Public Relations
Public Relations are an essential part of the business of every Lodge and every Mason. It is only through positive public relations that members of our communities learn what Freemasonry is and what it has to offer to its members and the community at large.
This portion of the Grand Lodge web site provides several "fill-in-the-blank" templates for suggested news releases. They are provided in this format so that you can copy and paste them into a document, which will allow you to fill in your information. Please print the finalized release on your Lodge's letterhead. The more professional your release appears the more likely it will be that it is printed. For an example of what not to do, click here.
In order to be the most successful with your news releases, you should do a couple of things. First, call your local newspapers and find out who would be the best person for you to send your news releases. Second, take the time to make an appointment with this person and meet with them briefly to explain who you are and that you will be sending in periodic news releases for your Lodge that you hope the newspaper will print. Ask them for advice on how they would like to receive the releases, i.e. hand delivered, fax, mail, or email.
By establishing a personal dialogue with the person in charge of printing or not printing your releases, you should be able to maximize your success.
Lastly, keep a scrapbook of the news releases that do make it into the paper. This will come in handy to show perspective candidates at Lodge Friendship Nights and other events. Such a scrapbook will also be appreciated by future Lodge historians.
Good luck, and remember it is difficult to have candidates for your Lodge, if no one knows you exist.
Matching Funds Available to run Image Ads in Local Newspapers
The Grand Lodge PR committee has been authorized to match up to $200 of the cost to Lodge to run some of the Image Ads in their local newspaper.
The procedure is as follows:
Ads should run between December and the end of February to qualify. Send a copy of the printed Image Ad with a copy of the bill to Chad Simpson at the Grand Lodge office. Grand Lodge will reimburse Lodge's expenses up to $200. In other words, a Lodge can get $400 worth of advertising for only $200. What a bargain!
Below are various ad slicks that you can use. Due to the high resolution of these pictures, the file size is rather large.
"Master Mason Around the Clock"
"Solid Foundation"
"American Tradition"
"Binding Contract"
"Freemason at Work"
Public Relations Templates
These pages will open up in a new window. Please copy and paste the news release below into a word processing document and fill in the blanks with information specific to your Lodge. For an example of what not to do, click here. The release itself should be printed on Lodge letterhead.
Annual Inspection
Bicentennial Article
Cornerstone Lanterns
Cornerstone Ceremony
Friendship Night
General Lodge Info
Installation of Officers
Lodge Inspection
Membership Awards
Special Olympics