Who Am I Talking to Again?

As leaders in the Masonic Community, we find ourselves in situations in which we will need to prepare a speech. State Officers need to give speeches often to promote the program, speak to sponsoring bodies, and even to run for election at the annual Convention. Master Councilors and chapter members visit lodges and present a program to the group. How does one know what to say? The biggest challenge is knowing who your target audience is. Here are a few tips that can help you the next time you have to prepare a speech.

1. Get to know your audience before the presentation: A lot of Masonic functions have time beforehand that is dedicated to socializing. Talk to as many people as you can. The more you get to know before the presentation, the more people whose attention you have when it comes to time present. 

2. Make your talk fit the needs of your audience: It may help to do some research before you speak. Get to know what the audience will be looking for. It's important to know exactly what it is they sponsored and how it has helped you and your Chapter. For example, a lodge sponsors your Chapter in sending guys to the annual Convention. Tell them about the experience and express words of thank you to the lodge for their contribution. 

3. Create eye contact around the room: You never want to look straight down at your speech if you have it written. Look around the room. By doing this, the audience knows that they should be engaged in what you're presenting. 

4. Speak with conviction: Talk to the people. The tone in your voice can make or break your speech. Say it with meaning. For example, a Flower Talk presentation works best when the room can tell that you mean the words you're saying. It may actually make some of the ladies present cry.     

5. Dress to impress: Dress to fit your presentation. In most of our cases, a suit may be the best answer. 

Now that you've read these tips, you should be prepared to speak to the public. If you need any more tips, feel free to contact a State Officer for some guidance. They've presented plenty of times, and would be more than willing to help you feel comfortable.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin  

To view some of the information I found on this topic, click on the link below

http://wittcom.com/how-to-connect-with-your-audience-building-rapport/

Gridiron Gang: Fran Tarkenton

With Super Bowl 50 taking place in a little over a week, I figured this is a good time to acknowledge the former football stars that were, or currently are, part of our Masonic Family. We start with a former member of the Order of DeMolay, legendary Quarterback Fran Tarkenton.

Francis Asbury Tarkenton, who later shortened the name to Fran, was born on February 3^rd, 1940 in Richmond, Virginia. He became the star Quarterback for Athens High School, where he led the team to a state championship in 1955. It was during his time in high school that Tarkenton found DeMolay, joining Frank Hardeman Chapter from Athens, Georgia in 1954. He attended the University of Georgia, where he led the Bulldogs to the Southeast Conference Championship and to the Orange Bowl. He became an All-American athlete for the Georgia Bulldogs.

In 1961, Tarkenton was drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. In his first NFL game, Tarkenton threw 4 touchdowns, an accomplishment that had not been repeated until this past year when Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans made the same accomplishment. Tarkenton became known as a mobile Quarterback, often referred to as “The Mad Scrambler” or “Frantic Fran.” In 1968, after playing his first 6 seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, he was traded to the New York Giants. In 1972, which would prove to be the prime of his career, Tarkenton was traded back to the Minnesota Vikings. From here, Tarkenton would lead the Vikings to 3 Super Bowls in 4 years, unfortunately missing out on all three tries. Tarkenton was named the League MVP in 1975 and was selected a total of 9 times to the Pro Bowl team. Tarkenton became a Pro Football Hall of Famer in 1986.

After his playing days were over, Tarkenton became a very well-known business man. Tarkenton has started twelve businesses, including a multi-million dollar computer software company that he sold in 1994. He also became known as a motivational speaker and an author, writing the books “What Losing Taught Me about Winning,” and “How to Motivate People: The Team Strategy for Success.”

In 1986, the same year Tarkenton was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, DeMolay International inducted him into the DeMolay Hall of Fame. He was a Senior DeMolay as well as an Active Legion of Honor recipient. This Hall of Fame class was the inaugural class for DeMolay International.

“It is a great honor to be inducted into the DeMolay Hall of Fame. In today’s society where there is so much violence and heartache, it’s a gratifying feeling to know there is such a fine organization as DeMolay to look up to and lean on for guidance and support. I am proud to be a member!”

Be proud of who you are, both as a person and as a DeMolay.

Until next time – “Dad” Joe Pullin   

Tips for Being an Expert Public Speaker

While looking for something to Blog about today, I came across an excellent infographic that can help all of us become better public speakers. Credit goes to http://holykaw.alltop.com/9-step-cheat-sheet-for-becoming-a-public-speaking-expert-infographic where I found the image. Use that link to see a zoomed in version!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

 

Maple Speaks to AASR

While we recover from our Annual Convention, we thought we'd share this video of now Past State Master Councilor Matthew Maple speaking to the Council of Deliberation of Pennsylvania for the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Great job, Matt!

 

Quality Remarks from a Master Councilor

Today’s blog post comes from Bro. Anthony Trento, the newly installed Master Councilor of Freedom Chapter, which just moved to a new location under the sponsorship of New London Lodge No. 545.  These are his remarks to the assembled members and guests after the ceremony.  We present them here as an example of what all Master Councilors should do at their installation:

1. Have a prepared text.
2. Share personal observations about the experience.
3. Share broad plans for the future—a theme, or a goal or two—not a complete calendar review.
4. Say “Thank You” and say it often!

Bro. Eric Dye, State Scribe, Installs Bro. Trento.

"For my first installation as Master Councilor for Freedom Chapter about a year or so ago, I had this great opening joke.  I had worked on this single joke practically longer than any other part of my speech in hopes that, when I read it, it would lighten the mood by giving the audience a small laugh, which, in turn, would hopefully make me feel welcomed, and I would then have an easier time going on through my speech.  By the time I had been called to the altar to give my responses I was too nervous to walk, I was shaking just trying to kneel down.  When I had finally reached the east I was soooo nervous that I had to skip the joke that I had worked so hard on.

The reason I’m saying this is not to say, “HEY I’m bringing back the old joke,”  because again, I am way too nervous for that, but instead, it’s to teach a lesson that through my last term as Master Councilor I had learned the hard way that ”life is what happens when you are making other plans.”
To me this was something new.  I tend to be very hard on myself and precise, and therefore tend to stress when things don’t go as planned.  You can imagine my dilemma.  With things changing around me within this Chapter, the new Lodge, and the new Advisors, I have begun to not only accept this idea but to have put it to work in my new outlook on Master Councilor.

Before I begin I would like to thank all the visitors here today.  It’s wonderful to see this much support for Freedom Chapter and DeMolay.  Also a huge thank you to the advisors and parents of Freedom Chapter.  Without you this Chapter would be next to nothing.  So, Thank You.
Two particular Advisors stand out to me, personally.  Mom Shuler and Dad Tony.  Mom Schuler supports all of the boys 100% and puts everyone else before herself.  I don’t think I could thank her enough but I would like to start by saying, “Thank you.”   Now, Dad Tony, I find him as a great role model for myself and the other boys of this Chapter. He has recently added DeMolay Advisor to his very busy schedule, of which he is also the Worshipful Master of his Lodge. Thank you whole-heartedly from both myself and on behalf of the Chapter.

Now, as some of you may have noticed Freedom is honored to call New London Lodge their new home. Would New London Lodge members Ted Wallace, Armand Frankhart and Earl Hatton please rise?  These three New London Lodge members went above and beyond for our Chapter and do so with every meeting by attending our stated meetings and bringing forward ideas that I will be sure to incorporate in my term plan.  I would like to give a great big thank you for their dedication.  I hope to impress you and make your hard work worthwhile. Thank you.

Change…..  the act or instance of making or becoming different.  Freedom Chapter has gone through a lot of change, some better than others, hence this new Lodge.  As a small Chapter, change affects us the most, but we are still here, growing slowly and achieving greatness. With all of this I thought a great theme for my term would be “focus,” just as Senior DeMolay Walt Disney said, “Times and conditions change so rapidly that we must keep our aim constantly focused on the future.”  So my theme for this year is FOCUS, both personally and as a Chapter.

Now, when I say Focus I don’t mean re-doing everything-- that would be pointless. I’m talking about going back to DeMolay’s roots—focusing on tradition, the old fashioned way, because, if it was successful once, then it should be successful now.  Additionally, I’m taking a whole new look on the MC job, because that’s what it is, a job.

As Master Councilor you are being counted on constantly to make the Chapter stronger than the past year.  This year I’m going to focus more on the Chapter and less on the idea of Master Councilor.  I’m going to act as a Representative of the Chapter and less as the final say to something.  I’ve started this by including not only the members of Freedom, but also Freedom’s Advisors AND New London Lodge members in creating the design of my term plan – or should I say OUR term plan. While looking back to our DeMolay traditions and working as a team with the positive influence from these wonderful new Lodge members and their spouses,  Freedom Chapter has a great foundation to grow and become stronger than ever.  Some say history repeats itself.  Well, PA DeMolay has had 90 years and is still thriving, and that seems like a good part of history to repeat. As Mark Twain says, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”  So… guys, let’s get started."

Why do Lodge presentations?

Today, we have a special guest post from "Dad" Dan Loughin, Chapter Advisor for Reading Chapter, in Reading, PA. He sent this article my way and it's surely worth a read! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

On September 12^th, Reading, the Chapter in which I’m the Chapter Advisor, made a beautiful presentation of the Ceremony of Light, and had a 15 minute Q&A session, for the members of Reading Lodge No. 549.  Reading DeMolay and Reading Lodge have had a deep connection for half a century,and have always provided support for each other.  This presentation, along with the rest of the events of the evening, got me to thinking: why is it important for us as DeMolays to make presentations to the Lodges?  There are several reasons, and I would like to go over them with you.

One of the large reasons that we need to make these presentations to our l=Lodges is we need to show them what they are supporting.  Most of the l=Lodge members join Lodge for themselves.  They know that they are dedicated to charity, but they don’t necessarily know what that charity is to them.  Many of your sponsors donate a nominal amount each year to help you continue to perform and grow throughout the year.  Many of the members have had no interaction with DeMolay before they were members of the Lodge, and are unsure as to what we do in DeMolay.  This is a great way to show them what DeMolay is, what we do, and how we do that.  Most people need a tangible return on their investment, and this directly shows that.

Another good reason is for recruitment.  DeMolay survives with the membership and Advisors.  If we don’t refill the membership roles from majorities, and we don’t refill the Advisory Council from those who decide their time with DeMolay is finished, then the Chapters will cease to exist.  I hate having such a sour attitude, but this is a harsh reality that we face each year.  Invariably, you will have members of the Lodge so impressed that they will want their son or grandson to join DeMolay.  Or, just as good as members, you’ll have a Mason who would like to be involved directly, and you will gain another Advisor.

What everyone is excited about is rewards.  If you make a presentation to a Lodge, you will gain at least Masonic service points towards your merit bars.  If you do a ritualistic presentation, like the Ceremony of Light or Flower Talk, you’ll earn ritual points on top of it.

So you may be saying to yourself at this moment “I don’t like talking in front of groups.”  This is understandable.  But, my response to this is always the same: you don’t have to be a centerpiece of the actual presentation, but go just to support your Brother who will be.  We may be a service and fun organization, but what we forget about the most is that we are also a support organization.  And who knows, you may actually enjoy talking to the members of the lodge, and want to join when you are old enough to.

The most important thing to remember with Lodge presentations is this: don’t wait!  Don’t wait for the Lodge to contact the Chapter to set up a presentation.  Get in contact with the lodge set one up.  If you don’t know how to get in contact with the Lodge, ask one of your Advisors that is a Mason.  He will gladly get you in contact with the right person.

Lastly, if you want to do a presentation, but have no idea where to start, please ask anyone that has done a Lodge presentation, whether they are an active member that’s done one recently, or one of us Senior DeMolays that did several back when we were active.  We are always willing to help you guys out, which is why we came back as Advisors.

Vocabulary 101

With the school year back in full swing, many DeMolays are facing the challenge of papers and tests. Some of the older members are probably staring at college applications and anticipating their future. This can be a stressful time, especially when you're under pressure to get things done by a deadline. With so many pieces to be written, it can be very tedious to draft paper after paper, essay after essay, especially if English isn't you're specialty.

One area that most men struggle with is vocabulary. Having a large vocabulary can make writing papers easier, as well as give an edge in tests and collegiate applications. Thankfully, the folks over at Art of Manliness recognize this and have put together a great article entitled "The Importance of Building Your Vocabulary (And 5 Easy Steps to Doing It)" It's worth a look by everyone - both DeMolays and Adults. 

All DeMolays have an edge in vocabulary thanks to our Ritual, but it can never hurt to expand your horizons.  Someday you'll realize just how important it is to have a wide array of words at your disposal. Just ask the Elected State Officers around the time of the Keystone Crusader deadline!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

SMC Speaks to PA Masonic Leadership

Bro. Matt Blaisdell, then State Master Councilor of Pennsylvania DeMolay, spoke at the Annual Banquet of the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, on Saturday, July 14th at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.  This annual banquet usually has about 600 people at it-- 300 of the most influential Masons of PA, and their wives-- who are there for a social and fraternal experience.  To be a featured speaker at THIS gathering is a huge responsibility for anyone, and for a State Master Councilor it is usually a stressful experience getting ready for it, because he is required to turn in his text for publication in the Annual Proceedings of the organization.  They get to read and study the remarks of previous SMC's so that they don't repeat what was said by another, and also, so they can see the quality of writing that is required of them.  For every SMC this is a huge challenge, and there is writing, editing, rewriting, more editing, and then practice, practice and more practice to make sure that the text and its delivery will be heard and understood by all who are present.

I could tell you how I feel Matt Blaisdell did in representing you, but, I would rather have you watch this video, and judge for yourself.  It starts just after he mentions that his boss, the Executive Officer for PA DeMolay, was on a Church Mission Trip and could not be present, but had some advice for him:

When you get the chance, ASK MATT how he felt during the preparation, practice, and finally the delivery, and aftermath of the speech, and especially what it was like to get a standing ovation at its conclusion!

We are so fortunate in Pennsylvania DeMolay to have had Matt Blaisdell lead and represent us this past year! 

"Dad"  Tom Labagh,
Executive Officer in PA

Public Speaking 101

This past weekend, Bro. Alex Rauschenberger and I had the opportunity to speak with Jurisdictional DeMolay Leaders all throughout the world at the annual DeMolay International Sessions. One thing that became apparent to us was that every jurisdictional officer comes from a different background of teaching, learning and developing their home States and Chapters. It amazed me to see that leaders our age, throughout the world, have different abilities of speaking in front of a crowd with such elegance. It dawned on me that people don't just happen to have a keen ability to speak in a public setting, but it takes years of experience. I decided to do some detective work and I found a great article by our friends over at the ArtofManliness.com. As you're reading this, think of what you're good at in terms of public speaking, what you can work on and anything that'll make you the best public speaker you can be!

Public Speaking Tips - The Art of Manliness

Cheers!

Frat!~ Matt Blaisdell