Most of us are now back to enduring the dark and cold evenings, returning to meetings, and no doubt, many have had far too many ‘Burn’s Night’ suppers!!
At the December Quarterly Communication, we received a presentation on the third pillar review.
https://www.ugle.org.uk/third-pillar-review
If we are to succeed in being more involved in our local communities, as well as undertaking more local marketing and ‘Freemasonry in the Community’ events, I feel we would be better served with AVCs going back to being ‘Centre based.’ This will take effect from the 1st March.
Graham Lant, having served nearly 5 years as an AVC will step down, but will be taking over as the Chairman of our Freemasonry in the Community Team straight away. Graham has always worked tirelessly for the SE Area, not only as an AVC, I thank him for everything he has and will continue to do.
Peter Close and Peter Buchannon will step down as Chairman and Secretary of FitC and I also thank them both for the long and successful service they have given to FitC over the past decade.
Freemasonry in the Community events can help us meet some of the Third Pillar objectives as well as well as to serve as a great recruitment tool. At our last event, the Southsea Kite Festival in the summer, we gained both new initiates, and joiners from other Provinces.
On the morning of Saturday 18th January, we held our ‘Membership Team Workshop’ at Cosham. Nearly 100 brethren including your Lodge’s Membership Officer, Mentor and Almoner, took part. The word ‘Team’ was deliberately added to the name of the workshop because Lodges do need a whole team approach to look after membership – please get involved, as they say, “Many hands make light work!”
Dates for your diary;
Our next Dine a Friend will be held on Friday 28th March at Cosham. The advert for this will be coming out soon and booking will be on square events as usual. Dine a Friend is a great introduction to Freemasonry for non-masons with a short talk in the temple followed by a meal. The atmosphere in the bar and at dinner is amazing and all non-masons who have attended previously enjoy the evening.
Please think about who you could bring along on the 28th March. For newer masons, are there friends or relatives you haven’t spoken to about freemasonry yet – unsure what to say? You can use a Dine a Friend just to introduce our fraternity to your friends/colleagues/family/neighbours – not necessarily expecting them to join your Lodge, but you never know! If you don’t have anyone to bring, you can still attend as the atmosphere gets even better the more that attend.
On the 9th May we will be hosting our next Big Night out. This will be very special as the Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Executive will be taking on the lodge offices and undertaking an Initiation. Due to the expected attendance, this will be held at the Novotel Hotel in Southampton. Again, booking will be via squareevents.org
If you are unsure of how to book into an event on square events, there is a quick start guide on the homepage of www.squareevents.org.
Upcoming visits
Brethren, please find below the dates for Official Visits for our Area. These are a perfect opportunity to visit, meet representatives from our Area, and Province too!
February:
- 12th – Havant Lodge No.4689 , OV PGM
- 19th – Royal Sussex Lodge No. 342, OV APGM Chris Bayliss
March:
- 18th – Royal Marine Portsmouth Lodge No. 6423 – ProvSW
- 20th – Arthurian Lodge No. 5658. OV APGM Chris Bayliss
- 25th – King Edward VII Lodge No. 3816, OV ProvJW
April:
- 5th – Johore Bahru Lodge No. 8390, OV APGM Chris Bayliss
- 25th – Taverners Lodge No. 7442, OV APGM Chris Bayliss
July:
- 9th – Comrades Lodge No. 4745, OV PGM