Dear Brethren, I greet you all well as we enter the final straight of the last lap.
Great news that we are now on zero Covid alert level from 7th August, and we can look forward resuming a full masonic programme of meetings this autumn.
Not being able to meet for the last 17 months has hampered our efforts to achieve our Festival Target of £5 million. I am so grateful to all the brethren who have maintained their commitment to the Festival through RPPs which have been the mainstay of our fundraising campaign. As always, I emphasise it not too late to take out an RPP and qualify for a Festival Jewel, a pledge of £500, can cost as little as £7.00 per month. It is easy to extend or renew your existing RPP online, or simply ask your Charity Steward and he can do the rest.
It is essential that we use every opportunity to make up for lost time as the festival deadline closes in just two months’ time this October. Indeed, my Events Committee were quick off the mark holding a very successful ‘businessman’s lunch ‘on 23rd July with ruby legend Graham Price.
The PGM’s Summer BBQ generously hosted by Akram Baig at Greenacres on 14th August was a great family day out and enjoyed by all. The ever-popular East West Ryder Golf will be held on 25th August with 24 teams competing.
The Big Week, led by Phil Osborne supported by his team, is building momentum. This will be a great opportunity for all lodges across the Province to make one last effort to help achieve our Festival target and make up for the time we have lost during lock down.
The response so far has been amazing, with over 60 lodges already signed up to holding a fund-raising event, including race nights, quizzes, wine tasting, Sunday lunches, sponsored bike rides, runs and car washes. This list goes on. Some lodges are donating in lieu of an event – the point being that all lodges should be able to something as part of our final push towards the target. Brethren check the regular update on the Provincial Website and please make certain that your lodge is signed up for the Big Week. One of the last events will be the Hollywood Ball at the Star Inn, Troes.
The Festival Committee is now turning its attention to the planning for Final Festival Gala Evening to be held at Cardiff City Football Club Stadium on Friday, 19th November. This will be a great occasion to celebrate 6 years of enormous effort and commitment by the brethren of the Province on behalf of the RMBI. There will be a reception, dinner, followed by the announcement of the final festival total, entertainment by West End stars and Grand Finale. It will be a great occasion. Tickets sales are already well underway, so please book early to avoid disappointment, particularly if lodges want to book their own tables of ten.
On a point of detail, result of the Festival will be announced that evening and will be recorded in the Festival Brochure. Collating Lodge totals is complex and takes time. Jeff Coles will need all lodges to have declared their final pledged totals by the first week of Oct. Promissory Forms will be issued to ensure that all outstanding donations can be included up until the end of Dec 2021. I will arrange for further details to be issued to help lodge charity stewards and treasurers complete this important task.
In the meantime, brethren please continue to support and enjoy the Festival as we approach the finishing line.