MISSION:
Move Masonry into the 21st Century
LETTER FROM MASONIC INFORMATION CENTER
Dear Brothers,
Does your lodge have an interest in Masonic Awareness? You bet it does! So do we at the Masonic Information Center. In fact, MIC feels strongly that those lodges, which seriously support Masonic Awareness both within the lodge and throughout the community, deserve to be recognized. Additionally, these lodges need an opportunity to share their views and accomplishments with other lodges across North America, building a network of Masons committed to a strong Masonic fraternity today and into the future.
Based upon this understanding, it is with great pride that the Masonic Information Center announces a new award – to be called the Twain Award – to honor lodge achievement in Masonic Awareness. Participation in the Twain Award competition is a journey enhanced through learning, doing, and networking.
The Twain Award offers another step toward actualizing the Grand Masters’ call in 2004 for an MIC initiated public awareness program. The first step was the report, It’s about Time! that can be used a resource for Twain Award participants. Full details are available on this website.
We heartily invite your lodge to participate in this important effort to broaden and strengthen our Masonic identity and to do so with energy and creativity.
Good luck and best wishes!
MIC
CONTACT: msana@ix.netcom.com
COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE
The Masonic Information Center Task Force enthusiastically offers the report It’s About Time and its support to help move Masonry into the 21st century, upholding the honor of Masonic membership and the joy of a Masonic way of life. It’s about time for us to take the concept of Masonry off the shelf and put the values of Masonry into action.
CALL TO ACTION
The MIC Task Force initiates the Twain Award, to urge lodges to take action that heightens Masonic awareness within the lodge and throughout the greater community.
It’s about time to move Freemasonry forward both individually and fraternally. We encourage you to think carefully about how you invest your time, which is everyone’s most valuable asset, and we ask that you use your time on activities that are uniquely Masonic. As we work together, we must ask each other how an activity, a meeting, or an event improves, demonstrates, and communicates our experience of being a Freemason. We have not a moment to lose!
TAKE ACTION NOW
Beginning at the lodge level, plan meaningful activities that put Masonic values into action. Consider how you and your lodge can make each and every activity uniquely Masonic. Listed below are just a few suggestions that place a focus on using your time to its greatest Masonic advantage:
- Apply concepts of education and self-improvements to current print and non-print communications tools of individual lodges, Grand Lodges, and national Masonic organizations and societies.
- Improve the environment of lodge-based fellowship; refresh the look of the lodge; welcome new members; improve presentation skills; provide mentoring to study degrees; strengthen communications skills.
- Organize group activities based on education and self-improvement that can enrich lodge-centered fellowship such as: welcoming committees, lodge renovation and clean up campaigns, leadership development conferences, mentor meetings, workshops on such things as Masonic ritual, history, symbolism, architectural works, art, and cultural works.
- Initiate workshops on Masonic personal growth topics such as leadership, stewardship, ethics, philosophy, and spirituality.
- Call on local educational faculty to present on topics that enrich the body, mind, and spirit of the brothers.
- Tap the talents of individual members and build a community of experts to help facilitate Masons to improve themselves and their community.
- Improve community accessibility to Masonry through public outreach activities and program or group hosting, tutoring, and mentoring.
- Offer Masonic recognition and incentive programs for educational initiatives, visitor programs and Chamber of Commerce presentations.
- Honor the Mason within yourself.
- Share success stories with other lodges through the Twain Award network.
- Communicate regularly with neighboring lodges.