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Charity Matters |
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Province of
Devonshire 2012 Festival Gala Dinner |
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 The Gala Dinner to mark the end of the 2012 Festival on
behalf of the RMTGB will be held on 17th November 2012 at
the Riviera International Conference Centre Torquay.
Full details of the event and a booking can be downloaded
here.
This will be an occasion when the Brethren of this Province
can celebrate the wonderful effort they have made in
responding to the appeal. Brethren may bring their wives and
partners to enjoy the event and Brethren may also come
unaccompanied as this is a celebration for everyone. Lodges
may block book a table or tables so that they can all sit
together. The event will also be attended by one of the
Rulers of the
Craft and representatives of the RMTGB who will announce the
final figure raised.
Please encourage your brethren to join this celebration of
their achievements.
Colin Gale, PGStB, PrAGReg
Festival Event Co-ordinator
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Autumn 2011
Disbursement from the WAKE Fund 6th October 2011 Uffculme
Masonic Hall |
On Thursday 6th October 2011 at Uffcumbe Masonic Hall ,
Uffculme, by kind permission of Vale of Culm Lodge No 4781 ,
the second disbursement of funds for 2011 from The WAKE Fund
totalling £19,800.00 were presented to 28 local charities.
Conrad Donaldson, the Provincial Charity Steward formally
opened the meeting by introducing the Provincial Grand
Master, Rt. W.Bro. Michael T. Penny who formally welcomed
everyone present, the charity representatives , invited
distinguished guests and members of Lodges, he then thanked
them for traveling to Uffculm on a wet night , explaining
the origins and objectives of the WAKE Fund as well as
informing the guests about Freemasonry and our openness to
this Order as well as our own achievements in respect to the
2012 Festival.
Guests and lodge brethren assembled in the Temple for the
presentation, were then presented by our Provincial Grand
Master cheques to each representative of the 28 charities
and the sponsoring Lodges. A photo was taken by W.Bro John
Smerdon the official photographer and a short speech was
given by each of the Charities with an explanation of the
work done or achieved by them.
The Provincial Grand Master thanked the members of Vale of
Culm Lodge, their caterers and helpers for their hospitality
in staging the event. The PGM also thanked Michael Walker,
Conrad Donaldson, John Shepherd, Frank Hanscombe & John
Smerdon for their hard work and dedication in helping to run
the WAKE Fund.
After the presentation of cheques and a group photo, the
guests left the Temple and enjoyed a superb buffet in the
Refectory. The Lodge room was then open to any guest for a
guided tour by members of the Vale of Culm Lodge No 1091.
For details of
beneficiaries
please click here
Article and Pictures - W.Bro. John Smerdon
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The 2012 Festival in aid of
Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys |
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The current main focus of
charitable fundraising in the Province is, and will be over
the next five years, the 2012 Festival in aid of Royal
Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys.
For all the news on the festival
please click here
For the latest newsletter about the Festival
please
click here |
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Report of the Provincial Grand Charity Steward to
Provincial Grand Lodge 18th April 2011 |
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Since the
formal launch of the 2012 Festival Appeal in January 2007,
the Province of Devonshire has been raising Funds for the
Royal Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys (RMTGB) - a poverty
charity which assists those Masonic children who find
themselves without the support of one or more parents, and
often in desperate need.
As at 6th January 2011, the magnificent sum of £2.5m has
been pledged with 1972 Brethren and ladies qualifying as
Festival Stewards - approximately 30% of the Brethren. Every
Lodge has a made a significant contribution to the Appeal
and particularly the Loyal Lodge of Industry No.421, Unity
No. 1332 and St. Thomas No.4198 who have each contributed in
excess of £40,000. In addition, a further 11 Lodges have
each contributed over £30,000. We are extremely grateful for
the considerable support from the Provincial Grand
Chapter,the District of Devonshire Rose Croix, the
Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons and all Lodges,
Brethren and ladies who support this worthwhile cause.
There are still some 4,000 Brethren in the Province who
could become Festival Stewards and we must endeavour to
persuade as many as possible to sign up as Stewards. The
cost is not onerous being a regular commitment of £5 per
month for 5 years or the equivalent sum for a shorter
period. (Please note qualifying contributions can continue
to be made after the official conclusion of the Appeal).
A personal letter signed by The Provincial Grand Master has
been posted to each brother in the hope that there will be a
significant increase in Stewards during 2011. We are also
encouraging Brethren to purchase the very attractive ladies
brooch for their partners.
We have a further £1.5m to be raised before the official
conclusion of the Appeal - that will take place on Saturday
17th November 2012 at the Riviera International Conference
Centre in Torquay. W. Bro. Brian Kelly, PJGD
has kindly agreed to manage that event which will also see
the draw for the Car being coordinated by W. Bro. David
Purdie, PPrSGW and his team of Past Wardens. The success of
an Appeal crucially depends on the attitude and willingness
of individual Brethren to give and the abilities of the
Lodge Charity to extract money from the
Brethren. There are unfortunately a considerable number of
Brethren who have to be persuaded to support a Festival
Appeal and a vital part of the Charity Steward’s work is
having the confidence and the courage to ask the Brethren to
give. It is not easy but we must make the effort!
Brethren and the families in the Province continue to
receive benefits from the 4 central Masonic Charities - the
Freemasons Grand Charity, the Masonic Samaritan Fund, the
RMBI and the RMTGB. During the last
year, 140 beneficiaries received £450,000 in awards and
grants. Over the last 10 years, Devon Masons and their
dependents have received in excess of £4.5m - this money is
financed largely by other Provinces in
Festival hence the importance of the 2012 Appeal.
As Provincial Grand Charity Steward, I was asked at the end
of 2009 by the central Masonic Charities to chair a
Committee to create Guidelines to Provinces holding
Festivals. After numerous discussions and drafts, a document
called Festival Guidelines was launched at last year’s
Festival Forum held at Grand Lodge. Copies of that document,
which is also available online, have been sent to each of
the 46 Provinces which hold festivals. A
Guidebook for Lodge Charity Stewards is being coordinated
under the chairmanship of W. Bro. Eric McConnell (Provincial
Grand Charity Steward of the Province of Cheshire) and will
be published later in 2011.
The Province will host the Annual Court or General Meeting
of the RMTGB on Tuesday 21st June at the Langstone Cliff
Hotel in Dawlish when it is hoped that there will be a large
attendance from the Brethren to support our PGM who is
hosting that event.
In addition to the Festival Appeal, I have been actively
involved in the merger of the Provincial Charity funds and
the annual disbursements from the William Alexander Kneel
Endowment Fund - these are covered in the Benevolent Fund
report.
In conclusion may I thank the PGM and his Executive: the
Chairman, Secretary and members of the 2012 Appeal
Committee; the members of the Benevolent Fund and its
Sub-Committee; and all the Lodge Charity Stewards, Brethren
and ladies for their continued support
and encouragement.
Conrad Donaldson
Provincial Grand Charity Steward
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