News Briefs
Eells Announces Campaign for International Master Councilor
More exclusive Congress 2008 coverage is available at Congress Watch 2008.
ANAHEIM, CA - State Master Councilor Richard Eells has prepared his bid and is now beginning his campaign
for International Master Councilor at the annual DeMolay Congress Session which is going on now in Anaheim, California.
The election for International Master Councilor will be Friday evening, June 20. "I'm ready to continue my service to DeMolay.
For the last few years, I have worked on behalf of our Order to implement new programs that have enabled DeMolay to
flourish in Georgia. I think many of these programs will apply on a larger scale to improve the lives of young men on an
International level," said Eells. During his term this year as Georgia State Master Councilor, Eells has proven his
leadership skills. His term as SMC focused on membership and communication.
Unprecedented Membership Growth
The initial membership plan for Eells' term as State Master Councilor was called "Remember the Member."
Eells stated, "If you make the current members excited and
involved in their Chapter and the community, new members will be easy to recruit." The program has seen great success
this term: three new Pilot Chapters and one new DeMolay Club were started during Eells' tenure as SMC. Georgia DeMolay
achieved positive growth for the 2007 calendar year. At the turn of the year, Eells' announced a year-long membership
campaign called 88 in '08, the goal of which is to initiate 88 new members into Georgia DeMolay in 2008. This bold step
and lofty goal have been answered by the members of Georgia DeMolay, who have already achieved positive growth from
Conclave-to-Conclave. The most exciting moment thus far was the Grand Master's Class in March, when the largest class
in Georgia in twelve years was initiated. Eighteen new members were initiated, with 22 receiving degrees.
Communication is Key to Success
The second focus of Eells' SMC term is communication. His communication program is based on creating effective,
coordinated, and comprehensive communication throughout the state. The foundation of the communication
program is the Georgia DeMolay Online web site. Anchored by exclusive
software called DeMobile, developed by Georgia DeMolay, members were informed about events via mobile phone text messages
and e-mail. Chapters were also encouraged to use DeMobile to send text messages and e-mails to their members about
Chapter events and happenings. In addition, the exclusive Georgia DeMolay Phone Broadcasting System was implemented, allowing
members to receive recorded announcements over the phone about Georgia DeMolay. Eells also stayed in touch with his members
using the web site, offering a monthly "SMC Corner" feature article including commentary about happenings across the
state. A member-favorite, the monthly PodCast allowed Eells to reach his members in a more personal way: recorded audio
that could be played through the Georgia DeMolay web site, iTunes software, or members' iPods.
Streamlining typical DeMolay processes was also a priority for Eells. With the rollout of an online payment system, Georgia
DeMolay began to offer online registration and online Form 10 submission during his term. With payment via
credit cards and electronic bank transfers, instant reporting of new members and an easier process for state event registration was well-accepted
by the members and advisors of Georgia DeMolay. Through Eells' efforts with technology in Georgia, he was named by
DeMolay International Grand Master Patton Hart as one of seven SMC's to serve as liaison from the International DeMolay Congress to the
Committees of DeMolay International, specifically focusing on technology. His efforts included recommendations about
improving the DeMolay International web site, which culminated in a complete redesign of www.demolay.org.
Sight Set on International Master Councilor
With a successful term as Georgia State Master Councilor coming to a close, Eells sets his sights on the highest office DeMolay has to offer:
International Master Councilor. "There's no need to reinvent the wheel," said Eells. Having tested methods successfully in Georgia, many
will apply on an international level. "However, there are always ways to improve upon what's already there," he added. On an
international level, Eells plans to continue promoting membership via enthusiasm, as well as sticking to the theme of effective, coordinated,
and comprehensive communication. He plans to make use of the new Congress Cabinet for Program Development. The members of this new cabinet will
not just be a representative for their region, but will also serve as a working body for the Congress. "I'm excited about the opportunities
that lay ahead for DeMolay International," said Eells. "The future definitely seems bright for DeMolay, and I'm proud to be a part of it."
Eells receives the State Master Councilor's collar
during the installation ceremony at Conclave 2007 in Marietta.
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