To Lead Is to Serve

Lodge Leader Essentials

To Lead Is to Serve

St. Francis of Assisi said, “It is in giving that we receive.” Understanding and using “to lead is to serve” in leadership and management can have a profound impact in terms of helping you to make better decisions as a leader, helping both you and the lodge achieve new heights of success together.

SPJST members who accept the responsibility of serve as lodge officers have taken on an important role within the SPJST. They are leaders in organizing and promoting the various social and charitable activities and volunteer efforts that help to define SPJST as a fraternal benefit society.

The election of nominated candidates is held during the annual meeting at which time every member has the right to vote for any other candidate on his/her ballot. The annual meeting is to be held in November or December, or the first meeting thereafter. Whenever a lodge deems it necessary — and with the consent of two-thirds of the members present — it may nominate candidates for officers, delegates, and committees in the meeting preceding the annual meeting.

The offices of the local lodge president and secretary cannot be combined, but each other office may be combined with other offices.

Election of officers is by ballot whenever more than one candidate is nominated for the same office. A majority of votes decides. Officers are elected for one year or until their successors are elected. All officers elected take office on January 1, except lodges holding annual meetings in January, in which case such officers take office immediately following election.

All outgoing local lodge officers must turn over all records, reference material, booklets, etc., and money to their successor in good order at the end of their term.