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There were 6 primary reasons given by the Brothers who We are hemorrhaging the very lifeblood of the Fraternity;
demitted. Keep in mind that this question allowed multiple experienced Masons, men who have been and should
answers, so the numbers won’t add up to 100%. continue to be our leaders, giving seasoning to the Lodge and
Almost 50% of the Brothers demitted due to an inability to passing on knowledge to the next generation of Masons just
make the meetings. Another third demitted due to affiliating coming in, hungry to learn.
with another Lodge. 25% of the brothers listed moving out of What say you Brethren? Are you willing to look closely at
state as their reason. Finally, over 25% of the Brothers listed your Lodge? Are you willing to increase your outreach and
too much drama/discord in the Lodge, lack of any meaningful keep Past Masters actively involved in mentoring the new
Masonic education and a feeling that Masonry has lost its Brothers coming to us, looking to learn what Masonry is, what
focus. it was and what it could be in the future?
Brothers, these are the same basic reasons given by the If your lodge is going to have an interesting educational
Brothers who were dropped for NPD! Do you see a pattern? I event, please do feel free to contact me. If I can, I’d like to be
do. Brothers can’t make the meetings; please do all that you able to video the presentation for other Lodges to use for their
can to ensure that they consider changing Lodges so we can education.
keep our Fraternity solid. Please consider developing an exit Fraternally,
interview procedure. You need to learn why Brothers are
leaving your Lodge. My primary concern here is those W John H. Vivian, Chairman, Membership Development
Brothers who are leaving for cause. Those leaving because of Committee
drama/discord among the Brethren, or cliquish behavior that
puts up walls between Brothers not in the ―in crowd‖. Look
closely at your Lodge; try to become more welcoming and Supporting Youth in Transition - Brother David
accepting. By providing education at least every other
meeting as a minimum, we should be able to staunch the loss Trader
from this reason. Toward that end, this committee is looking to
video record interesting programs that Lodges put on. We feel Peninsular Lodge #95 in Everett Washington has participated in On
strongly that some Lodges have better programs, than others, The Level: Student Success. This program is coordinated through
and if we can video the program and make it available on Washington Masonic Charities (WMC) and provides funds for local
either the Grand Lodge website or on Grandview, these school district youth who are experiencing homelessness. WMC
outstanding programs will be available to every Lodge. contacts a local school district to identify students in their district who
In closing, here a few eye-opening findings: need some type of assistance to keep them in school and on the
2/3 of those demitting had been a Mason over 10 road to graduate.
years When a student needs something to help bridge the gap or help
Almost 50% of them were between 56-65 years old them through the day, they meet with the school counselor or
Over 50% of them were Past Masters homeless coordinator. The staff member sends the request to
Washington Masonic Charities who partners with the district staff to
fulfill that request. Items requested have ranged from pillows,
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