A Brother Asks: How do you KEEP members coming back?

 

 
A Brother Asks: I’m curious if anyone you've talked with has tried to manifest members.

Coach: Far too many to recall here.

Brother: I keep hearing about our numbers dwindling, but so far, every time I’ve tried to manifest members they have come.  Upwards of 50 in a year multiple times... 16 regularly... In multiple lodges, as well as a DeMolay chapter…. 

 

Coach: What attracts candidates is not the problem.  You're descriptions are typical and par for most Freemasonic courses, most especially in the USA where most all Lodge activities are Making Members Centric.

 

Brother:  Exactly! The problem truly isn’t in getting good men to join, most all lodges have that process ingrained.  The problem is keeping them!

Coach: That's a great observation, my Brother.  However, the problem is not keeping them!  That's the challenge!  The problem is not knowing how!

Brother: Yes!

Coach: trouble is, once candidates' interest are satiated, you lose them. 

Brother:  Precisely!

Coach: And you'd like to know how to keep them interest enough to continue attending?

Brother: Yes!

Coach:  I can't offer you any "How To:" on this.  

Brother: Well, why not?

Coach: Because each Lodge is a gathering of men with similar interest...

Brother: ... and because each gathering of men have selectively different interests that bring them together, there is no patent "How To:" that can be offered that can be applied to every situation.

Coach: I'm glad you took the ball and ran with it here.

Brother: It was easy once you set it up for me.  

Coach: Thanks!

Brother: So, Coach.  What Light can you offer that can more favorably position these "gatherings of men with common interests" to keep the group cohesive, supportive, and nurturing to the point where member want to come back for more?

Coach: Ah!  That's the question to ask!  Here are some thoughts and a list of things to consider should you desire to attract new members and keep them coming back:

THOUGHT:  

To have any group manifest and be cohesive, supportive, and nurturing to the point where member want to attend for more, you must...

ALWAYS ADDRESS THIS:  

Once satiated, interest wanes. 

What attracts members is... ???

To Address this question properly, you MUST Manifest PASSION in your Lodge activities at all times:

The Passionate Top Ten!

• 10 - Know the difference between Desire & Passion!

1. Desire is what a person seeks because they want it.
   
2. Passion is what a person actively engages in seeking and willingly suffers to get because they must have it.
   

• 9 - Find their Passion!

1. When members know what is driving their interest, they are in control of directing their future actions.
2. When all members know each member's Passion, they favorably position themselves to support their future efforts to assist each member.
   

• 8 - Ask them about their Passion! 

1. The more members know about what drives any one member, the better they can support him in having him pursue it.

•  7 - Encourage them to Pursue their Passion!

1. When members continually and gently remind other members of their Passions, they better assist in keeping each member mindful of what he truly wants.
2. Genuine encouragement is seen as supportive and everyone wants sincere support.
   

• 6 - Educate them in their Passion!

1. Educated seekers make much better choices in their pursuits.
2. Better choices make for more successful results
   

• 5 - Support their Passion!

1. When each member realizes that the support he receives from their Lodge involvement for his pursuits is superior to any other support system, or at the least complementary to it, he will seek more involvement.
   

• 4 - Make meetings about there Passion!

1. No one likes coming to meaningless meetings.
2. Meaningless meetings drive members away.
   
3. When meetings have great meaning to members pursuits, attendance becomes a necessity.
   

• 3 - Make meetings satiating to a point where there's hope for more!

1. Where there's hope, there's life (and attendance!)
   
2. When support for a member's Passion is provided and more is provided each time, each member is internally driven to attend.
3. Always end with the hope for more of the same for what a member originally came for.
4. Members come for something; never leave any member hopeless in what they came for!
   

• 2 - Don't assume your Passion is theirs! 

1. Everyone has their own Passions.
2. Sometimes we find others who have the same or similar Passions.
3. It is crucial to the harmony of any relationship that you know your Passions and how they differ from those of other members.
   

• 1 - Don't let any one's Passion pain others, ever!

1. When we revisit what Passions are, we come to understand that no other person should suffer for what another must have.  This is the entire basis behind out circumscription and subduing.
2. When you pursue your Passion, assure nothing you pursue makes others suffer as well, and visa versa.
3. When any Lodge narrowly focuses its Passion support, only those with that Passion will attend. Every other member will pursue his Passions elsewhere.
   

 -----------------

The Most Important Questions to Consider
before you Pursue Improving Attendance:

How well does your Lodge address these Passionate Issues?

Your Lodge attendance lets you know.

How well do you know your Brothers' Passions? 

When you don't know,
you're sending a strong message
of disinterest to your Brothers!

What does not knowing your Brothers' Passions
tell them about your interest in their interests? 

You will not begin to improve Lodge attendance
when you have not paid attention
to your Brothers' interests.

 

A Brother Asks... More Occupied Seats?

A Brother Asks: How can I help to get more brothers in the seats?

My Response: To do this, your lodge must do what far too many American lodges across the country refuse to do...  require attendance or lose membership.  

Along with this, you must also divest your lodge of many of the American trappings that plague them and adopt the disciplines that many early lodges had.

What are American trappings?

1. burdening operating budgets centered around unnecessary property ownership that brings no positive return on investment
2. large membership roles that deflate dues and reduce relationship value
3. non-attendance/non-participation rules that maintains membership
4. more than quarterly meetings with a high proportion of them organization centric
5. meetings that have no true relevance to life outside the lodge or member enrichment
6. no true educational programs outside of those with an organizational focus
7. reduced waiting times and minimal criteria to join which do not enhance the value of the lodge
8. degree dates and schedules that coddle prospects and candidates
9. mind-numbingly quick progressions with no truly challenging or relevant proficiencies that reflect degree themes
10. casual attitudes toward the lodge and its true mission and purpose

... shall I go on?

F&S,

Brother John S Nagy

A Brother Asks... Empty Seats

A Brother Asks: Why do we really suppose there are so many empty seats? ...why are our lodge rooms empty?

My Response: Because...

 

1) Static Offerings - Unlike in years past, we are no longer one of the only shows in town. There are far more shows offered now than there have ever been and the number is growing uncontrollably.  There is nothing new; nothing original; nothing that sparks the original interest of those enticed to join. 

 

How should we address this: Offer True Light and Good Discourse to drive it home, and not just more training that is clearly self-serving to the organization.

2) Un-Fulfillment - Moreover, we don't live up to the hype and those with interest in what they thought the hype offered soon move on to better, more interesting and more fulfilling offerings elsewhere, once they discover there is nothing but unfulfilling hype. 

How should we address this: Bring members in who have a realistic expectation of what is really offered and provide them Education that is fulfilling along those lines.  Not just plays pointing toward that education.
 

3) Stiffer Competition - Furthermore, once you've seen the show, there are other shows that offer much more to those who seek them.  The competition for attention is far more involved now than ever and it is growing tougher each day. Add to this the technology that is employed to deliver these shows and we have not kept up with the times, even with our specific niche in the marketplace.

 

How should we address this: Examine your niche market and continue to deliver what they are truly looking for.

4) Demanding MEgos - Officer (not membership) Focus - Additionally, there are some Lodge shows offering far too many "look at what office I obtained, title I bear and jewels I wear" & "How much do you want to give to my cause" people to demand repeat attendances.  In all honesty, these shows draw no interest from the majority who attend to nurture or be nurtured.

 

How should we address this: Stop the parade or, at least, stop the childish guilt trips and mind games toward those who refuse to support them.

 

5) Unnecessary Conflicts - Finally, many members show up to escape the stresses outside the Lodge.  When they show up and soon discover there's unnecessary stressors inside the Lodge, they shall avoid it like the plague.  They shall do this and even avoid talking with anyone who may invite them back into the insanity or even those associated with the Lodge for fear of the possibility of being invited back into the insanity.

 

How should we address this:  There is no easy way to deal with this especially when they are in office.  If you can, remove the conflict and the warring parties from the Lodge, much as what was done by forbidding religion and politics from being discussed in open Lodge.  Otherwise, move to and support a Lodge that deals with these issues effectively.

 

F&S,

 

Brother John S. Nagy