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Opening Your Lodge To Your Community
By Phil O’Keefe
Visibility
Is your Lodge invisible in your community?
VisibilityMasonic signs on
your Lodge building or on a post at the edge of your town will not tell much of a story about who the Masons are and what we’re all about.
Visibility
Think of how difficult it would be for a store to interest people in its products if it looked like this.
Visibility
Without visibility in the community, what are your chances of attracting new members?
Visibility
How do you create visibility for your Lodge in your community?
Visibility
How do you create visibility for your Lodge in your community?
Open it up!
Opening the Lodge
Opening your Lodge to the community doesn’t necessarily require a lot of time and effort. It doesn’t necessarily have to cost a lot of money.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.
Opening the Lodge
A well-constructed, informative website makes it easy for people to learn about your Lodge. It will work for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Build a Website
Opening the Lodge
But, where do you begin?
Build a Website
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Create a domain name that is like your Lodge’s name (e.g. www.mysticstarlodg69.com).
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Create a domain name that is like your Lodge’s name (e.g. www.mysticstarlodg69.com).
Avoid creating really long, complicated web addresses.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website Look for a good deal on a web hosting service to rent the space for your website in their computer.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website Look for a good deal on a web hosting service to rent the space for your website in their computer.
Check to see if the domain name you created is available.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website Look for a good deal on a web hosting service to rent the space for your website in their computer.
Check to see if the domain name you created is available.
Sign up with the web hosting service.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website Look for a good deal on a web hosting service to rent the space for your website in their computer.
Check to see if the domain name you created is available.
Sign up with the web hosting service.
Register your domain name.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Look around on the web to get some ideas of what you want your website to look like.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Once you have an idea of what you want your website to look like, then you have to make a decision about how to build it.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Find someone to build the website for you.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Obtain software to enable you to build it yourself.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
If you go the do-it-yourself route, purchase software that makes it easy to create and edit web pages without extensive knowledge of HTML programming.
Avoid freeware, because it can be frustrating to use if you are a novice.
Opening the Lodge
Build a WebsiteGenerally speaking, your web pages should tell viewers about your Lodge AND show that it is fun and interesting to be a part of Freemasonry.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Include a “Calendar” page showing dates, times, and locations of meetings and special events.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Include a “Contact Us” page with the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of your officers.
Opening the Lodge
Build a WebsiteAfter you publish your website on the net, throw your domain name around!
Opening the Lodge
Build a WebsitePut your domain name on:
● Business Cards
● Flyers
● Press Releases
● Signs
● Letterhead
● Email Signatures
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Identify programs that will directly benefit members of your community.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Identify programs that will directly benefit members of your community.
Approach leaders and business people in the community and obtain their support.
Opening the Lodge
Holding FundraisersDetermine what kind of fundraiser will work for you.
Opening the Lodge
Holding FundraisersDetermine what kind of fundraiser will work for you.
Try to focus on things you can do at your Lodge.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Planning is key!
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Publicize!!!• Distribute flyers• Send out press releases• Spread the word to friends, coworkers,
and neighbors
Don’t forget to include your web address!
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
So the day of the big event is here…
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
• Open the Lodge up during the event.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
• Open the Lodge up during the event.• Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
• Open the Lodge up during the event.• Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.• Have membership info and petitions on hand.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
• Open the Lodge up during the event.• Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.• Have membership info and petitions on hand.• Be prepared to answer questions, good and bad.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
• Open the Lodge up during the event.• Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.• Have membership info and petitions on hand.• Be prepared to answer questions, good and bad.• Be courteous, friendly, and helpful.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
• Open the Lodge up during the event.• Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.• Have membership info and petitions on hand.• Be prepared to answer questions, good and bad.• Be courteous, friendly, and helpful.• Have fun!
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Most importantly, clean the place up and make it presentable before you open the doors to the public!
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.• Have an open house.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.• Show an introductory video about
Freemasonry.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.• Show an introductory video about
Freemasonry.• Tour the Lodge and go over basics.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.• Show an introductory video about
Freemasonry.• Tour the Lodge and go over basics.• Encourage asking of questions.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.• Show an introductory video about
Freemasonry.• Tour the Lodge and go over basics.• Encourage asking of questions.• Have membership information and petition
forms on hand.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• No hard sell tactics!
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• No hard sell tactics!• Be friendly, polite, and maintain eye contact.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• No hard sell tactics!• Be friendly, polite, and maintain eye contact.• Be prepared to answer questions.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• No hard sell tactics!• Be friendly, polite, and maintain eye contact.• Be prepared to answer questions.• Let it take as long as it takes.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• No hard sell tactics!• Be friendly, polite, and maintain eye contact.• Be prepared to answer questions.• Let it take as long as it takes.• Make it fun for everyone.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.• Have an open house.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.• Have an open house.• Raise awareness in the media.
Opening the Lodge
Raise Awareness in the Media
Get to know the people at your local newspaper, radio station, and television station.
Opening the Lodge
Raise Awareness in the Media
Freemasonry is center stage in a lot of books, movies, and television shows.
Opening the Lodge
Raise Awareness in the Media
Let media folks know that you are available for interviews regarding Freemasonry.
Opening the Lodge
Raise Awareness in the Media
Before you sit down for an interview, make sure you have your facts straight!
Opening the Lodge
So, what’s left?
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
• Run a Kids ID program at your county fair or school events.
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
• Run a Kids ID program at your county fair or school events.
• Become part of public events like bicycle races, marathons, parades, etc.
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
• Run a Kids ID program at your county fair or school events.
• Become part of public events like bicycle races, marathons, parades, etc.
• Have a cornerstone ceremony.
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
• Run a Kids ID program at your county fair or school events.
• Become part of public events like bicycle races, marathons, parades, etc.
• Have a cornerstone ceremony.• Be creative… there are all sorts of other
things you can do!
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