DLI attendence

[Dan LaGrone]

Hello,
I am going to be Master of HAwthorne Fortitude #200 for this upcoming year. It is going to be an outstanding year because I have so many dedicated and motivated brethren. I am just wondering if any of teh other PM have any suggestions on getting their officers to regularly attend DLI? What has worked in the past?
Bro DAN

[joeohlandt]

Bro. Dan,

Why get worked up about it? Either they will show up or they won't. Being a good Master is doing what is right for your lodge, not for the DD.

I have always found DLI to be a rather boring event and nobody has ever satisfactorily explained the purpose of GLI to me.

Joe Ohlandt

[Cory Sigler]

Brother Joe,
I thought it was to verify that you are learning the work at a certain level of profiencey to make sure you are doing it right. Isn't that a necessary function to have?

["Pops"]

Bro. Dan,
Having "so many dedicated and motivated" Brethren supporting you is a credit to your leadership abilities and your own devotion to your Lodge.

As far as motivating your officers to attend DLI....that goes along with the age old question of how to get our Brethren motivated to attend lodge meetings. I think the key is appointing Brethren who posses all the good qualities as you do to the subordinate chairs in you line. And then, nurture them as the progress.

While being a good Master is doing what is right for your lodge, a good Master also does what is right for the district. You may not like your DDGM, but you do owe him the respect he deserves by attending DLI. And as we all know, this is the place where we, as a lodge, prove our proficiency in our degree work. It also allows the lodges in the district the opportunity to get together to discuss all things Masonic and also enjoy great fellowship!

Just my two cents worth.

Respectfully,
John L. Reader, III, P.G.C.
U.S.S. New Jersey Lodge No

[defender]

Attendance at DLI is a requirement of the position just like attendance at lodge is.
I learned a little at DLI, but the great advantage (and maybe you could use this to inspire guys coming up in the chairs) is making contacts with guys in other lodges. When you are SD you hook up with other SDs and make friends. You will be better off as you all advance over the next 4 years to the east. This is particularly important in the 18th District where the masters of each lodge perform a traditional roasting of the WM at each lodge's annual communication. You may find years later you are closer with the guys who were master in your year than other PMs in your lodge.

[swilens9]

There is no question that the purpose of DLI is to standardize the way the ritual is performed. Having served as a DRI for 4 yrs. I found it is very difficult to get each lodge to change the way "we have done it this way for as long as I can remember" attitude. As long as this attitude remains prevelant it will be next to impossible to standardize the ritual.

The only purpose of GLI is to verify that each district has been informed of the standard practices. Visiting various lodges I see that what is learned in DLI is not necessarily done in the lokge itself.

Sheldon I. Wilensky
PDRI

[DAN L]

GOOD NEWS! Hawthorne Fortitude just had an outstanding showing at our DLI and we were all very pleased. JW DAN

[240norm]

Brothers,
As DRI of the 12th district for the past two years I can say that the key to getting good turn outs to the DLI's is participation and keeping the meetings brief.
If you continually finish late attendence will drop off. If the same members go over the same work, attendence will drop off.
Our DDGM has included talks and informational sessions as part of our DLI's and they have been recieved well. Our attendence is usually between 30 to 40 members and we are now seeing an influx of newer members attending. I try to fill some speaking parts with these newer members and talk them through the part. They have a great time and return. It is also important to vary which work is covered so boredom doesn't set in.
How your DDGM and DRI handle corrections to mistakes will also be a key to repeat attenders.
If someone is made to feel badly by the manner they were corrected there is a good chance you will never see them at another DLI.
Our DLI's are improving each month. As the Brethren learn, I learn as well. I learn what peaks interest and what puts them to sleep and structure the meetings around these observations.
One of the main observations I have made is that as our DLI's improve, so does Lodge interaction throughout the District.
Fraternally,
Norm Persing DRI#12

[Marwin Meller PDDGM]

Brethren: The ritual is the language of the Craft. If the officer 'can't speak well' should he have that position? As in any endeavor speech is vital for any promotion and,vitally, how the DLI is conducted and how the correction of a Brothers presentation is made is critical to the success of future DLI attendance. Marwin Meller, PDDGM - Durand Lodge

[bubba1sc]

Brother's,

At my lodge (Aiken #156, Aiken, SC), as the new Master and so there would be no misunderstandings, I sent a letter to each officer telling them what was expected. Nobody wants the lodge to interfer with your family or work, but by wanting to be an officer, you have made certain comitments to the lodge. At our annual DLI, all of my officers attended, as well as a couple of visitors and several Past Masters. While it appears that many of you go over ritual work, we split into groups and are given a class on what is expected at what ever office is held. Out of 121 officers in the district, we had around 80 show up. I also saw that most that did not show, were from smaller lodges where Past Masters were filling some of the seats again.

I think that the key to success is to be straight with your officers and tell them what is expected. While there are times that other things will interfer with their duties, by telling them up front, most will make all functions, State, District, or local.

WM John Douglas