Robert L. Hopkins, 32°
1322 Deep Run Lane, Reston, Virginia 20190-3909

Many benefits result from Masons sharing their personal career insights
with Masonic youth groups.

P.M. Robert L. Hopkins, 32° (l.), discusses career opportunities with (l. to r.) Dale Breeden, new Master Councilor of William L. Herndon Chapter, Order of DeMolay, Herndon, Virginia; Ivy Nye, Deputy State Master Councilor of Virginia; and Bernard Molina, State Master Councilor of Virginia.

Often, Masons miss valuable opportunities by not guiding our own youth. For instance, we need to establish the practice of communicating life and career counseling at DeMolay meetings. To accomplish this, all a Mason has to do is attend DeMolay meetings and share career insights from his own life with the young men. These ten-to-fifteen-minute presentations should help DeMolays find a successful way through their own lives.

DeMolay Chapters are everywhere. They are composed of young men, ages 12 to 20, assisted by Master Masons. DeMolays have a fine ritual, develop strong fraternal ties, and generally determine the programs of their own Chapters. With a few Masonic "Dads" as advisors to guide them, they have the opportunity to add experiences to their lives that will enable them to excel later on. Many DeMolays show maturity far beyond their years.

DeMolay Dads have often invited Masons to attend DeMolay meetings. However, there was something missing when I recently attended. I sat passively on the sideline with, at most, a moment of recognition from the Master Coun-cilor. While I enjoyed seeing the DeMolay ritual, there was not much of an inducement to return, nor did I feel I had added anything of significance to the meeting.

I propose that DeMolays invite various Masons to address DeMolay meetings, one new speaker per month or quarter. Each Mason can tell the DeMolays about his own career. It can be about any line of work or interesting subject for which the Master Mason has extensive personal experience. The presenting Brother should avoid any hint of ego. Rather, the presentation should be purely factual and explanatory. Visual aids always help. Talks should never go beyond fifteen minutes, always leaving time for questions and discussion. The presentation should mention the best and worst things about the job and the income expected. If any attendee wants to hear more, he can ask in the fellowship hall after the meeting.

High Schools have career days or nights, but often these meetings are large, infrequent, and impersonal. The talks proposed for DeMolay Chapters will augment in a personal and direct way the career information given to young people at home and school. These talks are not meant to provide extensive mentoring or any other approach that takes great time. The effort of the speaker can be limited simply to sharing his personal truth.

The purpose of DeMolay is to help young men build character and success in life. I urge Masons and DeMolays to get together and share their insights. Attending meetings with Job's Daughters and Rainbow Girls gives similar opportunities for Masons, their ladies, and Eastern Stars to share their career insights. There's a lot to share. Let's do it!