THE FUTURE OF MY LODGE Our response to the Provincial Initiative WELLINGTON SCHOOL, SOMERSET, LODGE NUMBER 7230 W.Bro. Rev. J.P. Hellier, PPGCh. Worshipful Master

BACKGROUND  Our Lodge is well ahead of the Provincial initiative in that we realised some time ago that we needed to think seriously about the future and our membership. Accordingly we called a meeting of all the brethren in August We also sent out a questionnaire via the Old Wellingtonians Association.

SWOT ANALYSIS  Strengths.  Membership united by the common bond of school.  High number of serving and past Provincial officers.  Wide circle of Lodge friends and guests at Festive Boards from all around the country.  Weaknesses  Members spread over a wide geographical area  Difficulty of holding other events between meetings as there are only four per year.  Opportunities  Renew and strengthen links with school especially with new Headmaster  Raise awareness of the Lodge through the school website  Very young WM to be installed next year  New ways of managing time at meetings are emerging  Threats  Average age of membership  Complacency

ACTIONS IN 2014  Following the meeting a number of initiatives took place.  We decided that the bond of Wellington School is our major strength and opted to remain a closed Lodge. (Membership is only open to former students and members of staff).  The Lodge has a page that can be accessed through the Old Wellingtonians part of the school website.  Current Master elected in May  Declared aim the he would try and bring School and Lodge closer together during his Mastership.  Installation planned for October 2014 in Great Hall, Wellington School.  Very successful, well attended and enjoyed by all as well as significantly raising the profile of the Lodge.

PLANS FOR 2015  Current WM has planned open meeting for February. Intended as an information evening for non-Masonic friends and guests.  Aim: To further raise the profile of the Lodge and deal with misunderstandings about Freemasonry.  Buffet supper will be provided, displays available, and a short talk will be given by the Provincial Grand Orator.  Following the Installation a candidate was identified who will be initiated in April.  In October the next WM will be installed. Aged 25, and a former pupil of the current WM, we believe that this will significantly raise the profile of young people in Freemasonry.  We will ensure there is some carefully choreographed publicity around this event. Using the school website and drawing attention to the new WM’s peer group may well draw new members.

PLANS FOR 2016 AND BEYOND  At least two ceremonies will be required for a candidate to progress.  New WM will bring a different circle of people who may well be interested in the Lodge  Another young WM will be Installed in October  We will continue to consult with the brethren for fresh ideas to sustain what we have already undertaken