John M. Myers, 33°
Wichita Scottish Rite, 332 E. First Street, Wichita, Kansas
67202-2402
jmyers@powwwer.net
When you get out there and communicate, you
will convey your true Scottish Rite purpose to your members
and to the general public.
In this era of tightening budgets, every Scottish Rite Center
has to focus on ways to attract income from outside our own
membership, thus improving our local fiscal health. Let's begin
by communicating who we are to our members and to our community.
What we need is best expressed in a simple formula: Well-Planned
Events + Well-Planned Communication = Increased Scottish Rite
Excitement. This excitement can translate into increased
community interest and usage of our "best-kept secret,"
our Scottish Rite Centers.
Without a plan we have nothing. If your Scottish Rite Center
has not undergone a strategic planning process, you are sure
to fall short in: (1) Increased member activities designed to
build interest and excitement within our membership and families;
(2) Increased community awareness of our Scottish Rite organization
and activities which the public can attend; (3) Possibilities
for public usage (i.e. rentals such as weddings, receptions,
business/civic meetings, concerts, plays, etc.) within our Scottish
Rite Centers.
Before you think it's only about money, remember who we are.
Your best business primer for use in our Fraternity might be
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. When a young Scrooge
approached his first boss, Fezzywig, about a buyout, Fezzywig
declined, reminding Scrooge that "It is not for money alone
that one builds a family business.... It is to preserve a way
of life one once knew and loved." We must always remember
that our Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is about more than mere
money. Preserving our Scottish Rite, that we might communicate
and make possible our mission, is what we're all about. To do
this, we must communicate to our membership and to our friends
in the local community. There are several ways to do this.
Publish a Monthly Newsletter.
An attractive monthly publication will communicate your action
plan and related events. Your "house organ" must be
in tune, so select the best editor possible, someone who has
experience communicating information, hopefully in a desktop-published
format. Your newsletter need not be lengthy, but it does need
to look good, be topical, and be current. Set binding deadlines
for all your features and don't let them slip. Once the Brethren
know to expect a regular newsletter, they will look forward
to it and read it.
Hold Monthly Meetings.
Regular meetings are essential to maintain communication, and
they should include a dinner for members, ladies, and friends
from the community. There should be a presentation of community
interest such as student scholarships and teacher awards. These
will help communicate excitement. Your ladies may meet while
members hold their Stated Meeting. Then schedule a 20-minute
program using an invited guest speaker from the community, and
publicize this program to the community, inviting them to join
you for dinner and a tour of your facility while your members
and ladies meet. Then proceed to your program. If once per month
is too tall an order, try it once per quarter. You'll be surprised
at the excitement and participation it will generate.
Perform Excellent Scottish Rite Degrees.
The Degrees present a good way for communicating your excitement
in several member and non-member venues. Obviously your well-rehearsed,
beautifully costumed, and effectively acted Degrees will remain
a memorable introduction to new members, just as their performance
during Reunions provides the reason that hundreds involved in
"the work" continue their participation. Consider
a special showing of your Degree costumes, special lighting
and sound effects, and such non-Degree presentations as The
Traitor, the Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal, and Knights
of St. Andrew programs. Civic groups such as Kiwannis and Rotary
constantly look for programs, and the local Scottish Rite can
be a source.
Host Banquets & Programs which
Honor Various Segments of Your Community. These events
will also boost involvement by the Brethren and members of the
local community. For instance, invite your members and community
to Veterans Banquets, Fire Department Nights, Law Enforcement
Programs, and the like. These events communicate that the Scottish
Rite cares. Masons and non-Masons will come.
Strut Scottish Rite on Parade.
Weather permitting, show off your costumes in community parades.
Special groups-such as your Camp Guard, Knights of St. Andrew,
Pipes and Drums, and Scottish Rite Clinic kids, staff, and parents-look
great on floats decorated by your members. Communicate your
history and your present accomplishments to the community.
Take
Your Show on the Road Through Civic Involvement.
A high, positive local Scottish Rite profile can be communicated
through forming a Speakers Bureau of members who can speak effectively
on their special Masonic interest areas or their special vocational
and avocational areas. Your Scottish Rite goodwill and involvement
shine for all to witness when you form, for instance, a group
answering phones at area telethons and radiothons. Your ladies
can aid in this endeavor, too!
Communicate by Utilizing Your Center
for Rentals. This will definitely force you to clean
up your Scottish Rite Center. Once you do, the rental business
will make your Center become an asset instead of a liability.
Renting does not mean you have "sold out" to commercialism.
Rather, it means your have made a wise business decision that
will benefit your Valley. Many Valleys are seeing rental earnings
ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 and more per year! Yes, there
are necessary considerations, like including in the fee an off-duty
security person, allowing alcohol to be served (you need to
be on a level playing field with other rentals to be competitive),
and building your volunteer base to handle the events. But all
these details can be overcome, with a little effort, and you
can begin to profit from your facility. Rental is a whole new
world, and you will be amazed how other people see and use your
Center. From gala banquets to theatrical productions and business
conferences, your Center reaps the dividends.
Finally, Communicate Totally by Using
the Media. Here are two sure-fire tips. Contact your
Chamber of Commerce and ask for a media directory. Also, contact
your state press association and ask for its press directory.
These directories give you the nuts-and-bolts information of
media communication and public relations: deadlines, referrals,
rules, formats, and the connections you need to achieve total
communication. It's amazing what goodwill and name recognition
a free Public Service Announcement (PSA) will generate!
When you get out there and communicate, you will convey your
true Scottish Rite purpose to your members and to the general
public. The resulting message will be that your Scottish Rite
Center is a dynamic, contributing, healthy part of your community.
To do anything less is not an appropriate alternative for Scottish
Rite Masons!
