Masonic Leadership Training

1. Masonic Leadership Training Becoming the Worshipful Master

2. Agenda • Introductions • Preparing for your Year in the East • Authority vs. Leadership • Training your Officers • Eight Step Planning Process • Workshop Topics

3. Introductions • Your Masonic Leadership Training Team • Honored Guests • Attendees • Name • Lodge & Location • Title and Position, if any

4. General Info • Restrooms • Cell phones/PDA’s • Sign-In Sheets

5. Resources • Florida Digest of Masonic Law • Lodge Officers Handbook • Masonic Leadership Training Manual • Lodge Secretary Administrative Guide (GL215) • Worshipful Master’s Program Notebook (GL218)

6. Preparing for your Year in the East • Plan your year early and recheck frequently • Ask for advice and help early • Plan your meetings and follow your plan • Educate, train and meet with your Officers • Be worthy of the honor which your Brethren have conferred upon you

7. Prior to Installation • Select Installation Team • Plan Installation Dinner • Officer & Committee Appointments • Calendar for Ensuing Year • Trestle Board Notification • Officers Meeting • Rehearsal • Select/Purchase Worshipful Master’s hat

8. Installation • Open in MM Degree • Close Funeral Lodge • Dinner • Installation • Use Past Masters in Installing Seats • Thank Installing Officers & Past Masters in seats • Introduce Wife & Family • Worshipful Masters Message • Introduce Lodge Officers & their family/guests

9. After Installation • Presentations • Closing Prayer • Refreshments & Excuse non-Masons • Close Lodge & Reopen Funeral Lodge • You’re Now the Worshipful Master!

10. Impressions • Does your Lodge reflect the beauty our rituals dictate • Is every Brother and their family greeted in a manner that promotes brotherly love • Are you and your Lodge fulfilling the needs and aspirations of every member

11. Leading your Lodge • One Worshipful Master per Lodge • A Lodge of volunteers willing to do everything they can to assist, even wield the unseen gavel • The buck stops with you! • Build your team • First string– installed Officers • Active reserves – capable Brothers on the sidelines • Inactive reserves – Brothers not in Lodge

12. Continued Leadership • Delegation – you can’t do it all • Authority & responsibility • KISS – don’t micro-manage • Provide resources needed • Stay in touch • Praise & recognition

13. Training Suggestions • Provide duties & descriptions to all your filled positions • Hold frequent Officer’s meetings • Each position is responsible to train their follower • Require each seat to explain their duties to you • Allow junior officers to perform the duties of the next higher seat

14. Training, cont • Use Grand Lodge materials & training sessions • Plan a trip to Grand Lodge • Train your Officers to the next position • Communicate training opportunities to the craft

15. Time Management • The Lodge is yours for 365 days, 8760 hours and 585,600 minutes • Master your own schedule or let it master you • Schedule a portion of each day for Lodge business • No phones, visitors, distractions (ask wife to watch kids)… • Pass schedule to your Officers so they know • Keep updated priority list of things to do each day • Keep any calls during this time short and to the point • Don’t procrastinate & follow your set times

16. Time Management, cont • Waiting for perfection can cause missed timeframes, you may never have all the information • Learn to say No – you can’t accomplish everything everyone wants to do • Be decisive – delaying causes waste of valuable time, don’t revisit past decisions • Delegate, you can’t do everything • Make and keep appointments – your time is important and those you spend it with • Cross examine and re-evaluate your time management

17. Planning Your Year • Four ways to help your Lodge • Enlist the commitment and participation of your Brothers and Officers • There are many activities outside that compete for the attention of today’s men, how many can you fulfill at your Lodge • Plan activities and events that are rewarding to your members • Involving your Officers ensures consistency over the years and leaves the Lodge in good shape when you leave the East

18. 8 Step planning process • 1 - Worshipful Master’s direction • When I have completed serving as Worshipful Master, I want the year to be remembered for… • 2 - Every member has something to offer and in return, they desire: • To meet new friends • To have fun • To feel proud • To be well led • A role for their family • A Lodge active in the community

19. 8 Step planning process, cont • 3 - Identify key areas of work • Meet with your incoming Wardens and identify key areas • Each of the Senior Officers individually plans their year in the East • Ensues continuity • Promotes long term goals • Create a Planning Team • Effective Past Master • Businessman or Owner • Recently-joined, young Mason • Effective committee chairman • Skilled financial planner • Experienced planner • Good communicator • Interested member

20. 8 Step planning process, cont • Brainstorming • Strengths & weaknesses • Meetings • Work • Fellowship • Membership • Community service • Communications with Members • Fundraising • Prioritize results & identify current and out years

21. 8 Step planning process, cont • 4 - Refining the plan • This planning team consists of key members excited and committed to achieve their goals • The members of the planning team will make excellent members of committees to implement the plans • Involving your Wardens (especially the items marked for future years) ensures a long range plan for success of your Lodge

22. 8 Step planning process, cont • 5 - Preparing the initial calendar • Have Wardens draft their own as guidelines for their term • Add top priority items from Planning Team • Add historical Lodge activities (meetings, dinners…) • Add Grand Lodge activities & events • Add Masonic charities (MMRL, Child ID, etc) • Additional items PRN (civic, military, etc)

23. 8 Step planning process, cont • 6 – The final plan • Bring the three calendars into one document (Incoming WM & Wardens) to present to the craft • Enlist assistance to head or sit on committees in support of the calendar • 7 – The big announcement • Present your plan to the craft • Make copies for the members • Print out a one page calendar on the back of the trestleboard • Hand it out at installation • Place it on the Lodge’s web site • Send in an e-mail to the members

24. 8 Step planning process, cont • 8 – Launch the plan • Appoint committees to support the plan • Talent and abilities of the member • Interest in the committee • Responsibility • Willingness and ability to devote the time necessary • Ambition for leadership, teamwork • Only one event per night (no widow’s & PM night) • Allow sufficient lead time to organize the event • Plan event around purpose (widow’s lunch vs. dinner as many do not like to be out at night)

25. 8 Step planning process, cont • Food – type and style (hint – work closely with your JW) • Location (how accessible for widow’s night) • Plan the theme for the event • Invitations & coordination for attendees • Entertainment • Call & remind guests a week (or less) in advance of the event • Logistics (supplies purchased, Bldg opened early, greeters placed) • Make the guests feel welcome • Send thank-you letters after the event

26. Publications • Grand Lodge planning publications • GL-218 Worshipful Master’s program book • GL-215 Lodge Secretary’s administration guide • Masonic Renewal Committee of North America (MRC) www.masonic-renewal.org • Masonic Leaders planning guide • Getting set for success • 101+ Ways to Improve Interest and Attendance in your Lodge • 75 Ways to Attract and Retain New Members