2006 Address

Address given by the RW Provincial Grand Master, Ray Reed on the 23rd October 2006

Brethren, thank you so much for taking time out to attend this Provincial Grand Lodge and also for your continued support of our great movement. Our congratulations go to all those that have been appointed or promoted today.

It is also my great pleasure to thank those that do so much unseen work in order to create the success we are enjoying within Buckinghamshire, Our Visiting Officers, Masonic Centre and Provincial Charity Committees, those that prepare the Blue Book, the Editor of Concord, our information Officer, the Web Site Programmers and Copywriters, Almoner Co-ordinators and Provincial Trainers, the 2010 RMTGB Festival Committee, Treasurer, Marketers and co-ordinators and all those that are working so hard in our Strategic Project Teams. On a personal note may I also thank my Executive who throughout VW Bro Don’s illness have given up their time unstintingly and achieved all that I could have hoped for in order to enhance the reputation of our Province.

The past twelve months have been very successful:

• We have raised some £750,000 in the first year of our 2010 RMTGB Festival Appeal.
• Our five year Strategic Plan encompassing our Vision for the Future was successfully completed.
• Our County Town and Village show group was launched and has achieved far more than we could ever have envisaged. As a direct result we have enjoyed outstanding press and radio coverage and won many new friends as we allowed Freemasonry to be re-introduced to the public.
• Our Family Activities group, Major Fundraising Group, Care in the Community Group and the Information Technology Group have been launched.
• We have introduced ‘crisis management’ techniques for lodges that are willing to consider new ideas for survival. These have proved so successful that several of our strongest lodges are also using the techniques to enhance their growth.
• Our Education and Training group has continued its outstanding work with New Masters, and DCs.
• Following the success of receptions for new initiates and their ladies we are in the process of setting up five North East Corner Clubs, their key tasks being to provide a wider Masonic education for new initiates and to encourage friendships and visiting across Lodges.

It is my view that in the past year the performance of our Lodges, Members and the Province in general has been outstanding. Involvement is critical in any change process and the innovation, creativity and enthusiasm of brethren at all levels toward our program is truly amazing, thank you for contributing so much.

So what are our objectives for the coming year?

Despite the outstanding first year of our 2010 Festival appeal there are many Lodges and members that are not contributing to the appeal. Indeed, I can inform you that just 19% of members have signed up to the gift aid scheme and while a further small percentage are contributing through their Lodge Relief Chests. Such low figures can at best be described as unacceptable.

During the coming year our major objective will be to double this figure. I have asked my Executive to monitor progress as they visit Lodges, to check levels of contributing members and where necessary to seek a change of heart within such Lodges. In order to start the process moving I today charge every Master and Charity Steward to go back to their Lodges, check the level of support and if it is less than 40% devise a plan that allows their membership to achieve this objective.

Twelve months ago when we were in the process of developing our Strategy and Vision for the future, I was reminded that Freemasonry evolved from enlightened and creative thinking in the 18th century and developed social awareness and well being activities in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There is a view that by the end of the 20th century many Lodges and their members had become consumed by ritual at the expense of other Masonic Values, little wonder that the public perception of Freemasonry was and is both confused and ill informed.

We must all of necessity look beyond the perfection of our ritual and become pro-active and committed to being seen, heard and respected within our communities. I would therefore commend every member to proudly debate the values and benefits of Freemasonry within their community, as this, coupled with the fact that our change program will pick up speed during the next twelve months, is the key to removing the perception of secrecy, and winning back public support. Our Vision Drivers for the Future and Care in the Community program remain a longer term Strategic Objective with clear tasks that require completion in the coming year.

In the past few years our ability to introduce new initiates has been declining and to an extent I am convinced that this also relates to the fact that public perception has been confused and mistaken. In addition, however, it is my view that our purpose is not made clear to those that seek to join and is no longer understood by many of our own members. It is therefore my intention to take a serious look at creating a simple ‘value statement’ that enables brethren to be both objective and confident when talking to others about the benefits that the craft brings to both the community in general and our members in particular.

While not wishing to deflect our focus from retention it would seem prudent to make recruitment a key task for the year ahead.

Just imagine the outcome if very member here today was to reach out and influence just one person to join during the next three years and that is what I am challenging you to achieve. I am convinced that we can increase our new members by at least 30% per year, and this is the objective that I am seeking to achieve.

There are thousands of people that would make outstanding Freemasons, they are in every city, town, village and hamlet of Buckinghamshire, and the vast majority are seeking ways of relieving the stresses and strains of modern day life, and seeking family involvement in a worthwhile cause. But who are they?

Historically the Craft has attracted many professionals, religious, industrial commercial and community leaders, accountants, doctors, solicitors, engineers, teachers and the like. We have hundreds of sole traders, farmers, builders, shopkeepers, consultants, trainers, information technology advisers and family members in our midst.

Every one of us, whether we be 30 or 80, new initiate or a seasoned Mason, know a number of such people. We meet them in every day life. If such people are of the required quality and would be an asset to your Lodge then invite them to functions, especially white tables, introduce them to our web site, and let them read MQ and Freemasonry Today. In addition enthuse and motivate them by your positive attitude for our values and purpose. In short talk to everyone you know that you feel would relate to and enjoy our principles, and inform them of the benefits of being a Freemason.

So there we have it brethren, our objectives for the coming year, but for the purpose of clarity let me restate them:

1. To increase the number of Brethren contributing to our 2010 Festival from 19% to 38% in the next year.
2. To increase the number of new initiates by at least 30%.
3. To achieve the key tasks relating to each of our project groups as we implement our Vision Drivers for the future.

With your enlightened and creative thinking and involvement we can enrich our great traditions, create stronger lodges, enhance our self development and family commitment and put Freemasonry back at the forefront of our communities as the fraternity that really cares for and about people.

Thank you so much for your enthusiasm, support, encouragement and commitment to what we are achieving, as VW Bro Don said on many occasions, ‘Freemasonry is to be enjoyed not endured’, so in his memory lets go out and “Communicate Happiness” and “by virtuous, amiable and discreet conduct prove to the world the happy and beneficial affects of our ancient institution.

God bless you all