The Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas Sir Knight Jerry L. Pingle Right Eminent Grand Commander

163rd Annual Conclave April 22-25, 2016 Abilene, Texas MCM ELEGANTE’ SUITES 4250 RIDGEMONT DRIVE

Friday, April 22, 2016. Committee Meetings Friday, April 22, 2016 Committee Meetings Registration Saturday, April 23, 2016 Drill Competition Ritual Competition Awards Banquet

Sunday, April 24, 2016. Divine and Memorial Service. KYCH Meeting Sunday, April 24, 2016 Divine and Memorial Service KYCH Meeting Knights Preceptor Meeting Monday, April 25, 2016 Business Session Election and Installation of Officers

Registration Forms Available at www. yorkritetexas Registration Forms Available at www.yorkritetexas.org Registration Fee - $10.00

Templar Districts

Article 108 Statutes and Regulations This Grand Jurisdiction shall be divided into nine Districts, the boundaries to be fixed by the Grand Commander, from time to time, as he may decide…

Currently Districts Have as few as 2 Commanderies and some as many as 11 Commanderies

Each District Have 7 or 8 Commanderies Odessa merged with Midland Gonzales merged with San Marcos Hillsboro Demised

District 1 Dallas Commandery No. 6 Paris Commandery No. 9 Indivisible Friends Commandery No. 13 DeMolay Commandery No. 20 McKinney Commandery No. 34 Texarkana Commandery No. 64 Tancred Commandery No. 82 Alexander C. Garrett Commandery No. 103

District 2 Palestine Commandery No. 3 Ascension Commandery No. 25 Beaumont Commandery No. 38 Port Arthur Commandery No. 73 Taylor Commandery No. 85 Piney Woods Commandery No. 88 East Texas Commandery No. 104 Southeast Texas Commandery No. 112

District 3 San Felipe de Austin Commandery No. 1 Ruthven Commandery No. 2 Kenedy Commandery No. 61 Fort Bend Commandery No. 74 Houston Commandery No. 95 Park Place Commandery No. 106 Melrose Commandery No. 109 Litt S. Perry Commandery No. 111

District 4 San Antonio Commandery No. 7 Gonzales Commandery No. 11 Brownwood Commandery No. 22 San Marcos Commandery No. 56 Corpus Christi Commandery No. 57 Hidalgo Commandery No. 94 St John Commandery No. 101

District 5 Colorado Commandery No. 4 Ivanhoe Commandery No. 8 Waco Commandery No. 10 Bertrand du Guesclin Commandery No. 14 Brenham Commandery No. 15 Hillsboro Commandery No. 39 Temple Commandery No. 41 Lone Star Commandery No. 114

District 6 Cleburne Commandery No. 12 Worth Commandery No. 19 Denton Commandery No. 45 Weatherford Commandery No. 51 Southside Commandery No. 83 Stephenville Commandery No. 100 Arlington Commandery No. 107

District 7 San Angelo Commandery No. 28 Vernon Commandery No. 33 Llano Commandery No. 54 Wichita Falls Commandery No. 59 Stamford Commandery No. 75 Sweetwater Commandery No. 89 Burnet Commandery No. 113

District 8 El Paso Commandery No. 18 Amarillo Commandery No. 48 Plainview Commandery No. 53 Lubbock Commandery No. 60 Midland Commandery No. 84 Borger Commandery No. 96 Odessa Commandery No. 110

Form 990 Required by IRS For Non-Profit Organizations No One Is Exempt

Gross Receipts Less Than $50,000 Gross Receipts Less Than $50,000.00 May File 990-N (e-postcard) or 990-EZ

Beginning February 29, 2016 990-N will be Filed through www.irs.gov

Commanderies on a Calendar Year must file by May 15th Commanderies on a Masonic Year must file by November 15th

Gross Receipts Greater Than $50,000.00 Must File 990 or 990-EZ

Information Available At https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits

MEMBERSHIP 2016 Retain Restore Recruit

Retain

Retention Committee Commander appoint Committee contact all members who may be suspended Dues payable in advance

Restore

Recorders provide The Retention Committee a list of all Sir Knights Suspended in the last 10 years

Recruit

What does it take to Get New Members?

• Vision • Perception • Organization • Planning • Persistence

York Rite Membership A Personal Approach Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. – Matthew 5:15-16

Membership recruitment can be approached many different ways Membership recruitment can be approached many different ways. On a personal level it is about your mind-set, your goals, self image and long term strategy. Below you will find the techniques that some found to be effective. They may not all work for everyone so feel free to try different approaches and see what works for you. You may come up with some of your own. • Believe in the brand • Don’t be afraid of rejection • Follow up - be persistent • ABC – Always Be Closing • Confirm interest • Highlight historical importance • Know that it comes down to you • Show your passion & zeal • Set Goals for yourself • Have fun with it – it shows!

• List of Lodges in your area – Step 1 – • List of Lodges in your area

– Step 2 – Membership Committee

Appoint a Sir Knight to represent your Commandery In every Lodge in your area The Sir Knight appointed should be an active member of the Lodge. He should: Attend meetings regularly Participate in degree work Teach candidates Announce York Rite Events in every Lodge meeting See that his Lodge has a supply of York Rite Petitions and brochures

• Letters to Lodge Secretaries – Step 3 – • Letters to Masters • Letters to Lodge Secretaries •Request to make a presentation

Presentation Day at the Lodge – Step 4 – Presentation Day at the Lodge Be early Be there for entire meeting Red coats, Purple coats & uniforms Introduce yourself and engage in conversation

– Step 5 – Make the Presentation • Can they hear you • Tell them about York Rite More Masonic knowledge A system similar to lodge Meeting brothers from broader area • Have information available

Receiving Applications – Step 6 – Receiving Applications • Acknowledge petition & thank them • include in social events while awaiting degrees/Orders

Keep in contact Confer the Degrees/Orders Make them feel special – Step 7 – Keep in contact Confer the Degrees/Orders Make them feel special

After initiation – Step 8 – Give them a job Get them to attend meetings Degrees/Orders elsewhere A Party or Social Event Give them a small part to learn in the Orders When they attend introduce them to all members Make them feel welcome and needed

Bicentennial Celebration Grand Encampment Bicentennial Celebration 1816 - 2016

Bi-Centennial Maltese Cross

York Rite College We have asked our Grand Governor to help us with our membership program. We are asking every York Rite College to sponsor at least one (Festival, Work Day, Field Day). This does not mean that the work is to be shortened in any way. Degrees/Orders are to be conferred in full form.

Citation Cord Program

Petitions for Membership Petitions for Reinstatement More than one year

Grand Encampment Membership Jewel

Templar Jurisdictions Ohio – 7955 Members 73 Commanderies Texas – 7300 Members 58 Commanderies

Article 344 Commandery Merit Award Net Gain in Membership A minimum of 10 of the following: Knightings Reinstatements Affiliations of Sojourning Sir Knights

Sources of information – Visit – www.ramint.org www.ggccmi.org www.knightstemplar.org www.yorkrite.org

Be Visible

In Masonic Circles Informative presentations to Lodges, Chapters, Councils, Valleys, Shrine Drill exhibitions for entertainment Honor or Color Guards for functions Bring a Brother to an open Conclave Bring families for religious observances, picnics, dinners, ladies nights

What do you do to keep members?

Make them feel welcome Introduce them to the members Asked them join you for dinner Give them small parts to learn in the ritual Make them feel needed and wanted

WHY DO WE NEED PROGRAMS? To increase interest in our Stated Conclaves To increase attendance To offer educational value to our Sir Knights To offer entertainment value to our Sir Knights To offer something of interest for non-members To avoid reading the minutes, paying the bills, eating a stale donut, and going home

TILED CONCLAVES Charity Night Philosophy Night Invite a speaker on our charities Knights Templar Eye Foundation Knights Templar Educational Foundation Holy Land Pilgrimage Philosophy Night Have a speaker or discussion on the meaning of Masonry or Templary, and its relationship in the modern world

OPEN CONCLAVES Programs of interest for the Masonic Family Drill team exhibition Programs regarding Masonic or Templar History Programs regarding Famous Masons or Templars Programs on Masonic or Templar Charities

OPEN CONCLAVES Programs of interest to everyone Programs on a hobby Programs on investing Programs on clothing Programs on Social Security Benefits New school or highway project Hospital or community issue

TILED CONCLAVES Idea Night—Let’s talk Other Masonic Body Night What do the Sir Knights like about your Commandery? What do the Sir Knights not like about your Commandery? What would the Sir Knights like to see changed? Other Masonic Body Night Invite another body to present a program

Ask qualified Masons to join your Commandery

Ask interested Non-Masons to join Masonry Guide them through the prerequisite bodies to Templary

“Every Christian Mason Should Be A Knights Templar” If you ASK them, They will come! “Every Christian Mason Should Be A Knights Templar”