Lodge Best Practices

March 19th, 2021

Brothers, Over the past decade, our Grand Lodge leaders have developed a District Deputy Grand Master's report that is much more in‐depth than those used prior. The reason for these extensive reports was to enable our Grand Lodge leaders to evaluate the true health of our Lodges and to tailor programs to assist in those areas where opportunities were found. An unexpected outcome of these DDGM reports is that our Grand Lodge's leadership has developed a list of Lodge best practices. These best practices fall in line with the Mission and Vision of our Grand Lodge. Which are: "The Mission of the Grand Lodge of Kansas is to Encourage and Support Freemasonry by Assisting its Brothers and Constituent Lodges to Achieve Success and Prosperity, as Assets to Their Communities."

"The Vision of the Grand Lodge of Kansas is an Ideal Masonic Experience in Every Lodge!"

I wanted to share these best practices so that you can see how other Lodges are finding success. No one thing will be a "silver bullet" to fix the issues in our Lodges. It is only through hard work and the implementation of best practices such as these that we will give our Lodges the best chance of successful futures. For questions about these best practices or their implementation, please contact your District Deputy Grand Master. He will either have the answers or know where to direct you.

Fraternally,

M‫؞‬W‫؞‬Mikel J. Stoops Grand Master, 2021‐2022

Lodge Best Practices Landmarks, Constitution, and Bylaws Landmarks, Constitution, and Bylaws set the minimum requirements for a Masonic Lodge in this Jurisdiction. Because of this, the first best practice is adhering to those basic requirements. These items represent the highest impact on a Lodge's success score in the Lodge certification/accreditation program.

1. Landmarks IX and XI require that the Lodge's meeting location can be adequately tyled and that a lodge must hold tyled meetings.

2. Bylaws § 3‐405 & 3‐407 require that a lodge regularly opens according to its bylaws' requirements but no less than once a month except in July and August.

3. Constitution Article IX § 5 requires that a lodge has a quorum at its meeting to perform the Lodge business.

4. Bylaw § 3‐401 requires that the Lodge's meeting space be a safe and secure place suitable for Masonic work and ceremony.

5. Bylaws § 3‐422, 3‐423, & 3‐424 require a lodge to provide the proper working tools, lights, furniture, and all other necessary implements. These items include officers' jewels, working tools, furniture described by our ritual, and an American flag.

6. Bylaws § 3‐306 & 3‐307 requires that the Master and Wardens be proficient in the work to ensure that work is done in a creditable manner.

7. Bylaws § 3‐604 requires that participants in the ceremony of conferring any degree can do so without an open cipher.

8. Bylaws § 3‐604 requires that Lodge been officially represented at the Grand Lodge Annual Communication at least once in the last three years.

9. Bylaws § 3‐318 requires that Lodges conduct an annual audit of the Treasurer's and Secretary's accounts and report them to the members.

10. Bylaws § 3‐612 requires that constitutional/bylaw changes adopted at the last Grand Lodge Annual Communication read in Lodge.

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Lodge Operation The Lodge's operation deals with its financial stability, maintenance of the place in which the Lodge meets, and planning for the future.

1. Finances a. A Lodge should show sufficient income to sustain its financial wellbeing. b. A Lodge should adopt an annual budget to guide in its financial dealings. c. A Lodge's treasurer should provide the Lodge with a monthly summary of the financial accounting. d. If a Lodge has investments, they should use professional guidance to assist in those investments.

2. Meeting Place a. A meeting place should have an adequate HVAC system to maintain the comfort of the members. b. A meeting place should be accessible to all members.

3. Planning – A Lodge needs to have a plan and goals for its future success. Ideally, these are well documented to guide the success of the Lodge.

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Meeting Experience and Lodge Communication A lodge must provide value to its members to maintain those members and keep them active. The Masonic Experience is not limited to our degree work. That experience extends to every action and interaction of members of our Lodges. Therefore, it is imperative to sustaining and building membership that all Lodges provide a valuable Masonic Experience to all members. These are the best practices to achieve those experiences.

1. Stated Communications a. Use a Consent Agenda. This allows the Lodge to deal with the mundane business quickly and efficiently. Our members' time is valuable, and using a consent agenda will allow for their time to be spent in ways that enhance the Masonic Experience. The consent agenda should include: i. The prior distribution of the minutes and bills for approval so that they are not read aloud during the meeting. ii. The prior distribution of all communications not required to be read in open Lodge. iii. Actions on standard items that almost never require discussion prior to approval. b. Have regular fellowship meals. Fellowship is an integral part of the Masonic Experience, and breaking bread with our Brothers is a great way to bolster that fellowship. c. Wear clothing that is appropriate for a location that represents the Holy of Holies.

2. Degree Work a. A Lodge should be able to perform its own work. Bylaw § 3‐202 states that a Lodge working under dispensation cannot be granted a Warrant of Constitution until it can confer all three degrees. This is a fundamental requirement of being a Masonic Lodge. b. A Lodge should hold regular study clubs to ensure that it is able to perform its work proficiently.

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3. Communication a. A Lodge should use modern communication tools to ensure adequate communication with its members and its community. i. Social media, websites, and digital platforms should be utilized. ii. Our Lodge Page (OLP) ‐ Every Lodge and member has access to OLP. It is an app‐ based system that enables communication to members about events and notices.

It also has a look‐up feature to find contact information for other members. b. A Lodge should have communication tools inside the meeting place to enhance the Masonic Experience. These include but are not limited to: i. Access to a computer. Numerous lodge actives are enhanced via digital media.

Having a computer available to the Lodge is critical to enhance the experience. ii. Have a sound system. We all need to be able to hear in the meeting place. This will enable all present to take part in the interactions. iii. Be able to show videos. Many times, communication from outside sources or Masonic education can be conveyed via video. A Lodge having the ability to view these is essential to an enhanced experience. iv. Connect to the internet. A meeting place should have internet service available.

All the above items rely on communication with outside sources. Having internet service in the meeting place makes this much more manageable.

4. Masonic Education ‐ We promise to make good men better and to provide light (enlightenment).

How can we do this if we never offer Masonic Education? a. Plan and schedule Masonic Education for every meeting. Planning and scheduling always lead to better presentations. b. Use a variety of resources to provide Masonic Education. Variety makes things more interesting and leads to greater involvement from the members. c. Use outside resources to enhance Masonic education in the Lodge. There are numerous members available to present Masonic education in your Lodge. Bringing in outside resources is a great way to keep Masonic Education interesting.

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Community Involvement and Charity Lodges and their members do not operate in a vacuum. Our Lodges are part of our communities, and the membership of our Lodges come from those communities. Successful Lodges use these connections and interactions to enhance their success.

1. Not just a Man, a Mason – This is a public‐facing campaign facilitated by the Scottish Rite NJ. We are making use of it to enhance the interactions between our Lodges and the general public.

Kansas branded Digital and Hard media items are available for use by our Lodges.

2. Discovering Freemasonry – This is the interactive, Lodge based, public information program made available through the Grand Lodge. It is the update of the former "Friends of Masonry" program.

Lodges can contact their District Deputy Grand Master to request the program information and to request assistance in facilitating an event in their community.

3. Kansas Masonic Foundation Programs – Our Kansas Masonic Foundation provided multiple charitable programs that can help our Lodges be successful by interacting in charitable ways with their communities. Contact our foundation for details on programs that are available to your Lodge.

4. Community‐Based Charitable Work – Many Lodges do charitable work in their communities that is specific to that Lodge. Keep in mind that additional financial resources might be available through our Kansas Masonic Foundation to increase this charitable work's impact.

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KANSAS FREEMASONS ON THE LEVEL