Dodgeball for Dyslexia 2017

The following message is a Public Service Announcement from Elizabethtown DeMolay inviting you to the annual Dodgeball for Dyslexia Tournament. 

Look at that - what a shiny new logo! Dodgeball for Dyslexia is new, improved, and better than ever in its third year of existence, just like its logo. Now, you may ask, “Hey, how can a charity dodge-ball tournament that raised nearly $1,000 last year alone get even better?” which is a very keen and flattering question. The answer is easy: it starts with you. We had a total of 7 teams last year, with strong showings from Westmoreland and Pilgrim, but in order for the level of awesomeness to reach maximum capacity, we need more teams. So, if you are not completely convinced of joining this incredible event, let me suggest three solid reasons of why you should participate in Dodgeball for Dyslexia III.

1.)   It is for an awesome cause

Would you like to reap the benefits of donating to a charitable organization and feeling connected to your fellow members of the human race? Then this tournament is for you. All profits from Dodgeball for Dyslexia are given to the Children’s Dyslexia Centers, which provides tutoring at no charge to children from early elementary through high school who have been diagnosed as dyslexic. Children are eligible regardless of economic status or Masonic affiliation. The positive impact of early intervention on the lives of these children and their families is enormous and inspires our commitment to this program.

2.)   Dodgeball is fun

Dodgeball is a sport. Sports are games. Games are fun. With this undeniable logic, it is safe to assume that you will have the time of your life at Dodgeball for Dyslexia. Whether you are experiencing the thrill of joining comrades in the exertion of physical activity or you simply enjoy hitting your advisors with soft, rubber spheres, this activity is always a boatload of fun. Not just a small dinghy of fun, but a Titanic size boat of fun sans the sinking.

3.)   You can win stuff

If the emotional satisfaction of benefiting humanity and enjoying time with friends and brothers isn’t your cup of tea, you can also win the long sought-after gold, silver, and bronze dodgeballs. The gold, of course, goes to the victor of the entire tournament, but just as important is the silver dodgeball, which goes to the team with the most team spirit, and bronze, which is given to the team who raised the most money to the Dyslexia Centers. So, seek victory and claim a few dodge-balls for your home chapter!

As I promised, three solid reasons to participate in the Dodgeball for Dyslexia tournament on May 13, 2017 at the Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim, PA. If you have any inquiries, feel free to contact Brother Evan Crawford at evane2@ptd.net.

Make a team: make a difference. 

Survey Says: How to Improve the PA DeMolay Product

A few weeks ago, I put together a survey to try to get an idea of the areas in which we can improve the overall PA DeMolay product. I'm happy to say that we had 58 members and advisors take the time to fill out this survey. Here are a few of the things that I have learned throughout the survey: 

In terms of the Keystone Crusader:

• 32.8% would like to receive the Keystone Crusader through social media or email.
• A large portion of the group would like some new content to the publication. 
• Some families receive multiple copies of the newsletter, and would like that lowered.

In terms of bringing back a PA DeMolay activity:

• 30% would like to see 007 weekend back in the future and 24% would like NERF weekend back in the future. 
• A good portion of the "other" responses wanted the Athletic program back.
• The major thing that can be taken out of the results of this question; if the members will support it then we should do it. 

In terms of the Athletics program:

• Almost half of the people surveyed want the Athletics program brought back as a feature to the programs we currently have. 
• About 38% want the Athletics program brought back the way we had it. 
• Make sure that brotherhood is the most important lesson if the program is brought back.

In terms of a specific Athletic Program:

• 42% want to bring back the Flag Football weekend
• 21% want Basketball weekend back
• A good amount would like to see brotherhood style since some chapters cannot field teams. 

In terms of ritual:

• 52% of the people surveyed think that all options should be used. The options were assigning a youth director, hold ritual competitions and set aside time at state weekends for ritual programs.
• Some people think that if ritual is pushed too hard, we could lose members. Find a way to make it fun.  
• A few people are not in favor of the idea of a youth director

In terms of Call Em All: 

• 33% of people say that their chapter uses it all of the time. 
• about 20% would prefer a text message than a phone call from a machine.
• The chapters that don't use it state that they prefer personal phone calls because of the small number of members.

In terms of the squire program (a program designed for 9 to 11 year old boys prepping them for DeMolay):

• 45% think that the squire program is a great idea to get young guys ready for DeMolay.
• 25% of people need more information about the program, including success rates from other jurisdictions. 
• A majority of people think that it's a great idea, but it will need added support from advisors to make it happen. 

In terms of the website and blog page:

• Some people think that the web page needs more updates, especially chapter specific news. 
•  A lot of people like the idea of the blog and would like to see guest bloggers as well. 
• Content needs to be more youth oriented.

In terms of new programming for PA DeMolay:

• Some people would like the idea of video blogs, interviews and podcasts added to the content. 
• A few people like the idea of teaching more life skill oriented programs such as finance, resume building and time management. 
• A few people think that a statewide community service project is a good idea. 

In terms of membership:

•  A lot people think that we should have better incentive programs 
• Some would like to see updated chapter brochures. 
• Advertise

Suggestions, Concerns Complaints:

• Find ways to encourage smaller chapters to participate. 
• Some people like the idea of bringing in guest speakers.
• We need to focus on keeping members and recruiting advisors.

Thank you to everyone who helped out by voicing their opinions on the matter. Here at the PA DeMolay office, we take all recommendations into consideration in order to make this a well rounded product for members and advisors. We have already worked on improving some of these requests, and look forward to making more in the near future. 

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

But... but, they aren't REAL DeMolays!

How to Tell the REAL DeMolays
from the Fake Ones

by "Dad" Thomas R. Labagh

The old argument about whether DeMolays who come just for sports are "real DeMolays" just never seems to die.  I have been hearing it since I was initiated in 1970.  It is as poor an argument now as it was back then.

DeMolay athletes are just as important to the Order of DeMolay as the guys who "only show up for ritual" or those guys who "only like doing service events" or those guys who "only come for the dances."

It always seems to fall as a harsher judgment on the athletes who are usually judged in the midst of their most competitive mode, but who, in truth, can be just as good at ritual, fund-raising and service as the other guys when called upon.  

Each Chapter has its own criteria for filling its team roster.  Some want winning athletes.  Others want "full participants" who also want to play sports.  It is each Chapter's decision-- and some establish their criteria each season, while others establish a policy through their advisory council, and others create bylaws to govern themselves.  As long as the method is fair, any of these methods is fine. 

It is expensive for some Chapters to travel long distances, so sometimes we only see the really competitive side of a Chapter, for instance, because they value a basketball championship or a volleyball championship as part of their membership recruiting program the rest of the year.

If Dad Land had envisioned a program where every young man came to every activity and every DeMolay was an officer, we would never have grown in the early years.  The Order of DeMolay grew because it offered so much, to so many people.  Sadly, it has changed over the years to offer a complete program to just a few members of each Chapter who can become officers, and Advisors tend to value more, those who embrace the whole thing.  

But like the Masonic Fraternity, DeMolay offers a wide variety of activities to those who choose to be involved in them.  Only 10% of Lodge members attend meetings, but they ALL value their membership.  That is because membership is more than just attending-- it is about the ideals of the organization.  

DeMolay is no different than Lodge, in that respect.  And our casual Lodge members and DeMolay members look to the officers for guidance and role models, and hopefully find something they like to see.  It isn't easy, but our goal, as Advisors, is to teach our members to accept ALL DeMolays as equal members, simply for the fact that they share the common bond of membership, given to them as a result of taking the same obligations as all DeMolays around the world.

You're such a good sport!

Good morning PA DeMolay! I'm getting back to the office from an exhausting weekend at the PA DeMolay Basketball tournament (which you can read more about over at http://www.pademolay.org) as well as a whirlwind day of Knights Templar meetings. This evening my home Commandery is greeting Sir Knight S. Timothy Warco, Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Pennsylvania (how's that for a title?) This means that I have another busy day ahead of me. I hope you'll forgive the shortness of my post in light of this.

I wanted to post something sports related after the tournament, so, I went in search over at the Art of Manliness blog. I found a great article on being a good sport that I think everyone should read. We had fantastic sportsmanship at the tournament this weekend - in fact, I believe DeMolays are some of the best sports out there! But, this article is a good read even if you are a great winner or loser - so, check it out!

I'll be back on Thursday, hopefully with a longer pondering!

Frat! ~ "Dad" Seth Anthony