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!