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Festival 2014 site

Last updated
20 August 2008

PROVINCIAL GRAND CHARITY NEWS 

The Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Charity was held at Chesterfield on 5^th September 2007 under the Chairmanship of the Grand President, R.W. Bro. Graham Rudd. 

The Chairman of the Provincial Charity, W. Bro. Brian Quartermain, presented his annual report and drew attention to a number of important items. A copy of the report will be circulated to all brethren with the Winter edition of the Derbyshire Circle.

The Provincial Grand Treasurer, W. Bro. Geoffrey Crawford, presented the annual accounts for adoption and the Auditor,  advised that the accounts were in order. 

A new Charity Steward representative was re-elected on the Standing Committee and the President announced that he had appointed a new member of the Committee. 

The President thanked W. Bros. Brian Quartermain (Chairman), Graham Sisson (Secretary), Geoff Crawford (Treasurer) and Brian Carter (Almoner) for their efforts behind the scenes on behalf of the Provincial Grand Charity throughout the year.

The Annual meeting was preceded by the half-yearly Advisory Committee of Charity Stewards and Almoners which was attended by around 50 brethren and chaired by W. Bro. Quartermain. 

The Provincial Treasurer informed the members that the annual income for the year ended 30^th June amounted to £112,000 compared with £123,000 in the previous year. The reduction was as a result of the discontinuance of annual Lodge contributions at the end of 2005/06. 

Bank interest amounted to £20,000 and investment interest of £41,000 had also been received reflecting improved interest rates.

The Provincial Charity Steward, W. Bro. John Renshaw spoke briefly about charity matters and advised Charity Stewards to continue to arrange replacement continuous payment agreements which would continue after the launch of the 2014 Festival.

The Provincial Almoner, W. Bro. Brian Carter, reported the results of a survey into Lodge widows carried out in June which showed that the Province had 830 widows at that time. This information had been passed to the Masonic Samaritan Fund for further action where necessary.     

He thanked the Lodge Almoners for their continued support throughout the year. 

The Chairman advised members that the Standing Committee presently distributed no more than the annual interest earned on investments amounting to about £65,000 per year and that one major charity providing a public benefit was usually selected for support each year. 

The Secretary, W. Bro. Graham Sisson, advised that a letter had been received from the Chatsworth House Trust advising the Province that the grounds would be made available for use on Friday 27^th June 2008 on the same basis as the arrangements in 2006. It is intended to launch the 2014 Festival at this event. 

Brief reports on the Coins for Cash project, the TLC scheme and a Hog Roast held by Dronfield Lodge were given by W. Bros. Bernard Eyre, and Neil Hartburn respectively. 

The Standing Committee had met earlier in the day when the Provincial Treasurer reported that over £5,000 had already been received towards the Festival and £1,000 had been donated for the TLC scheme.

 Grants approved