As one of the youngest Masons in a small Lodge in rural Washington State, I have often listened to a group of well-seasoned Brothers talk about the past. They would describe how the Masonic Lodge was one of the cornerstones of the community and how men sought to join the Lodges. These conversations would often drift into a debate over why our numbers have fallen over the past decade. Most Brethren came to the conclusion that, because of changes in society, the Lodge has lost its prominence, but they stopped short of addressing the issue of how do we counter these changes and attract members now.

The question of membership has been the main topic of concern for the officers of our Lodges and Masonic Centers, and we are continually trying new ideas. A recent idea, "The Fraternal Fair" came from our Lodge's Junior Warden, Bro. Bill Lane, who, after visiting a job fair, thought we could use that same concept to make our Lodges more visible to the community. The idea was that we would not only invite all of the Masonic Orders to participate but that we would also include all fraternal organizations, like the Elks and Eagles.

Each Masonic organization would display posters and provide information about what they do for the community. We also selected our local mall to stage this event and scheduled it on the weekend prior to Memorial Day, hoping that the pre-holiday shopping would best maximize our exposure.

As in most districts, the same active members in the Blue Lodges are also the active members in the Scottish Rite and York Rite, so we banded together to form the core of one Masonic booth. Each Brother dressed in his proper regalia and displayed photographs, posters, and brochures. The local Scottish Rite also set up a VCR with four brief Public Service Announcements, provided by the Supreme Council. The PSAs were recorded repeatedly for one hour, courtesy of Ocosta Jr./Sr. High School Video Class. These announcements-featuring Masonic celebrities Ernest Borgnine, Mel Tillis, and Roy Clark-worked well to attract many passersby, often causing them to pause for more information, especially about the RiteCare Childhood Language Program. This videotape of four PSAs has now be remastered by the Supreme Council into a two-hour VHS tape and includes a copy of the film "On the Wings of Words." It is available from the Supreme Council for $30 (s/h included).

The mall event was a success on many levels. First, it provided an opportunity for people to ask questions about Masonry that cleared up a number of misunderstandings. Second, we received inquiries about Masonry from officers of other fraternities that could result in new members with a leadership background. Third, we received requests for petitions. The unexpected result was that the Washington Masonic Alliance Fair will be following up with another Fraternal Fair in August. This could prove to be the beginning of a very effective venue for Masonry to get exposure throughout the country.

Donald M. Watkins is Secretary of the Hoquiam, Washington, Scottish Rite Bodies and Assistant Director of the Scottish Rite Scholarship Foundation, Orient of Washington. Recently appointed to the Membership Cultivation and Retention Committee of the Grand Lodge of Washington, he also serves as Secretary of the Grays Harbor Shrine Club of Afif Shrine Center, Tacoma, and of Aberdeen, Washington, Lodge No. 52, of which he is also a Past Master. Bro. Watkins has been an educator in Washington State for 20 years and has received numerous awards for teaching excellence.