Grand Lodge Committee on Publication Relations
Charter: The
Committee
shall develop a program to increase public understanding of Virginia Freemasonry and create a more favorable
opinion of the organization through press releases, print and electronic articles, and interviews.
Duties: The Committee on Public Relations shall utilize existing
programs such as the Community Builders Award, and the Eagle Scout and Girl Scout Gold Award presentations,
and recommend to the Grand Master new programs to recognize community leaders who exemplify the tenets of
Freemasonry. It is to work with different Grand Lodge Committees to promote our activities in our
communities,
to add content to the Grand Lodge website to publicize Freemasonry, to participate in appropriate activities in
a
public venue, which will present our Fraternity in a positive light.
Membership:
The Committee shall be composed of ten (10) members appointed by the Grand Master of Masons in
Virginia.
Planning and Reports:
A 5-Year Membership Action Plan, formulated by the Committee, is to be submitted to the Grand Master for his
approval. The Plan will identify issues, shape plans to resolve problems, and detail a list of action
items
to be accomplished over the five year period. The Plan will be updated annually and submitted for Grand
Master
approval each year. After receiving approval, it will be implemented and later included
in the Committee’s report to the Grand Annual Communication.
First Year Objectives:
- Review and update the Grand Lodge Communications Manual produced by
Past Grand Master Morlock and provide it to the districts and Lodges.
- Draft notices, announcements and press releases that promote Freemasonry, and,
with the approval of the Grand Master, provide them externally to appropriate media
outlets, and internally to the Masonic Herald and the Internet Committee for publication.
- Encourage the districts and Lodges to appoint an Outreach and Publicity focal point to draft articles for
local publication and placement in the Virginia Masonic Herald or posting on the Grand Lodge
website.
- Monitor programs in other Grand Lodges, appendant bodies, and organizations such as the Conference of
Grand Masters and the Masonic Service Association that might be of use in Virginia.
- Assemble a library of press releases or other published articles that promote the Craft in a positive
manner.
- Prepare and deliver to the Grand Master a 5-year plan.
Second Year Objectives:
- Provide Lodges with other necessary tools and assistance to develop an effective
Marketing, Outreach and Publicity program.
- Assess how well the various District and Lodge Marketing, Outreach and Publicity programs are doing.
- Develop a presentation for the 2009 Division Education and Leadership Conference and at the Reid
Simmons Academy on Marketing, Outreach and Publicity.
- In collaboration with DDGMs conduct a minimum of
one Marketing, Outreach and Publicity Workshop in each Masonic Division.
- Plan and implement one Grand Lodge level outreach event.
Committee Members:
Robert Garland McBride,
Chairman
Larry Lee Adams, II
Glenn
Christopher Allen
John David Cave
Donald Leo McAndrews
Jay Eugene Patterson
Daniel Wilson Thompson
For further information on this
committee please contact the committee
chairman.
