On time management: What is the average and what is the expected amount of time absorbed by each commitment? What may be contributing to the breakdown in participatory hours may include poor management skills. Each stage in freemasonry consumes/requires X amount of hours more than previous. We call this commitment. Commitment is demonstrated by regular participation at masonic events. As we advance into offices, a usual rule of thumb is doubling the amount of time required as we advance to the next chair until that culminates in a total commitment from the Chair of King Solomon.
However, commitment is also demonstrated by entrance into appendant groups. Each appendant has progressive opportunity, each opportunity demonstrating further commitment and within each, opportunity to serve is encouraged.
Again each step requires more time commitment.
We may be witnessing a large scale over extention taking place because of two factors. A) Accumulative time commitments B) Poor time management skills
In each of the appendant orders, no where is there systematic description (or awareness) of the amount of ADDED time that will be required.
To improve outcomes, it would be better to explain to a new candidate the amount of added time required by the commitment he is considering.
Then it would be essential to not make an error with a 2nd assumption; that the individual has sufficient time management skill to coordinate his schedule.
We see symptoms of this phenomena each day. Forthright men become frustrated, then burned out because they cannot navigate the myriad schedules and priorities.
Each chair, each commitment, each appendant group, office after office, the time commitment is cumulative.
I suggest the time management required to sustain the commitments for years takes advanced skills that the average person does not have. Freemasonry generally presents a one dimensional view of the commitment. I suggest we take a cumulative view which will lead us to an ephany of sorts.
If we as an order can define the problem, we can find solutions. In fact it would be possible to mapping out commitments including time commitment ranges- minimum average to maximum.
Add work, family and personal time and that describes a number of masons. Does this cast a light into the shadows?
Dg
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