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20 August 2008

Chairman’s Report for the year ended 30th June, 2003.

1. Introduction 

   This is the Annual Report for the Provincial Grand Charity of Derbyshire for the year 2002/03, and has been prepared for presentation at the Annual Meeting to be held at Burton-on-Trent on 8^th October 2003.

    

2. Provincial Grand Charity

   2.1. Financial position

   The financial statement and balance sheet for the year to 30^th June 2003(see separate sheet) show a healthy position, with a balance of £1.062M, a reduction of over £60,000 compared with the previous year. This is largely due to a combination of reduced interest, a loss on the sale and redemption of investments and an increase in grants to outside bodies.

   The main beneficiaries of our funds were again non-Masonic charities who received a total of over £67,000 during the year, compared with almost £27,000 in 2001/02. This figure included two major grants, details of which are set out below. Two further approvals have already been given and payment is expected during the coming year.

   Assistance was given to brethren, widows and dependants amounting to just over £7,000 while seasonal relief (birthday and Christmas gifts) rose yet again to £16,600. Assistance to needy brethren from the Albert Wilson Trust Fund amounted to almost £1,000, the highest figure yet achieved.

   2.2. RMTGB Festival

   The Festival was extremely successful, easily beating the original target of £1M by over £700,000, a magnificent effort for a Province of eighty Lodges. The total achieved represented over £530 per member within the Province, with only twelve Lodges failing to meet their predetermined target. Good support was also received from other Orders within the Province, together with valued contributions from other Provinces.

   All Lodge Charity Stewards are to be thanked for their continued support over the fund-raising period, without whose efforts the result would not have been possible.

   2.3. Provincial Grand Charity Committees and Sub-Committees

   (a) Standing Committee

   The Provincial Grand Charity operations continue to be directed by the Standing Committee which met four times during the year, three meetings being held at Derby and one at Chesterfield.

   The membership of the Standing Committee is due for review, following the successful completion of its latest responsibility, the RMTGB Festival.

   The Committee is directly responsible for the distribution of major grants and, during the year 2002/03 the Provincial Grand Charity shared the purchase of a new Crusader ambulance for the Chesterfield area of St. John Ambulance with the May Hearnshaw Charity, at a cost to the Province of £24,000. A similar shared arrangement was entered into for the purchase of a car to enable the Leonard Cheshire Services in Sheffield to carry out home visits, at a cost of £7,650 to each donor.

   Further approvals have been given for grants to be made during 2003/04 including another Crusader ambulance for the Ashbourne area, expected to cost £48,000 and a grant of about £30,000 for a new outpatients unit at Ashgate Hospice.

   The Standing Committee relies heavily upon the activities of a number of Sub-Committees and Working Parties for the efficient raising and disbursement of charitable funds and other forms of assistance. These are as follows :-

   (b) Appeals Sub-Committee

   It is the responsibility of this Sub-Committee to raise funds on behalf of the Province and the major efforts of its Chairman, John Renshaw, and his fellow members during the last year has been to meet the target set for the Festival, which they did magnificently, and for which I thank them sincerely.

   They are now looking for other worthy causes needing assistance and the means of raising funds where necessary, as well as examining methods of maximising Lodge charitable funds for future use.

   (c) Petitions Sub-Committee

   This important Sub-Committee continues to deal with a large number of applications for assistance from needy brethren and their dependants, as well as from other charities both Masonic and non-Masonic. The chairman of the Sub-Committee is Eric Brookes who is well supported by other experienced brethren.

   Every application for assistance is examined on its merits and during the year 2002/03 grants totalling around £5,700 were made to a range of charities, most of which had associations with Derbyshire or its residents. Of the total of 15 grants made four were to brethren or dependants, five to charities also supported by Lodge donations and six to organisations making direct applications for financial support.

   Additionally, the Albert Wilson Fund paid the annual Lodge subscriptions of twelve members currently suffering financial hardship. A further ten widows of former members were added to the list of beneficiaries of seasonal relief (i.e. birthday and Christmas gifts). Please ensure that all widows of Lodge members who are in distressed circumstances are in receipt of Provincial assistance, by notifying the Charity Secretary.

   Two emergency grants totalling £1,000 were made to brethren or their dependants to assist with urgent temporary financial difficulties. This facility is available to any member in a similar situation, and Almoners should make contact with the Secretary of the Provincial Charity, Graham Sisson, the Provincial Almoner, Brian Carter or either of his Assistants, Brian Jones (for the Northern part of the Province) and Joe Sim (for the South) if they are aware of any brother or his dependants in distressed circumstances.

   (d) Masonic Music Foundation

   The Foundation received the greatest number of applications since its formation and nine were approved, totalling £6,730. These ranged from sums as little as £200 to a maximum of £1,350 and generally covered musical organisations providing training or charitable performances for disadvantaged members of the community. One individual grant was made to the daughter of a deceased brother, to enable her to purchase a viola for the furtherance of her musical career.

   The fourth and final instalment of £10,000 was paid to Derby Cathedral to continue the work of training choristers.

   (e) Carol Service Working Party

   The Working Party operates under the a Chairmanship and reports to the Appeals Sub-Committee. It is responsible for making all the arrangements for each year’s Carol Service at Derby Cathedral and disburses the funds to charities including non-Masonic organisations, by approval of the RW Provincial Grand Master. 

   The Working Party organised another successful event in December 2002 and the beneficiaries from the Service were the East Midlands Air Ambulance (£2,000) and the 2003 Festival (£1,500).

    

3. Grants from National Charities

   We are again grateful for the continued support and efficient, speedy and sympathetic attention the Province has received from our national charities. Details are set out below and for comparison purposes last year’s figures are shown in brackets.

   3.1. The New Masonic Samaritan Fund

   Application forms issued		15	(11)
   Forms completed and returned		11	(10)
   Of which	- assistance granted	7	(7)
   	- valued at	£74,667	(£52,554)	(2000/01 £12,140)
   	- assistance refused	2	(2)
   	- applicant not proceeding	1	(0)
   	- pending	1	(0)

   Of the seven cases approved four were for orthopaedic operations, one for cardiac surgery and two for other surgery.

   3.2.  The Grand Charity

   The total number of petitioners has reduced from 13 in 2001/02 to 8 in the year to 30^th June 2003. Grants made totalled £6,940, a reduction of over £8,500 since 2002 and £16,500 since 2001.

   Almoners and Charity Stewards should ensure that applications are made for all potential beneficiaries; these should be submitted via either the Charity Secretary or the Provincial Secretary. The Provincial Almoner or his Assistants will be pleased to advise on procedures.

   During the year the four Hospices within Derbyshire (Ashgate, High Peak, Thornhill and Treetops) received £7,800, a similar sum to that in 2002.

   A total of £66,870 has been granted since 1984 including a contribution to the Macmillan Appeal of £13,400.

   3.3.  Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI)

   The RMBI continues to provide accommodation for four residents from Derbyshire at an annual cost of £16,000. Sixteen brethren and dependants also received annuities during the year at a cost of around £17,000.

   3.4. Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (MTGB)

   During the year the Trust supported 36 children from the Province, 18 boys and 18 girls, compared with a total of 24 in the previous year. The total cost during 2002/03 was just over £90,000, an increase of £11,000 over 2001/02. The children are dependants of 15 Lodges.

   Additionally 7 sons and daughters of members of Lodges within the Province received bursaries of £1,000 each under the Undergrad Aid scheme, a reduction of 6 beneficiaries since 2002. However, for the first time, two children received a total of £1,625 from the Talent Aid scheme.

    

4. Information and Training

   Seminars for Almoners and Charity Stewards have been held at Derby during the year, with additional local group meetings for Almoners being arranged by the Provincial Almoner, Brian Carter and the two Assistant Almoners, Brian Jones and Joe Sim.

   An information stand explaining the role and setting out details of organisations supported by the Provincial Charity was present during the two days of the Bakewell Show. It is intended to improve and update the material for similar events during the coming year. Any photographs or useful information which could be accommodated would be welcome.

    

5. Communication

   5.1.  Secretariat

   Graham Sisson continues as Secretary of the Provincial Grand Charity, and all charitable matters should be referred to him. Applications to the national charities can be directed either to Graham or to the Provincial Office, while applications for seasonal relief are dealt with by Graham and dispensed by the Provincial Treasurer.

   Graham works from his home in Chapel-en-le-Frith but is available at all times by telephone on 01298 812801, on which messages may be left. His e-mail address is graham@gmsbase.fsnet.co.uk and he is also available in emergency on mobile number 07970 203678; he welcomes any questions and requests for assistance from brethren or other applicants.

   5.2. Derbyshire Circle

   The Provincial Newsletter continues to be edited by myself, Brian Quartermain, and my address for articles and news is 6 The Knoll, Westbrook Drive, Brookside, Chesterfield S40 3PS.

   The editorial team also includes Don Leech, John Renshaw and Graham Sisson and we are always eager to receive articles which will be of interest to members throughout the Province.

   The newsletter has now completed fourteen years publication, and while it has continued to develop over the years, I would be pleased to receive ideas for still further improvement.

   5.3. Provincial website

   The Provincial Website ( www.derbyshiremason.org) includes up to date information on the Provincial Grand Charity, giving details of recent grants, and a related page carrying information for Lodge Almoners.

   Any information brethren feel would be of interest to other members, particularly Lodge Almoners and Charity Stewards, is very welcome. Please send it to Graham Sisson, either by post at 21 Netherfield Road, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak SK23 0PN or e-mail it to the address shown in paragraph 5.1, and he will arrange for our extremely capable and efficient web master, Gill Riley, to include it in her next update.

    

6. Concluding Remarks

   6.1.  With the conclusion of the RMTGB Festival on 4^th June 2003 the Provincial Grand Charity can look forward to a consolidation period. This is a time to review the activities and requirements of the Province of Derbyshire notwithstanding our non-Masonic commitments.

   6.2.  As this report has shown the basic challenge is to communicate with ALL Freemasons in Derbyshire and it will be our earnest endeavour to continue along that path.

   6.3.  As usual, in concluding this report there are many individuals to thank for their continued efforts with respect to the Provincial Charities.

   6.3.1  Thank you to the Grand President, D. C. Law and the Deputy Grand President, J. M. Beard for their continued efforts and support at all times.

   6.3.2.  The Secretary, G. M. Sisson, has worked tirelessly for the Charity during the past year in spite of his many other Masonic duties; the Treasurer, E. J. Mitchell, has also completed another very busy year and deserves all our thanks for his continued devotion to the cause.

   6.3.3.  The work of our now retired Provincial Grand Almoner, E. C. Brookes, has been as ever quietly completed although he has continued as Chairman of the Petitions Sub-Committee. The new Provincial Almoner, B. G. Carter, has already energetically set about his new duties and I am sure the Lodge Almoners will appreciate his efforts.

   6.3.4.  The work of the Provincial Appeals Sub-Committee under J.H. Renshaw has now entered a more quiescent period but John will still be busy with the newsletter.

   6.3.5.  Finally, our thanks go to the members of the Standing Committee as well as all the Lodge Charity Stewards and Almoners for their time and commitment over the past year.

Brian Quartermain
Chairman