The Communications Team

Communications is divided into internal and external communications:

Internal Communications

There are three channels available for communicating with and to members. The are, the Provincial Facebook Group (PFG), The Provincial Post, and the Members Website.

1. Provincial Facebook Group

The Provincial Facebook Group (PFG) is a member-only space we use to communicate across the Province.

2. Provincial Post

The Communications Team also produce a monthly e-mail newsletter, called the Provincial Post.

3. Members Website

There are two websites. One for external communications (The Public Website) and this website, which is the Members Website. This is because they are different audiences that need different messaging. The Members Website is for information that is required for reference, for example Toast Lists. We use the Provincial Facebook Group (PFG) and Provincial Post for news items. As we are an open group this is not password protected as there is nothing confidential on the Members Website. 

External Communications

All external communications for and 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:

1. Public website: www.yorkshirewestridingfreemasons.org.uk.
2. Provincial Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/YorkshireWestRidingFreemasons/
3. Twitter: https://twitter.com/WYFreemasons.
4. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wyfreemasons/

Please “Like” and “Follow” the social media 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.

Note: The Provincial Facebook Group (PFG) is a private group for verified members only, anyone has access to the Provincial Facebook Page (PFP) as it is for external consumption. 

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.