PDDGM meeting

Tonight was our meeting of the PDDGM's and we covered a ton of items after our dinner. Deputy Grand Master Doug Kaylor was in attendance and we talked through his plans and at length talked about how the Grand Master's Class would work next year as it will be slightly different than past classes. We also discussed challenges lodges in our District were having and some things which are being tried to assist the lodges to improve. One of the items being used is something which has been tried in other states with some success but the jury is still out if it works here in Ohio and accomplishes the desired outcome. We also talked about whether the number of lodges in Ohio is too many or just right. At our peek membership in the Grand Lodge in the 1960's each lodge averaged around 450 members where we are now down to around 175 on average per lodge. The key to each Lodges success was pointed out to be as it always has been which is at least one or more persons who serve as the spark-plug or motivator to move the Lodge forward. This key individual can be found in very small and very large Lodges but without them the size of the membership is fairly irrelevant. It was also discussed that good ritual work can serve as a motivator for officers but poor ritual work can drive officer and new members away from participation. We do, however, need to have more than good ritual work and stated meetings to give our members a reason to stay active members. Also it was stressed that for all those active in the bodies outside of the Lodge, they need to be going back to their Lodges. Just attending and supporting the Lodge is a good way to get the Lodge membership aware of other opportunities they may have to continue their search for Masonic knowledge.