How to Improve the Craft, by Arthur Peterson

You have a great idea that you think will benefit the lodge.

What do you do with this idea?

My experiences have shown that no single man can change Freemasonry or a lodge. You can have the best idea in the world, but if it does not sit well with your other Brothers, it will never blossom.

Here are my tips:

1. Thoroughly research your idea. Know what it costs, know how much time it will take out of your lodge, know what kind of manpower it is going to require.

2. Sell the idea. Discuss it with members of your lodge outside of lodge. Find supporters. Find the men who will dedicate the manhour time you have come up with.

3. Present it to the lodge. Give a full presentation. Explain the costs and how you budgeted it, explain who is going to dedicate the manhours to it, explain, explain, explain!

4. Be prepared for rejection. Even the most thought out plan does not necessarily get the majority of Brothers to agree with it. Be prepared for them to say no in the worst case, be also prepared for it to be refered for committee. If it goes into committee, meet with the members and assist them in developing a plan to implement your idea.

5. Never stop trying to improve the craft. Don't count the rejections, only count the approvals! All it takes is one improvement to make the craft better today than it was yesterday. Rejoice if you ever get just one improvement implemented!