|
|
• Welcome to the Masters of the Middlesex Lodges that are here today. • Fraternal greetings from the Provincial Grand Master, H.R.H. Prince Michael of Kent, who is unable to attend, but sends his congratulations to those invested and promoted in Provincial Grand Rank. • The 2009 Festival for the RMBI ends in 9 months with a Festival dinner in March 2009. Current total of donations and pledges plus recoverable income tax is £3.2 million of which £2.4 million already transferred to the RMBI. • There are still substantial amounts of money in lodge relief chests donated by members for charity. Please look at your own Lodges and Chapters to see if you can help with more. Our target is to exceed £3.5 million pounds and it would be great to get closer to £4 million. • In March our ProvGM, H.R.H. Prince Michael, came to Cole Court to meet the Masters and Charity Stewards of Lodges and Chapters that had achieved Grand Patron. • A brief review of the last 12 months – The Executive and their committees has been working hard and the results are: A mentoring scheme with booklets for the mentor and a booklet for each degree explaining the 3 ceremonies for the new member. A booklet on the 3 R's - Recruitment, Retention and Retrieval, to help weaker Lodges take action with suggestions to increase membership and avoid stagnation. The Light Blues Club started two years ago with the emphasis on enjoyment and fun and had 2 meetings during the year. Please encourage newer members to join and participate. The Sports Association has been revitalised with Golf, Clay Pigeon Shooting and other sports and the Cricket section re-established. A number of well attended seminars and workshops, each chaired by an AProvGM. A successful Open Day at Twickenham will be followed by another at Harrow in June and the Harrow fete in July. The Provincial Grand Officers Club has continued to grow with meetings in the Spring & Autumn. A Masonic themed garden at the Hampton Court Flower Show in July and thanks to the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London and neighbouring Provinces for contributing to the cost and substantial private donations from individuals. The Garden will be manned by Freemasons with their wives/partners and the Grand Master, Pro Grand Master and the Provincial Grand Master will visit. • Michael Blackwood, the APGM for Group 7, retired at the meeting with thanks for his hard work. • Thanks also to the Provincial Choir, Provincial Grand Stewards, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and his Deputies, the Provincial Grand Secretary Michael Dean, his Deputy Tony Jones and all of the staff and volunteers at the Provincial Office.
|
