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Freemasons

When PPR was asked to develop a program to arrest the serious decline in membership numbers by the Freemasons, the consultancy advised the organisation to adopt an open policy - replacing years of secrecy with information, dispelling myths and rumours with fact - encouraging a renewal of interest in the Masons by showing the organisation to be open, ethical and willing to engage.

The program to provide as much information as possible on the history, values, purpose and practice of Freemasonry in Australia was built around the theme: “It’s No Secret...” It began with a series of media open days and unrestricted media interviews, placed the Grand Master at the launch of Dan Brown’s Masonic novel, The Lost Symbol; and continued with the writing and publication of the first book on Freemasonry to be published by the Freemasons, It’s no Secret – Real Men Wear Aprons.

In addition PPR prepared and implemented programs to: upskill the membership and encourage them to talk openly and freely about Freemasonry; produce an information kit and DVD for new members; produce a Son Et Lumiere experience for visitors and tour groups to Grand Lodge; and prepare a program of activities for the future.

The book It’s No Secret... sold out, the number of applicants for membership increased, and the PPR Program was quickly emulated by other jurisdictions, including the Grand Lodge of England, the ‘birthplace’ of modern Freemasonry in 1717.

‘It’s No Secret...’, was selected as B&T’s PR program of the year for 2010, with one of the judges commenting: “It was a very challenging brief, but this is one of the best campaigns I have seen. It could have totally backfired but they went for it. I think it’s a triumph. I can’t fault it.”

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