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Posted at: 3:05 pm I got my eyes on a Lodge plan (not for my Lodge) which included a discussion about finances. What caught my eye was something that the writer indicated about the plan…I’ll paraphrase: “Are we planning for survival or are we planning for success?” Success, as defined by this brother, is running the Lodge ‘like if we were Freemasons’. He spoke about banquets and gifts to brothers who help the Lodge in a significant way…you know…like Freemasons SHOULD do. Anyway, I got to thinking…what ARE we planning for when we make our Lodge financial decisions? If simple survival comes into the conversation at all, then we are failing in all other areas. One in particular, is dues. Leadership books, lectures, conferences…all of them tell us that a well-governed Lodge should be able to make-it on Dues alone. Can you say that for your Lodge? Or are you struggling with an Impossibly Tight Trust that cannot be touched with your building falling-apart around you because you can’t touch the principal? Is it that you have no money at all, and your Lodge is not willing to pay more Dues? How about the Lodge that is plenty healthy financially but can’t gather the men necessary to raise enough brothers to actually do anything? Spend some of your money my friends. Ask your brothers for more. Do something before it is too late. Planning for survival vs. planning for success is a matter of perspective. That means there is a philosophical lesson to be learned here… I am certain that there is at least one Masonic symbol/lesson that will help us look at this situation more clearly, but I can’t think of one right now. But that’s what the comment section below is for. |
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January 19, 2008
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Well I pose another question for anyone to answer. Today, is it possible to “survive” through finances or committed members, or are both dependent on eachother. A lodge with deep pockets seems to be financially stable and adequately capable surviving in the sense that bills, dues, dinners etc. are paid, while a lodge with devoted members who attend lodge regularly, mentor, become ritualist, and knowledgable can survive for the good of masonry. To some success is having a financially healthy lodge and to others quality freemasons is successful. Today I believe both are vital for lodges, and where one is lacking the other may follow. Men who knock on the lodge door seek more than just a “club” (or atleast i hope they should) and when a lodge becomes just a club those men leave with a bad taste in their mouths. A lodge that cannot maintain financial stability will have no choice but to close its doors and end up in turmoil to operate. Balance is the key. In my opinion, lodge endeavors that do not have these two things in mind can take away from the lodge.
Comment by David — January 19, 2008 @ 7:35 pm