The Lodge of Excellence Program

Purpose & Mission

• A Path, Not a Destination: The Lodge of Excellence is conceived as a guiding framework to help Lodges continually elevate their standards; not a final goal, but an ongoing journey.  
• Program Objective: It serves as an information-gathering instrument that enables the Grand Lodge to understand where each Lodge succeeds and where support may be needed, while spotlighting Lodges with exemplary practices.  

How It Works

• Field Survey Visit: A Grand Lodge Staff Officer visits a Lodge often alongside the District Deputy Grand Master (DDGM) to complete the Field Survey Form, a paper checklist capturing key performance indicators.  
• Online Submission: The same information is then submitted via an Online Survey Form, typically within a day of the visit.  

Evaluation & Scoring

• Eight Core Areas: Lodges are assessed across:
  
  • Compliance (mandatory adherence to Grand Lodge rules – These are the items and requirements that are checked and collected by DDGM at their Official Visit)
  • Ritual (20 points) – Lodges are evaluated on how well they perform Masonic rituals, like opening/closing and degree work.
  • Social Activities (20 points) – Lodges should organize events for members, families, and potential candidates.
  • Education (15 points) – Lodges should offer educational programs, mentoring for new members, and Masonic courses.
  • Communication (15 points) – Regular communication with members via email, text, social media, and event schedules is important.
  • Administration (15 points) – Proper lodge management, including officer training and separate admin meetings, is needed.
  • Charity & Community Service (10 points) – Lodges should participate in charitable and community service activities and promote them.
  • Travel (5 points) – Lodges earn points for attending district/Grand Lodge activities and visiting other lodges.
• Points are awarded in each area, and “compliance is required for recognition.”
• Scoring System: A total of 100 points is possible, with an additional 3 bonus points awarded to Lodges with fewer than 75 members.  
• Recognition Tiers:
  
  
  • Bronze: 75–84 points
  • Silver: 85–89 points
  • Gold: 90 points or more  

Benefits for Participating Lodges

• Insight & Support: The program helps Lodges identify their strengths and areas needing improvement, enabling the Grand Lodge to tailor support resources as needed.  
• Recognition: Lodges achieving superior performance are publicly acknowledged, incentivizing continuous improvement and fostering motivation.  
• Goal Oriented: By setting measurable targets, the program promotes teamwork among Lodges and across Districts, enhancing current initiatives and encouraging alignment with Grand Lodge priorities.