The Leader

BEST PRACTICE: Candidate coaching

HOW-TO: Inspire candidates through ritual

The fraternity's project

Best in ritual

Resources

Question of the month

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Memo from the Grand Master

Please read this memo from the Grand Master concerning the implementation of Resolution 11-06 and 11-07. These Resolutions affect the Stated Meetings of all lodges and the participation of Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft Masons.

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BEST PRACTICE: Candidate coaching

Soon, Grand Lodge will introduce interactive, Web-based candidate education, as well as improvements to ritual instruction. In the 2010-15 strategic plan, both are objectives for enhancing the member experience.

In western L.A. County, Santa Monica-Palisades Lodge No. 307 is a poster child for why.

Past Master Harris Maslin explains:

Background: Santa Monica-Palisades Lodge has been growing steadily for at least the past 10 years. (In the past two years, we conferred 40 degrees.) One of the programs we pride ourselves on is candidate coaching. We have twice-weekly group sessions led by extraordinary coaches.

The sessions

• Double dose: For more than 20 years, we have held Wednesday evening coaching sessions at the lodge. Candidates of all degrees are invited. About 10 years ago, we added a Saturday morning session.
• Saturday social: Saturday starts with a social hour. Candidates of all three degrees can share a cup of coffee, trade stories, and get to know each other.
• Group work: When coaching begins in earnest, we break into degree groups and simultaneously coach all three proficiencies.
• Honor system: Sessions are not assigned, but candidates come regularly anyway. We average at least half a dozen candidates at each session.
   

The coaches

• Divide and teach: We always have at least three coaches at each session, which allows us to run a breakout group for each proficiency.
• Requirements: Although we don’t have an official training session, we ask every coach to study the Grand Lodge candidate coaching guide.
• History buffs: Our coaching staff are all well-versed in Masonic history. Rather than just help with memorization, they provide in-depth information about the meaning and origins of the ritual.
• Transferable skills: Our main coach is a writer by profession. He brings a wealth of knowledge and research to the sessions.

The approach

• Between the lines: You want to teach a candidate a line of proficiency, then go beyond that and teach him what it means. We examine where symbols originated. We discuss Biblical references.
• Supplemental teaching: Although candidates may ultimately choose to memorize either the regular or short form proficiency, we still teach everyone the regular form. The extra information always results in a better understanding of the degree.
• Show and tell: We’ll take a candidate into the lodge room and walk him through the degree, telling him exactly what he went through and why.
• Get personal: We do not teach by rote memorization, which can be impersonal and even boring. If you bore your candidates, they won’t come back.

The benefits

• Substantive learning: We’re teaching a system of philosophy based on symbols. Rather than just reading and learning by rote, our candidates receive a real Masonic education.
• Home away from home: By doing our coaching at the lodge building, we reinforce the habit of coming to lodge. If you associate the lodge with seeing your brothers and feeling good, you’ll come back.
• Building anticipation: At Saturday’s social hour, a second degree candidate can talk to a brother learning the third degree proficiency. He finds out what to expect.
• True and faithful brothers: The group format works for us. Besides teaching the proficiencies, it builds the bonds of friendship that are so important for a healthy lodge.

Our candidates enjoy both the social aspect and the learning aspect of our coaching sessions. We’re doing something right, because they keep coming back.

For more information, contact Harry Maslin.

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HOW-TO: Inspire candidates through ritual

Coaches are a candidate’s gateway to understanding and respecting ritual. You unlock its deeper meaning. You inscribe its lessons in his heart, as well as mind.

Here are 12 strategies to make your candidate’s training memorable.

• Build relationships: Make it personal. Share memories of your own experience learning the proficiency, and its impact on you.
• Create relevance: Ask the candidate how the ritual relates to his life.
• Provide context: Talk about the history and origins of the ritual and its symbols. (If you don’t know it yourself, work with the candidate to research it.)
• Play to strengths: Identify and accommodate the candidate’s learning style: visual, aural, verbal, physical, social, or solitary.
• Be original: Have the candidate create his own mnemonic devices for difficult words or transitions. They’ll be more memorable than if he borrowed yours.
• Show, don’t tell: If the candidate isn’t sure of the meaning (or pronunciation) of a word, look it up.
• Dig deeper: Bring supplemental materials to fuel a candidate’s interest, such as an article about a particular symbol or a favorite Masonic book.
• Understand motivation: Find out what inspires the candidate. Is he a history buff? Does he enjoy writing? Pursue it. Example: Arrange for him to present a research paper to the lodge.
• Check in regularly: At each session, ask the candidate to evaluate his own progress. Recognize his accomplishments.
• Experiment: Ask the candidate to try emphasizing different words and pausing in different places until he feels confident about the ritual’s message.
• Involve others: For a change of pace, try a group practice with other degree candidates.
• Incorporate technology: Look for interactive, Web-based candidate education soon from Grand Lodge.

 

Have something to add? Email suggestions to communications@freemason.org with How-To: Inspire candidates with ritual in the subject line.

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The fraternity's project

On Sept. 24, a new grand line took office and California Masonry began its 164th year.

Grand Master John Lowe announced a transition in how the fraternity will approach charitable projects: Rather than launching a new Grand Master’s Project each year, the fraternity will commit to a larger-scale project over multiple years.

The partnership with Raising A Reader, which began last year and has the potential to reach 50,000 Californians, is the first such project.

More than any other early literacy program, Raising A Reader is proven to engage families in shared reading at home, and help maintain those habits by training teachers and librarians to support them. Under Grand Master Lowe, the Masons of California will continue to raise money to bring the program to communities throughout the state.

It’s all part of the strategic plan vision: For the Masons of California to be a relevant, respected organization, both inside and outside the fraternity. To be engaged in the worldwide principles and fellowship of Freemasonry. To make a profound difference in the lives of members and in California communities.

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Best in ritual

It’s a strategic priority to improve ritual in California. And throughout the state, dedicated lodges are leading by example.

Teams from seven California Masonic districts competed in the 2011-12 Ritual Competition for statewide recognition.

Congratulations to Torrance University Lodge No. 394, the overall winner of this year’s competition, and to all divisional winners.

• Overall winner: Torrance University Lodge No. 394
• Division 3 - San Leandro Lodge No. 113
• Division 4 - Harding San Juan Lodge No. 579
• Division 5 - Granada Hills Lodge No. 378
• Division 7 - William Rhodes Hervey Lodge No. 767
• Division 8 - Palm Springs Lodge No. 693
• Division 9 - Vista Lodge No. 687
• Division 10 - Torrance University Lodge No. 394

Winning teams were recognized by Grand Master Frank Loui at the 163rd Annual Communication.

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Resources

By partnering with Masonic Assistance, you can make sure your fraternal family knows where to turn when they need support. This section is designed to help.

Too many brothers who fall out of the habit of attending lodge, feel either forgotten or too intimidated to return. You can change all that with a phone call.

This month: Phone script for inactive members

Make a list of brothers who haven’t been to lodge in several months - or several years - and assemble a task force to call them. You’ll reassure inactive brothers that they are valued and needed. You’ll also be delivering an important reminder about Masonic Assistance.

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Question of the month

Last month we asked how often your executive committee (master, wardens, treasurer, and secretary) meets independently to discuss lodge business. Of the 111 who responded:

32% - Every month 29% - At least once a year 26% - Never

Of those whose committees meet independently, 63 percent of the committees follow the same agenda format at every meeting.

Here’s your next question.

 

 

 

 

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Please email questions to communications@freemason.org.