Time To Keep It Simple serves as a record of my life as a traveler, writer, genealogist, photographer, target sports enthusiast, Rotarian, Mason, Jew, PR professional, and many other (mostly positive) things. In addition to this daily blog I am also the man behind the curtain (not named Oz) at gettingyourphil.blogspot.com and I previously blogged at fromgoytooleh.blogspot.com.
There is hope. I assure you there is hope. I saw it first hand on Wednesday night in Norristown. Yes, you can find hope in Norristown. Norristown Lodge No. 620 to be specific.
It was on that night that I, along with many of my fellow brothers from the sixth Masonic district, observed a meeting of the Penn Valley Assembly No. 153, Order of the Rainbow for Girls. It was during this “Shadow Night” that we bore witness to the outstanding girls and young women that truly demonstrate the promise of the next generation and epitomize the great beauty that exists in the strength of our youth. Plus, when are you ever going to have the opportunity to see the District Deputy Grand Master in a tiara again?
For those of you that are unfamiliar with the organization, The International Order Of The Rainbow for Girls is a character building organization for girls between 11 and 20 years old. It also offers a “Pledge” Group for younger girls. Its purpose is to promote skills related to leadership, effective communication and service to others.
Founded in 1922, Rainbow teaches faith, hope and charity, in a ritual written by founder Reverend W. Mark Sexson, a Past Grand Master of Masons in Oklahoma, using the seven colors of the Rainbow as symbols of character building virtues. The Rainbow program teaches benevolence and service through a program of fun, fulfilling and fraternal activities.
Going into the event, I was unfamiliar with the organization and familiar by name only. Having witnessed the growth demonstrated in this youth organization, with members ranging from 2 weeks of service to 8 years, it drove home how important it is for us to support this youth organization to help young girls develop into assertive and strong leaders. Obviously the same applies to DeMolay to assist in the development of young boys.
If you ever had a fleeting thought to learn more about these organizations do yourself a favor, and your children a favor, and learn more about them for yourself. Not doing so is to commit a tremendous disservice to your children (or grandchildren). I am glad that I have the information to carry forward for the day when my wife and I have our own children.
It just goes to show that when a man becomes a Mason it doesn’t just make him a better man, it turns sons into promising young men, daughters into strong young women, and wives into great women. And the bonds that are forged within the home and within the greater Masonic family are unparalleled in any other group or organization. The power of Masonry is in the bond of family. This is why we consider one another brother.
Membership is a major concern for most, if not all, Rotary clubs and new ideas seem to be presented on a regular basis on how to attract new members (especially young professionals in their 20’s and 30’s). Unfortunately, many clubs can hear Eric Idle’s chanting from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” ringing in their ears. What we must do in response is to persevere and let people know “I’m getting better… I feel happy.”
I am not going to waste your time saying I have the answer and I am not going to tell you what is the right way or wrong way to attract members. The purpose of this post is to help you organize and set the ground work for an effective membership drive during the next Rotary year which is approaching fast.
Many of the building blocks outlined below mirror the fundamentals reviewed in my post last week because that is exactly what they are… fundamentals. The following seven steps have been specifically selected as they can be applied to all clubs regardless of geography, size, and financial health.
1.Know Your Club – As I have said before, you need to analyze each of the items mentioned in the previous paragraph and see where your strengths and weaknesses are. By knowing the members of your club, their professions, their capabilities, and their interests you can better focus the direction of the club not only with regard to service projects but also in how to proceed in pursuing members and how the responsibilities for that task would be best divided.
2.Review Demographics – This is not only the other half of the equation in finding the most appropriate service projects but it is also essential in properly pursuing members. Determine the average age and income of the community. Understand what kind of businesses are the most prevalent. Find out what kind of events and speakers garner the greatest attendance in the area. Basically, know the people around you and coordinate your membership initiatives accordingly.
3.Be Ready To Sell – Just like any sales force, make sure your members are informed. Make sure there is a working knowledge in place regarding all aspects of Rotary and specifically what the club does for the community. Don’t be timid about letting people know you are a Rotarian… this can be achieved simply by making sure your members wear their Rotary pin every day and encouraging members to be open and ready to talk about Rotary when someone asks.
4.Focus On Service, Not Food – Now that your clubs service efforts are in sync with both the abilities of the membership and the needs of the community, invite perspective members to participate. We can’t lose track of why we are Rotarians. We are not a club for foodies. We are a service organization. After all, it’s not about the dealership, it’s about the car.
5.Be Honest and Be Flexible – When a prospect asks you a question be up front with them… we each need to be the embodiment of the four way test. At the same time, speak up and encourage new and perspective members to do the same. If something isn’t working for you discuss it with your fellow Rotarians because, in this instance, silence is the absence of truth. This facilitates an ongoing evaluation of the club… do you still meet at the best time, place, day? Are their new skills available to the club or any other service projects that a new person is particularly passionate about? Make sure everyone is part of the process.
6.Communication and Networking – How does your club best communicate with one another? How do you communicate with other clubs? You have to know the basics of communications. If no one in your club uses social media then it is useless to post information only pertinent to members on Facebook. With that said, every club should have all lines of communication available to members and prospects ranging from a mailing address to a twitter account. Communication is essential to the networking capabilities of the club and is the key to the overall structure of the community and media relations efforts. The club needs to be open to the public because where else do your members come from?
7.Make Your Presence Known – Rotary has proven that good PR leads to an increase in membership. Just as each member’s voice should be heard within the club so too should the club’s voice be heard in the community. In order to magnify the club’s efforts a single point of contact, a public relations chair (if you have not done so thus far) should be appointed and all members (officers in particular) should support their efforts by continuously communicating with the chair. A record of your club’s service, achievements, and guest speakers (past, present, and future of each) should be readily available to everyone, Rotarians and non Rotarians (or as I like to say Rotarians and future Rotarians) by way of your club’s social media accounts and, when possible, through traditional media placements. And remember, when it comes to events and announcements, don’t underestimate the power of a press release.
Is this list perfect? No. There is always something that can be added and there are always essential details that need to be tailored to your club. Are these steps guaranteed to work? No. But they will provide you with the basics. This is not a how to article; this is a way to formulate your own plan. What if it doesn’t work? Try something else. Are we going to give up and let the pessimistic voices win? Heck NO!
Since becoming a mason I have tried to stay organized and get all my applications and petitions submitted in a timely manner. For the most part I am keeping on top of all the items on my Masonic to do list. One of the most interesting things on that list was completing my affiliate membership.
A little over a week ago I got an interesting envelope in the mail. It was a package that I was not expecting to arrive for another several weeks as it had to come from a significant distance. Once I opened the envelope and examined the contents I was able to officially say that I am an Affiliate Member of the Holy Land Lodge #50 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Affiliate memberships are not something done by all Masons but, for me, this was very important if not necessary. It is another tie between my home and my home land and it brings the connection between Masonry and my faith together in a meaningful way. As many of you already know, faith is essential in Freemasonry and now Freemasonry is enhancing my connection with my faith.
It is connections such as this one that increase my awareness of the bond I have with G-d in all my actions. Discovering such links in my life has been essential in the transition that my own personal faith has taken. While I may no longer be observant in the traditional sense, my awareness and appreciation of G-d has been heightened to a level of faith and awe that I have never experienced before.
My observance lies in attentive perception of and gratitude for all that Hashem has given me. No matter what your specific beliefs may be, faith deepens when we pay attention and admire G-d’s work. It is in His creation that the opportunity exists for us to honor our creator in both heartfelt prayer and actions.
Each of us must find the best way to connect with G-d and explore the different means by which we can bring G-d into our daily lives. For me it is a matter of keeping it simple and bringing little pieces of my Judaism into every aspect of my life such as my affiliate membership. Sometimes, it is the little things that can have a biggest and most lasting impact on your life.
I am just a simple man trying to simplify the world around me and what works for me may not work for you. Maybe you need those big decisions or stringent rules to bring about a deep connection. There is nothing wrong with practicing your faith in that way… it may be the best way for you to understand G-d.
Regardless of belief or practice, we need to keep in mind that we are all brothers of the same Father and like children we all have different ways we connect with our father and we all have a bond that is both common and dissimilar at the same time. Remember this simple truth and support your fellow brother. Let them find that connection and support them as they discover their own personal link between their faith and the fraternity.
Today’s post is one that I have not been looking forward to but I think this is something that needed to be written. There will be many of you that agree with me and many of you that will not. Some will think this post inappropriate while some think it necessary. It is on a topic that has been heavily debated for some time now and that is, to say the least, very polarizing.
Six months ago this Friday this country was shaken by the devastation imparted by a deranged individual at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. To say that this was a senseless tragedy is an understatement and I firmly believe that we should unite to find a means to put an end to such horrendous acts of man.
Unfortunately, this has not been the case as the root cause of this murderous endeavor has been skewed by placing the blame on the means rather than the motive and the individual. This was an evil act carried out by a human being (that term is admittedly used loosely in this instance) without morals against the most pure and innocent in our society. We know what happened and how it happened but what should be focused on is why it happened.
We need to stop focusing on inanimate objects and look at the core of the problem which is mental health and the factors that contribute to moral disconnect. Violence is an issue that plagues every country, every community in this world, without any preference as to the means in which it is carried out and in every case the individual(s) must be held accountable. These crimes cannot be an excuse to condemn an entire group of people… we cannot judge people because of race, religion, politics, or any object they legally own or sport they legally participate in.
We are a nation of laws. We are a nation of rights. We are a nation of freedoms. Those who break, repeal, or limit these should be held accountable for their actions. Let your voice be heard and don’t let changes be made without your vote being cast.
We grieve as a people united. We judge as a people divided. We accuse as individuals. The means to unite this nation lies within us all. Respect is as the heart of unification. We must show respect to those lives lost. We must seek to punish those who do not respect the lives of others. We must respect the opinions of others. We must respect the laws of this country.
In the end, no justice can be done to ease the suffering stemming from this event, no law or campaign can change the past, no right can be trampled that would prevent this in the future. What we can do, and what we should all agree upon, is that we need to take time to mourn and remember those who were taken from this world, their families, and the community that will forever be shaken.
This week’s Shabbat adventure was more about driving than exploring one particular area. Our plan this past weekend took us as far as Milford, Pennsylvania where we turned around and stopped at a few places on the way back.
It’s always interesting as to where ideas come from with regard to places to visit. During an excellent discussion on Thursday, the woman interviewing me mentioned Milford which is situated just above the Delaware Water Gap. Our plan for the weekend was to explore the Gap and so this provided us with the perfect turn around point.
The drive began under an overcast sky with the clouds occasionally breaking.
We arrived in Milford in the early afternoon with music and tourists flooding the streets. For us, a music festival does not make for an ideal situation for a relaxing weekend but it was still a very nice town. After stopping at the Louis Bar in the Hotel Fauchère for a quick lunch where I had an amazing cured salmon reuben sandwich, we slowly walked around the town and stretched our legs as I took some pictures of the old buildings surrounding us.
After about 90 minutes we were back in the car on our slow journey back home. There were a couple of places we both took note of on our way up and we soon found ourselves entering the Delaware Water Gap where, a few miles in, we made our first stop at Raymondskill Falls. We parked the car in a small lot and followed our ears toward the sound of falling water.
Being the only ones on the edge of the water, we got right up to the railing and we took turns taking pictures of water beginning its freefall.
While my wife focused on the group of kayakers that floated a little too far down river, I was busy leaning over the edge to capture as much as I could of the natural beauty.
Seeing the top of the falls is one thing but we both knew that the truly astounding view is from the bottom so we made our way down the minimally maintained path to the bottom. Fortunately I am part spider monkey so it wasn’t too challenging despite my lack of physical fitness.
As you can see in the following pictures, the view did not disappoint.
The hike back to the car was easier than expected and soon we were back in the car and on our way through the park down Route 209. We were both glad that we stopped at the unassuming falls especially when we pulled into the cluster that was waiting for us at Bushkill Falls at the southern end of the Gap (we felt like we were back in Edison, New Jersey). As it was now mid afternoon and the purpose of our day trips is to be an inexpensive weekend getaway, we were not going to spend $25 to walk down paths that resembled cattle shoots more than nature trails so, no Bushkill for us.
As you can see in the picture, Country Junction touts itself as “The World’s Largest General Store” so, naturally, we had to look around. We walked through the front doors and were immediately greeted by what, for my wife, was a very good sign…
Being the Wizard of Oz fanatic that she is we had no choice but to follow the yellow brick road. This store has everything and once we saw the prices we couldn’t help shopping for a few items that we have been meaning to pick up (as well as a few treats for later). We could have spent hours walking around and exploring the different departments but we knew our time was limited so we paid for our items, put them in the car, and concluded our visit by walking through the petting zoo.
I don’t know if it’s the world’s largest general store but I can say that we agreed on the final verdict. Greatest. Store. Ever.
By the time we got back on the highway we were a little tired from driving around most of the day but also reinvigorated by our little voyage which was reflected by the change in the sky as we relaxed in the car and started planning our next trip.
After a few late posts the last couple of days I am finally getting back on schedule. My blog today stems from an interesting post by J Armando Jeronymo, a Rotarian in Brazil. He posed the following question and details on the discussion board in the Official Rotary International Group on LinkedIn:
"What historical or fictional characters would you invite to join your club? I had this funny thought a few days ago and decided to share it. Which real character from local or universal history or fictional from books, movies, TV sitcoms or even from your folklore would you like to see in your club? Please let us have the character, the source and your reason for inviting.”
This is a fascinating question to consider and the responses thus far have contained many powerful and influential names in world history. Of course, this got me thinking as well and after about a week of mulling over the countless possibilities I pulled together a list containing mostly overlooked people that would bring an interesting dynamic to Rotary. As you will see, the twenty names below are eclectic to say the least but all offer an interesting perspective.
To begin the list we will look at one of the basic needs that many clubs struggle with… funding. Since any substantial amount of funds is nothing more than a fantasy for most clubs, I have selected two fictional Rotarians to fill this need. While his actions are not “beneficial to all concerned” I think we could guide Robin Hood in the right direction and convince him to modify the means in which he fulfills his charitable giving. The second would be Marty Brewster who could boost the bank account of any club in 30 days!
Next is a man whose recording of Joe Gould’s life was so honest that his life became a mirror for the creative tragedy. Joseph Mitchell didn’t hold back the truth and, subsequently, was never able to publish again. In contrast, Richard N. Goodwin’s pursuit of the truth helped to launch his career in politics while exposing the Twenty One quiz show scandal in 1959.
Like Goodwin, Ben Stein served as a political speech writer and gained national notoriety in the quiz show genre (albeit for the opposing political party and a successful run hosting his own game show). Stein’s diverse background and personable demeanor would lend themselves quite well to any community or media outreach a club would need. However, the person that would probably overshadow Stein in this department would be Former First Lady and the First United States Representative to the United NationsEleanor Roosevelt a woman with numerous talents, countless achievements, and seldom seen charisma.
Now that a former First Lady has been mentioned I am sure you are wondering what presidents I am including in this Rotary club. I have specifically chosen two overlooked presidents rather than repeating the excellent selections that are commonly made. For my list I am including John Tyler (10th President of the United States) and John Quincy Adams (6th President of the United States). Tyler was selected for his assertiveness and his willingness to break with party lines in order to pursue what he thought was the right decision. Whether you agree with him or not (or both) you have to admire someone that insists on pushing forward rather than left or right. Adams’ inclusion is because of his long standing impact on the American mentality by authoring what is now known as the Monroe Doctrine and for his dedication to service as he is the only President to serve in the United States House of Representatives after his presidency.
At no other time in modern history has there been so many heroic examples of service above self than those examples that can be found in the testimonies of the Holocaust. From Christian X of Denmark wearing a yellow star and Janusz Korczak refusing to leave his children to Hermine Santruschitz (better known as Miep Gies) helping to hide the Frank family and Oskar Schindler doing whatever they could to save as many lives as they could. All put the lives of others in front of their own in service to humanity.
Many of those lived through and those who survived that horrific time went on to live lives of a deep and lasting impact to the improvement and healing of the world. While Golda Mier’s family had long since left Eastern Europe by the time of the Holocaust, she fought to not only open the gates of the holy land but immigration to other countries as well (including the United States) in an attempt to save as many Jews as possible from the Nazi regime.
Fittingly, the ideal place for this club and this collaboration of religious leaders to meet would be in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. To host them would, of course, be William Penn who was an early advocate of democracy and religious freedom. He was also known as someone who maintained good relations and honored treaties with the Lenape Indians.
And to represent the Indians of North America would be two overlooked and powerful men. The first is Jim Thorpe who was a dominant athletic force that, toward the end of his life, he was named the greatest athlete of the first half of the 20th century (above all the greats including Babe Ruth). Since that time, his legacy continues to fade in the mind of the public and his name is all too often forgotten.
The final Rotarian at the table would be Amoroleck, Chief of the Monacan Indian Nation, who was captured by John Smith in September 1608. The Monacan Nation has been largely forgotten by history and can’t be found in a common school text book. Because of colonial bias and historical influence on settlers by their rival nation, the Powhatans, the Monacan people have been pushed aside and ‘edited out’ of the historical record. Maybe by having Chief Amoroleck present, we can revise the text.
So, that is my round table of Rotarians. There are many others that came to mind obviously but this is the mix that I thought would promote the most discussion amongst the members as well as providing some structure and leadership to the club. I did my best to pull together a list of people that don’t immediately come to mind (of course, there are always a few exceptions).
Now let’s make things interesting… below is a list of alternative members (also mostly of the uncommon variety and all of which could have easily been included above). Would you swap out any of the above with any of the people found below? Are there any other people above or below that the club cannot do without?
Thursday night was a mark in time that I will never forget. I was able to watch my oldest niece graduate from High School (with Honors). I can’t really explain why but I watched from the stands with a great sense of pride as she walked across the stage (preceded and followed by intense periods of boredom). I am very happy for her and for my sister… it was a long journey for both of them and they damn well deserve this time of celebration.
This was also a night that really pointed out the fact that I am getting old. I have no idea where the time has gone and I can still clearly remember sitting with my little five year old niece on the couch one summer afternoon when I was babysitting and watching all three original Star Wars movies in a row on VHS (I think that was the last time I have seen any of them). It’s amazing how we take those simple moments for granted and how things tend to get away from us as we get older.
I’m glad that I was able to experience this before having children of my own. The last thing I want is to have my life resemble the chorus from a Harry Chapin song. By taking the time now, by understanding and embracing the importance of family, and by supporting one another during these times of celebration I hope that I am setting myself up to, eventually, being a good father.
For the time being all I can do is focus on what I have… an amazing wife, a wonderful family, and great nieces and nephews. This will continue to be my focus until things change and my wife and I are in a better position to start our own family. But events like the one on Thursday make me look forward to the future and all the experiences that are yet to come (even the ones that force my hair line to retreat).
There is hope. I assure you there is hope. I saw it first hand on Wednesday night in Norristown. Yes, you can find hope in Norristown. Norristown Lodge No. 620 to be specific. 
