community, Freemasonry is considered an … • Impressive organization that little is known about (36%), for those under 71 (50%) • Unheard of/unknown (23%), for those under 71 (34%) • Well known/active in the community (14%) • Cult (11%), for those under 71 (16%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  35. Freemasonry today is… • Needed more then ever (46%), for those under 71 (56%) • Stable organization promoting positive values (35%), for those under 71 (41%) 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  36. But… • (44%) feel it is in decline, for those under 71 (50%) • Only (7%) felt it is a better organization today then 20 years ago • (6%) felt it is outdated 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  37. Masonic Challenges for the 21st Century 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  38. Membership Smaller families = Reduced pool of family members to draw from 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  39. Membership • Less outreach to other fraternal/civic organizations • Partnership opportunities • Speakers bureau 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  40. Membership • Consider creation of a Grand Lodge Membership Committee • Develop materials to assist members in better explaining the fraternity to those who have made inquiry • Possibly create new member packet • Develop materials specific to Virginia for public consumption 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  41. Subordinate Lodge • Lodge officer training • Better quality programs on a mix of Masonic/general interest topics • Better exposure and expansion of charitable efforts beyond MAHOVA • Improved communication • More family activities 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  42. Grand Lodge Opportunities • Promote the Grand Lodge Museum and Library through VA Dept. of Tourism • Provide scholarship information to the Virginia Dept. of Education for dissemination to the public schools • Conduct press releases on Masonic Family Day, installation of Grand Lodge officers, etc. 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  43. Our major problems are… • Negative self-perception • Lack of long-term strategies (local and perceived at the Grand Lodge level) • Failure to adequately educate our members in the meaning of our ritual • Public perception of the craft 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  44. We have a… Self-image problem! 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  45. But we can… • Strengthen our existing members relationship to the craft • Create the tools for members to become recruiters for Freemasonry while not recruiting • Grow Freemasonry in Virginia from this day forward 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  46. Keys to Growing Freemasonry • Think out of the box • Keep our best traditions intact • Encourage new ideas/concepts • Speak positively • Set long and short term goals • Stop living in the past and plan for future 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

  47. If it’s going to be it’s up to you and me! 2005 Grand Lodge Survey

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