Opening Your Lodge To Your
Community
By Phil O’Keefe
Visibility
Is your Lodge
invisible in
your
community?
Visibility
Masonic signs on
your Lodge
building or on a
post at the edge
of your town will
not tell much of a
story about who
the Masons are
and what we’re all
about.
Visibility
Think of how
difficult it would
be for a store to
interest people in
its products if it
looked like this.
Visibility
Without visibility in
the community,
what are your
chances of
attracting new
members?
Visibility
How do you create visibility for your
Lodge in your community?
Visibility
How do you create visibility for your
Lodge in your community?
Open it up!
Opening the Lodge
Opening your Lodge
to the community
doesn’t necessarily
require a lot of time
and effort. It
doesn’t necessarily
have to cost a lot of
money.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
A well-constructed, informative
website makes it easy for people to
learn about your Lodge. It will work
for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
But, where do you begin?
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Create a domain name that is like your Lodge’s
name (e.g. www.mysticstarlodg69.com).
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Create a domain name that is like your Lodge’s
name (e.g. www.mysticstarlodg69.com).
Avoid creating
really long,
complicated web
addresses.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
 Look for a good deal on a web hosting service
to rent the space for your website in their
computer.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
 Look for a good deal on a web hosting service
to rent the space for your website in their
computer.
 Check to see if the domain name you created
is available.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
 Look for a good deal on a web hosting service
to rent the space for your website in their
computer.
 Check to see if the domain name you created
is available.
 Sign up with the web hosting service.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
 Look for a good deal on a web hosting service
to rent the space for your website in their
computer.
 Check to see if the domain name you created
is available.
 Sign up with the web hosting service.
 Register your domain name.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Look around on the web to get
some ideas of what you want your
website to look like.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Once you have an idea of what you
want your website to look like, then you
have to make a decision about how to
build it.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Find someone to build the website for you.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Obtain software to enable you to build it
yourself.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
If you go the do-it-yourself route, purchase software
that makes it easy to create and edit web pages
without extensive knowledge of HTML programming.
Avoid freeware,
because it can be
frustrating to use if
you are a novice.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Generally speaking, your web pages should tell
viewers about your Lodge AND show that it is fun and
interesting to be a part of Freemasonry.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Include a
“Calendar”
page showing
dates, times,
and locations
of meetings
and special
events.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Include a
“Contact Us”
page with the
names, phone
numbers, and
email
addresses of
your officers.
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
After you
publish your
website on the
net, throw
your domain
name around!
Opening the Lodge
Build a Website
Put your domain
name on:
● Business Cards
● Flyers
● Press Releases
● Signs
● Letterhead
● Email Signatures
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.
• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Identify programs that will directly benefit
members of your community.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Identify programs that will directly benefit
members of your community.
Approach leaders and business people in
the community and obtain their support.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Determine what
kind of fundraiser
will work for you.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Determine what
kind of fundraiser
will work for you.
Try to focus on
things you can do
at your Lodge.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Planning is key!
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Publicize!!!
• Distribute flyers
• Send out press releases
• Spread the word to friends, coworkers,
and neighbors
Don’t forget to include your web address!
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
So the day of the big event is here…
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
• Open the Lodge up during the event.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
• Open the Lodge up during the event.
• Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
• Open the Lodge up during the event.
• Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.
• Have membership info and petitions on hand.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
•
•
•
•
Open the Lodge up during the event.
Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.
Have membership info and petitions on hand.
Be prepared to answer questions, good and bad.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
•
•
•
•
•
Open the Lodge up during the event.
Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.
Have membership info and petitions on hand.
Be prepared to answer questions, good and bad.
Be courteous, friendly, and helpful.
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
•
•
•
•
•
•
Open the Lodge up during the event.
Wear name tags, Masonic clothing, and bling.
Have membership info and petitions on hand.
Be prepared to answer questions, good and bad.
Be courteous, friendly, and helpful.
Have fun!
Opening the Lodge
Holding Fundraisers
Most importantly,
clean the place
up and make it
presentable
before you open
the doors to the
public!
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.
• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.
• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.
• Have an open house.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.
• Show an introductory video about
Freemasonry.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.
• Show an introductory video about
Freemasonry.
• Tour the Lodge and go over basics.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.
• Show an introductory video about
Freemasonry.
• Tour the Lodge and go over basics.
• Encourage asking of questions.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• Treat them to dinner.
• Show an introductory video about
Freemasonry.
• Tour the Lodge and go over basics.
• Encourage asking of questions.
• Have membership information and petition
forms on hand.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• No hard sell tactics!
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• No hard sell tactics!
• Be friendly, polite, and maintain eye contact.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
• No hard sell tactics!
• Be friendly, polite, and maintain eye contact.
• Be prepared to answer questions.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
•
•
•
•
No hard sell tactics!
Be friendly, polite, and maintain eye contact.
Be prepared to answer questions.
Let it take as long as it takes.
Opening the Lodge
Have an Open House
“Invite a Friend to Lodge Night”
•
•
•
•
•
No hard sell tactics!
Be friendly, polite, and maintain eye contact.
Be prepared to answer questions.
Let it take as long as it takes.
Make it fun for everyone.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.
• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.
• Have an open house.
Opening the Lodge
Here are some suggestions:
• Build a website.
• Hold fund raisers that benefit members of the
community.
• Have an open house.
• Raise awareness in the media.
Opening the Lodge
Raise Awareness in the Media
Get to know the
people at your local
newspaper, radio
station, and
television station.
Opening the Lodge
Raise Awareness in the Media
Freemasonry
is center
stage in a lot
of books,
movies, and
television
shows.
Opening the Lodge
Raise Awareness in the Media
Let media
folks know
that you are
available for
interviews
regarding
Freemasonry.
Opening the Lodge
Raise Awareness in the Media
Before you sit down for an
interview, make sure you have
your facts straight!
Opening the Lodge
So, what’s left?
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
• Run a Kids ID program at your county fair or
school events.
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
• Run a Kids ID program at your county fair or
school events.
• Become part of public events like bicycle
races, marathons, parades, etc.
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
• Run a Kids ID program at your county fair or
school events.
• Become part of public events like bicycle
races, marathons, parades, etc.
• Have a cornerstone ceremony.
Opening the Lodge
Other Things to Improve Visibility…
• Run a Kids ID program at your county fair or
school events.
• Become part of public events like bicycle
races, marathons, parades, etc.
• Have a cornerstone ceremony.
• Be creative… there are all sorts of other
things you can do!