From Stagnant to Successful One Lodge’s Journey

A little over four years ago, Vaux Lodge No. 406 in Hamburg was facing declining attendance and waning engagement, brought on largely by the impact of COVID-19 and the loss of several long-time members.

Monthly meetings often drew five or fewer members, and only two new recruits joined over a five-year span. The lodge was nearing the point of shutting down.

In 2024, the District Deputy Grand Master of the 7th Masonic District, Brother Michael Pavelko, along with Vaux Lodge No. 406, invited the Masonic Engagement and Lodge Revitalization committees to present their programs to the officers and members of the lodges.

More than 50 brothers from across the district attended the workshop, which included a comprehensive self-assessment, succession planning and an outline to prepare and discuss Freemasonry with potential candidates.

Brothers Joseph Wertz, P.M., and Michael Krajewski, P.M., were committed to identifying what would work specifically for Vaux Lodge. That led to a deliberate, strategic shift to cultivate relationships, restore pride and open its doors to the community.

Joe and Mike personally reached out to members, calling and sending letters to learn about their interests and plan events that reflected them. They opened the lodge to the community through spring picnics, motorcycle benefit rides and blood drives.

“These events helped humanize Freemasonry, spark curiosity and produce petitioners, many of whom are now active members,” Joe said.

As a result of their efforts, Vaux Lodge welcomed 27 new members over the past four years and has reemerged as a visible, trusted presence in Berks County, he said.

One of the first recruits was Brother Darin Troutman, Sr., W.M., a retired Berks County sheriff’s deputy and president of Blue Line Fraternal LEMC, a national 501(c)(3) motorcycle club consisting of both active and retired law enforcement officers. Brother Michael Bell, P.D.D.G.M., a retired assistant special agent, was secretary of the club, and the two had formed a friendship.

At the time, Darin was already a member of St. John’s Lodge No. 435 in Reading. After moving closer to Vaux Lodge, he chose to become a dual member and brought several fellow Blue Line Fraternal (BLF) officers with him. They were drawn to the lodge because of “the commitment to brotherhood, service and fraternal discipline,” which aligned with their own values, Michael said.

“The fraternal culture of BLF naturally blended into the lodge, demonstrating how shared purpose creates immediate cohesion,” Darin said. “If you’re having a bad day at work, you can’t always go home and talk to your family or your spouse, because they don’t understand it. I served on a security detail in New York City on 9/11. I couldn’t talk about it for years, so being able to speak with like-minded individuals made life a lot easier.”

Today, neighboring lodges regularly attend Monday rehearsals and participate in Masonic education at Vaux Lodge — and Vaux Lodge members do the same in return — marking a clear shift from isolation to cooperation, members said. Quarterly potluck dinners draw strong attendance from members and their families.

A successful capital campaign has helped fund a new roof, repairs to the heating and cooling systems, upgraded energy-efficient LED lighting and essential landscaping work at the lodge hall. The building is centrally located and easy to get to from different directions, Joe said. A newly constructed outdoor pavilion hosts cigar socials for the lodge and district, encouraging informal fellowship.

“We had this beautiful building a few years ago and nothing was happening in it,” Joe said. “We were looking for opportunities, even for free, to get people in the building. That was our first step to using our assets, getting people in the building and creating a new energy.”

Like many lodges today, Vaux Lodge hasn’t been able to avoid losing members over time. Even so, the percentage of active members has increased from single to double digits, members said.

“We want to let everyone know there’s a way to move forward,” Joe said. “Not every lodge is positioned to integrate new ideas, but we are. For whatever reason, there’s broad support. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but it can happen over time. And we’re living proof of it.”