WK News - Issue 11 (5) - Flipbook - Page 14
ISSUE NO.11 WINTER 2023 | WEST KENT NEWS 14
THE DEPUTY PROVINCIAL GRAND
MASTER: IAN GALLEHAWK
The summer now seems a long time
ago so now would be a good time to
engage in a general reflection
regarding how well the Province is
continuing to move forward. The
summer break always sees an
understandable lull in initiations and
joining members.
Since the lull in activity, anyone
following our social media channels
will have seen just how firmly the
Province has returned to labour.
Our performance shows that the
focus
on
addressing
the
Membership Challenge for each
Province and on the ongoing
implementation of the Members9
Pathway is beginning to make a
positive difference to the Province
and
the
Order
generally.
A
challenge for the Province is to
ensure that we continue the
excellent
work
of
so
many
individuals and units and see West
Kent entering an ongoing period of
growth from the beginning of 2024.
Looking at UGLE matters, West
Kent was very well represented at
Newport
as
Quarterly
Communications were held outside
of London for the first time in
eighty-five years. Although a long
day for the team, it was truly
enjoyable to attend such an historic
event, meet with some of the High
Rulers past and present, and
ensure that our Province was well
represented.
Since the new season began, we
have seen Lodges hit the ground
running with joining members,
passings and raisings, installations
and,
crucial
to
our
growth,
initiations. Our Facebook page has
contained so many reports of
enjoyable meetings. Initiations and
degree ceremonies are only the
beginning. We need to ensure that
our members, new and old, receive
an excellent masonic experience
from the day of initiation forward.
Every member of the Executive is
on hand to offer advice and help
regarding membership, matters of
ceremony or any relevant Lodge
issue.
As we enter the New Year, we all
need to focus on the UGLE 7 Year
Strategy. West Kent is now better
positioned to grow than it has been
for many years. Now is the time to
meet the UGLE expectation of a 1%
growth in membership over the
coming year. This will not be easy
but we must remember that it is a
challenge that is relevant to all of
us.
This doesn9t just mean initiating
more members, it means initiating
the right people and, crucially,
looking after the members we have.
Year on year our initiation rate
remains
roughly
the
same.
Unfortunately so does our rate of
loss, which exceeds our total of
initiates and joiners. If we look after
and keep our existing members, we
grow in number, it9s really that
simple.
There is a lot of support and advice
available. Let us make our masonic
New Year resolution to redouble our
efforts to make every member feel
welcomed and valued in our Lodges
and, critically, wanted and welcome
in the Royal Arch. A member
leaving our Province really must be
seen as an absolute last resort.
With
thought
and
appropriate
mentoring, we can look to retain so
many more of our valued brethren
and companions.
Now, for a short period, we rightly
put aside the concerns of our
masonic lives as we turn our focus
to our loved ones at this very
special time of the year. I wish
everyone a very Happy Christmas
and a New Year filled with joy and
good health for you, your families
and loved ones. I look forward to
seeing you all in 2024.