Choosing Officers

[louiscicala]

My question as incoming Master, is it right to advance a current seated office who does not attend rehearsals, every meeting, DLI's or GLI's while an eager brother who does attend most or all of the above and wants to start through the chairs has to wait another year. My concern is the eager brother my get discouraged.

[theaberdeenkid]

louiscicala said:

My question as incoming Master, is it right to advance a current seated office who does not attend rehearsals, every meeting, DLI's or GLI's while an eager brother who does attend most or all of the above and wants to start through the chairs has to wait another year. My concern is the eager brother my get discouraged.

IHHO....Being an officer takes commitment. If someone cannot fulfill that commitment then they should not be in that chair. Its no secret that its expected of you to attend DLI, GLI, rehearsals, ect. (While missing these now and then can be expected as men have liefs outside the lodge.) It's not fair to the lodge and other men to have to deal with this.
I think today too many MM have a feeling of entitlement and no sense of responsibility. Moving men through the chairs this way is rewarding bad behavior.
As for the younger Brother, it sounds as if he should wait another year. There's more in being a member of a lodge than to be a officer. Perhaps you could find some other things for him to do to keep his interest. Such as appoint him to a committee, say for to look into membership retention, standardizing the way investigating committees operate, education....you get the idea.
Also don't discount a third option. Which is to leave the chair vacant rather than give it to MM that does not deserve to be there or a young member who is not ready. You can always find a 'volunteer' to fill the position on degree nights. I think that would send the proper message to all the members of the lodge, it would show a commitment to improving the health and morale of the lodge.

[wwprice]

I would suggest that advancement through the line should be by merit. It's been sadly proven more than once that mediocrity seeks it's own level. For the good of the Brotherhood go for the best man. Then you may have some confidence that when it's his turn to choose one for the line that brother will be of like qualities.
F&S
bp

[wcampbell]

I was taught that officers were chosen by merit

[ashlarno15]

Have you spoken to the Brother presently occupying the Chair as to the poor record of attendance/participation.

He may not know what is expected; he may have an "understanding" with the present WM; he may have become discouraged or disillusioned.

If we are a Brotherhood, then we need to treat each other as Brothers - "to remind an erring brother of his failings, to aid in his reformation, to vinicate his character when traduced and to suggest in his behalf the most charitable judgement."

[wcampbell]

Good point

[joker99]

I am a new brother, so my opinion may vary from the norm. I was raised and within the year I was asked to be the SMOC-pro tempore for a brother who was a recent but regular no-show. (and by that I mean, not only did he not make the DLI and GLI meetings this brother never made regular meetings). I learned he was given the chair as he was a friend of the WM, and had previously been more involved in the past. Much the polar opposite, I was very involved as a brother, rarely missing a meeting. I also received trial by fire as our lodge recived and approved approximately 25 petitions over the year I was now serving as SMOC-pro tempore (I had my work cut out for me). That being the background, in my opinion, brothers are due a certain amount of respect and deference for their contributions to the lodge over the years, however, one must have a quasi "what have you done for me lately" attitude when filling chairs. Quite simply, the Lodge does not run itself, and it needs dedicated, enthusiastic individuals to run (and lead) it. A gentle reminder to those seeking a chair is sufficient, but you have to be realistic, the chair is not an entitlement, if you do not go to meetings and take part in running the lodge in the meeting-to-meeting activities/responsibilities, I think it is unfair of both you, the person seeking the promotion, and the WM giving it to you, if you have not lived up to the responsibilities of the former chair. I think an effort needs to be made in a chair (even if you aren't great at it) before you can in good faith seek promotion to the next. But that's just my opinion.

[ashlarno15]

Brother joker99,

I believe it's a well-spoken and well-founded opinion.

Congrats, best wishes and you have my admiration.