The Communications Team
The Communications Team facilitates both internal and external channels of communications. The word facilitates is an important word. We operate on behalf of the Province to disseminate information. We do not operate a PR service on behalf of individuals or Lodges. We can assist and advise in this capacity, but it is the responsibility of Lodges to practice and regulate their own internal and external communications.
Our three main considerations are risk, effectiveness, and governance. Evaluating risk involves assessing the potential negative impact a communication may have, regardless of good intentions. Effectiveness refers to selecting the right combination of channels to reach the intended audience. For example, many brethren believe that placing something on a website is the most effective way to disseminate information. However, websites are primarily used by people actively seeking information. The most effective way to communicate across our membership is to use a ‘push’ communication channel, such as the Provincial Post or the Provincial Facebook Group.
Internal Communications
There are four channels available for internal communications; The Provincial Facebook Group, the Provincial Post and the White Rose Masonic News and the Members Website.
1. Provincial Facebook Group
The Provincial Facebook Group (PFG) https://www.facebook.com/groups/168300659883959/ is a member-only space we use to communicate across the Province. There are currently 1,800+ members of the Province who are members of the PFG and it grows every week.
It is facilitated by the Comms Team; we do not normally post on behalf of other individuals. Lodges, Chapters and other organisations are expected to do create their own posts. Facebook uses "User Generated Content". It would defeat the object of the social media if we posted on behalf of other people. Our approach is therefore "decentralised" as we empower you to provide material to the PFG.
a. Posting on the PFG
It is important to remember this is your group. Every member is entitled to post, the only editorial control is a set of published rules that we have refined over the 12 years this group has run. In fact, everyone in the group is encouraged to post, especially if you have something noteworthy to share. One thing we do ask is to provide a picture with your post, this makes it far more engaging.
b. Joining the PFG
In order to join you need to authenticate yourself as a subscribing member of a Lodge or Chapter in Yorkshire, West Riding by providing your full name, date of birth, Lodge name and number, home postcode and date of joining Freemasonry. If you do not provide an answer within a reasonable amount of time your request will time out. However, you always can send another request. We are not that strict with the answers you provide, so long as we have sufficient detail to be convinced you are who you claim to be.
2. Provincial Post
The Communications Team also produce a monthly e-mail newsletter called the Provincial Post. It is sent to you using the e-mail address held on Adelphi, the membership database of the United Grand Lodge of England. It goes directly to every Brother and Companion in the Province. There is no need for Secretaries or Scribe Es to forward the message on. If you know a Brother who is not receiving their copy, ask them to look in their junk folder and instruct your e-mail program to trust e-mails sent from the domain it was sent from. Alternatively, your details can be amended on Portal. Members are accountable for keeping their contact details up-to-date.
The Provincial Post uses a centralised approach as it is compiled from information provided by members. If you would like something to feature in the Provincial Post, please get in contact with the Provincial Communications Officer using the form below.
3. White Rose Masonic News
The White Rose Masonic News is outsourced to a commercial organisation with whom the Province works with in a partnership arrangement. It is posted out directly to members the address registered on Adelphi, the membership database of the United Grand Lodge of England. Members are accountable for keeping their contact details up-to-date. Your details can be amended on Portal. Click here for further details about the White Rose Masonic News.
4. Members Website
It is a common misunderstanding that we post news on the Members Website. As it is interactive, we use social media (mainly the Provincial Facebook Group) to post news, and this is something you can do yourselves. The idea of the Members Website is to provide "static" information, reference material that does not change a great deal, such as Toast List.
External Communications
All external communications on behalf of the Province is managed by the Communications Team who are the only people outside the executive authorised to represent the Province. Lodges and Chapters, however, are encouraged to engage with stakeholders outside of Freemasonry for which advice from the Communications Team can be provided.
These are the communications channels used:
External website: www.yorkshirewestridingfreemasons.org.uk.
Provincial Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/YorkshireWestRidingFreemasons/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WYFreemasons.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyfreemasons/
Please “Like” and “Follow” the pages and help us get a greater reach by sharing the content we put up to your network of friends and family. Give us a mention and we will happily share your posts. It is important we spread the message about our work across all our networks of friends of family by sharing posts.