The Leader
May 2019: Lodge Outreach Program

In 2011, Masonic Outreach Services (MOS) created the Lodge Outreach Program. The program has helped California Masons reconnect with their vulnerable members and build a safety net for brothers and widows. Arman Ordian of Desert Daylight Lodge U.D. shares his story of working with MOS and the many ways his lodge has made a difference in the lives of brothers and widows.

Making a Difference, One Person at a Time
When brothers in the Coachella Valley wanted to reach out to their older members as part of the new Lodge Outreach Program through MOS, they looked to Arman Ordian to help coordinate it all. During the day, Arman works with the elderly and their families to plan funeral arrangements and other end of life services. “You need to know how to talk with people about these sorts of things,” Arman says. “So, when I was asked to help reach out to Masonic widows and aging members in our Masonic community, I was able to call on my work experience to guide me." Since he first started working with MOS through his lodge in Palm Springs a few years ago, Arman and his team of fellow Masons have reached out to more than 30 Masonic widows and aging brothers.

As the unofficial coordinator for the program in the Coachella Valley, Arman is usually the first point of contact for senior members in the Masonic community. “Most of our older members are very proud and aren’t quick to admit that they need help,” he says. “That’s why it’s so important to just talk with them.” It was after talking with some older members that Arman realized that one of the reasons they weren’t attending lodge anymore was because they couldn’t drive at night. In response, Arman worked with Grand Lodge and other Masons in the area to found a new lodge that meets during the day: Desert Daylight Lodge U.D. With a membership of more than 20 Masons, this new lodge continues to grow as aging Masons throughout the area come to reconnect to the craft.

For the most part, however, Arman and the other volunteers have helped older Masons and their widows in smaller, but no less profound, ways. “We usually do small tasks like helping an older Mason and his wife set up their cable. Another time, when we found a brother who was unable to afford a new CPAP machine, we sent the word out to Masons in our area and within no time, someone donated one.” In other cases, Arman has referred Masonic widows to some of the care services offered by MOS (for a more complete listing of these services, see their website here). Regardless of the level of service, Arman has found that the experience of working with MOS has had a positive impact on both those receiving help, and the Masons giving help. “It’s a very satisfying experience knowing you’ve made a difference,” Arman says.