District Deputy Grand MasterGrand Lodge Staff Officer Training

2016-2018

■ “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got!”

■ Henry Ford

Adapt, Change, Survive and Grow!

Freemasonry

“What We Obtain Too Cheap We Esteem Too Little; It Is Dearness Only That Gives

Everything Its Value”.

Thomas Paine

Grand Master’s Masonic Trestle Board 2016-18

#1 Reshaping the Districts

“Building for the Future”

Reshaping Districts

■ Every DDGM is a member of the Grand Lodge Reshaping Committee

■ DDGM to honestly survey the District & assess the situation

■ Talk with adjoining DDGM’s and see what will make a good fit

■ Report to the GM possible reshaping plans & scenarios.

■ Think outside the box! ie: Additional Staff Officer & AGL

■ Lodges can hop over to other districts

Districts 100 years ago

1916■ 40 Districts ■ 250,000 Members ■ 6200 /District■ Poor Roads■ Model T Fords■ Trains

2016■ 54 Districts (was 60 2014) ■ 37,000 Members ■ 694/District■ Favorable Conditions■ Good Roads■ Good Autos

PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE DEPUTY GRAND MASTER

DDGM selectees to write an initial report about their perceived District Regional

Partners that might make a good pairing. Report due @ Regional Training

#2 Survey the health of our Lodges

■ A Lodge needs to look like a Lodge

■ A Lodge needs to act as a Lodge

■ It needs to make and keep Masons

■ It needs to help each other and in the community

Survey the health of our Lodges ■ DDGM to honestly

appraise the condition of the Lodges & report the same to Grand Lodge.

■ Record the Lodges last year’s attendance recorded in the in the sign in book!

■ New! DDGM shall observe that each Lodge can competently open and close the Lodge with its own elected and appointed Members.

■ Grand Lecturer to instruct AGL’s to practice w/ Lodge before observing the work.

Survey the health of our Lodges

■ New! DDGM to personally verify that the IRS 990 have been filled out and current. Report the same to Grand Lodge.

■ Do they regularly open once or twice a month?

■ Are they stable?

■ Interesting programs?■ Do they have new

candidates?■ Are they training? ■ Mentors? NorthStar?■ LSOME, RTTE, MDC■ Condition of the Hall?■ Do they contribute to

the community?

#3 Easier Consolidation

■ If a Lodge cannot rejuvenate, then the DDGM to encourage the distressed Lodges to seek consolidation.

■ Grand Lodge will facilitate easier consolidation.

■ GL will help w/ forms

■ Grand Lodge does not want the money! It needs to stay in the area.

■ Lodges that are consolidating or surrendering their Charter…shall NOT spend off their money!

Easier Consolidation

DDGM to look at Lodges who may be candidates for merger

Consolidations

50 Lodges most likely to consolidate into 25 Lodges next year

#4 Guard the West Gate

Guard the West Gate

■ Face Book■ Google■ New Back Ground

Check offered to Lodges

“We are a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen!”

#5 NorthStar and The Grand Lodge

The Goal!

■ Emphasis on Membership Acquisition, Development & Retention

Why?

■ 37,000 members in 2016

■ 30,000 members in 2020

■ 20% reduction in membership in 4 years!

Mandatory Work

DDGM

■ Appoint and Oversee the District Umbrella Chair

■ Names at Regional■ Two Success Coaches in

each Lodge■ Perform the Staff Officer

Duties if not appointed

Staff Officer

■ LSOME is utilized in every Lodge

■ Monitor and help with NorthStar catechism

■ RTTE■ Masters Chair■ MDC

#6 MORI Seminars

■ 100 Lodges are not using MORI

■ More are just partially using MORI *

■ Goal: get all the Lodges on MORI

■ We will conduct seminars for MORI education

■ Contact RW Brother Charles E. Knapp Jr., 845-588-5360

■ ceknappjr@att.net ■ To set up a seminar in

the district where a Lodge is not using the program

#7 Continuation of existing GM granting DDGM to make dispensations

YES

■ Usual Dispensations ■ Six – 10 Candidates■ First Degree only as a

“Catch-up” Note: No skirting around the dispensation just to avoid the mother lodge conferral.

■ 1st Year only…not in the 2nd year.

NO

■ Remember: The DDGM cannot issue a Cross District Dispensation for degree conferrals.

■ Must be submitted to the Grand Lodge in writing in sufficient time frame.

#8 Ladies Invitation Friday June 24, 2016

■ Carla Williamson is personally extending a request for your spouse/significant other to join her for a special brunch.

■ 9:30AM Fellowship Hall

■ Invitation to follow!

■ Sign up with Ladies at Desk

#9 Friday Night Country Western Barbeque on the Great Lawn

■ Pulled Pork, Beef, Chicken and all the fixins’

■ Picnic Dress■ Wear a Cowboy Hat &

outfit■ Country Western Band■ Line Dancing■ Fun!

■ Please stay until we conduct the “Lights of Honor Celebration”

#10 Grand Masters Day Camp Turk

■ Grand Master’s Day Camp Turk August 6, 2016

#11 Grand Masters Cruise

Grand Master’s Cruise St. John’s New Brunswick

July 28-Aug 1st

Ball & Journal RW John Haslam

■ Grand Master’s Journal All Proceeds Wiley Hall

■ Grand Master’s Ball October 22, Buffalo NY

True Leadership

■ The best executive is one who has sense enough to pick good people to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.”

“Theodore Roosevelt”

A way of Life !