In the past I have watched (Past) Masters run around like chickens with their heads cut off . They took charge of any and all functions and stressed themselves out .My year as SW , I created lists for my committees , thought long and hard on who I wanted where . Now , other than poking my nose in to see what is going on , I let them do their thing and everything is running smooth . Our Golf Outing is coming up . This is a huge production and other than showing up , I have nothing to do . The committee has taken care of everything , all I had to do was ask for updates . We are having the outside of our building remodeled , I made sure I picked the right members for my building committee and other than getting updates on what is going on , I have not had to lift a finger . Education ? I made sure I chose the correct members so I would not have to worry about it and they are taking care of business . Dinners and other functions ? I have committees for that . Great , hard working members on the right committees can make the Master look good and his life so much easier . Some Masters feel they MUST be the boss over every aspect of the lodge not realizing that delegating duties makes the lodge run smoother and more efficiently .
Any leader whether they are the WM of a Lodge or Chief of a Fire Dept or Police Dept that micromanages is going to fail..... I think you have done the right thing.... you are to Govern the Lodge.... not do everything in and for it.
During the Viet Nam War, President Lyndon Johnson once said [allegedly], "Why, I won't let them boys bomb an outhouse without my say-so!" It formed a mentality in the military that persists to this day, with troops in the war zones, soldiers and marines, having to call for permission to engage [to shoot] when they come under fire, in some circumstances. You shouldn't have to get permission from a colonel or general sitting in an office miles away to shoot back! While I was still in the 'Guard, we were trying to instill the notion: "Let the sergeants be sergeants!" I think Ashlar's idea of planning ahead and getting his committees in place with competent chairmen is great. Wish I had gotten such a good idea. S&F
I haven't sat in the East yet, but I was President of a club a few years ago. Even now, people in the club say the line I always used whenever somebody would come up to me and say anything the started with, "You should.....". I always answered, "Great Idea! make it happen." Like Ashlar, I looked like a superstar and didn't have to lift a finger most of the time. Empowering good people makes them perform their "jobs" with joy and satisfaction. The only thing that absolutely always, without fail, must happen is public acknowledgement and praise of the person's origination of the idea, planning and work to implement it and successful completion. A few words of thanks can make these people your friends for life.
I will apologize in advance.... but when I read your post, I just new you was gonna say "I havent sat in the East yet, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn once" Again...I do apologize.... your post was very good and if you dont mind, I just might used your idea sometime....
