WK News Summer 2023 - Magazine - Page 13
ISSUE NO.10 SUMMER 2023 | WEST KENT NEWS 13
HEAD OF ROYAL ARCH MEMBERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT: VINCE LETHBRIDGE
Since the announcement at last year’s joint
Provincial investitures of the Provincial Grand
Master / Most Excellent Grand Superintendent’s
(PGM / MEGS) intention to have the Craft and the
Royal Arch more aligned and to be seen as one
joint entity rather than what is perceived by many
as two independent units there has been a huge
amount of work undertaken behind the scenes to
realise the PGM/MEGS vision, among these works
are new initiatives which have been introduced to
not only attract new members but also to enhance
the Royal Arch experience of our existing
Companions.
To achieve this objective the role of the Royal
Arch Almoner is a much more enhanced position
now and is more in line with the duties carried out
by our Craft Almoners, our Chapters now have a
dedicated Royal Arch Mentor in place as well as
the creation of a new office of Chapter
Membership Officer (CMO) our Chapters also
have in place their own dedicated Chapter
Visiting Officer whose duties will emulate those of
our Craft VOs.
To further underpin and support our Chapters
with these new and enhanced positions the
PGM/MEGS also announced the formation of the
Royal Arch Membership Development Team
(RAMDT) of which I am delighted to have been
tasked with heading.
As you are all no doubt already aware, as part of
our ongoing membership strategy the role of
Craft Royal Arch Rep or Chapter representative
has been changed to that of a much more
membership focused role and this office is now
officially called a Royal Arch Liaison Officer
(RALO) we would like to thank those Lodges who
have already informed us of their RALO but for
those Lodges yet to do so, please let us know
who your intended RALO will be.
Over the coming weeks and months every RALO
in the Province will be personally contacted by a
member of the Royal Arch Executive, following
this conversation the RALO will then be supplied
with a ‘Royal Arch Membership Eligibility Review’
(RAMER) of his Lodge, this is a personalised
review of every member in the RALO’s Lodge and
it will highlight every member who is not only
eligible for Exaltation but also those Companions
who are currently unattached. A member of my
team (RAMDT) will then contact the RALO six
months on from them receiving their RAMERs for
an ongoing courtesy membership follow up.
RAmembership@westkentmasons.org.uk
07958 592877