Summer is a great time to take advantage of Lodge and community-bonding time. Building on our ties to Ohio Masonry can help us become better men, fathers, spouses, and community leaders. To help get you started The Grand Lodge of Ohio has prepared a list of summer activities for your Lodge, community, and family to enjoy.
For the Brothers
Meet at a restaurant for dinner and then attend your Lodge meeting! Sharing a meal with your Brethren is an opportunity to get to know them outside of Lodge. Ask new members questions about how they’re feeling, what their expectations are, and answer any questions they may have about Masonry in Ohio. Use the meal as a time to cultivate personal stories from Brothers, ideas they may have for upcoming events, and ensure the fraternal feeling is present between Lodge members. Try and visit a local business – ask Brothers for recommendations in the area or try a new type of cuisine together. Getting to know new and existing members over a delicious meal sets the tone for a productive Lodge meeting afterwards.
Host a Lodge movie night for your Brothers. We recommend watching the Amazon Prime movie, 33 and Beyond: The Royal Art of Freemasonry. This documentary dives into the history of Freemasonry, the importance of its values, and the men who hold the ranks of our fraternity today. Invite each Brother to bring a snack or beverage that can be enjoyed during the viewing. Afterwards, host a discussion session and share your thoughts on the movie. Consider developing a discussion guide to keep the conversation moving, including a series of questions and thought-starters. Feel free to break out into small discussion groups and then come together for a larger discussion afterwards.
Attend a local sports event! Our great state of Ohio has loads of local sports events to attend from high school athletics to college sports and professional events. Ohio has a handful of Minor League Baseball teams like the Columbus Clippers, Toledo Mudhens, and Dayton Dragons – enlist a Brother to check a local team’s schedule. The love for sport is a commonly-shared characteristic for many Masons and is a great way to get other Brothers involved. Meet beforehand at the stadium and walk around to grab a hot dog or some team gear, try and hang out with a new Brother or someone you usually don’t talk to at Lodge!
For the Families
Summer is a great time to have a cookout or barbeque party. We suggest hosting a family cookout for all Brethren and their family members to attend. Each family can contribute a food or beverage item to eat or drink during the event! Including spouses and children is a great way to connect all parts of your community and is another chance to get to know your Brethren. Bring outdoor games like badminton, bocci, or frisbee for the children to play with and maybe even set up a family competition. Bringing families together through food and games will give you one more thing to look forward to this summer.
For the Spouses
Whenever you’re part of an organization it’s more fun if your spouse is excited about your membership. Hosting a dinner or a “Paint and Sip” night with the spouses of new members is a great way to get to know your fellow Brethren and family members. This is also a great opportunity to answer any questions spouses may have about Lodge meetings, Freemasonry, and Masonic events. The main goal is to keep it fun and social – everyone wants to get to know each other and make their community and Lodge feel more like home!
Has your Lodge thrown an event like this? Let us know if your Lodge has hosted a fun event by emailing us at OhioLodgeLife@Freemason.com!