(The following was written by Past Grand High Priest, Tom Dean. We have been having some discussions about the Leadership Conference (via e-mail) held in Ames and how we don't always make the new Mason feel a part of our Lodges. I asked him for his "take" on the situation and the following is his article - Thanks Tom.)
Several years ago I had the pleasure of serving as Dean of Students at Iowa Wesleyan College. I was in this or a similar post at the institution for almost 15 years prior to my departure. I was thinking the other day of one of the situations and challenges that faced us each and every year.
Part of my responsibilities found me in charge of the men’s residence hall(they are not dorms!) on campus. I was always graced with a staff of a director and six "resident assistants." Resident Assistants were in charge of a floor with approximately 30 residents. An "RA’s" job was to see that rules were followed and the best living, learning situation developed for the betterment of all residents. It wasn’t an easy task all the time, but they, for the most part, tried.
In our annual training sessions with RA’s we stressed information on the facts about freshmen and transfer students that came to our institution for the first time each year. Research and statistics tell us that a student going to college for the first time will decide in the first 24 to 36 hours whether or not they are going to graduate from that institution. Now, they may not leave once that decision is made, but statistics show that they will transfer at some stage of their college education and they will finish at some other institution. Research shows us that the positive things that are done for a new student in those first crucial hours are so important for them and more importantly for the institution.
We encouraged and politely demanded that our staff do the following:
1. Learn the resident’s name as soon as possible.
2. Find out about the resident and their background.
3. Show genuine interest in the resident.
4. Be able to match residents with similar interests
5. Be able to answer the resident’s questions and lead to ask questions.
6. Make sure they are as involved in New Student Week Activities.
7. Don’t allow them to sit in their rooms alone, get them out and moving.
As I thought about this situation with college students in my past professional life a bright idea hit me...........................Do you think that if we did this in Freemasonry it would help us???
Leaving a school, whether to transfer to another or merely to drop out, it an absolute parallel to dropping out of Lodge. One can be used as an allegory for the other.
We have been seeing an alarming number of demits and suspension for nonpayment of dues in Iowa. Discussions with Masonic leaders in other states indicate that this problem is not unique to Iowa. And what is most alarming is that the majority of those leaving are men who have joined the fraternity within the past three years, men who are quite literally the future of our organization.
That is one of the reasons we started a series of New Master Masons Forums, where we invite men who have been Masons for less than three years to come talk with us, tell us what is good, what is bad, what they like, what they don't like, what needs to change. You can read more about these at my website:
http://www.iowagrandmaster.org/messages/new_master_mason_forums.htm
At the first forum, the message was loud and clear. The new Masons want more mentoring. They want to be taught about the fraternity, what we do, why we do it, how we do it, how thay can be part of it. They joined for a reason. They joined with expectations. Those expectations are NOT being met.
I just had a brief discussion with the Grand Secretary and Deputy Grand Secretary about the first couple Neighborhood Area Meetings that have been held. The message there seems to be just as clear. The brethren need to be taught how to be mentors.
Taught. What a concept. New Masons wanting and needing to be taught how to be Masons. Existing Masons needing and wanting to be taught how to teach others. Isn't teaching and learning what Masonry is all about?
Brother Dean's comments are timely and good. Education was stressed at the Grand Master's Area Meetings last fall. You can count on more efforts in this area.