The Grand Lodge of New Jersey

New Jersey Masonic Blood Program

MISSION STATEMENT 

The New Jersey Masonic Blood Program is designed to assure availability of blood products for Masons and Non-Masons equally.  To do this we encourage development of Blood Programs within Lodges that do not currently have them, and work to strengthen Lodges and Districts that currently do have programs in existence.  In either case we must work with the local Blood Centers to fulfill this mission.

INTRODUCTION

Blood donation is a gift of life - it is a gift that can be given regularly and without financial cost.  We as Free and Accepted Masons, in keeping with our obligations, can make our donation for a higher and nobler cause – that of helping our fellow man. To facilitate blood donations the Grand Lodge of New Jersey has authorized a committee on the Masonic Blood Program

The New Jersey Masonic Blood Program (NJMBP) is intended to be larger than any single lodge or district, and should encompass all the appendant bodies of masonry - including, but not limited to, the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Shriners, DeMolay, and Eastern Star.    

The NJMBP should also reach out into various communities to work with other service organizations within the community including, but not limited to, veterans organizations, service clubs and scouting organizations.

Freemasonry gains when the community observes Masons providing this service. Every time we save a life through a donation of blood, we know we are serving our fellow man. 

Each Blood Drive under the NJMBP should be viewed as an opportunity to present Freemasonry to the community.

ORGANIZATION 

The Grand Lodge Committee on the Masonic Blood Program consists of a Chairman and three Vice-Chairmen appointed each Masonic year by the incoming Grand Master - and a designated number of committee members as mutually agreed by the Grand Master and the Committee Chairman. 

Grand Lodge Blood Program Vice-Chairmen

The Grand Lodge Blood Program Vice-Chairmen are the driving force behind the New Jersey Masonic Blood Program.  Their duties include, but are not limited to:

• Appoint District Blood Drive Chairman for each assigned district, with the advice of the NJMBP Committee Chairman and the respective District Deputy Grand Master. 
• Maintain contact with their District Blood Drive Chairmen to enhance and evaluate the effectiveness of the NJMBP within his assigned districts.
• Provide assistance and guidance to the District Blood Drive Chairmen as may be required.
• Monitor his assigned districts to assure procedures are followed for the pin recognition program.
• Promote the New Jersey Masonic Blood Drive Program within the appendant bodies, Masters and Wardens meetings and whenever possible attend the Grand Lodges of Instruction for his assigned districts to promote the NJMBP.
• Monitor his assigned districts to assure blood program reporting procedures are properly completed in a timely manner.

District Deputy Grand Masters

The District Deputy Grand Masters are a vital link to the success of the NJMBP.  Their duties include, but are not limited to:

• Become acquainted with and maintain informal contact with their District Blood Drive Chairmen.
• Contact each Worshipful Master within their district and have him select an enthusiastic and responsible brother to serve as Lodge Blood Drive Chairman - a brother who is an experienced donor is preferable whenever possible.
• Provide assistance and guidance to the district blood drive chairman as may be requested.
• Support the award recognition program
• Enhance and evaluate the effectiveness of the Masonic Blood Program within his district by communicating ideas and suggestions to their respective Vice-Chairman.
• Utilize the Masters and Wardens meetings to promote the Blood Drive Program.
• During District events, stress the importance of the Masonic Blood Program.  Encourage the District Blood Drive Chairman to attend these visits whenever possible.

District Blood Drive Coordinators

District Blood Drive chairmen shall be appointed by the NJMBP Vice-Chairman assigned to each respective district, with the advice of the Committee Chairman and the respective District Deputy Grand Master.  The duties shall include, but not be limited to:

• Act as liaison and communications link between the Committee Vice-Chairman and the Lodge Blood Drive Coordinators.
• Provide guidance, encouragement and support to the Lodge Blood Drive Chairmen.
• Monitor and assure the timely submission of blood drive reports, as may be required by the Committee Chairman.
• Assist Lodges in establishing new blood drive programs and/or work with lodges to strengthen existing blood drive programs.
• Schedule and organize all District wide Blood Drives.
• Arrange for canteen services for all District Blood Drives.
• Be familiar with the blood service agencies and their procedures in his region.
• Represent the Grand Lodge Masonic Blood Program at District Events.
• Assure the delivery of blood drive pins to Lodge Blood Drive Chairmen for distribution.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of Lodge Blood Drive Chairmen and make recommendations to the incoming Worshipful Master each year.

Worshipful Master

The Worshipful Master is the corner stone of the success of the blood program at the local level.  The Worshipful Master’s duties shall include, but not be limited to:    

•  Select an enthusiastic and responsible brother to serve as Lodge Blood Drive Chairman.  A brother who is an experienced donor is preferable whenever possible.
• Assist the Lodge Blood Drive Chairman to schedule and organize a minimum of one Lodge Blood Drive per year.  When a Lodge can not support a blood drive – work  with the District Blood Drive Coordinators to support District wide events, and support neighboring Lodges with their blood drives.
• Assist the Lodge Blood Drive Chairman to provide canteen services for all Blood Drives.
• Assist the Lodge Blood Drive Chairman to recruit Blood product donors within the Lodge and within the community
• Assure the distribution of blood drive pins to all donors in compliance with the NJMBP guidelines.

Lodge Blood Drive Chairman

The Lodge Blood Drive chairmen are the heart and soul of the NJMBP and shall be appointed by the Worshipful Master of their respective lodges.  Their duties include, but are not limited to:

• On behalf of the Worshipful Master, act as lodge representative for all matters concerning the Grand Lodge Masonic Blood Program, and keep the Worshipful Master informed of all matters pertaining to the Blood Program.
• Schedule and organize a minimum of one Lodge Blood Drives per year.  When a Lodge can not support a blood drive – coordinate with District Blood Drive Coordinators to support District wide events, and support neighboring Lodges with their blood drives.
• Maintain lodge records of blood donations and assure the timely submission of blood drive reports, as may be required by the Committee Chairman.
• Recruit Blood product donors within Lodge and within the community.
• Provide canteen services for all Lodge Blood Drives.
• Attend Official Visits whenever possible to stress the importance of the Masonic Blood Program.
• Assure the distribution of blood drive pins to all donors in compliance with the NJMBP guidelines
• Promote Lodge Blood Drives

FORMS OF DONATION

Apheresis Donors

Apheresis donors experience an extra special feeling from donating through an advanced technique which selects the blood component vital to a patient’s specific need.  The word Apheresis, derived from the Greek aheresis, sounds more complicated than the process.  Pronounced “a-fuh-ree-sis”, it means to withdraw selectively.

Blood withdrawn is centrifuged to select needed parts and the remainder is returned to the donor in a safe procedure, all part of a single donation.  While a normal whole blood donation takes 45 minutes to an hour, Apheresis donation can take between two and three hours, including medical history.

Apheresis Donors who donate selective blood products will receive credit for donation of one  pint per every Apheresis Donation, and must submit the required evidence of donation to their Lodge Blood Drive Chairman.

Whole Blood Donation

Whole Blood donors experience the feeling of saving a life through a simple procedure that costs nothing more than the donor’s time and effort.  New Jersey Masons are encouraged to support the NJMBP through their donations and/or supporting their Lodge’s Blood Drive efforts.

Whole Blood Donors who donate at any blood drive, sponsored by a Masonic body or privately will receive credit for each pint donated, and must submit the required evidence of donation to their Lodge Blood Drive Chairman.

PIN AWARD PROGRAM

Donor Pin Award Program

The pin award program is a vital part of the New Jersey Masonic Blood Program.  Blood Drive Pins should be presented at open communications of lodge at social occasions such as Charity Night or Family Night events – so as to promote the donation of blood within the community.

Lodge Blood Drive Coordinator should request pins from the District Blood Drive Coordinator, who should in turn request them from the Vice-Chairman assigned to their district. 

The pin and award criteria for donors is that a pin will be awarded for each gallon donated, with special recognition offered as directed by the Committee.