The above article was written for the Omaha Valley News following an open house and fund-raising performance at the Omaha Scottish Rite Center by the local cast of Buddy. The Omaha Valley also promotes member involvement through a Broadway theatre series which includes a social time with hors d’ oeuvres, parking, bus transportation, and the best seats available. This season’s shows are 42nd Street, Starlight Express, Bill Cosby, and Mamma Mia!

I don’t know where I am, but this place is cool!”
There you have it from “Buddy Holly,” the father of rock ‘n roll, as played by Billy McGuigan in the production of Buddy (photo above) performed on June 5, 2003, in the Omaha, Nebraska, Scottish Rite Temple. This 90-year old, classical stone edifice, a symbol of staid conservatism and quiet repose, is a “cool” place! Can you believe it?

You bet we believe it! If you were one of the 320 attendees at the June open house/social hour/dinner/Buddy Holly show/reception, then you became a believer.

How did this all happen? In an era of declining volunteerism and waning attendance at social and service clubs, how is it that the Omaha Valley suddenly becomes a “cool” place? Well, for starters, it wasn’t sudden. We are a 15-year overnight sensation. It takes an event like Buddy to show we’ve arrived and are firing on all cylinders.

And it wasn’t just the June event. How about over 400 attendees at the Spring Outing, or the 64 who joined us for the Broadway show Swing!, or the monthly dinners and programs that now regularly exceed 100 members and their spouses? Something is happening here. Let’s take a stab at a few reasons why.

Spend Some Money Investment would be a more subtle term, but let’s face it, if you can’t invest some money in your organization, your organization will not be long for this world. We didn’t have to spend money to upgrade our mechanical system, or to renovate the first and second floors, or invest in artwork. Or, more importantly, we didn’t have to increase contributions to our charities and scholarship recipients. But ask the question, “Where would we be today had we not made those investments?” Which leads us to the next point.

Pride Of Place The Omaha Brethren have always had a great building, but after a generation or more without an upgrade, it was a bit rough around the edges, and few members felt any sense of pride in bringing guests to the building. Have you ever wondered why organizations hold banquets at elegant places, like the Fountain Court at the Joslyn Art Museum or the Durham Western Heritage Museum, when there are numerous hotels that could accommodate such events? It is because they are grand, unique, and historic spaces that are inspiring and endearing. Participants feel a sense of importance and pride in those facilities. The Omaha Valley is now taking its place among the best event facilities in Omaha.

Get A Plan Get all your leadership together regularly to discuss where you are going as an organization. Yes, there’s a process and methodology to it, but simply communicating ideas among the leadership results in self-starting efforts that can be quite amazing.

Up With People Remember the Up With People organization back in the ‘60s that was made up of perky, positive kids who went around the country entertaining with an upbeat attitude? Well, a good many of them grew up and joined the Omaha Valley! The Omaha Valley is blessed with an incredibly large group of positive thinkers and doers. I’ve been to other organizations where grousing is the only agenda item for a meeting. At the Omaha Valley, positive activities are the agenda of every meeting.

Leader With A Happy Face I know I’m going to step on some toes, but here it goes anyway. “Bean counters” are great for businesses, but keeping a Scottish Rite Valley successful takes a people-oriented person in the leader’s seat. And we’ve got one! In fact, we have several. Among them are Ill. Bros. D. William Dean, James R. Erixon (both General Secretary Emeriti), and Curtis M. Edic, General Secretary. What a trio of socially engaged, positive leaders, and they are representative of the men we have at the helm of the Valley for the past 30-some years. Such service with a smile, combined with a keen mind for organization, has kept the Omaha Valley’s membership motivated and enthusiastic. Oh, yes, those leaders can “count beans” too.

Stability Once a month, a group calling itself the Cathedral Board meets to look at the big picture of the Omaha Valley. Do we have money? Is the building operating efficiently? Are we staffed properly? Are we appropriately insured? Are we keeping our eye on opportunities? Etc. We rarely see them together as a public group. They maintain a low profile. They do not direct activities of the membership. They serve for a long time, as opposed to our annual turnover of line officers. They represent stability, a sense of security, and, most importantly, an environment of trust.

Fun At The Scottish Rite Is Not An Oxymoron It’s time for a personal confession. I joined the Scottish Rite in 1975 and went to one business meeting. I did not return until 1987 and that was by request. The business meetings were BORING, and there wasn’t much else going on to excite my curiosity. Contrast that to today. I can’t believe I’d ever say this, but our business meetings are as much fun as the social hour and dinner that follow them. Our motto is “Lighten up!”

The above items are cited because (1) we must always recognize that none of those items can be taken for granted and because (2) all of the things listed represent change in our organization. Even the stable Cathedral Board has changed. Only through change do we stay alive and relevant to our members and our mission.

So the “Miracle on 20th Street,” our Scottish Rite Temple in Omaha, is a pretty cool place. Perhaps we can find an entertainer to come next time and dub the Scottish Rite with the more contemporary term of “Awesome!”

W. L. “Larry” Jacobsen is an architect and strategic planner in Omaha, Nebraska. He has conducted strategic planning sessions for the Omaha Valley, the Grand Lodge of Nebraska and the North Central York Rite Conference. In 2001, he served as the keynote speaker for the Conference of Grand Masters held in Milwaukee. He served as Master of Shiloh Lodge No. 327, Omaha, in 1980, and as Master of the Omaha Lodge of Perfection in 1993. He currently serves on the Education Committee of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska and is the editor for To Light, an educational newsletter published by the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. E-mail him at: larryjacobsen1218@msn.com