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Last updated
20 April 2008

PROVINCIAL CHARITY NEWS

The Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Charity was held at Chesterfield on 5th October 2004 and was preceded by the half-yearly Advisory Committee of Charity Stewards and Almoners.

The Annual Report of the Chairman of the Standing Committee, W. Bro. Brian Quartermain, was distributed to those present and copies will be circulated to all Lodge Secretaries in the near future.

The retiring Treasurer, W. Bro. Eric Mitchell, presented a copy of the audited accounts for the year ended 30th June 2004 which showed a deficit of almost £72,000. This resulted from a small loss on the sale of investments and the payment of substantial capital and revenue grants totalling £121,000.

Payments of seasonal relief to Lodge widows and other payments to widows and dependants, together with contributions for Lodge subscriptions from the Albert Wilson Fund, amounted to almost £22,000.

Accumulated funds stood at £990,000 although the value of investments was shown at a cost price of £628,000 while the current market value was £745,000.

The Grand President, R.W. Bro. David Law, announced the following appointments in the Provincial Grand Charity for the ensuing year :-

The members of the Advisory Committee were advised of progress with the recently introduced TLC scheme to provide teddy bears to children receiving treatment at A&E Units in local hospitals. He reported that the annual cost was likely to be in the region of £7,500 and suggested that each Lodge in the Province be asked to donate £100 to fund the scheme. This suggestion met with the approval of all the members present.

At the earlier Standing Committee one grant was approved to the Paediatric Ophthalmology Research & Equipment Fund, to enable research to take place into glaucoma in young children. The grant of £200 was to be added to a similar grant made by High Peak Lodge.