Page 5 - 2017 Summer

Gr and Lodg e of W ashingt on the Lodges in that effort.
Grand Lodge of Washington
Masonic T r ibune The NCEP: has been mandated by the Wash-
Masonic Tribune
Volume XCII No.1 - Summer Issue - Page 3
Volume XCVIII No. 4 - Summer 2017 Issue - Page 5 ington Masonic Code for years, yet I will wager
that a majority of our Lodges fail to routinely of-
On Three: 1, 2, 3, “WHAT’S NEXT?” fer the NCEP to new members, or to diligently
apply the program when offered. With the revi-
sion and update of the NCEP and diligence on
f course, you recognize “What’s Next” from the part of the candidate coaches, we will see a
Othe Seahawks huddle during their Super- turnaround in maintaining the interest and com-
bowl run. In the context of our beloved Frater- mitment of our new members.
nity, it is a fair question. Herewith is my partial
response. Concordant bodies: While traveling the Juris-
diction attending events and especially District
Grand Master Jim Mendoza started his term Meetings, it has been hit or miss on whether
with clearly Stated goals. His is an ambitious we see concordant bodies represented. We talk
program, yet very well thought out and achiev- about supporting our appendant and concordant
able. Recognizing that most worthwhile efforts bodies, especially the youth, but we don’t seem
require multi-year application, his was a mix of to involve them in our events except to prepare
continuing, and building on, programs first intro- and serve meals and perhaps to decorate for
duced by his predecessors as well as declaring our events. I would suggest that we find ways
new initiatives. They are:
to incorporate them into our events in every way
Jim H. Kendall • Increase Use & Awareness of the New ent on their purposes and programs.
we can, to participate in educating those pres-
• Improve Membership Retention
SENIOR Grand WARDEN
At the District No. 11 Meeting on April 28 in Se-
Candidate Education Program
quim, a (very!) young Rainbow walked in with
• Continue to Develop Future Leaders
her father, mother, and two younger Brothers.
RIGHT WORSHIPFUL Brother
She was wearing her Rainbow gown and I was
1. Lodge Leaders Retreat
2. Deputy Resource
made. Yes, poised. Yes, personable. I guessed
3. Secretaries/Treasurers/Board Gover- impressed at what a terrific impression she
her age at about 16 or 17 at first look. Dad and
nance Mom just kind of stood back and basked in the
• Leverage Technology to Improve the Qual- glow. He is, by the way, Worshipful Master of
ity of the Lodge Experience his Lodge.
• Youth bodies : “One More” This young lady it turns out was there to give
a talk on what she learned about FreeMason-
• Reclaim the Narrative ry and our Fraternity. Her dad’s talks at home
1. PR about the Fraternity had piqued her interest
2. Legislative Liaison so she went on a search to learn more. After
reading several sources she put together about
• Review the Long-Range Plan a 15-minute talk on what she had learned and
• Reshape the Military Recognition Commit- had presented it the year before. I was abso-
tee lutely gob-smacked to learn that this poised
young woman was thirteen years young. Her
As you can see, MWB Jim set a high bar for the presentation was fun, relaxed, well researched,
Jurisdiction. He will undoubtedly address each coherent, and carefully constructed. Our young
of the topics in his report to the Fraternity, so I people are simply magnificent, and if given a
will only touch on a few. chance will rise to the occasion.
These initiatives will continue to develop and be We have continued to expand resources for
refined. What I see coming in the near term are Lodge leadership to learn the resources and
refinements on these. tools to better manage their Lodges. From the
Communication: this has been an ongoing top- Lodge Leadership Retreat, to Secretary and
ic for the past several years and is being spe- Treasurer Training to Deputy Resource Teams,
cifically addressed in RWB Warren’s motto of resources are available for Brethren to advance
“Communicate to Educate.” We have or have their knowledge. The elected line of Grand
had many avenues of communication from print Lodge annually holds an afternoon seminar for
to audio to visual to internet/electronic based Brethren actively considering standing for elec-
systems. Despite an abundance of resources, tion to Junior Grand Warden. Expect to see a
we still somehow manage to fail to bridge the similar seminar for Brethren desiring to learn
gaps between Grand Lodge and the Lodges, first-hand what the duties of Deputy of (OF, not
Grand Lodge and the Brethren, and Lodges TO) the Grand Master (DDGM) entail. (Just be
to the Brethren. That last chasm is particularly advised, if you ask to be appointed DDGM, you
troubling and cries out to be addressed. Lodges will almost certainly have disqualified yourself
will need to make a commitment to communi- for appointment as DDGM.) Likewise, expect to
cate with each of their members on a routine find a mechanism for expressing interest in ap-
and frequent basis, and Grand Lodge needs to pointment to a Grand Lodge Committee will be
further develop tools to assist and encourage (Continued in page 6)
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