Regions: Taking SCJ to the Next Level
Just as a business or a sports franchise must sometimes return their focus to the basics in order to build up a successful program, that need is present for Southern California DeMolay. Therefore on the Sunday of Conclave this year:
The Jurisdiction will be reorganized into 4 geographically defined “Regions”, according to a map of our current Chapters enclosed below this notice. Each Region will be entitled to electing a Regional President, up to two Regional Vice Presidents depending on the number of Chapters in the region, a Regional Sweetheart, and a Regional Princess. These Regional Officers are not asked to maintain a calendar of regional events, as we have done in the past. Rather, these Regional Officers are tasked with assisting the Chapters and their officers to plan and execute Chapter level events. Those events are welcome to be done in conjunction with other chapters, but we have found that too much focus has been shifted away from the Chapters themselves.
2) The Jurisdiction has committed to an “Official Visit” to each of the 4 Regions, one each in the months of January, May, July, and November. At these Official Visits, the Jurisdiction Officers and the Executive Officer will have an opportunity to hear directly from the youth and advisors of each Region to make sure that the Jurisdiction is responsive to the needs of the Chapters. The format for the Region Official Visits will be a membership class, followed by a fun, social or community service event, to foster camaraderie between all brothers, new or otherwise. This Official Visit is the only regional event that the Regional Officers are expected to put together, in order to allow them more time to assist Chapters and work on Jurisdiction Committees if they so choose. The fun event or community service project will be developed with the combined work of the Jurisdiction Officers, Regional Officers, and others who they seek assistance from.
3) Each Region will be governed by one “Liaison” advisor who acts as a representative between the Jurisdiction and the Chapters in their Region. Their responsibilities are simple: they are to assist the Chapter Advisory Councils to maintain the Chapters in their regular business, foster good relations with the Lodges in the Region, and to help the Chapters ensure that all reports and responsibilities to the Jurisdiction and DeMolay International are completed in a timely manner and prior to deadlines. While they may enlist help from other advisors and are encouraged to mentor our youth, they are asked to not create a staff of advisors. This will give our Chapter advisors the time they need to focus on our Chapters themselves.
4) The Regional Officers in each Region will be assisted and mentored by a Regional Advisor(s), who acts similarly to the Jurisdiction Advisor(s). They are asked to assist the Regional Officers in the accomplishment of their duties, but they are not responsible for administration or oversight of the Chapters, their role is entirely focused on support for the Regional Officers.
5) The Sweethearts and Princesses of each Region will be responsible for assisting and mentoring the Chapter Sweethearts, Princess(es), and Little Sisses in their Region, encouraging and building the Sweetheart Program in their area as well as assisting in the work of the Philanthropic project of the Jurisdiction in their Region.
We know that sometimes, change is hard, but we are fully dedicated to making sure that our Chapters have access to the talent and time of our DeMolays, Sweethearts, and Advisors in a way that doesn’t stretch us too thin and across too many levels. Our hope is that just like a sports team or a business scales down to grow again, that when we have the good problem of too many DeMolays, Sweethearts, and Advisors and not enough positions, that we will adjust our structure accordingly.
We will be holding a series of town halls catered separately to our youth and advisors to answer any questions that may arise. Those will be announced on our SCJ social media accounts in the days ahead. For now, please direct any questions that are not answered in the FAQ section below to the Executive Officer at [email protected]
Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions:
What happens for DeMolays and Sweethearts thinking about running for office this next year?
Each Region will be allowed to have a Regional President, up to 2 Regional Vice Presidents, depending on the number of Chapters in the Region, as well as a Regional Sweetheart and Princess. These officers will be elected in a very similar manner to the League Officers. The Letters of Intent for those seeking Regional Office are posted on the Jurisdiction Website, under forms and resources.
What is different about those offices next year than in years past?
Regional Officers will be expected to do different things than League Officers were. For one, Regions will only be putting on one event each year, an official visit. This change has been specifically made to give the Regional Officers time to mentor and assist Chapter level officers as they build Chapter events. Joint Chapter events between nearby Chapters are encouraged, and Regional Officers are asked to help in the planning of those events. We simply have noticed that over the years, too many Regional/League events have crowded the calendar.
What is an official visit? Is it different from how other organizations do OV’s?
An official visit is quite literally an opportunity for each Region to have a visit from the Jurisdiction Officers and the Jurisdiction Executive Officer. The Official Visits for SCJ’s Regions will consist of a Membership Class in each Region, giving each Chapter in the area the chance to participate in and see some excellent ritual work from their local and Jurisdiction leaders, and a chance to help advance up and coming DeMolays when they need degrees. After the Membership Class portion of an OV, the Regional Officers and Jurisdiction Officers and committees will put together a fun event or community service project for all to participate in, fostering brotherhood between all members of the Masonic Family.
How is a Regional Liaison different from a League Administrator?
Regional Liaisons have several differences in their roles and responsibilities. Namely, while Administrators were responsible for overseeing bank accounts and events at the League level, Liaisons will be focused on mentoring the Chapter Advisory Councils in their responsibilities to help the Chapters succeed. When the Chapters need help with questions or with directives of the Jurisdiction, the Liaison will be able to be the mentor that helps make sure things run smoothly. Additionally, Regions will no longer have bank accounts, as all expenses for the Official Visits and other missions of the Regional Officers will be handled by the Jurisdiction, further limiting the breadth of the Liaisons’ roles.
Which Advisors will be working with the Regional Officers?
Just as the Jurisdiction Officers are assisted by the Jurisdiction Advisors, the Regional Officers will have two Regional Advisors in each Region, who’s charge is exclusively to work with the Regional Officers, and make sure they have all of the tools they need to succeed and develop as leaders. Whereas in the past, the Regional/League Advisors were responsible for assisting the administrators in their duties and perhaps even maintaining a Regional/League Advisor Staff, the Regional Advisors will now simply be focused on the success of the Regional Officers in their respective duties.
Where can I find the Letters of Intent for Regional President, Vice President, Sweetheart, and Princess?
The letters of intent for Regional Officers have been posted on the Jurisdiction Website under forms and resources. Those letters of intent are to be fully filled out and sent to Mom Matlack at [email protected] by 11:59 pm on May 23rd, 2025. Next steps for candidates will be communicated after that.
When will the change be made to Regions officially?
We will officially switch to the Regional system at the Sunday Brunch at Conclave 2025. This will be the time we install the first Regional Officers for Southern California Jurisdiction.
Are there any other changes to the structure of the Jurisdiction at this time?
Not at this time. We are always adapting and innovating wherever we can make things better for our youth, but this is the only structural change to announce at this time.
If you have any other questions, feel free to email them to [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as we can.