Charity Steward - June 2008

During April I held a number of seminars for Lodge Charity Stewards which 59 attended, some of whom were charity stewards for the RA and Mark. In addition, a number of Festival Coordinators and Area Reps attended. We were delighted to welcome the Fundraising Manager of the RMTGB at two of the seminars, during which he gave a presentation on the work of the Trust.

At each seminar, Charity Stewards were invited to break out into groups to discuss relevant issues surrounding the festival appeal and their own experiences from within their respective Lodges. These ranged from the problems of Brethren choosing not to engage with the appeal, the difficulties of Lodges with an aging membership reliant on an income solely through their pensions, the financial and social pressures experienced by all Brethren, multi-membership of Lodges and other Orders, the cost of Freemasonry, plus a raft of other factors that could impact on achieving our goal of raising £2m.

The outcomes of these group discussions were varied and, in some cases, quite startling. These ranged from:

Why do we have to hold a festival?
Who chooses which festival to support?
Charity should begin at home.
I’m tired of the Charity Steward harassing me for money!
This is not why I joined Freemasonry!

Highlighted in the discussions was the lack of information about charitable commitments provided by proposers and seconders to their candidates for Initiation. Charity Stewards considered that it was beholden on those introducing new men to Masonry to ensure that candidates were aware of the financial and charitable obligations involved before interview by the lodge committee. In addition, it was then the responsibility of the proposer and seconder to give guidance to their Initiate, in conjunction with the charity steward, when Lodges are called on to raise money.

On a more positive note there were several initiatives for raising money that ranged from:

• Arranging a joint function with other Lodges at the respective Centres and agreeing to share the profits equally between each of the represented Lodges.
• Identifying an Events Coordinator in an enthusiastic Brother to work jointly with the charity steward.
• Forming a social committee that included wives/partners.
• Holding a ‘white table’ meeting once a year (which would also promote other desirable aims).
• Organising sponsored events, ie, bike rides, walking events, marathons, swims, etc.
• Holding a fun day carnival event each year among Centres.
• Masters’ Lists.

Stewardship of the RMTGB

Wives/partners can qualify to become Stewards of the Trust and are entitled to wear the Ladies’ brooch.
This Honorific is available on payment (or pledge) of half the Steward Honorific of Brethren, ie £150. Further information can be obtained through your Charity Steward.

London Marathon Sponsorship

I would like to thank all those who sponsored me in the London Marathon, which was completed in 4hrs 44mins 28secs. The Brethren of 34 lodges took the opportunity to win 4.5 litres of whiskey as the prize for guessing how long it would take me to complete. Bro Tony Bailey of Roman Way Lodge was the nearest with 4hrs 44mins 38secs and was duly awarded the prize (see the next edition of Concord). Sponsorship realised £3,660 and I would like to thank all those who had confidence in my completing the event (and equally to those who didn’t have the same level of confidence!).