Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:38:22 -0800WeeblyFri, 03 Sep 2010 14:48:41 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2010/09/legends-of-iowa-lodges.htmlOne of the new and exciting displays we will be having at Grand Lodge this year is a new concept called “Legends of Iowa Lodges.”  I think once you hear about it, you will be as excited as I am to recognize the past efforts of a member of your lodge. 

Most lodges can look back to someone in their history who made significant contributions to their lodge and/or their community.  I’m not referring to monetary contributions per se, but something that through this brother’s actions or leadership has inspired great things for his lodge or community (or both).  

Before telling you more about what Legends of Iowa Lodges is, let me tell you what it is not:

a.    It is NOT a new award program.
b.    It is NOT a competition.
c.    It is NOT a recognition program for an individual or lodge to strive to achieve.

Instead, Legends of Iowa Lodges IS a program to recognize past brothers for their past contributions to your lodge, your community or even Iowa Masonry.  In other words, we are looking for brothers who made a difference.  Having a brother who served as a Grand Lodge Officer, even Grand Master, is not what we are looking for.  That would not disqualify a brother, but the whole point of this program is for you to tell the story of this brother as regards your lodge and community.

At Grand Lodge in Sioux City later this month, we will be putting up a display of Legends.  What we want to include in this display are photos, stories, clippings, etc. of the Legends of Iowa Lodges and we want your lodge to be represented in this display.  It is possible that this will become a precursor to a larger, more permanent display at the Grand Lodge building in Cedar Rapids, called “Iowa Freemasonry’s Hall of Legends,” or something to that effect, of which 2010 would be the inaugural class.

Since taking office as Grand Master of Masons in Iowa last September, I’ve been asking lodges to make 2010 their “Best Year Ever.”  One good way to do that is to discover new ideas and new ways to make a difference in your community.  An effective way of doing that can be to look back at your past, as you will be doing while researching your lodges “Legend.”  You might well discover that your lodge had a specific program or project years ago that for some reason is no longer being carried out.  Now might be a good time to bring it back.

Here are five simple steps to follow to present your lodge’s “Legend” at Sioux City:

1. Appoint 2 or 3 other brothers in addition to, or in place of yourself to go through the history and archives of your lodge.
2. Sift through the material and identify 1 or 2 brothers who have had a significant impact on either your lodge or your community.
3. Select one brother to be your lodge’s representative for “Legends of Iowa Lodges”
4.  Write up a 1 - 2 page report about that brother’s contributions to your lodge or your community.
5. Submit your report to the Grand Secretary’s Office at PO Box 279, Cedar Rapids, IA  
   

Finally, come to Grand Lodge in Sioux City September 17-18, 2010 to see the “Legends of Iowa Lodges” display.]]>Fri, 02 Apr 2010 16:17:50 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2010/04/has-there-ever-been-a-bigger-need-for-helping-kids.html As you know, one of my main goals this year as Grand Master, is to begin to implement the MMSAP (Masonic Model Student Assistance Program) program in Iowa's Schools.    The purpose of MMSAP is to assist our schools in creating a team approach to identification and intervention on behalf of kids who may be at risk for substance abuse, depression, suicide or violence.  It isn't enough to simply identify these students -- the schools must take the next step and therein lies the beauty of MMSAP.  The MMSAP approach trains teams of teachers how to best utilize the resources that are already available to them and maximize their efficiency.   Most schools already have some programs or resources available to deal with the problems listed above, but they don't have the comprehensive plan of action that MMSAP provides.  It really is the missing link.

The training is conducted by the renowned firm of Newman/Stecher International and consists of three-day intense, interactive workshops. The program is designed to take groups of five to eight teachers from individual schools and teach them how to intervene early and effectively with students that display certain patterns of behavior; patterns that if allowed to continue unchanged will lead to seriously negative situations.

If you have paid any attention at all to the national news recently, you know that one of the major stories involves a teen from Massachusetts who took her own life because she was being bullied.  Her fellow students made her life so miserable that she thought death was a better alternative.  It is situations like this that MMSAP was designed to help prevent.  A common reaction is to think, "Yeah, but that's Massachusetts.  Things like that don't happen in Iowa."  Don't kid yourself.  Those sad situations can happen anywhere at any time.   According to the Children's Defense Fund, 5700 American teens are victims of violent crime every single day.  Their statistics also show that 110 teenagers attempt suicide every day and 20 of them actually accomplish the act. 

MMSAP has been in existence for 28 years and is needed now as much as, if not more than ever before.  Even in Iowa.

]]>Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:49:02 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2010/01/why-do-customers-members-leave.htmlIn my other universe (vocation), I am employed in the insurance business, having joined the family business some 30-odd years ago.  Groups within that industry are always doing studies about client acquisition and retention and I came across one such study recently that has a direct application to Freemasonry, called: "Why Customers Leave."  At first glance, you may be thinking that we don't have customers in Freemasonry, but in reality, our members are our customers, and if the Grand Lodge in general and your lodge in particular aren't careful, they will leave us.  Here are the numbers:

 1%    Die
 3%    Move away
14%   Buy from a friend/competitor
14%   Leave because of price
68%   Leave because of perceived indifference

Now, there isn't much we can do about the 1% who die or the 3% who move away. But 14% decide to focus their resources toward other groups or causes competing for that member's time.  That 14% is closely related to the 14% who leave because of price, because they don't really leave due to price, they leave due to value, or a lack thereof.  They leave because what their dollars spent on dues is less than the value they have received.  That is shameful and is something we most definitely can impact.  68% -- more than 2/3 of customers/members leave because they think we don't care about them... they leave because they think we don't value them.  That is 100% within our control. 

How much time and or money would you have to invest in each member to let them know you value them as people and as members?  Not much.  How long does it take to pick up the phone and call a brother who hasn't been involved in your lodge for a while and tell him you miss his fellowship?  Five minutes per member?  Ten?  Similarly, what does it cost to send a Birthday or a Get-Well Card to a Brother?  Two dollars (including postage)?  Three?

Any time/money invested in the two simple ideas mentioned above will come back to your lodge many times over.  Get together with your lodge leadership and brainstorm on these and other ideas to increase the value to your members and improve their perceived return on investment.  Think about it.  Do it.
]]>Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:41:57 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2009/12/challenge-issued-and-accepted-game-on.htmlAt the inspiration of MWB Jack Butler, PGM, yours truly has issued a challenge of titanic proportion to the Grand Master of Minnesota, MWB Thomas McCarthy.  The Challenge is wholly dependent upon the outcome of tonight's Insight Bowl, pitting the Iowa State University Cyclones vs. the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.  If your Cyclones are victorious, MWB McCarthy will have to pose for some photographs clad in ISU apparel (furnished by me), and if Minnesota wins, I will reluctantly have to don the Maroon and Gold of Minnesota (furnished by MWB Tom) and submit to photos.  Whatever the outcome, these pictures will find their way to the web sites and publications of both Grand Lodges.  There is even talk of the losing Grand Master having to show up at the victor's Grand Lodge session in the cap and t-shirt, socks, shoes, etc. of the winning school's colors.

However, I am in desperate need of your assistance.  The Grand Lodge of Minnesota holds their Annual Communication in March, so in the event the Cyclones come out on the short end, the loss will unfortunately be relatively fresh and MWB Tom will remember it well.  Unfortunately, we don't have our Communication until September in Sioux City, and I might forget in that length of time, so please help me remember our victory! 
]]>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:21:22 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2009/12/what-can-masons-learn-from-bees.html The beehive is often recognized as being a symbol of Freemasonry, usually to denote the quality of being industrious.  However, there is more of a connection than you may have considered in the past.  For example, let’s take a look at the life cycle of a female worker bee.  She begins her adult life by working in the hive.  Similarly, an Operative Entered Apprentice spends his first seven years laboring in the quarries, while a Speculative Entered Apprentice spends the first part of his Masonic career listening and learning.  This is characteristic of the “Youth” stage of man.

When the female worker bee is two to three weeks old, which is approximately middle age to humans, she must make a major career change.  Instead of working around the hive, she must go out and forage, flying from feeding site to feeding site to gather nectar and pollen. 

After the Operative Apprentice Mason is promoted to a Fellow Craft, he is thought to have learned enough to hone and specialize in a particular skill.  A Speculative Fellow Craft spends his time learning how to act and live his life according to the square of virtue, maintaining his behavior within due and appropriate boundaries, remembering that he is traveling upon that level of time to that undiscovered country, from whose borne no traveler returns.  He is spending this part of his Masonic career – the stage of “Manhood” – still learning, but with more emphasis on doing.

In the latter part of her life, the female worker bee is still flying from site to site, gathering nectar and pollen, but in addition, she has to communicate the location of those sites to other bees.

Again, there is a correlation to the stage of life for Masonry.  By this time, the Operative Craftsman has polished his specialized skills and becomes a Master.  In Speculative Masonry, the Master Mason has proven his skill and is charged with the responsibility of managing others, using his especial tool, the trowel, to spread the cement of brotherhood, using his knowledge and judgment to ascertain who best can work and best agree.  So while in this stage of life – the “Age” stage – he is in the teaching mode.

So just as the bee’s life can be broken into three phases, so can the Speculative and the Operative Mason’s life.  The first stage is the learning stage, followed by the second stage, which is focused on doing.  But the cycle isn’t complete without the third and final stage – teaching. 

Learn – Do – Teach.  Youth – Manhood – Age.  There is an old saying, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”  Unfortunately, in many cases, we are falling behind in our commitment to teach and mentor our newer brothers.  Our new members are hungry for knowledge and mentoring – the very things that our more experienced brothers could and should be providing, but for whatever reason, that connection is being made far too infrequently.  Perhaps it is because the emphasis isn’t being placed on the right group of brothers. 

In too many lodges, a few core individuals do the vast majority of the work.  While it isn’t the Worshipful Master’s responsibility to mentor the new brother, it is his responsibility to see that it is done – and he likely has a cadre of qualified and willing brethren to take on that task – those in the “Age” phase of man, typically in the 60-65 years of age and up bracket. 

Worshipful Masters, the parts of the equation are there – students who want to learn and teachers willing and able to teach.  It is your responsibility to put them together.  Use the symbolic trowel to spread the cement of brotherly love and friendship to determine who best can work and best agree – who best can learn and best mentor. 

]]>Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:35:35 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2009/12/16-grand-masters-area-meetings-concluded-successfully.htmlDuring the months of October and November 2009, I along with the Lodge Service Committee, conducted 16 Grand Master Area Meetings throughout this Grand Jurisdiction.  These Area Meetings provided me with an opportunity to meet many of you personally and share with you my vision for continuing the Iowa Masonic Journey. 

A big thank you goes out to Tim S. Anderson, Executive Director of the Lodge Service Committee for the many hours dedicated to helping these meeting become the successes that they were.  In addition, much gratitude goes to the Lodge Service Committee members who attended these events and helped them be successful.  Craig L. Davis, Chairman of the Committee on Division & Reference attended the vast majority of the Area Meetings and helped the attendees understand the similarities between effective mentoring and coaching sports.  Thank you RW Brother Craig.  Most of the meetings included presentations and words of wisdom from either Bill Paisley, Executive Officer of Iowa DeMolay, or a Senior DeMolay,demonstrating or reporting on the success of having FUN while making a difference.  Also, I want to thank the 16 host lodges for all of their hospitality.  Last but certainly not least is a great big thank you to everyone who attended one or more of the Grand Master's Area Meetings this year.  You Brothers are the leaders of your lodges and I thank you very much for your attentiveness and receptiveness to the Grand Master's Program this year.]]>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:21:06 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2009/10/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit2.htmlBy now, hopefully everyone should have received their one-of-a-kind Iowa Masonic Calendar.  Judging by the response thus far, both financially and in comment form, I'd have to say that they are a huge success! 

This has been somewhat of a quiet week -- at least compared to the next two.  Following a fairly lengthy Lodge Service Committee meeting in Des Moines, I had the pleasure of visiting Bluff City Lodge #71 (incognito) to help present the very first Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award in the state of Iowa. 
This honor is in memory of Daniel Carter Beard, who in the late 19th century, created the Boy Pioneers, an organization which was a forerunner of the Boy Scouts of America, and merged with them in 1910.  The recipients of the first two Daniel Carter Beard awards in Iowa were presented on October 14, 2009 to Brothers Larry Poffenbarger and Erik Moore.

Last night, October 15, we kicked off the first of 16 Grand Master's Area Meetings at Amber Lodge in Quick.  I thank all the brothers who attended and hope they got a lot out of the evening.  Next week, we take the show on the road to Mt Pleasant, Centerville and Pella.

I alluded earlier to the Iowa Masonic Calendars and the response thus far.  The proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to bring the Masonic Model Student Assistance Program to Iowa.  MMSAP is a program designed by former educators to assist schools to identify and assist students who may be at risk for drug abuse, violence, bullying, absence and other things that can derail a young person's life.  It has been helping kids for over 20 years and is in 26 states currently. 

Thanks to all the brothers who have shown their support to this vital project.  I will be posting names of all the donors on my website iagrandmaster.org in the very near future.
]]>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:37:58 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2009/10/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit1.htmlThis past Saturday was the Grand Master's Reception, hosted by Ark Lodge #335, held at the Omaha Scottish Rite Masonic Center.  Outside of missing several people who were unable to attend, I could not be more pleased with the event.  We have an outstanding facility at the Omaha Scottish Rite and I was anxious to show it off to the brothers from Iowa, but I was equally proud to show off the 2009-10 Iowa Grand Lodge Family.   
]]>Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:10:11 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2009/09/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit.htmlThere is an interesting article in the Washington Post regarding the new Dan Brown book, "The Lost Symbol," and its effect on some lodge members and their wives.  Here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=137309021297&h=jcyIu&u=-hb63&ref=nf

The first event of the year for the new Grand Lodge Officers is tonight at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Des Moines, where we will be constituting Specialis Procer Lodge #678.  Film at 11:00.

]]>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 07:35:02 -0800http://www.iagrandmaster.org/1/post/2009/09/pins-and-calendars-on-the-way.htmlWhat a beautiful, crisp, nearly autumn day in Southwest Iowa.  I've just received word that my Grand Master lapel pins will be shipped out later today and the nostalgic calendars will be in the mail to Iowa Masons later this week. 
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