PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER’S ADDRESS

October 2009

Brethren, I must congratulate all those that have been appointed or promoted today. Be aware that this day reflects a new chapter in your Masonic career and we shall seek your continued support and commitment to both your own Lodges and this great Province

May I thank Vic Dorman, Peter Dawson, Robert Wharton, the Stewards Lodge and all the backroom boys and floor workers that have assisted today. Thanks also to Keith Cullup who has acted as our music man following the sad passing of Dick Coles.

2009 has been an exciting year as we embrace our continuous change program. I cannot lavish enough praise on so many that enthusiastically devote time to so many outstanding activities. My special thanks go to the Provincial Events group that raised over £10,000 at golf events in 2009. In three years they have contributed in excess of £50,000 to support our Freemasonry in the Community programme. We shall all enjoy the fruits of their work as the majority of their funds are used to keep costs down for our 2010 RMTGB Festival activities.

All our initiatives of the past four years continued to succeed in 2009 and we had a great launch of the charity presentation evenings with a full house at Aylesbury. We shall run similar events in May and November each year. I would particularly thank hundreds of members and their families that engaged in the Bucks Freemasonry in the Community week last June. It was an outstanding new initiative that went far beyond my expectations. I am delighted to say that this initiative will also be repeated annually.

Brethren, if you think 2009 has been a good year then stick around for 2010 which we believe will be the most exciting and interesting year in the history of Bucks Freemasonry.

Our key tasks for 2010 relate to the RMTGB Festival, improved communications, the further advancement of our Freemasonry in the Community programme, and the continued success of our Retention, Recruitment, Retrieval, Mentoring and Orator schemes.
By the end of the first quarter we shall complete our first major objective for 2010, the launch our new five year strategy. A group of Stewards has been developing creative ideas to add value to Provincial operations and throughout November we invite you to log on to our website where you will find our member survey. It takes about ten minutes to complete and be assured that your responses and ideas will be used as we create our strategy, just as they were in 2005.

Brethren please, please log on and have your say about the future of Freemasonry in Buckinghamshire.
On 21st & 22nd May, the summer fun begins with our May ball at Horwood House, the perfect venue for such a high profile event. Advertising has just commenced and tickets are in big demand so please book early.
Not content with raising thousands of pounds riding a bike from John O’Groats to Lands End for the RMTGB last year, Gavin Lannen will endure further physical punishment when he tackles the Rock Ride from Gibraltar to Stowe School at the end of June 2010.
What should not fail to capture the imagination is that ten other riders have been invited to take part and to represent other charities. The Bucks Berks and Oxon Air Ambulance, British Legion, SSAFA and Pace Centre have already accepted an invitation, others will follow shortly. What a brilliant initiative, it will attract much good publicity and is just one further example of the ‘force for good’ that freemasonry represents It is expected to raise well over £50,000 and every charity represented, including the RMTGB, will be the ultimate winner.
- Then of course we have the excitement building towards our 2010 Festival Finalé. On 11th July, at the prestigious Stowe School, we shall witness a new concept at our Family Celebration. This is not a fund raising event. After entry, the only costs incurred will relate to food and drink. The Province has arranged a fun day to say thank you to all of our Brethren and their families for supporting the Festival appeal. Tickets are just £10 each and children go free. The day’s entertainment includes many children’s activities, including a free funfair, displays by ‘Police in the Community’, music, including the Toddington Silver Band, a string quartet and the Royal Air Force Association President’s Band, a motor cycle and vintage car display and much more. We shall also witness the culmination of the Rock Ride. Do bring the family and join in this great celebration.
We have also arranged a very special evening event. After attending this amazing family day you will have three hours to get home and enjoy the euphoria of seeing England win the world cup in South Africa.
The Festival Finalé will take place here in the Grand Temple on 25th October next year when our final figure for the RMTGB Festival will be revealed. Rest assured it will be a spectacular ending to our successful 2010 RMTGB Festival but we do intend to keep the contents of that day under wraps until the event itself takes place.

My final task in this address is to announce the launch of our major new Freemasonry in the Community initiative for 2010. It will be known as i-Help and is an opportunity for young people to show that they care for others and the society that they live in.

You can read all about i-Help in Concord, which will be delivered shortly, and on our web site in November. It is designed to motivate young people to undertake a community help project, it will allow them to develop empathy and compassion for others as well as values in relating to society and the environment. It will also allow them to recognise the importance of charity.

Teams of young people from every walk of life, schools, bands, choirs, scouts, guides, cubs, brownies, football and netball teams to mention but a few will be invited and motivated to compete for 30 cash prizes totalling £13750 by completing a project in their local community. Submissions will be judged and winning teams will be able to donate their prizes to recognised young peoples activities or a charity of their choice.

I see i-Help as a ground breaking opportunity to introduce young people and their families to the joys of Masonic values and perhaps to help us assist the development of future members for years to come. Brethren, tell your children and grand children about i-Help, encourage them to visit our web site and to enter a team in this prestigious initiative.

In conclusion brethren, may I once more thank you all for your, commitment and continued support of this vibrant and thriving Province. The future of Freemasonry in Buckinghamshire is in our hands as we strive to retain our Masonic traditions, to take the Craft back to our local communities and to leave a legacy of success for the benefit of future Masonic generations in Buckinghamshire. God bless you all.