I'm against this style of micro-management and as some have put it "cookie cut" design of Lodges. If a Lodge chooses to have a site then awesome, if not then that is just as good. I know a Lodge who is highly active, small, but efficient and I bet that maybe only a few have regular access to the Internet. Every Lodge should do their own thing and if the GL wants a website they should shell out the $$ and create it themselves.
We do not live in a world, in which every lodge "does their own thing". The Grand Lodge of each state, issues the charter for the subordinate lodges to operate. With that charter goes the constitutions and by-laws of the Grand Lodge. If a lodge is not willing to "cheerfully conform" to the rules and edicts of the Grand Lodge, then that lodge should immediately surrender their charter back to the Grand Lodge, and cease to operate under the rules of the Grand Lodge! Basically, we live in a world of "suck it up" or get out.
My home lodge is "geriatric", and not all members have internet access. Just because all members are not tech-savvy, is no reason for a lodge not to have a website.
I would like to see all Grand Lodges have a "Grand Webmaster", to advise and coordinate internet activities and websites for the Grand Lodge and all subordinate lodges. Every Grand Lodge should have an internet advisory committee, to aid and assist subordinate lodges in web design. The Grand Lodge of New York, has a roster of internet standards ("Do's and Don'ts"). The standards insure that every lodge website in New York, will present Masonry properly to both Masons and the profane world. Lodge internet advisory committees could be assembled from tech-savvy people, who can assist the lodges in all phases of website set up and administration, and assist them in finding low-cost or free website hosting.
This is the kind of response that I hear frequently. "We don't need a webpage. Many of our members do not have internet access". Well, that response misses the point, entirely. That is like saying, "Our lodge does not need a telephone, some of our members do not have telephones".
The internet is a means for the lodge to present itself to the local community, both to the Masons, AND to the profane world. Men who may have seen a documentary on the History channel, will wish to learn more about Freemasonry in their local community, where is the first place they will look? The internet. If the local lodge does not have a webpage, the individual could assume that there is no lodge in their community! Men who have been around the internet all their lives, use the internet to learn about new topics.
More and more, the first knock on the West Gate, is an electronic knock. Many lodges in my area of residence (Metro WashDC) get a majority of their new petitioners from their internet page! A lodge internet page, ideally, will do several things:
1) Present the lodge to the local community in the finest possible way.
2) Serve as a means for an interested person to learn the basics of Masonry, how to petition, whom to submit a petition, the history of the local lodge, the schedule of events, etc.
3) Serve the membership of the lodge, with a schedule of the tyled meetings, stated meetings, upcoming degree work, special meetings, dinners, family outings, etc. Basically to serve as an electronic "trestle board" to convey the entire lodge "program" to the membership.
4) Convey to the masonic community, all of the appendant/concordant bodies' schedule and events. There should be a full listing of the meetings and events sponsored by the local Scottish Rite/York Rite/Shrine club,etc.
5) Convey the available youth programs, to all interested young people. The schedule and contact information for Rainbow/Job's Daughters/DeMolay should be presented. Over 80% of DeMolay youth go on to Craft Lodge. Supporting the DeMolay, and encouraging more participation by youth as well as adult support to youth groups, is a no-brainer.
6) Contain some interesting information about Freemasonry, which will change and be updated periodically. Examples: Members could submit old photos of lodge meetings for publication. Stories about the early history of your lodge could be presented. The minutes of the lodge meetings from 25 and 50 years ago could be published. The website could present stories about Masonry in foreign countries,etc.
7) A roster of the sick and distressed could be presented. The address, telephone number, e-mail of these individuals could be listed, and which hospital they are in, etc.
The internet is made for Masonry. It fits like a hand in glove! I continue be amazed that so many masons and individual lodges are loath to embrace the 'net, and use this technology, to enhance the Masonic experience for all Masons, and to present our Craft to the profane world, and to make it easier for good men to learn about our Craft, and how to petition.
So Mote It Be