The Wisdom of William Penn

With the Republican Presidential nomination looking more certain, it seemed like another "Wisdom" article is in order. This article is part of series that consists of thoughtful quotes from leaders of our country in the past. You'll recognize most of the names, but in many cases not the quotes. Take some time to think about them and what they mean. How can you apply them in your chapter and take control of you organization?

Today, I'm going a bit askew - instead of a national founding father, I'm going with a more localized person. We all know that Pennsylvania is named after William Penn, but how many have really read his thoughts and wisdom?

The Wisdom of William Penn

• "I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

• "Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it."

• "A good end cannot sanctify evil means; nor must we do evil, that good may come of it...To do evil that good may come of it is for bunglers in politics as well as morals." (From Some Fruits of Solitude)

• "Force may make hypocrites, but it can make no converts." (Letter to Lord Arlington, while imprisoned in the Tower)

• "The humble, meek, merciful, just, pious and devout souls everywhere are of one religion and when death has taken off the mask, they will know one another, though the diverse liveries they wore here make them strangers."

• "There is a zeal without knowledge, that is superstition. There is a zeal against knowledge, that is interest or faction; there is a zeal with knowledge, that is religion; and if you will view the countries of cruelty, you will find them superstitious rather than religious. Religion is gentle, it makes men better, more friendly, loving and patient than before."

• "Truth often suffers more by the heat of its defenders, than from the arguments of its opposers. Never marry but for love; but see that thou lovest what is lovely. Sexes make no Difference; since in Souls there is none..."

• "Between a Man and his Wife nothing ought to rule but Love. Believe nothing against another but on good authority; and never report what may hurt another, unless it be a greater hurt to some other to conceal it."

• "If thou thinkest twice before thou speakest once, thou wilt speak twice the better for it."

• "Friendship is the union of spirits, a marriage of hearts, and the bond thereof virtue"

• "There can be no friendship when there is no freedom; Friendship loves the free air, and will not be fenced up in straight and narrow enclosures."

• "Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly, for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood."

• "Equivocation is half way to lying and lying the whole way to hell."

• "Inquiry is human; blind obedience brutal. Truth never loses by the one but often suffers by the other."

• "He that has more Knowledge than Judgment, is made for another Man's use more than his own."

• "Fear and Gain are great Perverters of Mankind, and where either prevail, the Judgement [of God] is violated."

• "No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown."

The Wisdom of John Adams

As the final days of the primary elections wrap up around our country, I find myself reflecting back on the great leaders of the past. This article is part of series that consists of thoughtful quotes from leaders of our country in the past. You'll recognize most of the names, but in many cases not the quotes. Take some time to think about them and what they mean. How can you apply them in your chapter and take control of you organization?


The Wisdom of John Adams

• A desire to be observed, considered, esteemed, praised, beloved, and admired by his fellows is one of the earliest as well as the keenest dispositions discovered in the heart of man.
• A government of laws, and not of men.
• Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases.
• Democracy... while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.
• Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.
• Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.
• Here is everything which can lay hold of the eye, ear and imagination - everything which can charm and bewitch the simple and ignorant. I wonder how Luther ever broke the spell.
• I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.
• I have accepted a seat in the House of Representatives, and thereby have consented to my own ruin, to your ruin, and to the ruin of our children. I give you this warning that you may prepare your mind for your fate.
• I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy.
• If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?
• In politics the middle way is none at all.
• Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.
• Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people.

The Wisdom of Thomas Jefferson

As the final days of the primary elections wrap up around our country, I find myself reflecting back on the great leaders of the past. I'm going to run a series of articles over the next couple of weeks that mainly consist of thoughtful quotes from leaders of our country in the past. You'll recognize most of the names, but in many cases not the quotes. Take some time to think about them and what they mean. How can you apply them in your chapter and take control of you organization?


The Wisdom of Thomas Jefferson

• The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
• Power is not alluring to pure minds.
• What country can preserve its liberties if its rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance?
• Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of liberty.
• A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate.
• I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.

Just try!

"Do or do not, there is no try." That immortal phrase ws spoken by Yoda in Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back. The character was just a work of foam and wires, voiced by Frank Oz. However, those words have never had a truer sound than in today's society. That simple line has become etched in the consciousness of the popular culture we currently live in and it is a valuable lesson for us all. It was this lesson that I took to heart.

A little over a month ago I was challenged to participate in a 5k with my girlfriend. She'd been wanting to run a 5k for a long time and it seemed that our calendars finally matched up and that I could be there to support her. I agreed to go to the race with her and help her in training. Then I said to myself "Self, why aren't you running the 5k too?" It was less than 30 days before the event and while I had been exercising more regularly, I didn't think I was in any shape to take on such a challenge.

I've always been a big guy. A little over a year ago I decided that I was as big as I was going to get. I weighed in at just under 290 pounds. A poor diet full of fast food and Masonic banquets, coupled with low physical activity got me to that point. I realized that something had to be done, so I started walking on a treadmill. At first, I could barely do 20 minutes. I couldn't even jog 4 miles per hour for 4 minutes straight. I was in pretty bad shape. But, I persevered and kept with it. I continued to work out regularly and watch my food intake. I counted every calorie that went into my body. While it was a huge pain in the neck, the weight started to come off. By January of this year, I was down 45 pounds and felt much better. I laid off of the exercise and stopped monitoring my food so closely. Come August, 10 pounds had crept back and my clothes were starting to feel a bit tighter. I went back on my diet and started exercising more regularly, just as I had been. Then, this 5K came up.

So, with all of that behind me, I decided that I too should try to run the race. The key word here is "try." For those who know me, I'm not an athletic person. Outside of some random activities at a DeMolay event, I haven't voluntarily participated in an organized athletic activity since the 5th Grade. This was a huge step for me. I told myself that as long as I really tried, I'd come out ahead. I signed up for the race and with less than 30 days to go, I started training. I bought the right equipment, including new running shoes. I then put them to work and got on the treadmill more often. I also ran outside, to get the feel of it. Before I knew it, race day was upon me.

When I lined up with the other competitors, several things went through my mind. Who else was doing this for the first time? What journey had brought them here? One woman was walking with cane, another man had a knee brace. Some people were warming up, while others were just chatting. Everyone was there for a different reason. I was there to prove to myself that I could do it.

As the starting gun went off, I charged forward, setting a good pace for myself for the first mile. Then the exertion set in and I varied my pace between walking and jogging for quite a distance. Whoever decided to make us run up steep hills is a torturer! Soon the end was in sight. As I dashed down a steep hill and turned the corner, the spotter told me the finish line was just ahead. I looked up a small incline which approached a straight away to the finish line. I briskly walked up the hill and then gave it my best, bursting forward to finish the race. I had no idea what my time was, I was just happy that I finished (and that I wasn't last.) My girlfriend had come in ahead of me, but not by much. I had done it! Trying had paid off.

Today, the final results of the race were released. My time was 39:57 - just under 40 minutes, a number I could not have dreamed of! I ended 119 out of 216 competitors and came in 5 of 6 in my age group. I even managed to not be last amongst my peers!

As usual, you are probably wondering what this has to do with DeMolay. To answer that, I'm going right back to the first paragraph of this post - TRY. There are things in life that we think we are incapable of doing. Put in me in front of a room of a 1000 people and ask me talk and I'll be in my element. Ask me to do physical activity and I'm petrified. We have our comfort zones, but until we try to do something outside of the norm, we are never going to know what we are capable of. By simply trying to do something that you didn't think you could, you've already taken the first step in doing it.

Try to learn that ritual part word perfect. Try to live by the precepts of DeMolay. Try to take control of your Chapter and your life. If you never try, you're never going to succeed.

I tried and I'm glad I did.

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

200 Posts and a Picture Tour

This post is number 201 on this little blog. We've been doing this for roughly a year a half and we are still having a blast doing it. However, it's been a long weekend here at PA DeMolay thanks to a very successful "Get in to the Game" Spring Leadership Weekend. You can check out the story over at the PA DeMolay website, but for today's post I wanted to share some of the great pictures taken with you during the weekend. Enjoy!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Metaphorically speaking...

Alright, I promised you one of "Dad" Anthony's patented thoughtful rants today. On Monday, not too long after I completed the blog post for that day, I was talking with another Advisor and came up with a great metaphor (at least I think so anyways!) It relates back to the Unplugged concept and tries to place all of the puzzle pieces together to show how DeMolay should operate.

DeMolay is an engine for social learning and positive change. This occurs at every level. Whether your Chapter is out planting trees, PA DeMolay is donating to the Learning Centers, or DeMolay International is helping Relay for Life, the organization is providing young men across America the chance to show that young people can and do still make a difference. The real question is, how do we get this proverbial "engine" to fire on all cylinders? Well, before we can maximize performance of this engine, we must understand the component parts.

In DeMolay, the the engine is the program. I think that's pretty obvious as it provides the mechanism for the members to do all the things they like to do - social activities, community service, etc. In every engine you need two key things to make it function - fuel and a spark. In this case, the fuel are the DeMolays. Without a constant stream of enthusiastic members, the program will quickly run out of "gas" and the engine will stop functioning. However, just pouring fuel into an engine doesn't help either, you need a spark to ignite the substance. The spark, is provided by a spark plug in a regular engine and in the DeMolay "engine" it's provided by the Advisors. They show the young men how to flow through the program and make it work, sparking their interest when necessary and then remaining dormant until the next need for an ignition. While spark plugs don't "unplug" they don't constantly fire either. They are there to provide a quick spark to keep the whole system firing.

There are many, many, more parts to an engine, but this simple metaphor seemed to explain the Unplugged idea a bit more in my head, so, I thought I'd share. What is your Advisory Council doing to keep the engine running on all cylinders? Are they sparking too often, or not enough?

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony

Take Control! of Your Service!

Today's article is from a special guest - Bro. James Palo:

We hear the term service organization tossed around quite a bit when we're talking about DeMolay. What exactly is a service organization, and how are we in one? I did some research on what exactly would be considered a service organization and here's what I found:

A service club or organization is a voluntary non-profit organization where the members meet regularly to perform charitable events, either by direct hands-on efforts or by raising money for other charitable organizations. A service organization is defined first by its service mission. Secondary membership benefits, such as social occasions, networking and personal growth opportunities encourage involvement. A service organization is not necessarily exclusive of ideological motives, although organizations with such defined motives are more likely to identify themselves through their association. Much like historical  organizations formed the basis for many institutions in our society such as hospitals, for example service organizations perform many essential services for their community and other worthy causes. (Wikipedia)

This makes you think "What have we done that makes us a service organization?"  As you all know, the Take Control! theme has been out there empowering DeMolays to control their program, Chapters, and DeMolay knowledge, but, one that has flown "under the radar" is Taking Control! of community service. Community service may sound like a boring activity, but it really isn't! You have the control to make any project fun. All you have to do is go into your community and help out. Your Chapter could volunteer at a food pantry, homeless shelter, or clean up the side of the road! I know that in Erie Chapter, we do a highway clean-up every year. We go out and pick up trash off a part of the road, then we throw a fun activity in with it! The last time Erie chapter took control and helped out, we went fishing and camping at my house afterwards! I reviewed  the News page of www.padeMolay.org and found some chapters that took control of their community. Allentown, Joppa and Pilgrim are three Chapters whose names keep reoccurring! 

We join DeMolay for the fun, friends and food, but we never think about how often we come across community service opportunities within DeMolay. Look around you brethren, it's almost everywhere! Try virtually anything that will get the name of DeMolay out into your neighborhood. In addition to the leadership growth you will receive for helping out, if your chapter does the most community service and documents it at the link below, you can dye your ESO's hair at Spring Leadership Weekend! Yes every single one of them! I suspect that Bro. Tom Moyer, SMC, looks amazing with pink hair! (that's just my opinion). Take Control! of your State Officers hair!

Bro. James P. Palo

State Treasurer

Pennsylvania DeMolay

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Well, no chicken-- sorry.  But we have a winner!  The Ancient Accept Scottish Rite of the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction sponsors the Paul R. Kach, 33rd Degree DeMolay Essay Contest.  The topic for this year's essay was a broad one, with very little direction at all:  "DeMolay – The Premier Youth Organization!"

The 2010 results are finally in, and PA DeMolay has something to celebrate!  There are 8 Regions in DeMolay International and winners are picked for each Region in two age groups.  The regional winners get $300.  The two national winners each get $1200!

For the Mid-Atlantic Region (2) our own Jonathan T. Webster of Delaware Valley Chapter won the 11th grade and higher division, and received the $300 check by mail.  Then he was informed by the Scottish Rite Valley of Philadelphia that they had been asked to present him with ANOTHER award from the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite, and last week he was presented with the Grand Prize of $1200!  In the photo below, left to right, are Bro. Webster, Robert Taylor, HLOH, Commander in Chief of the Valley of Philadelphia and Russell Baker, HLOH, Active for Pennsylvania, AASR.

CONGRATULATIONS BRO. JONATHAN!

Which brings me to the editorial portion of this blog post... why is it that so few DeMolays actually participate in this contest?  There were only a total of 26 essays submitted from across the entire country!
Region 1 .....2; Region 2.....10; Region 3.....2; Region 4.....6; Region 5.....3; Region 6.....0; Region 7.....1; Region 8.....2.    You will note that in Region 2 (our Region) there were 10 submissions.  Seven (7) of those were from Pennsylvania!  The odds of winning an award are pretty high, especially when you consider that about the submissions were divided between age divisons.  Even if there was only ONE submission for one of the age groups, that means that this year's participants had, at the very worst, a 1 in 25 chance of winning an award.  In OUR Region, 2 out of 10 participants won a $300 Regional prize. In some Regions, it looks like all you had to do was put your name on a page and you could be a winner of a significant prize!

Now, don't get me wrong-- I am not saying this to denigrate Jonathan's essay-- it was a very creative submission, and as soon as I read it I thought it would have a really good chance of being a winner.  He is a very talented writer, and he deserved the prize! 

But I read all of the others from Pennsylvania, and I have to say that I was quite proud of the submissions we sent in.  Many of them were from the Elected State Officers, because I feel that, in order for them to promote the program to other members, they have to participate in it themselves!  (Someone once called that "Leadership By Example." and I don't think it is an old and out-dated concept.)  Additionally, I think it is a good thing to stop and think about our Order, and to put ideas on paper about its effect on our lives, and its prospects for the future. 

The PROCESS of writing the essay is as important as winning a prize... it is, like everything else in DeMolay, an opportunity to grow and learn and become a better son, a better student, a better leader, a better follower, a better thinker, a better brother, a better boyfriend, a better citizen and a better man.

DeMolays:  when opportunities like the KACH ESSAY present themselves to you, as DeMolays, grab them by the horns and wrestle with them, TAKE CONTROL of your future... in the long run, you will be glad that you did.

Advisors:  when opportunities like the KACH ESSAY present themselves to your DeMolay members, ENCOURAGE them to take a risk and spend an hour or two crafting a good answer to the essay question.  Read it over with them, and, without correcting every little thing, ask them questions to help them clarify their thoughts, and to discover grammatical and stylistic errors.  If you aren't comfortable doing this, find someone in your Advisory Council or Lodge who CAN do that, and create a positive mentoring relationship between young and old.

The topic for the 2011 Paul R. Kach, 33rd Degree DeMolay Essay Contest will be announced soon, and essays will be due just a few months later.  Don't miss out on a fantastic opportunity!

Sincerely and fraternally,

     "Dad" Labagh

Thomas R. Labagh
Executive Officer in PA

Dealing with Adults

It's been a busy week here at Patton Campus; between our quarterly Board of Directors meeting, the Grand Lodge of New Jersey being in, and all of the other activities in and around the Masonic Village, campus has been alive with activity. This weekend, on Sunday, I had a practice for degree conferrals for one of the Masonic bodies that I'm a member of. That is where the story begins.

Before the practice I was sitting around talking to some other members of the cast and trying to organize a few things for upcoming weeks. I said hello to one of our older (than me) members and asked him if he was going to go to an event that was coming up. He replied that he was and then lamented that part of the event was going to occur on a Friday afternoon, which meant he would have to get off of work. I said that the Friday afternoon event was optional, but before I could finish he cut me off and said "... I'm going to that (event) whether you like it or not..." after which he stormed away. Everyone around me was suddenly quiet, as was I, because we were not sure what had caused this sudden anger. We went back to our conversations and continued with the practice, but I was still bothered by the episode.

After we finished I approached the fellow in charge of our area (like a District Deputy) who also witnessed the conversation. I brought up that the event made me feel uneasy and that I was unsure of what I did wrong. After some discussion we distilled that part of the problem may have been the age difference between this member and myself. As I have gotten more invovled in the group I have been assigned more responsibility. When you're dealing with a group who's average age is over 70 years old, you have to handle things a bit differently. He reminded me that some members may not take kindly to a 26 year old being given responsibility (and authority.) That was a good point and I now have a strategy for how to handle this situation in the future.

In much the same way, DeMolays have to know how to handle the adults that they work with. This is especially important as we are in the midst of the Take Control! initiative. While we want our members to take a bigger part in the operation of their Chapter, it has to be done in a way that is cooperative and engaging to both members and advisors. If a Master Councilor walks into an Advisory Council meeting and demands that he be allowed to spend down the treasury on a paintball trip, without having done any fundraising, the Advisors are going to balk (and rightfully so.) You can't just demand things because you're in charge. A better way to handle that situation would have been to go to the Advisory Council with a fundraising plan, that was worked on by all three Councilors, that includes a paintball outing. Now the Council is going to be more receptive to your ideas and willing to work with you.

One thing I have consistently run up against in my career, and in my life, has been the issue of being thought of as "too young." The current generation of DeMolays are going to have this problem as well. Why? It's a complicated issue, but I attribute it to two things. First is the DeMolay program itself. By being involved and active in DeMolay we are being taught skills and abilities that are preparing us for our careers and lives. Most people haven't received this kind of extra "training," which puts us at an advantage when going out into the real world. In many cases, people who are older than us didn't receive this kind of opportunity either, and perhaps they put in several years in "the trenches" before they could get to where they are. When a young person comes in with skills, abilities, and enthusiasm to advance, it can be shock that makes an older generation become defensive and wary. Breaking down that barrier is extremely difficult, and quite frankly, that is why I left my previous job to come the Youth Foundation. It behooves us all to be mindful of this kind of situation in the workforce and in our lives so that we can better understand how some people react to us.

The second part of the equation (at least as I see it) is part of how our generation was raised. I was taught all throughout school that I could do anything I put my mind to; that I was valued as a person and that my opinion mattered. The world was mine for the taking. You know what? It still is, but this has to be tempered by some humility. Sometimes we have to recognize that no matter how bright we think we are, no matter how great we think we've done, we are still young and have a lot to learn. When I was just out of college I was ready to take on the world. In return I took some bumps and bruises on the way as I found out that I needed to sit back and learn from others, because I was never going to have all the answers. One of my jobs involved being the guy that fired people. Let me tell you, when you are 24 years old and you are firing a man who is a 55 year old career professional, it's not easy.  I was called alot of names, was threatened, and more. However, because I had confidence in my abilities I was able to perform my job. The trick is walking that fine line between confidence and arrogance, and it can be a tough one to walk.

The next time that you're having trouble dealing with your parents, your teachers, your Advisors, or your boss, remember that showing a little humility and taking a step back to evalutate the situation may do you more good than plunging in head first. Sometimes the answer isn't about doing, it's about knowing when not to do. Huh. Sounds kind of like being an Advisor, doesn't it?

Frat!~"Dad" Seth Anthony

Hey, unplug the jar, would ya?

Westmoreland Chapter, located in Greensburg, PA, has quickly become one of the greatest adopters of the Take Control! and Unplug concepts. The interesting part of their story is that they were initially one of the more skeptical groups out there. I fielded many questions from Westmoreland on just want it meant to "Unplug." They were working with a younger generation of DeMolays (mostly under 15) and weren't quite sure that it was time to cut the proverbial apron strings just yet.

"Dad" Bruce Neubauer and I talked at length about the idea and how best to apply it in his Chapter. Slowly, but surely, the Advisory Council started taking less and less of a role in the stated meetings, but more of a role before and after them. In this way, they were able to help the guys work up their agendas and prepare for what they were going to talk about. They found that the young men were able to run efficient meetings, with less chatter, that lasted shorter than they had in the past. After the meetings the Advisors would debrief the guys on what worked and what didn't, followed by how they could improve in the future. A little constructive criticism goes a long way!

The last part of this equation was finding a way for the Advisors to become more conscious of how they were behaving in the stated meetings. They took an old concept, the money jar, and applied it to this situation. Each time an Advisor speaks at a stated meeting, without being called upon by the Master Councilor, they  have to put $1 in the jar. By the looks of the jar, there isn't much talking going on during the meetings anymore! This is a fabulous way to become more aware of what you are doing within the stated meetings. Most of the time you don't even think about how you could be effecting the situation.

Thanks to the Unplug jar the Advisors of Westmoreland are becoming more conscious of how they help their guys. This in turn has produced visible changes in how their Chapter is run, all for the positive. So, how have you been "Unplugging?" Tell us about it at webmaster@pademolay.org!

Frat!~"Dad" Seth Anthony

More Adults Unplugging

Recently, I told you about the Advisors of Westmoreland Chapter and their "Unplugged Jar." Today, I have an article from the recent Pilgrim Chapter Newsletter written by "Mom" Jan Harms, Chapter Advisor. Have a read!

Normally I like to have the articles in our newsletter submitted by the members of Pilgrim Chapter. However, recently I have read several articles and blog entries regarding the concept of adults going “unplugged” and letting their members do all the work. I feel the need to share that this is the reason I became motivated to step up to the plate and serve Pilgrim Chapter as Chapter Advisor. After being active in other youth groups, and seeing that the adults do all the work in those groups, this unplugged concept is exactly why I wanted to be involved with DeMolay.

 Pilgrim Chapter is YOUR Chapter. It is about what you want and how you want it. It is your decisions that will drive what activities we do and don’t do, what things we pay for and don’t pay for, and how we grow—or don’t grow. This is YOUR Chapter. You have to make it what you want.
The last meeting, we had 7 members. Each one of them had an opportunity to make a decision on fun activities, whether they wanted to participate in service activities, or even attend the meeting. We need you there to experience that! We need you there to make the decisions that need to happen. We need you to bring in the prospects and applications to grow.

 This Chapter Advisor is unplugged and guaranteeing you that she will work that way with each and everyone of you—but YOU need to be ready to be plugged into Pilgrim Chapter to move us forward! I hope to see you soon!

Wow! "Mom" Harms certainly gets the "Unplugged" idea! So, what is your Chapter doing to Take Control!? And, if you're an advisor, what are you doing to unplug?
 
Frat!~"Dad" Seth Anthony

Have you unplugged?

I must admit, this is the third different blog post I have started today. That doesn't mean that I've written three - hardly! It means that I've attempted to write a post three different times, but the first two just didn't strike a chord with me. I had a bit of the old writers block. Then, as if by magic, the following appeared in my inbox.

From: "Dad" Bruce Neubauer
To: "Dad" Seth Anthony
Re: Unplugged

As you know I had read the blog on "Unplugged." We, the Advisors at Westmoreland Chapter, have been backing off for quite a while. We have seen some improvement over the last few months with the young men and we have taken a bold step moving forward. At our Advisory Council meeting last night we put in a new policy for the Advisors . We have a big jar with an unplugged power cord in it - it is out unplugged jar. Every time an advisor talks at the meeting, without having been put on the agenda in advance, or having been called on by the Master Councilor, they must put a dollar in the jar. We have told the young men that we are there to help in any way we can, but the Chapter belongs to them and they need to know what they want to do at the meeting, in advance, and follow through. Last night there were only 2 times an Advisor had to remind them that they needed to act on am important issue, but the members saw the advisor put the money in the jar and after the meeting they were advised about a couple other things they forgot during the meeting. This will make them think about what they must do.

As I stated before, when you have a chapter of newer members the Advisory Council must give them the tools to conduct business and run the chapter. Once you notice that they possess the tools, then it is time to bring out the unplugged jar.

Wowzers! It makes me feel really good to hear about Adivsors who read the blog and then act on some of the information they read in a new and positive way! Thanks "Dad" Neubauer for sharing!

So, what is your Chapter doing to Take Control! and Unplug?

Frat!~"Dad" Seth Anthony

Unplugging and Taking Control

With another Convention down, a new group of young men have taken over the leadership of PA DeMolay, guided by Tom Moyer, our new State Master Councilor. I've had the pleasure of working with Tom over the last year or so, and we've talked a lot about membership. We took some time to talk about his goals as SMC, and how he wanted to impact our membership number. After some discussion with Tom and his other officers, the "Take Control!" theme was born.

Notice - I didn't say the Take Control! Membership Campaign, or Take Control! Community Service Initiative. I said the Take Control! theme. There is a very specific reason for that. This program isn't just about getting new members, or being involved in your community. It's about getting back to the most basic foundations of the DeMolay program. A program for young men, operated by young men.

It has become very easy to let Advisors run the DeMolay program. They don't take over out of some malevolent desire. In fact, it's quite the opposite. They end up in charge because of how much they love the program, and don't want to see it fail. Rather than letting the young men learn to plan and execute, and in some cases fail in the process, they assume the reins and begin to make phone calls, send letters, and do other tasks which should really devolve to the Master Councilor and his officers.

DeMolay provides a safe environment where it's okay to fail. Did you hear that? Let me say it again. It's okay to fail. It's often been said that you learn more from failing than from success. Are the young men in your Chapter really learning anything by letting the Advisors do the work? Of course not! Let them try to plan a paintball outing. If they succeed, the rewards are built in, thanks to the activity. If they fail, so is the punishment, in that they don't get to go have a good time with their friends. If this kind of event fails to happen, it's not the end of the world, as long as you debrief the event with them and help them understand how it could have been more successful. Let the guys take a leap of faith, and see what they can do.

So, while our young men are Taking Control! what are the Advisors supposed to do? The answer is simple; unplug. That's right, unplug. Cut the power. Let go. Take off the safety wheels, and let the young men run the program they are supposed to run. This isn't to say that the advisors don't have a role in youth protection and risk management. That is still their primary concern, but rather think about each event and determine if its success or failure really will impact the overall Chapter program in the long run.

Knowing WHEN to let a failure occur is the difficult thing. Failing to hold an Educational Day observance may seem like a small thing now, but when the Master Councilor goes to apply for his PMC-MSA, it becomes a much bigger deal. What is an Advisor to do? Explain to the Master Councilor what he's missing from his program. If he fails to plan the event, then it's up to him to explain why the event didn't happen. If he was really going for his MSA this could be a big blow, but learning to follow the rules and the boundaries of the program is an important life skill that shouldn't be short changed. The question is, will this individual failure have a serious negative impact on the Chapter as a whole? There is no right or wrong answer to this question-- it is situational and the decision is often based on the Chapter's current strength.

Sometimes an Advisory Council cannot just unplug. For example, financial transparency should be the norm in every Chapter. The young men should know exactly how much money they have at any one time, and the Advisory Council should be performing self checks on the financial statements each month. Remember the line from "DAD" training - "their money, our stewardship." Unplugging doesn't mean Advisors aren't involved. Instead, in this case, they are more like a financial watch dog. The young men should meet with them to discuss their financial needs and goals, and come up with a plan to make it reality. Again, notice who is coming up with the plan; not the Advisory Council, but the young men.

Unplugging isn't easy, but this is a theme for Advisors that PA DeMolay is going to use all year, in conjunction with the young men who Take Control!. If you are an active DeMolay, ask yourself, "What am I doing to take control, and show my Advisors that I am ready and able to be in charge of my Chapter's future?" If you are an Advisor I encourage you to ask yourself "How can I unplug, and let the young men become the drivers of our Chapter's success while still maintain a safe environment?" Now those are some tough questions, but the answers will pay dividends that cannot be counted in dollars and cents.

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony