1. The Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas
Sir Knight John Elkinton
Right Eminent Grand Commander

2. 164th Annual Conclave April 20-23, 2017 League City, Texas South Shore Harbor Resort S. Shore Blvd

3. Friday, April 21, 2017. Registration. Business Session
Friday, April 21, Registration Business Session Election of Officers Knights Preceptor Meeting Saturday, April 22, Drill Competition Ritual Competition KYCH Meeting Awards Banquet

4. Sunday, April 23, 2017. Divine and Memorial Service
Sunday, April 23, Divine and Memorial Service Installation of Grand Officers

5. Templar Districts

6. 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…

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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23. MEMBERSHIP 2016
Retain
Restore
Recruit

24. Retain

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

26. Restore

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

28. Recruit

29. What does it take to Get New Members?

30. • Vision • Perception • Organization • Planning • Persistence

31. 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

32. 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!

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

34. – Step 2 –
Membership Committee

35. 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

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

37. 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

38. – 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

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

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

41. 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

42. Bicentennial Celebration
Grand Encampment
Bicentennial Celebration

43. Bi-Centennial Maltese Cross

44. 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.

45. Citation Cord Program

46. Petitions for Membership Petitions for Reinstatement More than one year

47. Grand Encampment
Membership Jewel

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

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

50. Sources of information
– Visit –

51. 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

52. Be Visible

53. What do you do to keep members?

54. 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

55. 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

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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

59. 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

60. Ask qualified Masons to join your Commandery

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

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

63. QUESTIONS?