Notes About Programs
Some folks think that you need to have ‘special’ programs or speakers for every lodge meeting.
The information provided to you on the Third District website is to provide you with other
options for your lodge.
It is important to include your membership. What I mean is that you want to engage your
audience. Include them in the jokes. In some of the “Two-Person Stand-up” routines, Joe and
Ray talk about their wives or another lodge member. Sometimes they talk about Ole, Sven and
Lena.
I realized as I was transcribing some of the routines that it was “recycled” material. Recycled
from ‘Reader’s Digest’, or the Norwegian American Newspaper, etcetera. The program director,
or committee member changed the character name to someone in the lodge (of course, you
want to let that person know about it ahead of time).
The plays took songs and story-book tales and worked them into comedy skits with a Norwegian
twist.
Yes, someone had to have an idea, write the material, gather a team and practice, practice, and
practice. Yet, some of the funniest skits the players had not had much time for rehearsal and
the goofs and gaffs were enjoyed by the audience. We are all volunteers in this endeavor so take
the task and make it fun.
I think that is the point with programming. Know your audience, engage your audience, get
them laughing at you and themselves. You are not required to spend a lot of cash for a good
program. Keep them laughing and they’ll come back for more!
Fraternally,
Chris Taylor
2022-24 Zone 5 Director
Suncoast Lodge, Florida