Message from The Provincial Grand Master – 2017 Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival
Some of you will be aware that the next Festival the Province will host will be for the RMBI and will culminate in 2017. The Festival will be launched at the Annual Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge in May 2012.
I intend taking a different approach to the organisation of this Festival. To that end a Festival Appeal Committee will be formed that will take responsibility for all aspects of the running of the Festival, from beginning to end. I have invited W Bro. John Boyington, CBE, PPSGD a Past Master of St Philip’s Lodge and the Lodge of South Yorkshire to be the Chairman of the Committee; he has accepted and will occupy that position until the end of the Festival.
I will not be setting any targets, but I do hope that Brethren and Companions will continue giving at present levels, in addition to specific fund raising activities within each Area. To this end I will be appointing Area Festival Managers for each Area of the Province. They will be responsible to the APGM for that Area, and manage all aspects of the 2017 Festival Appeal in that Area. They will also be members of the Festival Appeal Committee.
The Appeal Committee will be commencing work on the various elements of the organisation of the Festival, including the qualification and criteria for Festival Patronage, and how donations to the Festival will be handled. This information should be with you later in the year. I have asked the Festival Committee Chairman to ensure that there is adequate communication with Lodge and Chapters about the Festival.
Festivals are an important part of Masonic life and I hope and trust that you will give this Festival your full support.