West Gate Lodge. A.F. & A.M., No. 734 G.R.C. Member Survey Results. Summer Completion rate 68% Complete responses 25

Transcription

1 West Gate Lodge A.F. & A.M., No. 734 G.R.C. Member Survey Results Summer 2012 Completion rate 68% Complete responses 25 Average time taken 9 Minutes Oldest response May 2, 2012 Newest response Aug. 13, 2012

2 2 September 1, 2012, Members of West Gate Lodge, A good barometer to measure how the Lodge is performing is by obtaining feedback through a membership survey. Benefits include; Conveying membership perceptions and interest at a point in time. Assist in testing and developing new plans, maintaining existing good plans, and discontinuing poor plans. Provides an opportunity to receive feedback from all members. Solicits new ideas from members for evaluation and implementation. In this report on the 2012 membership survey, along with reporting the results, I have indicated how the results will influence the lodge program. West Gate already has implemented a successful formula that is not in need of drastic change. Instead the objective is a steady improvement. I was pleased with the many suggestions made regarding additional events in particular involving spouses and family members. West Gate is a busy lodge and the principle officers have a full workload with the current lodge program. The officers would like to encourage more members to become involved in implementing some of these ideas. If you see an idea in the suggestion that you would like to take charge of let me know and I will do my best to support your initiative. Obtaining meaningful feedback from the membership is time well spent and I thank you for your participation. Sincerely and fraternally, W. Bro. Matt Hofland

3 Q1 How many regular meetings do you attend each year? 3 The member s who responded to the survey are also likely to attend a majority of the meetings. This demonstrates that the lodge while having over 110 members there is a smaller group that is most active. It is interesting to note that 4 member s responded that attend no meetings. Q2 What would your preferred meeting start time be? Lodge start time will remain 7:30 PM except in cases where conferring degrees demands an earlier start due to the anticipated length of the evening. No change will be made from the current program.

4 Q3 4 Would you like to have some banquets prior to the start of the Meeting? A majority of members prefer banquets after the meetings. Banquets will continue to be held after the Meetings with an exception for the Installation night as has been West Gate tradition. Q4 I would be willing to pay increased dues in lieu of participating in fundraising events. We will continue pursuing fundraising opportunities to supplement lodge income to minimize the need to increase dues. The MacGregor s Meat Fundraiser will take place in the spring again. Q5 I would be interested in assisting to organize a lodge fundraising event. We will seek out members to assist with fundraising. The best way to capitalize on this is to have a member who is not an officer undertake an iniative. I will be glad to assist any members with initiatives they would like to try.

5 5 Q6 The reason I am unable to attend meetings is: (may select more than one) Members do not seem dissatisfied with the lodge as a reason for not attending meetings. Work and family are factors we do not have control over. Nine members indicated that meetings finish too late. We will be working hard to finish meetings as early as possible. Members of advancing age who require assistance should contact the Master so arrangements can be made to assist them where possible. Q7 I would like more contact from the lodge other than the summons. This year the Master has started the Eye on West Gate Lodge Newsletter which reports on lodge events, provides education and provides other timely information. A private forum has been started on the lodge website to facilitate member communication.

6 6 Q8 How often do you (fully) read s from the lodge secretary? Member s acknowledge reading s from the lodge. will continue to be an important form of communication for dissemination of information. Q8 How often do you visit the the lodge website? Website content will be up to date with varying content to encourage interest. A private forum has been started on the lodge website to encourage member communication.

7 Q9 What would encourage you to attend meetings more frequently? 7 Responses More Masonic education. More social activities involving the spouses and maybe family events. More variety and fewer candidates. I feel that some members are not getting from Masonry, such as feeling a part of the whole, so to speak. They are often left by themselves leading to feelings of neglect from the members. We practice brotherhood, relief, and truth, and yet we seem to fall short on making our newer brothers feel welcome and important. This is how we all should make our members feel, either older or newer. Let us not forget that Masonry can be a very strange and overwhelming experience that needs other brothers to explain, reinforce, support, and be a mentor...and this is something that all of us should be compelled to do, so that no one falls through the cracks and is lost because of Masonic indifference or complacency. I am encouraged in Masonry in all aspects. Life has thrown me a curve ball in my first year with the lodge. But I plan on attending more frequently once my business is more established. Variety of activities other than ritual work. More educational sessions and guest speakers. Retirement from my job! It is not that I need encouragement, it is more dependent on personal circumstances. I attend when I can, and when I am able to do so. - If I know the Brethrens better. I try to make every meeting as it is... for a working guy like so many of us I - personally - find we end too late More diversity of content. The degrees are the same thing over and over. It can be a bit boring. Most always attend every meeting. I enjoy coming to meetings, but due to work and my role it is challenging at times. I miss not attending.

8 8 Having a piece of work to do. More educationsl lectures, More social events, More social interaction with the brethren. I must admit I have been lacking in attendance the last few years. Am still quite busy with Oakville Shrine club directorship and Motorbike unit. Brothers- I live a 2.5 hour distance away and will try and attend as often as I can. - already attend them all - GP meeting should have light refreshment- we need to recognise that many members both come straight from work AND many stay for either a practice or mentoring til well after 9, so there should be light refreshments at the GP. (ie: coffee w/cream & sugar, pop/cold beverages and light snack - cake cookies, donuts???). Something to carry those who are there all evening. If the meetings were kept under 1.5 hours If we had more lessons during the meetings (education) Word Cloud Summary: Attend Meeting Attend every Meeting Activities Brethren Encouraged Masonic Masonry Members Personal Social Events Year Responses are being reviewed for potential implementation. Q10 I would like to suggest the following idea(s) for additional social event(s). Responses Masons Movie night. Wine and Cheese social with the spouses. Family BBQ in summer break. Send a birthday card to each of the members on their birthday with a short note from the Master. Lots of extra work but would make connection with all members on a special day. 1: Wine tour on Niagara on the Lake (Dinner) 2: Historic walking tour of Streetsville 3: Valentines Dance 4: Wife's appreciation dinner (The Mason's prepare, serve and entertain the ladies)

9 9 Poker nights! lol We should try the poker night again. I have no suggestions, at this time. - End of the Masonic Year BBQ - Begining of a new Masonic year banquet to include all members and those seeking admission to our lodge. - Once Every 3 months have breakfast for newly initiated EA'S as a welcome and use it as an opportunity so sow the seed of partcicpation and lodge attendance perhaps a district family picnic A self-introduction evening for the brethren of West Gate. Each brother gives a brief summary of his occupation and masonic history. This will foster a closer relationship between us. Bingo Night Dinner Theatre Theatre evening with wives. Dinner/theatre evenings. Visit to historical site (Black Creek Village / Westfield Village) or Conservation area. Bus trip to Niagara Falls and/or Casino. Wine tour in Niagara. Additional ladies socials with pot luck or themed meals. Attend a minor league sports event ( to keep cost lower). Are there any charity walks, etc. that we could participate in? Are there any district events that we could participate in more fully? Is there something that we could challenge other lodges in the district to? (ex. trivia night with teams or mini Olympics with easily played events such as ring toss or shuffle board) For profit BBQ's at designated parks (Social, but casual) Something that involves people outside of the lodge (raffles, etc.) Ladies social event for the lodge members and their wives. Murder Mystery night and dinner Word Cloud Summary: Masonic BBQ Members Dinner Theatre District Evening Family Ladies Socials Poker Nights Suggestions West Gate Wine Tour in Niagara Responses are being reviewed for potential implementation.

10 10 Q11 If you were Worshipful Master, what would you maintain the same or do differently? Responses Maintain the traditions of West Gate, but use the modern ways of contact with the brethren. Have more members involved in the ritual work, Perhaps have some theme nights such as Member's Night and Past Master's Night. Have the Lodge spend much more time with an applicant before recieving an actual application. Include a short section at our meetings that looks back 25 years ago at what was taking part in the Lodge at that time, i.e. who was initiated, who was the Master and any special events. Masonry is a very diverse organization where each W.M. brings a different recipe for a successful year in the chair of King Solomon. Certainly there are always things that can be improved upon or modified to compliment insufficiencies. But the uniqueness incorporated by each individual Master adds something to the whole, and this in turn creates an environment where we all can learn from. I feel that it is extremely important to realize that the Master's success relies on the timely communication from the Warden's to him, and vice versa, to work together in harmony to benefit Masonry in general and West Gate in particular. A successful Masonic year means supporting your Master, and in turn the Master will bring balance and enjoyment to all those who seek this. Maintain as is Too early for me to judge or give feedback on. Try to keep things moving. This will allow more time for the banquet and fellowship. I have not given much thought to this idea. - Maintain Mentoring - Masonic Education in the lodge - What I would do differently - Create a profile of all members and share among brethrens. This will allow new members to know and get comfortable with their brethrens (of confidentiaity and trust most be maintained) add a personal comfort break during long nights or every meeting around 9:30-9:45 if it goes that long... Less degrees and more education and social activities involving our families.

11 11 The same Have a committee, whether it be the Telephone Committee, Membership Committee, Etc.,contact all members on a regular basis to determine their well-being, reasons for absence, etc.,and to show that the Lodge really values their membership. The forward thinking of the lodge needs to continue. I would try to organize an active contact system for members who do not attend or who miss meetings. I would encourage members to learn new pieces of work and to assign work to members who are not regular attendees. lol...hmmmm Have more education Involve the brethren on a more social level outside of the lodge. Try and create a more family atmosphere with the lodge and the members families. I would try and keep up & even advance the quality in the lodge (of Masonic Brotherhood )that the officers now are trying to do. Wednesday is West Gates dedicated night when the Temple is set aside for us per our lease. Utilize them for our meetings.(the 1st is open -mentoring etc; the 2nd is our designated emergent night - when not required we use for mentoring; the 3rd is our GP& Practice night; and the 4th is our regular meeting). Maintain the 3rd Wed as our GP night & have a full practice after. Ensure that all officers attend this one practice so we can encourage the Officers mentors to also attend and be involved - PM mentors will quickly stop attending if the officer they have been appointed to mentor doesn't attend practices. So far everything seems fine. Word Cloud Summary: Lodge Contact Education Masonic West Gate Active Allow Attend or who miss Meetings Comfort Families Maintain Mentoring Master Responses are being reviewed for potential implementation.

12 12 Ratings of Activities or Aspects of the Lodge Members appears to be satisfied with most activities of the lodge. The notable exception is the Telephone Committee. This committee has been reorganized and will be used throughout the upcoming year. Summons will continue in its current format. Ladies Christmas Social is a popular event that will continue.