The National Membership Commission is proud to announce the 2016 National Membership Contest which will be a competition among all the Grand Lodges in OSIA. With your help, your Grand Lodge could win the top prize of $1000. The rules of the contest are very simple. The Grand Lodge with the highest net percentage increase of members (includes both active and social members) for the period the end of 1st Quarter 2016 to the end of 1st quarter 2017 receives bragging rights and a $1000 cash award, to be spent or distributed at the winning Grand Lodge's discretion.

There will be 2nd through 4th place winners receiving from $750 for 2nd place, $500 for 3rd place and $250 for 4th place. The contest will be administered by the National Membership Commission and will use the required quarterly per capita reports submitted by each Grand Lodge to the National Office for the data.

This contest is different than many of our previous membership contests as it is not solely just about recruiting new members. Now, not only is recruiting new members a factor, but retaining existing members is equally important. The contest will be a healthy competition among all the Grand Lodges. Because it is based on the net percentage increase and not the total number of members increased, the smaller Grand Lodges have a "level playing field" against the larger Grand Lodges. More importantly, this contest will allow the National Membership Commission to convene a session at a national meeting where the winning Grand Lodges will be able to share their strategy and ideas with all the other lodges. This sharing of proven winning ideas will ultimately help our organization grow stronger and utilize the strategies that have proven effective.

The presidents of the top 5 Filial Lodges with the highest net increase in members will be awarded admittance to the Golden Lion Program as a personal reward for their contribution to the long term success of OSIA. This part of the program will also be administered by the National Membership Commission with the assistance of the Grand Lodges.

So use your powers of persuasion and your salesmanship skills to recruit new members while engaging and retaining your existing members and your Grand Lodge might take home the top prize of $1000. Updates on the contest will be provided throughout the year. Please direct any and all inquiries, questions, or comments regarding the contest to the Chairman of the National Membership Commission, Mark DeNunzio at denunziodds@yahoo.com.