Learn more about the 2012 Festival
David Macey, the Festival Director, and other members of his small
team, are available to attend Lodges and make a presentation of no more than 10
or 15 minutes to tell you all about the Festival, its aims and objectives,
fundraising events and how you can help boost the appeal fund. David can be
contacted on david.macey@virgin.net
or on 01562 884538.
Past Events
Learn more about the work of the Masonic Samaritan Fund
Warwickshire Lodge Almoners and Festival Stewards are reminded of a forthcoming series of seminars in the Province to enable them to appreciate the full range of support that is available from the Masonic Samaritan Fund for which the Province is, of course, in Festival.
The first four seminars will commence at 7.00pm promptly and will finish at approximately 8.30pm. Coffee will be served from 6.30pm. Brethren should be seated by 7.00pm. The seminar on Saturday 28 June will commence at 11.00am promptly and will finish at approximately 12.30pm. Coffee will be served from 10.30am. On this occasion Brethren should be seated by 11.00am
The dates and venues are:
Monday, 2 June 2008 Alderson House, 23 High Street, Warwick CV34 4AX
Wednesday, 4 June 2008 Yenton Masonic Rooms, 73 Gravelly Hill North, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 6BJ
Thursday, 5 June 2008 Edgbaston Assembly Rooms, 2 Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9SB
Friday, 6 June 2008 Coventry Masonic Hall, 165 Warwick Road, Coventry CV3 6AU
Saturday, 28 June 2008 Edgbaston Assembly Rooms, 2 Stirling Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B16 9SB.
All seminars will conclude with a question and answer session.
The Masonic Samaritan Fund continues to increase the support it provides and wishes to keep you informed of the latest developments which include funding the cost of drug treatments for cancer and degenerative diseases. Applications for grants towards the cost of digital hearing aids and the cost of respite care are also now considered.
To fully understand how the Fund provides effective medical care and support the Provincial Grand Master considers it is important that every Lodge in the Province is represented at a seminar of their choice. Masters of Lodges are requested to ensure that this happens.
A donation to a registered charity by a UK taxpayer results in the charity being able to re-claim the income tax paid by the donor. With the basic rate of income tax currently at 22%, this results in a tax rebate equal to 28.20% of the donation. For example, £10 given is worth £12.82 in the hands of the charity. From the start of the new tax year on 6 April 2008, basic rate tax falls to 20% and the rebate will reduce to 25%. A £10 donation will become worth £12.50, a loss of 32p.
Charity Stewards of Lodges need to ensure that any money donated before 6 April 2008 to the Warwickshire Masonic Benevolent Fund or the 2012 Festival Fund is sent to the Provincial Charity Office at 2 Stirling Road, Edgbaston as quickly as possible, so that the 28.2% can be claimed. Please send in your cheques so that they can be banked and cleared before the end of the tax year.
Gift aid is worthwhile when you know that since the Festival was launched in September 2005 we have recouped £81,500 from the Inland Revenue.
A sponsored walk in aid of the 2012 Festival will take place in Kenilworth on Saturday 5 April 2008. Lodge Secretaries have the details, including maps and sponsorship forms, and are requested by the Provincial Grand Master to bring them to the attention of their members prior to the end of March. Alternatively, get in touch with Jim Dunlop on jim.dunlop@ntlworld.com If you are unable to find a willing walker then please sponsor Roger Mac, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, and let him know on roger_s_mac@hotmail.com.
Autumn Glory - The Warwickshire Masonic Charity Concert 2007
The Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra together with the Stratford-upon-Avon Gilbert and Sullivan Society will entertain with a special programme of English classical music in aid of the Masonic Samaritan Fund Festival 2012 on Sunday 7 October 2007 at the Butterworth Hall,Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry. Hosted by Ed Doolan with the Orchestra conducted by Guy Woolfenden and featuring special guest soloists this promises to be an event not to be missed.
Ticket Prices are £10, £20, £25 and £30. Tickets will be in great demand so to make sure that you are there order them now from Peter Astfalck on 02476 229624.
Further information is available on http://www.autumnglory.co.uk
Golf Tournament
A Golf Tournament will be held at 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 14 June 2007 at Arley Lane, Ansley Village, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 9PH. The Tournament will consist of 4 person teams – shotgun start – Stableford. There are lots of prizes plus Hole-in-0ne car. The match will be followed by Dinner with a raffle, cost is £160 per team.
Sponsors are required for each hole etc. For more details contact eitherRoger Sargent on 01530 273971 or Geoff Round on 07850 852203
Anything Goes in Rugby
Rugby Operatic Society is staging Cole Porter’s ‘Anything Goes’ at the Rugby Theatre in February 2007. Thanks to the generosity of the Society the performance on Wednesday 14 February 2007 will be a Gala Night in aid of the 2012 Festival for the Masonic Samaritan Fund.
The evening will start with a finger buffet at the Masonic Hall in Rugby (a short walk from the theatre) at 6.00pm – then on to the theatre to see the show at 7.30pm.
Tickets will cost £17.50 which includes the theatre seat, the buffet and a donation to the Festival.
Further details and tickets are available from W Bro Stuart Esworthy on 07881 505558 or at StuartEsworthy@aol.com
‘Anything Goes’ is full of well known numbers – ‘Anything goes’, ‘I get a kick out of you’, ‘You're the tops’, ‘It's de-lovely’ and ‘You'd be so easy to love’. The original cast included Bing Crosby and Ethel Merman in a smash-hit Broadway show which still graces London’s West End with some frequency.
Book your tickets now since they will be in great demand.
The Marathon Man
David Tiller, one of the Province's Standard Bearers this year, has a guaranteed place in the London Marathon in 2007. He needs sponsorship since he is running for two very good causes - the 2012 Festival and Elliott a boy of 7 who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy an incurable and fatal disease from which two boys will die each day. If you can help David, he can be contacted on 07774 276508 or dtiller@erasecurity.com
Christmas Concert
The Christmas Concert, for the 2012 Festival, with the Provincial Choir and the Provincial Brass Band will be held on Thursday 7 December 2006 at 2 Stirling Road Edgbaston. Details and tickets (only £5 each) are available from Harry Owen on 0121 423 8085 or from your Lodge Charity Steward.
A challenge for your brains
A quiz night in aid of the 2012 Festival is being held by the Lodge of Assembly on 30 March 2007 at Stirling Road. Details are available on k666wal@yahoo.co.uk from Keith Walton.
New Director for the 2012 Festival
W Bro Michael Baker has, for personal reasons, decided to step down as the 2012 Festival Director. In his place the RW Provincial Grand Master has been pleased to appoint W Bro David Macey who takes up his duties immediately.
Good music, good company and a good cause
A concert in aid of the Warwickshire 2012 Festival for the New Masonic Samaritan Fund will be held at the Arts Centre at Warwick University on the evening of Sunday 7 October 2007. Performers will include the Warwickshire Symphony Orchestra and the Stratford-upon-Avon Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Ed Doolan, the well-known West Midlands BBC broadcaster, has kindly agreed to be the presenter for the evening. The music will include pieces by Walton, Arnold, Holst, Britten, Coates and, of course, Gilbert and Sullivan.
This is an important and ambitious project for the Province of Warwickshire. It is hoped that Brethren, their ladies and friends will support the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Michael J Price, and make the evening an outstanding success.
Please put the date in your diary now. Further details will follow as soon as possible including the price and availability of tickets. We are actively looking for Brethren who are prepared to sponsor various elements of this sparkling event. If you are interested please get in touch with Rodney Pitham on 0121 744 1328 or at rodpitham@aol.com who will give you more information. If you wish to reserve tickets in advance please send Rodney your name and address by email. (You will not be committed to buying tickets until you know the purchase price!)
Sponsored Walk
The sponsored walk on 23rd April went very well, 60 walkers took part and initial indications show that in excess of £5,300 has been raised.
Indian BBQ
An Indian BBQ hosted by members of the Holy Well Lodge will be held at Old Leamingtonians Rugby Club on Sunday 9 July 2006 the proceeds going to the 2012 Festival for the Masonic Samaritan Fund. There will be Indian, English and vegetarian fare and entertainment for children. The cost is £12 for adults, £6 for children under 12 and the under 5s go for free. The BBQ will commence at 12 noon. Since the organisers need to have a reasonable idea of numbers, applications should be made to Herbie Jhita on hj@windowwarm.com or 01926 771107 from whom further details are also available.
A Masonic Marathon
With W Bro David C Hooker leading the team, a number of Brethren will be participating in a Masonic Marathon at 2 Stirling Road Edgbaston Birmingham on Saturday 6 May 2006 with all proceeds going to the 2012 Festival for the Masonic Samaritan Fund. There will be 'live' ceremonies in the Craft, the Royal Arch, the Mark, the Royal Ark Mariner, the Order of the Secret Monitor, the Allied Masonic Degrees and the Royal and Select Masters. The Marathon is to commence at 9.00am and finish at 10.15pm. Morning coffee and lunch will be provided at reasonable cost.
Brethren who wish to take part in the ceremonies and those wishing to attend should get in touch with Andrew Sweeney on 01562 882352 or 07801 902492 or andy.sweeney@thebestconnection.co.uk Lodges have been supplied with all relevant information including sponsorship forms and Brethren should see their Lodge Secretary as soon as possible.
Marathon Man runs for charity
Graham Buckingham is the son-in-law of Michael Adams the current Master of the Lodge of Academe in Warwickshire. Graham is a keen athlete and is again taking part in the London Marathon which is being held on Sunday 23 April 2006. He is looking for sponsorship of a special kind since, although not a Freemason himself, Graham will donate every penny to the Warwickshire Festival 2012 for the Masonic Samaritan Fund. If you wish to sponsor Graham then John Cowan the Almoner of the Lodge of Academe will be glad to take your details on 0121 420 3750.