The following are generally accepted answers to volunteers' questions. Check with your school to make certain they apply.

1. Why do it? What's in it for us? The Beacon Project is poised to contribute a great deal to our community's children and also to our Fraternity. By participating in and promoting this program Masonry receives positive press, dispelling some of the secrecy and mystery that deters new members.

2. How much of my time will be required? Two hours a day, ten days a year. If 10% of Michigan Masons commit this amount we will reach our overall goal of 200,000 volunteer hours over the next three years.

3. What exactly do I do? Will I be trained? In most cases you will be assigned a teacher/classroom that will supervise your activity. It may be reading with a student, working on math or social studies one-on-one. It may wind up being a group effort to improve the playground. You will have an opportunity to discuss your role with the Beacon Coordinator who will try to match you with a task you are comfortable with.

4. Can I customize my schedule? Yes.

5. What if I can't make a day I've committed to? Contact the school or your Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible. Remember to reschedule.

6. Will I be responsible for materials? Will my expenses be reimbursed? The answers are most likely "no" and "no." It is unlikely that you need to bring anything more than your willingness to make a difference and, since this is a community project, transportation costs should be nominal.

7. Who do I report to? What if I have a problem? There will, ideally, be at least three levels of support for each volunteer. In the classroom, obviously, there is the teacher. If you are asked a question or confronted with a behavior you are uncertain about, defer to the teacher. There will also be a school volunteer coordinator (or HOSTS coordinator), and your own lodge Beacon Coordinator.

8. Will I volunteer alone or can we work in pairs or teams? Every situation may be different. Check with your Beacon Coordinator and express early any preference you have.

9. Are there any security issues? Predictably, when working with children, we will encounter safety regulations.These may vary from school to school but will most likely include application and sign-in procedures along with expectations regarding conduct.There will also be privacy issues meaning you will not be able to repeat information you hear about students in the school.