Why Lodges’ commitment is vital in ‘new members’ relay

UGLE is launching a year-long membership campaign to find new Freemasons – but its success or failure will depend on how well individual Lodges play their part.

Mike Clay

That’s the view of Provincial Membership Officer Mike Clay, who says the campaign will be like a relay race.

It will be run through Facebook and Instagram during February and March, then pause over the summer before resuming in September and carrying on until the end of the year.

Throughout that time Facebook and Instagram posts will invite non-Freemasons to express an interest in learning more about Freemasonry. Those queries will be sorted geographically, with details being passed on to the appropriate Province on a daily basis.

“Then it’ll be up to us,” says Mike. “A small team will contact all the people passed to us by UGLE. If they’re suitable we’ll pass their details to Centre Membership Officers, and from there they’ll go to the appropriate Lodge to follow up.”

It’s the last stage that gives Mike the greatest concern. “It’s just like a relay race. If the baton gets dropped at the last exchange, all the effort that’s gone in beforehand is wasted. That’s why it’s so important that Lodges have robust membership teams in place to talk to, interview and nurture potential candidates, and make them welcome. That’s especially important for anyone coming to us in February or March when the summer break is on the horizon.

Mike will be the main initial contact for UGLE referrals, supported by Dale Atkins, Steve Dickson, Alan ‘Tiny’ Clifton, David Carter and Stuart Pearcey, who will contact and triage the enquiry referrals.

“We need to do whatever we can to sustain inquirers’ interest until we can initiate them. We live in an age when even ‘next day delivery’ can seem too long to wait. We have to recognise that and do what we can to mitigate expectations.”

UGLE takes the view that candidates won’t be offered to Lodges simply because they’ve not had new members for a while. Mike explained why: “Initiating a new member isn’t the end of the journey, because if we send them to the wrong Lodge and they don’t feel they fit in, they’re likely to resign. Once again that will mean the effort put in up to that point has been wasted. That’s why it’s important that we select the Lodge with care.”

Mike added that he’ll be contacting all the Lodge Membership Officers to highlight the role they’ll need to play in the campaign. “This is the third time UGLE has run a digital marketing campaign. It’s the largest yet, and has the potential to make the greatest impact on finding new Freemasons,” he said.

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