Information Release

14^th January 2010

£30,000 IN RELIEF FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE

Following the devastating earthquake which took place in Haiti on Tuesday 12^th January 2010, the President of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has approved two emergency grants totalling £30,000. The funds have been issued to the British Red Cross and Plan.

The 7.3-magnitude quake, Haiti's worst in two centuries, struck at 1653 local time (2153 GMT) on Tuesday. The epicentre was within 10 miles of the centre of the densely-populated capital, where around one million people live, more than 50,000 people are feared dead.

The British Red Cross has been awarded £20,000 to assist with their relief efforts. Red Cross volunteers in Haiti are currently assisting the injured and supporting hospitals who do not have enough capacity to deal with this emergency. The most urgent needs at this time are search and rescue, field hospitals, emergency health, water purification, emergency shelter, logistics and telecommunications.

Plan has also been granted £10,000 in support of their efforts in dealing with the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Plan’s priorities are assisting children and their families and getting people into safe accommodation wherever possible, as well as working with survivors to help ease their psychological trauma.

Notes:

For further information regarding the Haiti earthquake relief grants please contact Siobhan McCarthy at The Freemasons’ Grand Charity on 020 7395 9385.

By Fire Mist - 14/01/2010 14:44:33

**edited Jan 15 so as to not disturb the thread**

American Red Cross is also mobilizing that direction. They do not need blood dontations at this time. They do need coin. They have been anouncing an easy way to use the cell phone via AT&T to donate. I don't understand it, but suggest all worldwide to contact the Red Cross in your area for guidance to assist.

Lifeline Christian Mission has always worked to bring aid to Haiti as a whole. They are ramping up their efforts to assist in this severe emergency http://www.lifeline.org/2003/index.html They need: personal care items, food such as peanut butter etc, first aid kits and many other items. They have an interesting newsletter with some daily updates. The tremors are still terrorizing the island; http://www.lifeline.org/news/Haiti.htm I am sure there are other orgainizations who are doing the same.

Yesterdsy Jan14, I discovered my physician is going there.

He is part of the Doctors without borders group. They are an international orgainization http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

Anything you can do for the people of Haiti is a blessing.

By chestnut - 15/01/2010 08:48:21

Thanks have forwarded to all my Brethren

By Sparker - 15/01/2010 12:00:50

Hi Mike,
once again, Freemasonry donates a huge sum to the poor people of Haiti. Makes me proud to be a Mason. Helping the less fortunate is what it's all about.

I notice the 30 grand is an emergency donation. Do you think there will be further donations?

Fraternally,

Tony.

By Mike Martin - 15/01/2010 16:07:24

Sparker (15/01/2010)

I notice the 30 grand is an emergency donation. Do you think there will be further donations?

No I wouldn't expect so. Round here the designation "emergency" means that it is needed double quick-time whereas if there was likely to be more it would have been an "interim"

By Mike Martin - 19/01/2010 10:37:34

Sparker (15/01/2010)

I notice the 30 grand is an emergency donation. Do you think there will be further donations?

Correction, as the scale of the disaster is becoming clear theer is talk of more funds from GC and I know of dozens of individual Lodges making donations to the general appeal.

By Mike Martin - 24/01/2010 10:41:52

From the GLoS Website:

Haiti Earthquake

All of us will have watched with horror the unfolding events in Haiti

We here in the UK moan about our weather but we do not ever have to cope with the kind of event that struck Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world, on 12 January 2010.

The International Community has responded quickly by sending aid directly to Haiti but due to a comination of factors the aid has not reached those in need as quickly as anyone would have wished.

From the comfort of our own homes many of us in Scotland have responded to the tragic events by donating money directly to the various International Aid Agencies and we are delighted that this has been, and continues to be, done.

However, very many Scottish Freemasons have asked how best to contribute to the relief of those caught up in this disaster. The Grand Master Mason has issued a letter explaining how best Freemasons ought to respond to the tragedy. To download the letter (a PDF file) click here or on previous links.

You are encouraged to give as generously as you feel able.

By Mike Martin - 24/01/2010 10:43:03

MESSAGE FROM GRAND MASTER MASON

RE HAITI EARTHQUAKE

Brethren, we have all been horrified by the devastating earthquake that has struck the Republic of Haiti and the scenes of suffering and desolation on our television screens. Many Brethren have been enquiring how we, as Scottish Freemasons, can best assist in aiding the suffering of the people of that land.

Whilst the natural reaction of many is to contribute immediately to the International Aid Agencies seeki.ng funding I have today consulted with the heads of all Masonic Bodies in Scotland with whom we are in Amity as well as with Grand Almoner and Grand Secretary and we are unanimous in our opinion that this may not be the long term best use of Masonic generated funds. In our opinion, considering that the funds generated by appeals to our Brethren are liable to be insignificant to the total of the International Appeals, any Masonic generated monies should be retained centrally and used for specific reconstruction or social projects once the country has achieved a measure of stability.

Whilst Provinces, Districts and Lodges are of course at liberty to contribute to disaster relief in any manner they wish all should be aware that the Grand Lodge of Scotland will co-ordinate the receipt of contributions from Scottish Freemasons worldwide. Any funds received will be retained in a designated account for Haiti Earthquake Relief and will be utilised entirely for identifiable projects in Haiti.

Brethren, Scottish Freemasons have always prided themselves in their generosity to those less fortunate than themselves. Charity is one of the foundations of our Craft and I do not need to emphasise the terrible situation in Haiti. I would urge all Scottish Freemasons to support this initiative and contribute as your circumstances allow to this most worthy cause.

All cheques, money orders etc should be payable to the 'Grand Lodge of Scotland' and clearly marked on the back or by accompanying letter -Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.

By necessity, this is an urgent appeal and further information as to how funds will be ultimately utilised and controlled will be given later, but I can assure you that every penny / cent received will go directly to those in need.

Charles lain Wolrige Gordon of Esslemont Grand Master Mason January 2010

Information Release

14th January 2010

£30,000 IN RELIEF FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE

14^th January 2010