As we all know, the substantial mass and supportive strength of an iceberg is submerged underwater and out of
sight. The shimmering beauty is on the surface for all to see, admire, and
to experience.
(NOTE: This came from a Rig Manager for Global Marine Drilling in St. Johns,
Newfoundland. They actually have to divert the path of these things away
from the rig by towing them with ships! The water was calm and the sun was
almost directly overhead so that the diver was able to get into the water
and click this picture. This iceberg is estimated the weight at 300,000,000
tons.)
LEADERSHIP IS THE UNDERLYING
SUPPORT OF SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATIONS
As an iceberg's perceived beauty is
supported by the strength of its underlying mass, an
organization' beauty is supported by the strength
of its Leadership. Unlike the structure of an iceberg which only
requires Nature's unseen wisdom of design, an organization
requires Leadership's active and intelligent wisdom of design.
Therefore, successful organizations - including our Masonic Lodges - must
possess and practice: the
Wisdom to contrive or plan, the
Strength to support, implement, or execute, and the
Beauty to adorn and offer
experiences where constituents find the Value that they want
and expect.
FIND PERSONAL MEANING BY
BUILDING SOMETHING LARGER THAN SELF
As when we view an iceberg, most of us only focus on the surface aspects
of our lives. Often we wonder about the complexities that resided invisibly
within us - this sometimes manifests as a feeling that we may be living without greater meaning or purpose. We sometimes have an
intuitive feeling that there is more meaning and purpose to our lives than we fully
understand. A key Masonic tenet is that the path to true meaning is found
not by
personal acquisitions without bounds, but by serving others. Masonry does
this, not by a dogma or set of preached principles, but by providing its
members an opportunity to discover themselves while serving humankind. But
take caveat and beware,
Masonry is designed and meaningful only for those individuals who are highly
desirous of development, improvement, and progress for self through service
to others. This is truly a goal Larger Than Self.
Thus, Masonic principles truly practiced and applied to better
one's self through application in the service to improving community and
society can assist one to lead a meaningful life.
We need the help of all leaders and potential leaders to help
Masonry restore its Ancient Mission of building a better world. Leaders who
recognize this great calling.
LEAVE A LEGACY BY LEARNING TO
LEAD
Join with other enthusiastic and committed Masons who are in
our many Lodges throughout the state - those who sometimes believe they are
alone in the quest to restore Masonry to its timeless mission. We assure you
that you are not alone - there are many who want to achieve what you do -
restore Masonry to delivering its Ancient Charge.
We invite you to become a Masonic Leader. To do so,
we want you to consider joining and participating in our educational
organization - The Masonic Builders. In keeping with our slogan -
Building A Better Masonry By
Building Better Leaders
® -
as a
Masonic Leader and Builder, you
have an opportunity to support with Wisdom, Strength,
and
Beauty an organization that is focused on building better men
dedicated to the purpose of building a better
society.
As you learn leadership
skills and practice them in the Lodge and later at the state level, know that
these same skills and experiences are transferable into all aspects of your life.
You improve yourself while you help to
forward the work of an honorable institution that is systematically
bettering humankind.
This is a
Legacy of which you will be proud as you come to the end of
your time on this earth. And, not many people have an opportunity for
leaving such a noble legacy.
INTERESTED?
This website hosts hot-links to paths for you to consider development as
a Masonic
Leader - (a) The Masonic Builders Leadership Development Curricula,
(b) The Commitment to Excellence Program (CE) which is free-standing,
but also an integral part of the Masonic Builders Curricula, and (c)
Hot-Links to current Information or events of general interest. Below
is a description of three HOT-LINK categories:
1. The Masonic Builders
(Builders)- The Arizona College of Masonic Builders and
future other state colleges offer a series of incrementally sophisticated
courses to develop Masonic Leaders and help them find their way to assume
leadership positions in both individual Lodges and Grand Lodge.
The Builders' courses are primarily designed for
Individual Masons just beginning
their Masonic careers and who have aspirations to develop and improve
themselves in Masonry. This curriculum takes about two years to
complete. Interested Masons will be grouped with like-minded Masons into
Cohorts of 10 to 15. Cohorts will work together as a team to complete
the course work. Cohorts will be formed each September and January.
There are three Arizona Regional Schools of Masonic Builders - North
(Flagstaff Based); Central (Phoenix Based) and South (Tucson Based). NOTE:
The curricula also incorporates CE into its leadership education program.
2. Commitment to Excellence
(CE) - This program is designed and administered through the
Grand Lodge of Arizona. It is not legally affiliated with The
Masonic Builders. However, there is a content and
logistic connection: (a) Both CE and the
Builders share much of the same course content,
(b) Many, but not all, of the CE teachers
and managers also teach and manage for The Masonic Builders, and
(c) The Masonic Builders has donated
the hosting of this web site to the Arizona Grand Lodge.
The CE courses are designed for
Individual Lodge CE Leadership Teams who have made a commitment
to begin Strategic Planning in their Lodges and to create a culture of
continuous Lodge improvement by seamless Lodge leadership. CE is
estimated to take about one year. Interested Lodges will make a firm
commitment to the CE Strategic Planning Process by September of each year
and, if diligent will complete by May of the following year.
CE Leadership Teams are comprised of:
(a) CE Sponsors - WM & SW as
ex-officio members who approve and bless the CE project,
(b) CE Manager - The JW or SD (or any
progressive line officer who has the mandatory fire-in-the-belly), and
(c) CE Team - Identified
future Lodge Leaders (not just those
passively sitting in the chairs).
3. Information of
Interest:
a. The 125th
Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Arizona - May 31 -
June 2, 2007. Flagstaff, Arizona - Little America Hotel & Resort.
Click Here for More Information.
Also, on the left of this page, you
can click on
the appropriate hotlink that fits your interests.
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