Recruitment, Retention & Retrieval

January 2012

Brethren!  My message this time around is ongoing, with a few minor alterations. As I said in September, the time has come to take advantage of all the good news that Buckinghamshire Freemasonry has begun to spread amongst the local communities throughout this Province in the last couple of years.

It is fair to say that our presence in the local media has recently become so high profile that almost every newspaper editor is requesting interviews with members of your Executive, and as a consequence, we are getting maximum coverage for all the good stories our Media Officer, Tim Arnold, is putting out. They want to know about us, and what we’re up to – so they can tell the public.

So!  Let’s go one better – let’s tell them ourselves. Whenever any of you meet someone who asks “What’s Freemasonry about?” or, better still, “Why should I join?”, then tell them………………..

………..it’s to “add SPICE to your life” or, if you prefer, “to SPICE up your life”

And when they ask, “What do you mean?” then if you quote from the following, you might just impress them………...after all, it’s just another (small) piece of ritual.

SPICE!! embodies everything that Freemasonry is:

S elf development:

• personal competence and leadership skills
• self confidence and character building

P ersonal unique experience:

• subliminal self-improvement through Ritual involvement
• a sense of spirituality
• knowledge of yourself

I nteraction and social Inclusiveness:

• open to all (qualify): culture, creed or faith
• making new friends
• informal networking
• effective teamwork

C haritable effectiveness:

• pooling of massive resources
• support for the wider community
• making a real difference in the world

E njoyment and fulfilment:

• time to relax - an "oasis in the desert of life"
• lasting friendships
• pride and satisfaction
• brotherhood

You can then expand on all these points – from your own experience. And you now have the “insert” from the latest edition of Concord to help you.

Easy peasy!

Go tell ‘em!  Today (and every day).

Clifford Drake