September 2007

THE BUCKS MASONIC CENTENARY FUND
BMCF - YOUR CHARITY - WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITY
BMCF Grants Support Our “Care in the Community” Programme
The following are the highlights of the BMCF Committee’s discussions at the meeting held on 24th September 2007:
Grants
• The Committee approved 7 grants totalling £18,300.
• 4 grants were made to local charitable causes
o £5000 to the PACE Centre for equipment to refurbish the Parent & Child Room at the PACE outpost in the Heritage House School in Chesham;
o £4,100 to Space Counselling Services, Slough for new chairs for the counselling rooms and to improve physical security following recent break-ins;
o £2,700 to Chiltern & South Bucks Dial-A-Ride for the provision of an integral tail lift in a new vehicle (subject to the charity obtaining the major funding for the project)
o £5,000 for the Desborough Play Den, High Wycombe (a Saturday Club for children with autism, Downs Syndrome etc) to purchase sensory toys and games.
• 2 “Top-up” grants were made (£1,000 to St Peter & St Paul Lodge No 1410 and $500 to Chenies Lodge No 9127).
• Remember – “Top-up” grants by the BMCF are available to augment donations by lodges to local charities. Lodges might wish to use this method during the next few years of the 2010 Festival Appeal.
• BMCF grants:
o Make a very real contribution to our community
o Support local charities that are soundly managed, offer services relevant to their community and need new funding for specific projects or facilities
o Are targeted to make a real difference to such local charities by focusing on specific projects or facilities, complete in themselves, rather than responding to general appeals or requests to fund routine activities
o Are targeted to pay for a complete and identifiable facility or project, not as general contributions to a charity
• The BMCF Centre/Area representatives have been encouraged to liaise with their local “Care in the Community” counterparts to help identify potential applicants to the BMCF for funding.
Lodge Subscriptions
• The response to the Treasurer’s requests for outstanding subscriptions has been very encouraging but a number are still outstanding!
• The (voluntary) annual subscription is still only £2.00 per lodge member – and will be confirmed at the Fund’s Annual General Meeting to be held during the Provincial Meeting on 22 October 2007 - and the BMCF Treasurer, John Mould, would appreciate payment of this year’s subs as soon as possible.
Next BMCF Committee Meeting
• Will be on 15th January 2008
• Subsequent Committee meetings to consider grant applications will be held in May and September/October 2008.
More Information
• Look on this website (www.buckspgl.org for “BMCF” under the ‘Charities’ and the ‘Masons/Freemasonry in the Community’ sections) for more information about the Fund and submission of applications to the Fund Secretary
• The Provincial Directory 2006-2007 (pages 532 & 533) contains further information on the BMCF.
• Contact the BMCF Honorary Secretary - W Bro Alan R Watkins (Tel: 01844 291275)