Good Day Brethren from your secretary, as always I hope you are keeping well. Much to tell you about, and hopefully things you will find interesting and will support.
- Meetings
Having undertaken a consultation with members, of those that replied all were in favour of moving our April meeting to May, but the moving our financial year date was deemed unnecessary and likely to cause confusion. With that in mind I have amended the proposed changes accordingly, and will be publishing a new updated copy of our bye-laws for consideration and a forthcoming meeting. If possible I would like to give a ‘Notice of Motion’ at our October meeting, leading to a vote on these changes in November. These updated bye-laws would then need to ratified by our Provincial team and ultimately UGLE. I have already received various apologies from qualifying members unable to attend these meeting, so if you are not available, please let me know.
Social
As you have probably noticed, for the first time in many years we have not arranged a lodge BBQ. This is not an oversight, just a lack of availability of a suitable site. We do have an opportunity however to meet socially, and support a charitable fund-raising event, by supporting the Septemberfest! On the 16th of September, being held at the Owl Barn riding stables at St. Margarets at Cliff. I have booked a stall for Pharos and was planning to take a table, gazebo and literature advertising our lodge in the hope other members would come to ’meet and greet’ the public with the aim of attracting new members. Unfortunately, due to failing eyesight, I can no longer drive! There is a bus service but I am hoping someone can help by transporting things to the site. Please let me know if you can help! There is a bar so we can use the occasion to ‘chill’ before we return to our labours in the lodge.
Plans for our WM’s Ladies Night on Saturday 24th February next year are well under way. WBro Garry Steed has once again booked a cabaret act that is guaranteed to sell out, so when it is officially announced, get your tickets booked early (there will be an initial limit of 60).
Federation of School Lodges
As most of you probably know, there is a small group of us that are regular attendees of the annual Federation Festival. This event is hosted by a different lodge each year, attracting masons from all over England and Wales. It brings with it prestige and national recognition This year our WM Bob Duffy, Treasurer John Cockram and his wife, Roger Gabriel, myself and my wife, all made the journey. On the Friday evening a social gathering was held at a local curry house, with 20 attendees, including wives and partners. A wonderful evening was had by all until, on returning to the hotel, Bob slipped and fell, resulting in suspected serious damage to his face and wrist. The result was he was homeward bound Saturday morning. Get well soon Bob!
On the Saturday the Federation has a Business Meeting where events of the past year are discussed along with other issues such as forthcoming Festivals, followed by the host lodges meeting. The day is rounded off by the Festival Banquet, which is a white table event to which wives, partners and non-masons are invited. This year 160 sat down to dine!
Why have I gone into such detail? Because brethren, in 2025, our 75th anniversary year we, the Pharos Lodge, will be hosting the festival in Dover!!!!!