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Lodge Bulletins
CHAPTER viI
THE WORSHIPFUL MASTER'S
HANDBOOK
Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M. of the
District of Columbia
To how many members of your Lodge is the bulletin your
only contact? For most of our Lodges the figure is very high!
For this reason it is important that you, as Master,
prepare the bulletin so that it provides that lifelink between the Lodge
and its members. If you approach the bulletin with the attitude of
"Well, it’s time to get it out of the way," chances are that the
intended readers will react the same way and it will be obvious that you
are not sharing your best and most sincere effort with them.
By reaching out with a meaningful, stimulating and
informative bulletin, you are taking the Lodge to your members and that
means one hundred percent of them. What could be more constructive for
the good of the entire Lodge?
After all, why should a Brother who rarely attends
Lodge even look at a bulletin if it only lists officers, Past Masters
and meeting dates? How carefully do you look at mail that is a schedule
of events that you really have no intention of attending? Out it goes
with the junk mail, probably unopened.
The undeniable fact remains that a good bulletin may
well be a solution for the apathy that could be making the job of
Worshipful Master seem so impossible.
To benefit fully from our discussions today, please
clear your mind of thoughts like - finding time, lack of experience, the
cost to the Lodge, that’s the way we always did it, the Secretary always
handles our bulletin, my wife is going to kill me if I give any more
time to the Lodge, etc. These are the excuses that have put your Lodge
in the position it is in!
PURPOSES OF COMMUNICATION
The Goals of Your Bulletin
To report - to members about past events. Let Lodge
members who were unable to attend an activity know what they missed out
on. Let members who participated see their names in print.
To inform - members about coming events and activities
(who, what, when, where & why). Events must sound fun and
interesting.
To notify - members of Stated and Special
Communications.
To educate - members about Masonry and the goals and
purposes of the Lodge.
To sell - the programs of the Lodge. A lot of work went
into the program, so why not sell the act?
To stimulate - an interest in Freemasonry, not only in
the members, but their family and friends as well.
To direct - questions, comments, suggestions,
criticism, through the appropriate channels in the Lodge.
To support - the Grand Lodge programs and activities as
a Lodge.
To establish -
a regular form of communication to the members of the Lodge.
The important consideration for a Lodge publication is
its regularity, not its complexity. Would you be more inclined to visit a
Lodge from which you received a fresh, current bulletin every month or
would you visit a Lodge that, once every quarter, sent you a poorly
photocopied list of officers, Past Masters, meeting dates and a few words
from the Master thanking you for electing him to "this high office" and
complaining about apathy in the Lodge?
Another important item to consider is cost. When
referring to your Lodge bulletin, the word should not be "cost" but rather
"investment". The fact that your Lodge may feel that it cannot afford to
publish a meaningful, informative and complete bulletin could be the most
important reason for your Lodge to make such an investment; it can’t
afford not to! It is an investment necessary for its very survival.
COMPOSITION
If you are just beginning, start with a simple format.
The following are only some of the items that should be considered for
your bulletin.
COVER - In some Lodges the cover is done only once and
remains the same for every issue. Being consistently able to recognize the
Lodge bulletin is fine, but if the list of officers is on the cover and
one or more of them moves, or if the list of Past Masters is on the cover
and one or more of them passes to the Celestial Lodge above, or, dare I
say, that someone’s name is misspelled or some other typographical error
occurs, the Lodge is stuck with these errors for the entire year.
The cover usually contains the Lodge name and number,
full address and telephone number, meeting nights, charter date(s) and
some kind of ornamental Masonic design or your Lodge’s logo or seal.
THE MASTER’S MESSAGE - The Master’s message should be
positive, not a message of bewilderment or discouragement. Too many
Masters beg for support in their messages. Support must be earned. The
bulletin is not a place to put out a plea for support. If the Master can
only think of a few words of substance to say, then share this space with
something else.
MONTHLY FEATURE - The monthly feature can be
philosophical or anything of a general Masonic interest. Some ideas for
the feature article include a guest columnist, officers biographies, Lodge
members activities in the community, etc. This article can be borrowed
from another Masonic publication if you must. The key here is to look at
it and if you don’t like it, DON’T PRINT IT! Get an opinion or two on your
ideas.
CONDOLENCES TO - Express the sympathy of the Lodge to
members and friends of the Lodge on the loss of loved ones.
GET WELL WISHES TO - Express get well wishes from the
Lodge to those members and friends of the Lodge who are under the weather.
This should not replace mailing cards or making personal visits.
CONGRATULATIONS TO - This category is unlimited. It can
include awards, promotions, bar mitzvahs, election to office, new home,
retirement, child’s graduation, being raised as a Master Mason, birth of a
child or grandchild, weddings, etc.
GREETINGS TO ALL FROM - Here is listed the name and full
address of any Brother in a Masonic Home, convalescent home, V.A.
Hospital, a Brother transferred from the area, a Lodge member who lives in
another jurisdiction, etc., who has asked, or who you may ask, to prepare
a note to the Brethren.
GOOD LUCK TO - A note sending the best wishes of the
Lodge to a Brother moving away, job relocation or promotion, etc.
SPECIAL THANKS TO - Special effort for the Lodge by a
Brother or wife, visiting Degree Team, guest speaker, etc. If your
committees do the conscientious job that this section requires, a Lodge
should have many names published in this section every month. For this,
don’t be afraid to include members from other Lodges or Grand Lodges. The
more names, the better. Don’t leave any out.
MASONIC MEMENTO - A one-line Masonic quip or quote. -
"Masonry - No Deposit - No Return."
TRESTLEBOARD (Calendar of Events) - This is where some
selling is done. The events should not be merely listed, but written in a
way that makes those participating feel privileged and those who aren’t
involved feel like they are missing something special. Promote not only
the program held at your Lodge but also the activities of other Lodges and
of Grand Lodge that your members would be interested in attending if they
know about them.
The lists of officers, committees and Past Masters are
typically on the back cover of a bulletin. However, this information can
easily be eliminated or relocated occasionally. This valuable space can be
put to much more beneficial use for Masonic messages, or can be used as a
billboard to promote special programs.
Wherever and whenever these lists are used, it is
important that the names are spelled correctly and that the addresses and
phone numbers are accurate to maintain direct communication with the
officers and committee members.
OFFICERS - Give complete name, office, address and phone
number of every officer. Make it easy for them to be contacted.
COMMITTEES - List all committee members and phone
numbers. It is very difficult for committees to call meetings if the
members cannot contact each other.
PAST MASTERS - It is normally the custom to list the Past
Masters in the bulletin, including the year they were Master. This list in
older or consolidated Lodges has become very lengthy and it is a good idea
to limit the space allocated for this purpose. As the list increases over
the years, decrease the size of print.
PRODUCTION
LAYOUT - After gathering up all of the articles and other
items of interest from your various sources, it is time to create a layout
of what you want the bulletin to look like. This can be accomplished in a
couple very different ways.
The CUT & PASTE method uses blank pages cut and
folded to the appropriate size for your bulletin. Keep in place all items
that are constant throughout the year such as the cover, list of officers,
committees, Past Masters, page numbers, etc. If the bulletin is printed by
a professional printing company, then you should have all of the text
typeset by the company so that the sizing is correct. After setting the
type, they will return the articles to you so you may cut them into
sections and columns and place them on your blank pages where you desire
them to be printed. When you have finished placing all items and you are
genuinely pleased with the appearance, send it back to the printer and the
layout job is complete.
The DESKTOP PUBLISHING method is by far the easiest way
of putting together a newsletter. Of course, this requires that either
your Lodge have a computer with these capabilities, or that you have
access to one. This process eliminates the need to send your articles to
the printer to have them typeset, which saves time. It also gives you more
flexibility in the placement of items and breaking them down into columns.
An advantage to using a desktop publisher is being able to place items on
the screen and rearranging them until you like it before printing
hardcopy. (The Grand Secretary calls this "playing".) If you have a laser
printer or other high quality output device, your final printout should be
"photo-ready" with the exception of photos which can be half-toned by
professionals for about $15 each.
PRINTING
OFFSET PRINTING - By far the highest quality method of
reproducing your Lodge bulletin is offset printing. This is also the most
expensive way. (Remember, it’s an investment!) After the printing company
receives your final version of the bulletin, a picture is taken of it. The
negative is used to make a metal plate which transfers ink to a rubber
roller and then to the paper.
MIMEOGRAPH - A reasonable quality print can be
achieved with a mimeograph machine. This process uses stencils on which
you type the text. The stencil is wrapped around an ink-filled drum which
rolls the impression onto the paper as it passes through the machine.
Artwork must be drawn onto the stencil and photos are practically
unthinkable unless you have access to a laser stencil cutter. This piece
of apparatus, from my experience with mimeographing, is an essential
component to maintaining your sanity and producing a quality
mimeograph.
PHOTOCOPY - Depending on the size, number of
pages, and number of copies required, photocopying is a viable means of
reproducing your Lodge bulletin. Photocopying results in a fair quality
copy for a nominal price.
DISTRIBUTION
Have copies of the bulletin available at Lodge
Communications.
Mail copies to ALL members. Remember, if they aren’t
attending Lodge regularly, then it is up to you to take the Lodge to them.
A copy should also be mailed to the Grand Lodge Officers or at least to
the Grand Master and Grand Secretary. They can be helpful by supporting
Lodge events, but they have to be aware of them.
1st Class Mail - is delivered in a somewhat timely
manner, but is expensive and due to increase again.
3rd Class Non-Profit Permit - provides for reduced
mailing expense; encourages increased circulation because 200 or more
pieces are required; special procedures are also required (i.e. sorting by
zip codes); delivery is SLOW! If this is your chosen mailing method,
deadlines must be set well in advance to allow for extra mailing time.
ADVANCED ITEMS
Once you have a well-established bulletin, try to branch
out and improve your publication with some "extras." Consider some of
these:
COLORED PAPER; COLORED INK; ARTWORK;
HEADLINES - Other
than typed; PHOTOGRAPHS;
ARTISTIC LAYOUT, PLUS MANY MORE!
Bulletin Pointers
¶ Our bulletin was here before I was and it will be
here when I step down. Therefore, I will be publishing my Lodge’s
bulletin, not my bulletin.
¶ The size of the bulletin will not limit my ideas. My
ideas will determine the size of the bulletin.
¶ I should not try to be a one-man band but rather
share the load.
¶ I will get the bulletin mailed in plenty of time. How
many notices have you received that promoted programs that were held
yesterday? What a sorry waste of energy and talent.
¶ I will write about others -- not about ME.
¶ If I have not much to say, I will not be afraid to
ask other members for an article.
¶ When we have a special program followed by
refreshments, I will describe the program as well as the refreshments. I
will make them both sound appetizing.
¶ I will use the largest type possible so our older
Brothers can read it. I will try not to write too much in a single
issue. I will keep our bulletin easy and quick to read.
¶ I will be realistic in describing our programs. I
won’t over-sell. I want our members and visitors to return.
¶ I won’t guess at name spelling. I will find out the
correct spelling.
¶ I will constantly remind our members "THAT YOU NEVER
HAVE TO WORK YOUR WAY INTO YOUR OWN LODGE." How many times have you
encountered a Brother who has not visited his Lodge in many years who
quietly remarked, "I would like to visit my Lodge, but I would never be
able to work my way in."
¶ What I write will be down to earth and easily
understood. I will be on the level.
¶ I will write the best I can and leave the heavy
philosophizing to the Masonic scholars, even if I think I am one. I will
just be myself.
¶ Names of members are quick attention getters. I will
also write about people our members know and only things to which they
can easily relate.
¶ On special programs where visitors are expected to
attend, I will give simple directions how to get to our Lodge, where to
park and where not to park.
¶ I will try very hard to publish a monthly
bulletin.
¶ I might not have time to develop the bulletin of my
dreams during my year as Master, but I can sure get it started. I will
make available to our other officers any and all ideas so the continuity
will not be broken.
¶ I will economize on every other operation of the
Lodge if I must, except our bulletin. I would not want to restrict the
main artery to our entire membership.
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