DeMolay Month 2017

March is only a day away, which means one thing, DeMolay Month is upon us. By now, your chapter should already have a solid plan of the activities taking place throughout the month. We ask that you please share these activities with us through social media. Create a story of the events and post it on the PA DeMolay Facebook, take a picture and post it to the PA DeMolay Instgram, or write a status and post it to the PA DeMolay Twitter. You can also send photos and video from these events to our Snapchat account as well. So what events should you post? Well, everything of course, but here is a list of the DeMolay Month events that we look forward to seeing the most: 

1. Senior DeMolay appreciation event
2. Masonic Sponsor appreciation event
3. Devotional Day Observance
4. Receiving a Proclamation from a Government Official
5. Obligating members during the month
6. Community or Masonic based service project
7. Visitation with another chapter
8. DeMolay newspaper article
9. Social Activity
10. Radio or TV announcements

DeMolay Month is the best chance to get our name out to the local community. Let's get out there and promote the greatest youth organization in the world. 

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Perfect Way to Market DeMolay

Every year at Convention, members and advisors in attendance receive a book called the Pennsylvania DeMolay Yearbook. It started as a book that introduced the officers and staff of Pennsylvania DeMolay, provided some words of encouragement and congratulations to the members of Pennsylvania DeMolay, and provided written speeches from the Executive Officer and State Master Councilor. Over the years, this book has gone from a non-color program type book, to a full color marketing tool for Pennsylvania DeMolay.

The PA DeMolay Yearbook is just what it's advertised to be, a yearbook that displays all of the events that took place in the previous year. Photos from events, whether chapter specific or statewide, are highlighted to remind us of the good times that we had throughout the year. Advertisements from businesses and lodges are also provided to show their support of Pennsylvania DeMolay. One thing that PA DeMolay is proud to say about the Yearbook is that an active DeMolay has been responsible for it the past few years, with this year being no exception. 

This book is a lot more than just an annual handout at Convention. The distribution of the yearbook has become a marketing tool that can be used to promote the activities that make DeMolay great. A copy is sent to sponsoring bodies to show them what their money is going toward. For PA DeMolay, a copy of this publication is provided at display table events such as Autumn Day and Community Day. A parent or a young man can look at this book, see the fun that the members are having, and instantly become hooked in to ask more questions about the organization. Although a number is not available, several members have joined due to efforts of such marketing techniques. 

The sales for this year are due on April 15th. Have you bought or sold any ads for the yearbook? Please help make sure that this year's book is just as good, if not better than years past by selling ads to local lodges and family members. PA DeMolay appreciates the continued efforts to make this publication a yearly success.

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin  

    

Films Every DeMolay Should See: Rudy

As I mentioned last week, I am a big sports fan. This weekend being Super Bowl Weekend, it seems fitting to highlight another football movie in our must see section of the blog. This time, the movie we will discuss is Rudy.

The film stars Sean Astin (yes the guy from Lord of the Rings) as a High School student named Daniel Ruettiger, whose dream is to attend the University of Notre Dame and play football for the Fighting Irish. Although Rudy does not possess the grades, skill, or money that it would take to get into Notre Dame, he still has the passion and decides to try his hardest to achieve this dream. 

As predicted, he does not get accepted to Notre Dame, so he decides to attend a Community College nearby with the hope that his grades will be good enough to transfer to Notre Dame. To further pursue his dream, he meets a groundskeeper at Notre Dame and offers to work for free. Instead the groundskeeper hired him at minimum wage. Rudy also went through tutoring to help make his dream possible. 

So what makes this a movie that every DeMolay should watch? The overall theme of the movie is that Rudy was able to overcome the odds. Everyone in Rudy's life was telling him that this dream was impossible, and Rudy was able to prove them all wrong. It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but ultimately his goal was met. The support of his coworkers and teammates showed throughout the movie as well. One of the best scenes in the movie is when the team convinces the coach to give Rudy a chance by laying their jerseys on the coaches desk.

Another reason DeMolay's in Pennsylvania will appreciate this movie is the discovery that Rudy had Dyslexia. PA DeMolay raises money for the Children's Dyslexia Centers in hope that we can help make a difference in the learning of at least one child. This gives a real life spin on what it takes for a person with Dyslexia to overcome and achieve success. 

Hopefully this review encourages you to check out this film, as this is a classic movie that never gets old. 

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Be the Example and Lead

The overall goal of DeMolay is to build young men into better leaders. We always hear that the key to being a leader is to "Lead by example." How does one accomplish this? Here are some important steps I found that will help us effectively lead by example:

 

1. Take responsibility. As a leader, mistakes may happen. Laying blame to those mistakes will cause you lose your credibility. The key is to help guide in fixing those mistakes. 

2. Be truthful. Everyone's parent has once told them that "Honesty is the best policy." As a leader, if you're not honest with others, they will lose respect in your leadership qualities.

3. Be courageous. If members of a team see that you are willing to take the risk, they will be more likely to follow. Be the first to take the leap. 

4. Acknowledge failure. Not every mission is a successful one. Learning from our failures is what makes us better people, and in this case a better team.

5. Be persistent. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." A leader doesn't give up too easy. A goal can still be attained even if it's not achieved the first time. The harder you work, the more likely the goal will be attained. 

6. Listen and learn. Asking questions is a sign of efficiency, not a sign of weakness. Just because your in a leadership role, doesn't mean you can't listen, take suggestions and ask questions.   

7. Delegate based on strengths. Do not take on all the work yourself. Every member of a team has core values. Figure them out and utilize them to reach success.

For anyone going through the chairs in DeMolay, planning to become a State Officer, or in some way will work in an area that involves leadership, I urge you to think about these steps. Be the leader that others need you to be. 

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin

Here is the link that I found my information if you'd like to view it.

http://www.soulcraft.co/essays/lead_by_example.html    

Films Every DeMolay Should See: Remember the Titans

This year, State Master Councilor Eric Dye has been promoting the theme "Lights Camera Action: PA DeMolay Goes Hollywood." All of the weekends and activities have been planned around a movie or genre to help enhance the quality of the program. It seemed fitting to post a blog about movies that members of DeMolay should see. Over the remaining months you will see a few of these posts highlighting a specific move that you may want to check out.  

For anyone that knows me, I am an avid sports fan. This goes beyond the game itself for me, as some of my favorite movies of all time include sports films. One of my all time favorite sports movies has always been Remember the Titans. The movie stars Denzel Washington as Daniel Boone, the Head Coach of the T.C. Williams High School football team. The film takes place in Alexandria, Virginia in the year 1971, a time in which racial discrimination was still a concern in Virginia. Members of the T.C. Williams football team were not welcoming of the new members of the team or the new Head Coach, as they expressed their displeasure and got into fights constantly. Community members expressed there dissatisfaction of the changes made as well, causing disturbances for Coach Boone and his family. Coach Boone decided that the team needed to find away to get past their problems and work together. He took the team to training camp in Gettysburg, in which they worked harder than they ever have before. Although the process may have taken a while, the players became a unified team at the end of training camp. The team became a powerhouse team in pursuit of a state championship. The entire film highlights the adversity that took place in order to accomplish a common goal. 

So what makes this a movie that every DeMolay should watch? Some of the important lessons that are taught in this movie, are the same lessons we teach in DeMolay. Some of those lessons include comradeship, tolerance, teamwork, and overcoming the odds to meet the goals at hand. Facing adversity is a big lesson in this movie, and in DeMolay we can come in contact with that same problem, realizing that it comes with the territory of being a leader. One of my favorite quotes in this movie is when Bertier tells Julius he doesn't play hard enough, he tells Bertier "Attitude reflects leadership, Captain." I always felt this lesson was important. As a leader, our attitude and reactions are most important for others to follow our lead. Lead by example, others will work hard if you do as well. This movie is also based on a true story, which makes the lessons taught mean so much more. Another reason you may want to check this movie out is because of the up and coming stars that appeared in this movie before they became big names in the industry. Those stars include Ryan Hurst, Donald Faison, Kate Bosworth, Ryan Gosling, and a very young Hayden Panettiere.

To this day, I still enjoy this movie like it is the first time I ever saw it. Hopefully this review inspired you to check out the film, as it is an all time classic.   

Until next time - "Dad" Joe Pullin