GRAND COURT
ORDER OF THE AMARANTH
LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE
PRESENTATION
2010 - 2011
"Never doubt that a small
group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has."
~Margaret Mead
1
THE
LEADERSHIP OF ANY ORGANIZATION MUST
KNOW WHY IT EXISTS, WHAT IS TO BE ACHIEVED AND PROVIDE THE LEADERSHIP AND
GUIDANCE TO ATTAIN THAT OBJECTIVE.
THEREFORE A VISION IS ESSENTIAL AND FOR AMARANTH, PERHAPS
THE VISION MAY BE SIMPLY STATED AS FOLLOWS:
VISION:
TO BE
THE PREMIER FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN AND MEN.
MAY WE
SUGGEST THAT THIS
TO
PROMOTE THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SERVICE TO OTHERS
AND FOSTER ENDURING FRIENDSHIPS THROUGH THE PRACTICE OF TRUTH, FAITH, WISDOM AND
CHARITY.
GRADUALLY OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE SEEN:
·
DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF
COURTS
·
DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF
MEMBERS.
·
DECLINE IN ATTENDANCE OF
MEMBERS AT COURT MEETINGS
·
DECLINE IN VISITATION
BETWEEN COURTS AND JURISDICTIONS.
·
DECLINE IN THE QUALITY OF
RITUAL WORK.
OBVIOUSLY WHAT WE ARE DOING IS NOT WORKING.
BUSINESS AS USUAL WILL NOT REVERSE THE DECLINE
- BUSINESS UNUSUAL IS NECESSARY.
THE
ENIGMA IS THAT WE MUST CHANGE WITHOUT CHANGING.
THE
LANDMARKS OF THE ORDER CANNOT CHANGE.
THE
RITUAL ,THE FOUNDATION OF OUR ORDER, CANNOT CHANGE.
OUR
DRESS CODE COULD, BUT SHOULD NOT CHANGE.
WHAT IS
TO BE DONE?
TONIGHT
WE OFFER SOME THOUGHTS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
CHANGE!
AS CHARLES DARWIN SAID:
"IT'S
NOT THE STRONGEST OF THE SPECIES THAT SURVIVES,
NOR THE MOST INTELLIGENT,
BUT THE ONE MOST RESPONSIVE TO CHANGE."
NOBODY
LIKES CHANGE – MENTION “CHANGE” AND
RESISTANCE SETS IN.
NOBODY
LIKES BEING TAKEN OUT OF THEIR COMFORT
ZONE; MOST ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE STATUS QUO.
NEW
SYSTEMS, NEW RULES, ANYTHING NEW REQUIRES ADAPTING AND LEARNING NEW PROCEDURES.
BUT IT
IS CHANGE THAT CREATES ENTHUSIASM AND OPPPORTUNITY TO MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE
MEMBERS.
“THAT’S
THE WAY WE’VE ALWAYS DONE IT.”
DOES
THAT SOUND FAMILIAR?
IF THIS
ATTITUDE PREVAILED, WE WOULD STILL BE IN THE HORSE AND BUGGY AGE, STILL WRITING
WITH QUILL PENS.
THERE
WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE
“WHEN
YOU REFUSE TO CHANGE - YOU END UP IN
CHAINS.”
A
FARMER DECIDED TO RAISE SOME SHEEP AND BOUGHT A FINE EWE, WHICH SOON GAVE BIRTH
TO TWO LAMBS. HOWEVER HE HAD NO PEN IN WHICH TO KEEP THE SHEEP AND A WOLF CAME
ALONG AND ATE ONE OF THE LAMBS.
THE
FARMER SAID,” WELL, I GUESS IT’S BETTER TO HAVE ONE FAT LAMB THAN TWO SKINNY
ONES.” AND HE DECIDED NOT TO
A FEW
DAYS LATER THE WOLF CAME BACK AND ATE THE SECOND LAMB.
“WELL,” SAID THE FARMER,”I GUESS IT’S
FOR THE BEST. NOW THE EWE WONT HAVE TO BE BOTHRED BY THEM.”
WITH
BOTH LAMBS GONE, HE AGAIN DECIDED NOT TO BUILD A PEN.
SOME
WEEKS LATER THE WOLF CAME BACK AGAIN AND ATE THE EWE.
AND THE
FARMER SAID,”I KNOW ITS ALL FOR THE BEST, BUT I’LL BE DARNED IF I CAN FIGURE OUT
HOW.”
ARE WE
IN THE AMARANTH LIKE THAT FARMER?
DESPITE
THE OBVIOUS WARNING SIGNS, WE JUST KEEP ON DOING THE SAME THINGS.
WE HAVE
SEEN THE SIGNS OF OUR DECLINE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND HAVE TAKEN LITTLE ACTION
TO CORRECT IT.
COURT
AFTER COURT HAS GONE INTO DARKNESS. MEMBERSHIP HAS PLUMMETTED.
IF WE
KEEP DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHY SHOULD WE EXPECT DIFFERENT
RESULTS.
ARE WE READY FOR CHANGE? IF NOT, WE
CERTAINLY SHOULD BE.
ARE WE READY?
THE
ON
BOARD THEY HAD A 1200 VOLUME LIBRARY,
THE
SHIPS BECAME FROZEN SOLID IN THE ICE AND IN THE SEVERE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT NOT
ONE MEMBER OF THE EXPEDITION SURVIVED, SUCCUMBING TO EXPOSURE TO THE HARSH
ELEMENTS.
ARE WE
WELL EQUIPPED FOR OUR VOYAGE OF RENEWAL? - AND READY TO MAKE THE CHANGES
NECESSARY TO RECEIVE NEW MEMBERS, TO RETAIN OUR PRESENT MEMBERS AND TO LIFT
AMARANTH TO THE POSITION OF
“THE PREMIER FRATERNAL
ORGANIZATION FOR WOMEN AND MEN”
KEEPING
IN MIND OUR
·
THE ADVANCEMENT OF WOMEN
·
THE
·
FOSTER ENDURING FRIENDSHIPS
SOME
QUESTIONS:-
COMMUNICATIONS:
1.
IS OUR COMMUNITY AWARE OF
OUR EXISTENCE? DO WE PARTICIPATE IN ANY COMMUNITY OUTREACH?
2.
DO WE COMMUNICATE
EFFECTIVELY WITH OTHER MASONIC FRATERNAL ORDERS?
3.
DO WE SUPPORT OUR YOUTH –
NOT JUST RAINBOW, JOBS DAUGHTERS AND DEMOLAY, BUT ASSIST SPORTS GROUPS, ARTS
GROUPS, EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS?
4.
BESIDES THE COURT NOTICE, IS
THERE ANY OTHER FORM OF COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS?
SUCH AS PHONE COMMITTEES; VISITATIONS; EMAIL; WEBSITES THAT ARE
UP-TO-DATE AND INTERESTING.
OUR COURT MEETINGS:
1.
DO WE HAVE ANY SPECIAL
NIGHTS, THAT WOULD ATTRACT ATTENDANCE?
2.
DO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
“MASTER MASON’S NIGHT” TO INVITE LODGE MEMBERS IN OUR AREA TO ATTEND?
3.
IS OUR RITUAL WORK PERFORMED
WELL TO MAKE A FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION ON NEW
CANDIDATES OR IS THE USE OF BOOKS NOW THE NORM?
4.
ARE OUR MEETINGS STARTED ON
TIME, CONDUCTED EFFICIENTLY AND INTERESTING TOPICS INTRODUCED?
OR IS IT JUST – OPEN –
BUSINESS – CLOSE.
5.
IS QUALITY MUSIC
PROVIDED TO ENHNACE OUR CEREMONIES.
6.
ARE WE MAKING USE OF THE
LATEST TECHNOLOGY – POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS ETC.
7.
ARE OUR SOCIAL HOURS FUN,
FRIENDLY AND FRATERNAL?
YOU CAN
PROBABLY THINK OF A LOT MORE QUESTIONS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IF WE ARE TO GET
READY TO PROVIDE A GREAT PRODUCT THAT WILL BE ATTRACTIVE TO PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS
AND EXISITING MEMBERS ALIKE.
IT IS
NOT JUST ENOUGH TO GET NEW MEMBERS – WE MUST INVOLVE THEM, RESPECT THEM
AND RETAIN THEM.
TEAMWORK.
COMING TOGETHER IS THE
BEGINNING
KEEPING TOGETHER IS
PROGRESS.
WORKING TOGETHER IS SUCCESS.
Henry Ford.
DURING
THIS PRESENTATION ALL YOU HAVE HEARD IS
“WE.”
AND
THAT’S THE WAY IT OUGHT TO BE.
THIS IS
NOT AN “I” ORGANIZATION BUT A “WE” ORGANIZATION, FOR AS EVERYBODY KNOWS, THERE
IS NO “I” IN AMARANTH, NOR IS THERE “I” IN TEAMWORK!
WE CAN
ALL BE LEADERS IN OUR ENDEAVOUR TO RAISE OUR ORDER TO THE HEIGHTS IT DESERVES.
“LEADERSHIP IS AN
SO
LET’S HAVE AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT; LETS LEAVE
OUR EGOS BEHIND AND JOIN THE TEAM – FOR IT IS TEAMWORK THAT WILL ENSURE
OUR SUCCESS.
MAKE
SURE THAT “WE” GETS THE CREDIT;TRUST WILL BE CREATED, AND SUCCESS ENSURED.
YOU
PROBABLY HAVE ALL HEARD THE STORY “LESSONS OF THE GEESE” BUT IT IS WORTH
REPEATING:
AS
GEESE FLAP THEIR WINGS, THEY CREATE AN UPLIFT FOR THE BIRD FOLLOWING.
BY FLYING IN A V FORMATION, THE WHOLE
FLOCK ADDS 71% GREATER
IF WE SHARE A COMMON DIRECTION AND A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY, WE CAN GET WHERE WE ARE GOING MORE QUICKLY AND EASILY BECAUSE WE ARE
TRAVELING ON THE THRUST OF ONE ANOTHER!
WHENEVER A GOOSE FALLS OUT OF FORMATION, IT SUDDENLY FEELS THE DRAG AND
RESISTANCE OF TRYING TO FLY ALONE, AND QUICKLY GETS BACK INTO FORMATION TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE LIFTING POWER OF THE BIRD IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT.
IF WE HAVE AS MUCH SENSE AS GEESE, WE WILL STAY
IN FORMATION WITH THOSE WHO ARE HEADED WHERE WE WANT TO GO, AND WE WILL BE
WILLING TO ACCEPT THEIR HELP AS WELL AS GIVE OURS TO OTHERS.
WHEN
THE LEAD GOOSE GETS TIRED, IT ROTATES BACK INTO FORMATION AND ANOTHER GOOSE
FLIES AT THE POINT POSITION.
IF WE TAKE TURNS DOING THE HARD TASKS AND
SHARING LEADERSHIP AS WITH THE GEESE, WE BECOME INTERDEPENDENT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
THE
GEESE IN FORMATION HONK FROM BEHIND TO ENCOURAGE THOSE UP FRONT TO KEEP UP THEIR
SPEED.
IF WE "HONK," WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT IS
POSITIVE AND ENCOURAGING.
WHEN A
GOOSE GETS SICK OR WOUNDED OR IS SHOT DOWN, TWO GEESE DROP OUT OF FORMATION AND
FOLLOW IT DOWN TO HELP AND PROTECT IT. THEY STAY WITH IT UNTIL IT IS ABLE TO FLY
AGAIN OR DIES. THEY THEN LAUNCH OUT ON THEIR OWN, WITH ANOTHER FORMATION OR
CATCH UP WITH THE FLOCK.
IF WE HAVE AS MUCH SENSE AS GEESE, WE TOO WILL
STAND BY EACH OTHER IN DIFFICULT TIMES, AS WELL AS WHEN WE ARE STRONG. LET US
ALL TRY TO FLY IN FORMATION AND REMEMBER TO DROP BACK TO HELP THOSE WHO MIGHT
NEED IT!
SO THE
POINTS TO REMEMBER ARE:
·
WE CAN’T DO IT ALONE.
·
WE MUST STICK WITH IT – OUR
OPINIONS MAY NOT ALWAYS BE ACCEPTED, BUT WE MUST KEEP TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE OUR
GOAL.
·
WE MUST BE READY TO ACCEPT
THE LEADERSHIP ROLE, AND NOT ALWAYS LEAVE IT UP TO THE FEW.
·
WE MUST GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT –
REMEMBER IT COSTS NOTHING TO SHOW
APPRECIATION AND GIVE PRAISE FOR A JOB WELL DONE – AND IT RESULTS IN POSITIVE
AND ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPATION.
·
WE MUST BE PREPARED TO
WELCOME BACK THOSE WHO HAVE DROPPED OUT FOR
ANY REASON.
·
WE MUST OFFER ASSISTANCE TO
THOSE HAVING DIFFICULTY OR NEEDING HELP.
LEADERS
ARE NOT BORN - IT IS UP TO YOU TO
BECOME A
LEADER.
GOOD
LEADERS INSPIRE OTHERS TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE LEADER.
GREAT
LEADERS INSPIRE THEM TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES.
STRIVE TO BE A GREAT LEADER.
WHERE TO NOW?
SO WHAT
ARE WE TO DO?
YOU’RE
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WE HAVEN’T GIVEN YOU ANY ANSWERS.
TONIGHT
WE WOULD LIKE TO CHALLENGE YOU TO
COME UP WITH THE SOLUTION OR SOLUTIONS FOR REVITALISING OUR BELOVED ORDER.
SOME
ORGANIZATIONS CALL IT “
SOME
JUST CALL IT “GOAL SETTING.”
WE CALL
IT SURVIVAL!!!
WHILE
WE ARE ALL BOUND BY THE CONSTITUTION OF SUPREME COUNCIL AND
SO WHAT
WE SUGGEST IS THAT YOU HAVE A MEETING OF
ALL YOUR MEMBERS – NEW MEMBERS CAN BRING CREATIVE IDEAS AND PROPOSALS
– NOT AT A REGULAR STATED MEETING;
IT CAN BE AT YOUR MEETING PLACE OR AT A MEMBER’S HOME
– BUT A SPECIFIC MEETING WITH THE SOLE
ITEM ON THE AGENDA BEING:
“A STRONG SECURE FUTURE FOR
AMARANTH –
HOW TO ACHIEVE IT?”
SPLIT
OFF INTO SMALL GROUPS – LET IDEAS FLOW – ANYTHING IS UP FOR DISCUSSION – TRY TO
COME TO SOME CONCLUSIONS.
MORE
THAN ONE MEETING WILL PROBABLY BE NECESSARY.
“THAT’S
THE WAY WE’VE ALWAYS DONE IT” IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE.
WE MUST
P.E.R.S.E.V.E.R.E:
P
– PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF.
E
– ENDURE – DON’T GIVE UP.
R
– REVIEW – REVISE – REPEAT –
RESPECT OTHERS OPINIONS
S
- SUPPORT EACH OTHER.
E
– ENTHUSIASM GENERATES SUCCESS.
V
- VISION – KEEP THE VISION IN MIND.
E
- EXECUTE DEVELOPED PLANS PROMPTLY.
R
- RENEW AND REVITALISE HIGH
STANDARDS
E
- EXPECT AND EAGERLY EMBRACE EVERY
ACCOMPLISHMENT
WE MUST
BE OPEN TO NEW IDEAS, BE PREPARED TO LISTEN, ENTHUSIASTIC TO LEARN AND HAVE THE
FLEXIBILITY TO CHANGE.
SO
LET’S GET WITH IT – PUT THE IDEAS DEVELOPED INTO AN ACTION PLAN AND -
DON’T
GET DISCOURAGED. REMEMBER, THIS IS A LONG JOURNEY.
WE CANNOT ARRIVE AT OUR
DESTINATION OVERNIGHT, BUT WE SURE CAN CHANGE THE DIRECTION.
SO -
JUST DO IT! –
DO IT NOW! –
AND
DO IT RIGHT!
Leadership Committee – 2010
– 2011