Jo Ann Missey
PO Box 218, Victorville, California 92393–0218

Mentoring America's young people is a practical way to reverse Masonry's decline in membership.

• Masons must work with their local schools to develop a mentor program that teams a Mason with a child having difficulty in school—academic, athletic, or behavioral. Many behavioral problems are rooted in academic failings where direct, personal mentoring can make all the difference in the world.

• Masons who were athletes in high school or college can relate to a student who is an athlete or wants to be one but has no skills. Masons can expose young men to the sports they enjoy, to fair play, and setting goals to achieve success. Many unskilled, uncoordinated youngsters need only a little uncritical attention and instruction to learn to catch and throw, swim, ski, or ride a horse. Kids need to know how to work as a team and learn to lose as well as win. A little time spent helping a student improve in sports is time well spent.

• Masons can help high school or college age kids who need extra money, want to learn to work, and understand the value of a dollar, but can't find a part-time job. Nearly every Mason at times needs a driver, yard work done, help with grocery shopping, assistance rearranging furniture, washing the car, running errands, and a hundred other business or household jobs.

• Masons can work one-on-one with kids who have no father or positive male role model, and many don't. You can make a positive difference in a kid's life. Undoubtedly, someone gave you guidance. Work with your local junior and senior high school principals to get something started.

• Masons can provide more scholarships. Not many Lodges can afford $1,000 scholarships, but many individual Masons or Masonic groups can give one or more $100 awards—prominently advertised and reported as Masonic scholarships. This will get the public's attention. Community papers love local news, and even big-city newspapers have a neighborhood section that welcomes information on local events. They are looking for copy. Supply it! Then assign an interested Mason to keep in touch with the kid who is the recipient and provide your local newspaper and TV station with a write-up of the progress and accomplishments of that Masonry-sponsored student. If you give them a human-interest story, local newspapers and radio or TV stations will be glad to get out the good word on local kids—and their Masonic sponsor!

• Masons who have a military background can especially exemplify love of country and patriotism to young men and boys. Most are not receiving any positive influence to love their country, live uprightly, revere our flag, and be proud to be an American. Masons can provide a positive, moral, and patriotic influence.

• Masons who are successful in academia, business, the professions, or the skilled trades can provide interested young men some insight into their field of work or career. Consider showing how to perform simple car maintenance, to operate and maintain lawn equipment, or to learn basic computer skills now familiar to so many senior citizens.

None of the above suggestions is "adopting" a kid; it's providing a positive role model, a little earned spending money, a chance to learn to work or participate in sports. Many young men and boys have no one to talk to. They desperately need the listening of and, in some cases, the advice of a mature Mason. These are the young men we need to reach NOW to get them started on the right path to a happy, productive adulthood. If Masons do these things, guess who will want to join DeMolay and go on to petition a Masonic Lodge when they get old enough?

The Freemasons aren't the only traditional organizations fading away. Look at the low church memberships, fewer voter registrations, the dwindling rolls of union or professional organizations, and sparse crowds at patriotic functions. These groups share, in large part, Masonry's problem, lack of visibility, especially to our youth.

To get more visibility in your community, join with other local organizations in their civic endeavors such as Toys for Tots, Red Cross drives, homeless shelter relief. March in every appropriate parade. Attend every significant public function and indicate you represent Freemasonry. Volunteer as crossing guards at schools, hospitals, and the like. Attend City Council meetings with a positive attitude and positive support. Provide flag ceremonies—raising and lowering the flag, knowing proper flag etiquette, rendering the pledge of allegiance.

Have a positive press release once a week, or at least monthly, citing the Lodge or Temple, its address, and a point of contact, to call attention to a patriotic event, visiting dignitary, or the anniversary of a significant battle. List the members who participated. Get on local TV and radio as often as possible to tell of your latest philanthropic efforts, civic endeavors, distinguished visitors, and the children helped through Masonic efforts. This last can be a very positive boost of the Masonic image that people will remember.

You and the example you set in your daily life for honesty, fairness, charity, reverence, patriotism, and love of your fellowman will exemplify what is best in Masonry. Your life should inspire others to ask you how they can become what you are—a Mason.