Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dan on March 23, 2010 at 8:19pm

Our lodge is on facebook, and it "works" fine for those who choose to use it for information, but if you are attempting to use it in hopes to attract new members, I don't think that is the right avenue because it is very difficult to provide information on facebook. It is designed primarily for establishing and maintaining contact between individuals.

Of course this is all my humble opinion.

Here is our facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Columbian-Lodge-AF-AM/131053686662?re...

Permalink Reply by Tom Turk on March 24, 2010 at 12:06pm

One of our local lodges has set up a private group on facebook, mediated by their secretary. It is accessible via invitation only, and is not visible to the general facebook population. It has been a good medium for inter-lodge communication too. We communicate primarily through traditional means, but for 'net savvy brothers it is a good way to spread the word about upcoming events, share info or ask for help with degree work or instruction (not online, but at a given lodge).

Tom Turk
Sr. Warden
Trinity Lodge #282 AF&AM
Duluth, MN

Permalink Reply by Dan on March 24, 2010 at 12:38pm

I guess I'd wonder what you meant by "how has it worked for you?". What are you expecting to get out of it? If you are expecting to get new members, I doubt very much that will have any effect. If you are looking to find a way to communicate with all members, I think you'll find that as soon as you mention "on-line", the elder members of your lodge's eyes will glaze over and they'll just assume you are talking about those "magic machine" again. (one of our members actually called a computer that in a meeting!).

We've found that the best approach to modernizing is multi-media. We do have facebook, and a very extensive website. We also allow members to RSVP for meals, pay dues, and even donate online using paypal, but we also use all the old avenues, such as answering machines, paper invoices, etc. Our Communication Notices are sent out as paper for those who wish, but we also allow a digital option for members who don't desire a printed copy.

As we get more practice dealing with communications coming in from all these different methods, we are becoming more efficient at treating a phone message no different than an email or a txt message. In fact, when men call the answering service to leave a reservation or another message, the secretary and I automatically get a .wav file of their message forward to us over email, so for me, I can track all communication via email, even phone messages.

Facebook really hasn't provided an answer for any of those things yet in a way that we find efficient, so to that end, it hasn't "worked" for us. We don't rely on it much.

Permalink Reply by Scott Fitzgerald on March 24, 2010 at 8:17pm

We would definitely use it as a communication tool. I had not even considered it as a membership tool. Our lodge is made up of quite a few young guys that are pretty open to technology. Our lodge uses Google Voice for our phone which allows us to always have somebody assigned to receive lodge calls, this way a brother in need can always find help with one phone number.

Permalink Reply by Mike Duminiak on March 25, 2010 at 12:48pm

Our Lodge started being on facebook when I became Secretary, but most members are not on facebook. It will grow in time.

Permalink Reply by Mike Charles on May 26, 2010 at 3:32pm

My lodge has a private group on Facebook that is not visible to the general public. A number of the older brothers do not like any internet presence for our lodge which is why we have no website. All of the younger brothers are on FB and it has worked well for impromptu get togethers at bars or restaurants. It has promoted a great sense of brotherhood and we've all gotten to know each other much better. Most of the brothers use the IM part all the time. I think it's worthwhile if everyone in your lodge agrees to the idea.

Permalink Reply by Darrell Mogg on May 27, 2010 at 12:53pm

Yeah, we are on Facebook. I'm an Admin, but we hardly use it. We post photos from degrees sometimes, but that's really it.

Permalink Reply by Francisco Nunez on July 13, 2010 at 9:45am

Our lodge has a private group on facebook. We have found facebook to be an excellent tool to keep in touch with brothers outside of NYC, and inform them of event although it is NOT our main form of communication.

Permalink Reply by Slacker on July 29, 2011 at 11:20pm

I just started a facebook page for our lodge.  There are about half a dozen of us, mostly the officers who are on there, but its not yet a major communication tool.

 

We are bringing in younger and more computer literate guys, so I expect it to take off.

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newport-Masonic-Lodge-358-F-AM/247426...

Permalink Reply by Jacob Becket on July 31, 2011 at 1:52pm

I utilize facebook as an online trestleboard and am fairly happy with the results. It is definitely working as a contact point for people showing interest also.

http://www.facebook.com/Ridgewood.Masonic.Lodge.146

Permalink Reply by Andy Freeman on August 2, 2011 at 6:40am

Our lodge has a private facebook group page moderated by the secretary.  It is used for EVERYTHING.... communication, keeping in touch and most importanly... EVERY event from degree work to charity events are sent as a Facebook event invitaitions.  All the brothers know when the event will be, and the RSVP feature in facebook give the stewards a little bit of a heads up.   The one disclaimer though is that I do belong to a rather large, urban, and "younger" lodge. Therefore, this route might not be as successful everywhere else.  Hope that helps.

Permalink Reply by Andrew on November 10, 2011 at 11:37pm

My Lodge's FB is at:

http://www.facebook.com/mission.lodge

 

Grand Lodge of California's FB is:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Masons-of-California/96992765917

 

It's become great for our young members; many of them are on FB.

 

The older bro's...  Not so much.

 

FB hasn't really been good for prospects; we get most of our prospects from referrals from the Grand Lodge website (http://www.freemason.org/becomeMember/index.htm).  That being said, it's been great to share pics, etc.

 

-Andrew B.

Web: http://speculativemasonry.org/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/missionlodge

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mission.lodge

Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/freemason/