Charity Steward - March 2008

……..only 140 weeks to go!

As of 1st March there are only 140 weeks to go before the official closure of the 2010 Festival Appeal; that is 974 days! To those yet to donate, now is the time to make your declaration. Ten pounds a month will enable you to donate £350, and Gift Aid will increase that figure to £437.50. We shall not be hosting another festival until after 2020 so don’t wait until then to play your part!

Since the New Year, I have visited ten lodges as Provincial Charity Steward. Each visit has enabled me to address the Brethren of the lodge on the aspects of charity in general and the 2010 Festival Appeal in particular. I would like to record that I have been well received at each meeting and my thanks go to Lodge Secretaries who have juggled their agenda around to permit me to address the Brethren. I remain encouraged that the majority of Brethren are motivated to the appeal, with a minority still to be encouraged that giving to charity ‘is what we are about’, and will continue to be the challenge for lodge Charity Stewards.

During the month of April, a number of seminars for Charity Stewards will be held across the Province at Aylesbury (30th April), Beaconsfield (7th April), Bletchley (21st April), and Slough (25th April). Charity Stewards will be expected to attend one of these events. In addition, Chapter Charity Stewards will be invited along with Festival Coordinators and Area Representatives. Letters of invitation will be sent out shortly.

The Provincial Grand Master has stated that he requires the percentage of members donating by gift aid to rise to 38% of the total membership in the Province. To many Charity Stewards this is going to be a challenge they must accept as part of their role. The assigned Festival Coordinator to each lodge is available to assist Charity Stewards, and enjoining him to assist is not a sign of weakness, but an appropriate means by which this challenge can be met. Please review your list of members who have yet to make a significant contribution to the festival appeal and encourage them to donate within their means, whilst gently reminding them of their obligation as a freemason.

Finally, all lodges are probably aware that I have created my own challenge by entering the London Marathon! In providing myself with an appropriate incentive to compete, I am inviting Brethren to guess how long they think I will take to complete the course. I have been quite specific by stating that days and weeks should not feature in your guess! However, to enter this competition will cost £5 and whoever guesses correctly will become the proud beneficiaries of 4.5 litres of whisky. If there is more than one winner, names will be drawn from the hat. All monies raised by a lodge will be attributed to that lodge on behalf of the RMTGB. We will wish each other well!

Thank you for your continued support and efforts.

Bob Chevin
Provincial Grand Charity Steward