Lodge Vitality Index

A Demographic Health 0/20

1 What percentage of your members are under 50?

Think about your actual roster, not just who shows up.

25% or more under 505 pts 15-24% under 504 pts 10-14% under 503 pts 5-9% under 502 pts Less than 5% under 501 pt Zero members under 500 pts

⚠️ High Mortality Exposure: If more than 20% of your members are 80+, your lodge faces significant near-term attrition through natural mortality.

2 Over the past 3 years, compare deaths to new Master Masons raised.

Raised at least 3 more than deaths5 pts Raised equals or slightly exceeds deaths3 pts Deaths exceed raised by 1-31 pt Deaths exceed raised by 4+0 pts Zero raisings in 3 years−2 pts

🚨 Zero Raisings: A lodge that hasn't raised a Master Mason in 3 years has stopped making Masons. This is a critical warning sign regardless of other factors.

3 Think about brothers who attend regularly. Estimate their average age.

This measures who's actually running the lodge, not just who's on paper.

Average age of regulars under 555 pts Average age 55-624 pts Average age 63-683 pts Average age 69-742 pts Average age 75+1 pt

4 Of brothers raised 3 years ago, how many still attend at least occasionally?

75% or more still attending5 pts 50-74% still attending3 pts 25-49% still attending1 pt Less than 25% still attending0 pts No one was raised 3 years ago0 pts

B Financial Sustainability 0/20

1 Do dues collected cover your operating costs?

Operating costs = per capita + utilities + insurance + basic maintenance

Dues cover everything with surplus5 pts Dues cover costs, break even4 pts Dues cover about 80% of costs2 pts Dues cover less than 80% of costs1 pt Dues don't even cover per capita0 pts

2 After dues, how do you cover remaining expenses?

Investment income, building rent, or endowment5 pts Planned fundraisers (dinners, breakfasts)3 pts Special appeals or donations from members0 pts Selling investments or spending down savings−5 pts

🚨 Terminal Finances: Selling assets or depleting savings to cover operating costs is unsustainable. Without intervention, reserves will exhaust.

3 What's the largest unexpected expense your lodge could absorb?

Without borrowing, selling assets, or special fundraising.

Over $75,0005 pts $30,000 - $75,0004 pts $15,000 - $30,0003 pts $5,000 - $15,0001 pt Under $5,0000 pts

4 Compared to 3 years ago, is your financial position stronger, stable, or weaker?

Building reserves, adding to savings5 pts Holding steady, breaking even3 pts Slowly declining, occasional deficits1 pt Rapidly declining, reserves will exhaust within 2 years0 pts

C Operational Capacity 0/20

1 Can your lodge open and close on the Master Mason degree using only your own members?

Yes, from memory, no problem5 pts Yes, but we need ritual books open3 pts No, we need outside help to fill chairs0 pts

2 Can your lodge confer a full Master Mason degree using only your own members?

Yes, all parts filled by our members5 pts Yes, but members double up on parts3 pts No, we borrow a degree team0 pts

3 How many brothers actively do the work of the lodge?

Not just attend, but actually contribute labor and effort.

10+ active workers, most under 655 pts 8+ workers, mix of ages4 pts 6+ workers3 pts 4-5 workers1 pt Fewer than 4 exhausted brothers do everything0 pts

4 Of your 5 elected officers (WM, SW, JW, Treasurer, Secretary), how many are Past Masters?

High PM recycling indicates a stalled leadership pipeline.

0-1 Past Masters in elected chairs5 pts 2 Past Masters3 pts 3 Past Masters1 pt 4-5 Past Masters (all or nearly all)0 pts

D Market Relevance 0/20

1 What is your town's median age?

Look this up at data.census.gov. National median is 38.

Under 385 pts 38-444 pts 45-492 pts 50 or over0 pts

2 Is your community growing, stable, or declining?

Growing, new families and businesses5 pts Stable, holding its own3 pts Declining, young people leaving1 pt Dying, mostly elderly remain0 pts

🚨 Double Challenge: Your lodge faces both an aging membership and an aging/declining community. External headwinds may limit growth potential regardless of internal efforts.

3 What percentage of your members are between 21-45?

25% or more5 pts 15-24%3 pts 5-14%1 pt Less than 5%0 pts

4 In the past 12 months, how many petitions did you receive?

5 or more5 pts 3-44 pts 1-22 pts Zero0 pts

E Purpose Clarity 0/20

1 What percentage of your members attend a typical stated meeting?

40% or more5 pts 25-39%4 pts 15-24%2 pts Less than 15%1 pt

2 Beyond stated meetings and degree work, how many programs/events did you offer in the past 12 months?

12 or more (monthly+)5 pts 8-114 pts 4-72 pts 1-31 pt None0 pts

3 When degrees are conferred, how would you describe the experience?

Excellent, meaningful, done with skill and dignity5 pts Good, respectable work with minor issues4 pts Adequate, gets the job done2 pts Rough, needs significant improvement1 pt Poor, embarrassing, or we don't confer degrees0 pts

4 Has your lodge had explicit conversation about its future direction?

Yes, we have a documented plan we're executing5 pts We've discussed it but have no formal plan3 pts It comes up occasionally but no action taken1 pt We've never discussed the lodge's future0 pts

Lodge Vitality Index Score

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