E. John Elmore, 33°
P.O. Box 466, Greensboro, North Carolina 27402
Recognition, Recruitment, and Retention must
be the three R's of the Scottish Rite if we are to succeed in
maintaining and expanding our membership.
| Ill. Steven L. Pendergrass,
33°, admires the Annual Service Award medal recently
presented by the Valley of Greensboro, N.C., to Bro. P.
Shaun Bradshaw, 32°. |
 |
Remember the basic foundation elements of your elementary school
years, "reading, writing and arithmetic"? These three
Rs, as we were instructed, would enable us to explore life to
its fullest with a firm educational foundation. Today, in our
Scottish Rite, we still have three Rs for our foundation of
continued success: Recognition, Recruitment, and Retention.
In order for us to continue for another 200 or more years in
the Masonic Family, it is important that we remember and use
these three tools in the operation of our Valleys and Orients.
The late Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart/Sam's Club, had many
great ideas as a pioneer in the retail industry, and one of
them was to welcome each customer on a personal basis. He employed
greeters to host his store entrances and say "Hello and
welcome!" The customers would immediately feel special,
for they had just been recognized by a friendly stranger and
welcomed to be a part of a retail experience. We, in our Valleys,
should remember to do the same with each member at all meetings.
It costs us nothing to extend a friendly hand and warm welcome
of recognition to all members on a regular basis. We also must
never forget that praise is a potent form of recognition that
can seldom be overdone. Remember to send a few "atta boys"
and kudos to those Brothers who volunteer their time and talents
in our organization. This can take several forms: a personal
"Thank you," a formal letter expressing gratitude,
a certificate of thanks presented in a public cere-mony, or
a note in your local publication of the member's contribution.
If your Valley does not regularly review its membership age,
occupation, and location demographics, it should. When this
is done, the Valley then can focus its recruitment of members
to fill the casts, crews, and activities according to talents
and abilities. This review will also enable the Valley to arrange
programs appealing to various age levels. We should also remember,
especially after the events of September 11, that time for leisure
and volunteer activities is very precious. Most of us wish to
spend as much quality time as possible with our families. Thus,
involving families in Scottish Rite activities should be a priority.
Similarly, stated business or committee meetings should be interesting
and productive within a reasonable time frame.
Retaining all members is paramount in the continuance of the
Scottish Rite. We are now experiencing a whole new membership
process since the Shrine dropped the Rites as a membership requirement.
Our methods of retention and recruitment must also change in
order for us to survive. If we constantly review all of our
Valley programs and produce them so that they appeal to the
age and interest of our members and their families, we are more
likely to retain their interest and, thus, their membership.
We must also listen more closely than ever to what our members
feel is "value" in their membership. Once this is
clear, we should be willing to change with our goal being the
implementation of their opinions.
When you think about the Reten-tion, Recruitment, and Recognition
of Scottish Rite members, view this process with an open mind.
I encourage you to assemble your Orient and Valley leadership
together on a regular basis to exchange ideas and comments on
successful programs that are working for them. If we work as
a team, like Sam Walton and his associates, and practice the
three Rs, we will continue to succeed.
