Throughout our state, young men and women turn to DeMolay, Job’s Daughters, and Rainbow for Girls for a unique environment of brotherhood and sisterhood. There, they transform from timid youths into confident leaders. They learn respect, patriotism, tolerance, and reverence. They form friendships that last a lifetime.
To recognize our Masonic youth and to encourage members to strengthen relationships with youth order members, Grand Master Heisner has declared March 2017 to be Youth Orders Month in California. Read the proclamation.
Here are some ideas for supporting Masonic youth near you:
Adult leadership
- Talk with your lodge about sponsoring a local chapter, assembly, or bethel: Visit masons4youth.org to submit your interest in becoming an adult leader or to request information about starting a local chapter, bethel, or assembly.
- Consider joining a youth order advisory board or council.
- Meet regularly with youth order leaders to offer support, celebrate accomplishments, and discuss challenges.
- As current youth leaders prepare to step down, help identify new leaders to fill their place.
Financial support
- Make room in the lodge budget: Sponsor youth leaders to attend their respective leadership camps or state conventions.
- Put out a donation jar at stated meetings and lodge events to benefit local youth orders.
- Offer compensation for youth orders to serve dinners or wash dishes at lodge meals.
- Buy tickets for youth order fundraisers, even if you cannot actually attend.
Lodge events
- Invite youth orders and their families to officer installations, cornerstone ceremonies, holiday parties, and other lodge events.
- Hold an On The Level night just for youth orders to answer questions about Masonry.
- Invite youth orders to participate alongside the lodge in community events. When appropriate, take a moment to introduce them.
- Ask youth to create fliers and posters to publicize lodge events.
- Post youth order brochures and fliers at the lodge.
Youth order events
- Provide transportation and supervision for youth order activities.
- Attend youth order fundraisers and events.
- Visit to youth order meetings. Encourage at least one lodge brother to be present at every event.
- Make time for one-on-one conversations with youth. Ask them about their lives, goals, and challenges.
- Check in with youth about what kind of support they think their chapter, bethel, or assembly needs most.
Shared events
- Host a youth appreciation night at the lodge honoring adult and youth leaders.
- Involve youth orders in Child ID booths, fundraisers, and other lodge volunteer projects.
- Sponsor a special event like a holiday dance or a game night for all of the youth orders in your area, and let them lead the planning process.
- Sponsor a young adult driver’s safety class.
- Provide scholarship manuals at youth order meetings and offer help applying for Masonic scholarships.
Trestleboard and website
- Allot space in the lodge Trestleboard for youth orders to submit articles and photos.
- Include youth order contacts and upcoming activities in your Trestleboard and online calendar.
- Include a fundraising note in your Trestleboard to solicit financial help for youth orders.
- Provide web hosting and webmaster support for youth order websites.
- Add links to your lodge website to local and statewide youth order web pages.
- If the youth order has a Facebook page, make sure the lodge interacts with it regularly. Use the lodge’s Facebook page to congratulate youth orders on their accomplishments and plug their upcoming events.
Remember: For the young members of DeMolay, Job’s Daughters, and Rainbow Girls, Masonic youth orders are a safe space, a social network, and a source of support and inspiration. Imagine the difference you can make by getting involved.
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