Flood of petitions

[Ashlar2006]

Since Nov . my lodge has had a flood of petitions coming in , so many that we are having trouble keeping up with the degree work . Just this month we took in 5 petitions alone . A couple of years ago we went almost all year without having one petition .Even the Masons that have been EA's for years now want to move on through the degrees .
It seems it goes in cycles but never been like this . I think it may have to do with books and movies that have came out like National Treasure and The Da Vinci Code that has sparked interest in Freemasonry .
Has anyone of your lodges had an increase in new petitions ? I would love to see it continue at this rate . It seems that we are getting some quality men . We did have to weed out a few of the curious , but not many .

 

[cemab4y]

Petitions

I am delighted to hear of your "problem"!! I wish every lodge in America was getting bombarded. I just read a blurb on the Mass Grand Lodge group, and the poster stated that some lodges in Mass are getting a major increase in petitions. This is good news, indeed.

Once, when I was in Arlington VA, March 2005, the small lodge I attended got 17 new petitions in one month, all off the internet. It seems, that the first knock at the West Gate, is more frequently an electronic knock.

I wish my home lodge (in KY) would get a website, they are undergoing a major loss in membership. Sad.

 

[reviewer]

Agreed, I'm happy to hear about such problems! It definitely beats the alternative, given that a lot of fraternal orders were struggling just a few years ago.

 

[Ashlar2006]

It is great !

 

[reviewer]

I have heard that all of the fraternal orders are experiencing a resurgence right now nationally. There was a story about it on NPR (I believe they talked mostly about the Elks, though).

 

[jason]

I wish my home lodge (in KY) would get a website, they are undergoing a major loss in membership. Sad.

If you would like, in the next month or so I can set them up with a website.


Our Lodge has 5 in the petition process right now (I just managed to get myself included in the investigation committee, still haven't figured that one out), we just passed 3 in our Lodge and one from another Lodge last night. I forget how many are in the studying process. Things are picking up for us. Hopefully with the website we have now that will increase further.

 

[jvlighting1]

website

Yes my distric shares a Website. It could use a little help. They have not updated it for a wile. Jason, what do you mean "you can set them up"? I am a IT professional, (software support and networking) 10 years in the field.. do you have free hosting? I am going to help out with our site and provide assistance to the local webmaster.

 

[mollyL]

I wonder why some lodges are being inundated with petitions and other lodges are experiencing downturns in membership?

 

[juniordeacon85]

we too have had an increese in petitions while a sister lodge 5 mins away can barley open the lodge

 

[jason]

Yes my distric shares a Website. It could use a little help. They have not updated it for a wile. Jason, what do you mean "you can set them up"? I am a IT professional, (software support and networking) 10 years in the field.. do you have free hosting? I am going to help out with our site and provide assistance to the local webmaster.

What I can do is setup a website, something like Pearl of the West and provide hosting for free. The only thing I would like is a link back to here. When I get some time, I'll try and setup a demo site, with some different layouts to see if you would be interested.

 

[cemab4y]

Lodge websites

I belong to two lodges, one in Kentucky, and one in New York. Neither of which have websites (I am appalled). May I ask your assistance in obtaining websites for my lodges? Any guidance or advice will be most appreciated.

Charles E. Martin
Fort Wayne Indiana

 

[jason]

I belong to two lodges, one in Kentucky, and one in New York. Neither of which have websites (I am appalled). May I ask your assistance in obtaining websites for my lodges? Any guidance or advice will be most appreciated.

Charles E. Martin
Fort Wayne Indiana

I would be more then glad to help setup websites for both Lodges. Things are a little crazy right now, but hopefully will settle down in the next week or two. Just send me a friendly reminder and we can see what we can work out.

 

[jvlighting1]

Thanks for the info Jason! A link is the least I can do...if not more. Let me know if i can help you as well. IT is my craft!

 

[Green-Moo]

Some weeks down the line, how are you finding your flood of enquiries? Are many developing into petitions?

 

[Ashlar2006]

Still have them coming in . We will be putting 2 or 3 through the EA degree in a couple of weeks , one a very good friend . Waiting for investigating committees to come back on quit a few . We also have Bro's who have been EA's for years finally going on through the degree's . I just performed the Fellowcraft degree on 3 just yesterday morning .

 

[RoughAshlar]

Petitions, like the tides seem to ebb and flow. I think it is just a sign of the times, with such a lack of decent role models in our society; it necessarily follows that good, decent people will reach out to other like minded people.