HOW TO GUIDE FOR LODGE EDUCATION OFFICERS

1. HOW TO GUIDE FOR LODGE EDUCATION OFFICERS

2. TRAITS OF A LEO • 1. Seems to be a natural teacher • 2. Encourages active participation of the learner • 3. Has a positive attitude • 4. Is well organized • 5. Can make difficult concepts easy to understand

3. LEO TRAITS CONT’D • 6. Discusses topics that are practical, relevant, accurate, and up-to-date. • 7. Is available and willing to help, if called upon • 8. Enthusiastic responses to both simple and hard questions • 9. Is enjoyable to be around • 10. Not afraid of technology or trying new things.

4. VOLUNTEER • …a person who chooses freely to do something. • Teens 59% • Age 25-35 62% • Age 35-44 64% • Age 45-64 51% • Age 64-74 42%

5. LEO DUTIES • Assist the WM and SW in having or preparing quality, regular LEO programs. 2. Coordinate or assign the education efforts of the Lodge by holding regular meetings with: a) The Lodge’s Officers b) Mentor & Coaching Program Representatives c) Degree Directors d) Other Committee Chairmen of the Lodge

6. DUTIES CONT’D • Attend with other Bro.’s and Officers of the Lodge: a) Schools of Instruction b) Leadership Schools c) GL sponsored Education Officer events 4. Receive, distribute and promote the use of educational information made available to Officers and Brethren.

7. DUTIES CONT’D • Prepare and submit a report at the regular Stated Communication of the lodge: a) Information on educational programs planned b) Opportunities for Masonic education the Brothers can attend. • Masonic educational opportunities whenever they may occur.

8. DUTIES CONT’D 7. Communicate Masonic educational articles and Lodge education activities by appropriate written means to all the membership. 8. Notify other LEO’s of planned significant educational programs occurring within the Lodge.

9. LODGE RECOGNITION PROGRAM LODGE IN GOOD STANDING Must host a minimum of one LEO program per year. BRONZE Host a minimum of two LEO programs per year.

10. RECOGNITION PROGRAM CONT’D SILVER Host a minimum of four LEO programs per year. Host a minimum of three social and/or community programs per year. GOLD Host a minimum of six LEO programs per year. Conduct at least one program per year supporting our appendant bodies.

11. LODGE LIBRARY • Do you have one? • Where is it located? • How and when is it accessible to everyone • When was the last time a physical inventory was taken? a) Books – Such as Freemasonry for Dummies, Born in Blood b) Periodicals/Magazines c) DVD’s

12. NO LODGE LIBRARY? • Find out why the lodge doesn’t have a library. • Is there a place that a bookshelf can be placed? • What books, periodicals, magazines, DVD’s would members of the lodge be willing to donate? • What free resources are available from the Grand Lodge including a current copy of the Masonic Code?

13. NO LIBRARY CONT’D • What resources are available at minimal cost such as at Used Bookstores? • If the Brethren don’t have anything to donate would they contribute money to purchase materials?

14. POSSIBLE RESOURCES • Masonic Bible • Resources from Appendant Bodies * York Rite * Shrine * Scottish Rite Research Societies Materials – for a nominal fee • Masonic Service Association: Short Talk Bulletin • Southern Calif. Research Lodge F & AM • GL LEO Resources: http://www.mn-masons.org/masonic-educational-resources/leo-resource-pages • Philalethes Society: http://freemasonry.org

15. IDEAS FOR PROGRAMS • Where can you find ideas for LEO programs? * Your lodge library * Libraries of other lodges * MSA publications * Appendant body libraries * Maxwell’s Bible

16. IDEAS CONT’D MASONIC WEB SITES • Freemasonry.fm: http://www.freemasonry.fm A page of links to other Masonic sites. • Freemasons for Dummies: freemasonsfordummies.blogspot.com Chris Hodap’s blog. • The Blue Lodge: http://www.thebluelodge.org A discussion forum for Masons.

17. Masonic Web Sites Continued • The Masonic Society: http://themasonicsociety.com An education based organization. • Pietre-Stones Review of Freemasonry: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com International news and views. • The Philalethes Society: http://freemasonry.org

18. RESEARCH WEB SITES • American Lodge of Research: http://www.americanlodgeofresearch.org • Denver Consistory: http://www.denverconsistory.org/books.html Scans of very old important Masonic documents. • Institute for Global Ethics: http://www.globalethics.org Official web site of Rushworth Kidder

19. RESEARCH CONT’D • Masonic Book Club: http://www.masonicbookclub.org • Masonic Service Assoc. of North America: http://www.msana.com • Southern California Research Lodge F & AM: http://www.calodges.org/scrl • Quatour Coronati: http://quatuorcoronati.com

20. RESEARCH CONT’D • University of Sheffield Centre for Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism: http://www.freemasonry.dept.shef.ac.uk • Masonic Central Podcast: http://www.freemasoninformation.com A web only weekly program about Freemasonry. It can be heard from the web site or iTunes for free. • Texas Lodge of Research: http://www.texaslodgeofresearch.org

21. PROGRAM TOPICS • Performing a candidate investigation • Conducting a funeral • Holding a widows night • Welcoming unknown Brothers to lodge and conducting an investigation.

22. TOPICS CONT’D • Familiarization with the Masonic Code • Understanding Lodge Officer duties • The meaning of Opening & Closing a Lodge of Sorrow • Guest LEO presentation, from another lodge

23. TOPICS CONT’D • Mentoring candidates/new Brothers • Presentation by appendant bodies of who they are, etc. • Brethren with interesting occupations or hobbies • Masons in the history of our country.

24. TOPICS CONT’D • Articles from appendant body periodicals. • Masonic Charities presentation • The purpose of monthly Officers Meetings and who may attend. • KidsID informational or instructional presentation

25. TIPS FOR SPEAKINGOpening Nerves Before you go on, chat to people in your audience. It will help create a warmer, more friendly atmosphere. As you're waiting to be announced, repeat your opening sentence three or four times to distract you from your nervousness and to give you the confidence of a sure start. To help relax from head to toe, take three deep slow breaths - in through nose - out through mouth with your hand on your stomach as it expands and contracts.

26. TIPS CONT’D When starting, pause for 1-2 seconds to establish yourself. Stand upright and relaxed. Pleasantly acknowledge a friendly face nearby. Smile. Smiling shows warmth for the audience and is rarely misinterpreted

27. TIPS CONT’D Make eye contact with the audience, momentarily from one to another to show interest in them. Engage with animated listeners - but not too much. Scan the audience, and don't miss anyone, anywhere, ever.

28. TIPS CONT’D Occasionally start a sentence looking at one section of the audience and finish looking at another section. Too shy to look straight at individuals? Until your confidence grows, try looking at their forehead or the spaces between their eyes.

29. TIPS CONT’D Recall how you talk to your mother. Imagine that someone who loves you is listening. Start out by imagining you're talking to them. Successful public speakers project energy and conviction. Believe what you say and deliver it with conviction and passion. The audience will sense if you're not sincere

30. Delivery These suggestions may feel unnatural when you first try them, but you can see how effective speaking skills involve the delivery by listening to the phrasing of top presenters on TV and radio. Notice how they: Emphasize key wordsin every sentence. So when you go through your speech, you will find it useful to underline a number of verbs and adjectives in each of your sentences to remind you to give them extra ‘punch.‘ Don't allow their voices to go downat the end of sentences. Every word has to be heard in full, otherwise why's it there?

31. Pace & Pause • Pace: • Don't rush, particularly when you start. • Speak fast enough to keep people from becoming bored and slow enough for people to absorb fully what you're saying. • Slow down to emphasize and reinforce your key ideas. • Vary your pace to inject excitement or gravity. • To add color to your speech, change the pace and rhythm of your delivery between topics/paragraphs.

32. Pause • Pause: • Pause to set up an important point. • After that important point, pause to add emphasis. • Pause to allow the point to sink in. • Don't pause for too long or you could appear pompous.

33. Body Language Keep your gestures natural and comfortable. Rehearsal and practice help make them so. If you are speaking with real conviction, your gestures will be real. Many professional speakers and many actors too are taught the following arm positionsyou can use. • Arms • At mid-rift when reasoning. • Chest high for power and commitment. • Straight down when uncommitted.

34. Polishing a presentation and avoiding errors You may find it useful to rehearse your presentation in front of a full-length mirror. It will not only help you perfect your delivery it will also help you avoid a whole raft of common mistakes. For example, it will help ensure that you: • Don't drop your head when reading speech (many speakers type their speech only on the top half of pages). • Don't turn your back on audience • Don't play with a pen or pointer.

35. Polishing cont’d • Don't grip table or lectern. • Don't bend towards microphone (adjust its height). • Don't lean towards your notes. • Don't stare fixedly at notes or visual aids. • Don't fidget: Touch face, tie, lapel, etc.

36. When it's over . . . smile Unless the occasion is not appropriate. It tells the audience that you've done your best, that you've enjoyed your talk and are confident they've enjoyed it too, that they're a great audience who've responded well. All that from just a smile? Sure, but it's what's behind the smile (learning and using the above) that's the real secret.