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By Mike Martin - 03/12/2008 14:26:01
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Information Release 13 November 2008
Statement on current economic situation
The Central Masonic Charities wish to advise that the global economic situation has not required any reduction in current or planned projects. The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution and the Masonic Samaritan Fund are fortunate to have diversified income streams and are therefore in a better position to weather the financial storm than many charities who have to rely upon a narrow income base. The continuing success of the Festival system coupled with a combination of legacy and investment income have enabled the Central Masonic Charities to fund their charitable expenditure despite the detrimental impact on their investment portfolios.
The investments of the four Charities are professionally managed with the performance of the investment managers kept under the close scrutiny of their Trustees. None of the Charities have been affected by the much publicised problems of the Icelandic banks.
What is not yet clear is what impact the credit crunch and recession will have on demand for support from the Charities as increasing financial hardship is experienced by Freemasons and their families. Although the unprecedented conditions within the financial markets have caused concern for many charities it remains the view of the Central Masonic Charities that, providing the generous support from today’s Freemasons continues at present levels, they should be able to continue to meet the demands placed upon them for charitable support to Freemasons and their families.
For further information about the support available from the Central Masonic Charities please contact them direct by phone, email or letter.
ENDS
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By chestnut - 03/12/2008 14:56:04
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What a nonsensical statement. Of course providing the support remains they will still be able to support. They obviously have not grasped the fact that if Lodge numbers diminish or prior to that donations are reduced, their income will reduce. So in other words, credit crunch, what credit crunch, keep up your donations boys!
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By Mike Martin - 03/12/2008 22:29:54
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chestnut (03/12/2008)
What a nonsensical statement. Of course providing the support remains they will still be able to support. They obviously have not grasped the fact that if Lodge numbers diminish or prior to that donations are reduced, their income will reduce.Now that's a very cynical response! First I should highlight that the statement was in order to allay the fears expressed in hundreds of phone calls from Lodge worrying about the possibility that their "Relief Chest" funds may get wiped out by the general economic situation. It is NOT about keep on giving at all. chestnut (03/12/2008)
So in other words, credit crunch, what credit crunch, keep up your donations boys!Actually I have been looking into ways of raising the awareness of Lodge Almoners and Charity Stewards about how they can utilise their Relief Chests to assist their own members. Many don't realise that it's NOT just for giving to Charities (Masonic or otherwise). Once I've finished I've no doubt that it will get full support. Mike
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By The Past Master - 03/12/2008 23:44:46
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Mike, are you now making that statement because you are now an employee at GT Q St?;) would you have made that comment prior to your appointment!!:D Ah the cynic in me! Being in the finance industry do not be under any Illusions that it is not tough out there. In good or bad times businesses come and go thrive, and suffer, and Freemasonry as with all other leisure activities will be effected by the economic turmoil at this moment in time. But, Freemasonry has stood the test of time and has come through worse times in the past. But it must be mindfull that if people have to make cuts it will be in past times and hobbies first that cuts will be made In this day and age peoples working weeks are different than say, 40 years ago, and also their priorities. That is why we now have a recruitment, retention, and re-engagement policy because number have declined. An interesting peice that I found about this can be read on Surreys Provincial website at, www.surreymason.org.uk hover over the Provincial Information tab and that will bring up more tabs one of which is a membership challenge, read that. Regards.
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By lauderdale - 03/12/2008 23:47:35
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I'm with Bro Chestnut on this and to be honest I feel that with the plethora of large National and International Charities which exist in 2008 which did not in 1908 it is time that the continued existence of UGLE's Charities be questioned. I personally feel that Brethren ought to be encouraged to donate to External Charities as they wish and according to their ability and Lodges to involve themselves with smaller local good causes in their own area.
I did relate the sad story on the Old Forum about the former APGM who was dropped during the last Recession for telling Brethren at an Installation Meeting that they should reduce or even suspend contributions to the "Festival" running in that Province at that time if they were in economic difficulties. This was all the more ironic given what we are told about "without detriment to our connections" etc . Maybe this "Credit Crunch" is an opportunity for UGLE to critically examine the whole Charities issue in the light of modern circumstances?
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By Mike Martin - 04/12/2008 00:19:02
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The Past Master (03/12/2008)
Mike, are you now making that statement because you are now an employee at GT Q St?;) would you have made that comment prior to your appointment!!:D I definitely am making the statement as I now work for the Grand Charity administering Masonic Relief Grants and the provision of mobility equipment. That's the bit that hardly anyone seems to know about! In common with other Masons, all I knew about, regarding the work of the GC, was the announcements about what we have given to non-Masonic Charities. In the time I've been working there I have gained a much better understanding of what the Charity (and the other 3) does for current and ex-Masons along with their dependents in the form of advice, Masonic Relief Grants and mobility equipment. You just would not believe how many families would go under without the support of the Craft For example who bothered to read this (I posted it on the old Forum) Between June 2008 and August 2008, 528 Masonic Relief Grants were made to support individual Masons and their dependants experiencing financial hardship or requiring mobility equipment. In total, over £1.1 million (£1,171,554) was approved for payment to assist the beneficiaries. That's just one quarter! When you look at the figures for non-Masonic grants don't forget to look at the time spans involved, then you'll get an idea of where the majority of the money is actually going. The problem is that not enough of our members are aware of these things (except maybe in a couple of Provinces).
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By Tom Cherup - 04/12/2008 00:47:46
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I for one am glad to see the Mike has used this forum both in the past and with this new version. To be his soap box to educate UGLE Masons and us non-UGLE Masons as well as those members who are non Masonic. On how you GL's Grand Charity works. What with this information I have a better understanding on how my GL's "Michigan Masonic Chaitable Foundation" differ and how they are the same.
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By wayne cowley - 04/12/2008 08:12:02
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I do think that there is a misunderstanding about what the Relief Chest can be used for I have often heard people in the past state quite categorically that it can only be used to give to charities which is certainly not my understanding which is that so long as it is used for charitable purposes (a very different thing indeed) then it is quite acceptable Can you clarify for us Mike? Wayne
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By chestnut - 04/12/2008 09:05:00
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Mike, I would agree that the majority of FM's and to some extent almoners have little understanding of the Charity system. Is that the fault of the Relief system, Provinces or almoners? Probably all 3. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. But why should you through this forum feel a need to? I would hazard a guess that without you doing that UGLE members would not have been aware. There is no communication on an individual basis. A situation in todays modern environment which is unacceptable. At the very least an almoner should be on email and recieve this, and to be cascaded to all members. You make the point that the statement has occured after a number of concerned phonecalls. It does not allude to that, to me it just says we are ok, but as long as you do your bit we will do ours. Charity begins at home. Just as individuals may decide to reduce or stop payments to GC for economic reasons, perhaps GC should reduce the number or amount of payments to non masonic causes.
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By Mike Martin - 04/12/2008 09:33:06
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wayne cowley (04/12/2008)
I do think that there is a misunderstanding about what the Relief Chest can be used for I have often heard people in the past state quite categorically that it can only be used to give to charities which is certainly not my understanding which is that so long as it is used for charitable purposes (a very different thing indeed) then it is quite acceptable Can you clarify for us Mike? Wayne It's going to be the subject of a future post as I am scouring the Relief Chest Rules at the moment but suffice it to say that any individual can be helped from a Lodge's Relief Chest. Mike
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By chestnut - 04/12/2008 10:19:03
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Here it is Funds in a Relief Chest may be used to assist any individual in distress. There is no requirement that the individual receiving the financial assistance is a Mason or Masonic dependant. There is no limit on the number of donations that may be given to an individual in distress. The minimum amount of the donation is £50. The maximum amount of an Emergency Donation is £500. Other, non-Emergency, donations for the relief of distress may be of any amount, subject to the funds available in the Relief Chest. The money however can not be put into an almoners fund.
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By Mike Martin - 04/12/2008 12:40:08
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chestnut (04/12/2008)
Here it is Funds in a Relief Chest may be used to assist any individual in distress. There is no requirement that the individual receiving the financial assistance is a Mason or Masonic dependant. There is no limit on the number of donations that may be given to an individual in distress. The minimum amount of the donation is £50. The maximum amount of an Emergency Donation is £500. Other, non-Emergency, donations for the relief of distress may be of any amount, subject to the funds available in the Relief Chest. The money however can not be put into an almoners fund. Point missed again:P, I want to do it seperately because it is too important to be hidden away in a topic like this. Mike
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By chestnut - 04/12/2008 19:35:10
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Oh dear Mike sarcasm does not suit you. I hope working in GQS is not changing your attitude to being pompous. You could not find it, I supplied it, end of no point missed. Perhaps the point missed is sticking it anywhere on a forum were a minority of UGLE FM's will see it. Apparently there is a fantastic computer system at GL, get them to cascade it via email. But they cant because they are failing in the returns to pick up email addresses.
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By Mike Martin - 04/12/2008 20:34:07
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chestnut (04/12/2008)
Oh dear Mike sarcasm does not suit you. I hope working in GQS is not changing your attitude to being pompous.Sarcasm? Pompous? That's way wide of the mark, that's what the smiley was for to show that I wrote it with a smile. Working in GQS isn't changing me (not in the way you mean anyway) because I work for the GC not UGLE. However it is changing my opinion of the Charities because day in day out I am seeing the plight of our poor and distressed brethren and those words now mean something to me rather than just being a toast at the Festive Board chestnut (04/12/2008)
You could not find it, I supplied it, end of no point missed.As I said I had it and was intending to ensure that the whole thing was put up in a seperate post not a snippet. You should know me well enough by now to know that I like to supply the whole picture. However, I understand that my brevity probably caused the misunderstanding. chestnut (04/12/2008)
Perhaps the point missed is sticking it anywhere on a forum were a minority of UGLE FM's will see it. Apparently there is a fantastic computer system at GL, get them to cascade it via email. But they cant because they are failing in the returns to pick up email addresses.The UGLE will always have difficulty picking up information that isn't supplied or not updated but that's not the point. My point is doing my best to ensure that I'm communicating, with whatever tools I have at my disposal, what I know to people who may need to know. Regardless of whether other people understand or appreciate what I'm trying to do.
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