District Charity/Benevolent Fund / January 14th 2008
Having been re-appointed as District Grand Charity Steward for the ensuing year, I look
for your assistance in creating a District Charity/Benevolent Fund that has an accountable
management structure whose role is to support Brethren in distress or at time of need; make
donations to local Charities sponsored by local Lodges, or any other Charity at the time deemed
appropriate and to respond to the views of Lodges and individuals.
I am fully aware that this will not be an easy task but if we are to follow the District
Grand Master’s lead in making the decisions of the District more transparent, your members’
views are essential. Will you please take this item, as a matter of urgency, to your Lodge and let
me have your written response as soon as is possible.
As an indication of what happens in Provinces in England and Wales, I offer a few points
for consideration: -
(i) The Trustees of the Fund shall be the District Grand Master, the Deputy District Grand
Master, the Assistant District Grand Master and the District Treasurer (all ex officio) together
with the District Grand Charity Steward, The District Grand Almoner and four other Brethren who shall be elected by District Grand Lodge
.(ii) One of the elected Brethren shall be designated by the District Grand Master to beChairman of the Trustees.
(iii) Elected Trustees shall serve for a period of two years and shall then retire, but shall be
eligible for re-election. They shall remain in office until retirement, resignation or removal by the
District Grand Master. Upon any vacancy of an elected member, the District Grand Master may
appoint a new Trustee who shall remain in office until the next Meeting of the District Grand
Lodge when he shall be eligible for election
.(iv) The Officers of the Fund shall consist of the Chairman of the Trustees, the District Grand
Treasurer and one other Trustee who shall be nominated by the District Grand Master to be
Secretary of the Fund.
(v) The property of the Fund shall be vested in the Trustees but any Bank or other Account or
Investment shall be in the name of the Fund. All Accounts shall be operated on the signatures of
any two Trustees, one of whom must be the Treasurer or Secretary.
(vi) The Trustees may make such regulations for the administration of the Fund or the exercise
of their powers as they shall from time to time see fit.
Lodge Charity Stewards should actively encourage their Lodges and Brethren to support the
District Charity/Benevolent Fund. The most efficient method by which a Brother can contribute
is by making a regular payment by direct debit or standing order. A regular monthly payment is
the best method. However, payment could be made quarterly, half-yearly or annually.
In the U.K., typical amounts are £5.00 per month (£60.00 per annum); I recognize that this
may be prohibitive for retired brethren on fixed incomes but, as with all charitable donations,
individuals should be encouraged to set their own contribution level which must remain
confidential between them and the Lodge Charity Steward. It would be useful to hear what your
Lodge thinks would be appropriate
.
The District Charity/Benevolent Fund would also benefit from any surplus realized from the
sale of District ties and tokens; the Alms collection at District Grand Lodge and any other monies
raised by the District through fund raising events. In the long term it may be possible for the
District to host a Festival, normally with a maximum five year horizon, for the sole benefit of the
Fund.
As stated at the outset, the main purpose of the Fund would be assisting brethren who have
unfortunately fallen on hard times but our District is spread over a vast geographical area and
there must be many examples of good cause we can support in your locality.
As a final point, could you please let me have the name and contact details of your Lodge
Charity Steward; postal address, telephone number and e-mail wherever possible. Many thanks in
anticipation of your co-operation.
Yours sincerely and fraternally,
Barry Ashcroft
District Grand Charity Steward,
Calle Velazquez 21, Ciudad Quesada, 03170 Rojales, Alicante, Spain
Tel: - 0034 966717724 Mob: - 0034 646144967 e-mail: - barfran2000@gmail.com
