PROVINCE OF HERTFORDSHIRE
THE 2019 FESTIVAL
For the
Royal Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys
Notes for the Guidance of Lodge Charity Stewards
CJN 1.10.13
Our Province has been accorded the honour of hosting the 2019 Festival in aid of the
Royal Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys. (RMTGB)
The success of the Festival will largely depend on the enthusiasm and efficient work of
you as Lodge Charity Stewards, and in order to help in that endeavour, this document
contains what we hope will be a useful guide.
Although 2019 may seem a long way off, the years will quickly pass so it is vital that
the machinery is in place as soon as possible to enable us to achieve our goal by
maintaining the highest standards from the word go.
The RMTGB has computerised systems in place to fully support you as Lodge Charity
Stewards. Their support includes everything to do with Gift Aid, interest rates,
individual and Lodge donations and allocations as well as individual and Lodge reports.
This allows up to date information to be available at the press of a button.
The office of Charity Steward has always been one of the most important in the Lodge,
and never more so than when we are in Festival mode, like we are now! So as we set
off on our journey to achieve the £3million target given to us by our Provincial Grand
Master, I offer you my very best wishes and good luck.
Chris Noble, Provincial Grand Charity Steward
The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys (RMTGB)
Registered Charity No. 285836
The Charity and its work
Relieving poverty, advancing education
Supporting the children of Masonic families
The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys (RMTGB) helps its beneficiaries overcome
the barriers of poverty and complete the education and training they need to achieve
their full potential and succeed in life.
The RMTGB helps families who have suffered some distress to their home life which
has resulted in financial hardship. This could be the death of a parent: where a parent
is unable to work because of illness: where the parents have separated or divorced or
where a parent has been made redundant or their business has failed. The RMTGB can
consider assisting where a child has severe disabilities.
The support most frequently takes the form of a maintenance allowance to assist with
everyday living costs, but can also include grants for such items as computer
equipment, music or sports lessons and educational visits. Grants are also provided to
support further and higher education and apprenticeships. Families with a particularly
low income may also receive annual summer holiday or Christmas grants to enable
them to spend some quality time together.
Support is not only financial. Each family receives a home visit by a Welfare Adviser in
order to fully assess their circumstances and needs. This highly skilled team guides
families through the application process ensuring that they receive the state benefits
to which they are entitled and are able to access other services which may assist them.
The welfare team can further support families and children using their professional
backgrounds and skills in counselling, family therapy and educational and careers
guidance.
Supporting ambition and opportunity
In addition to supporting those who have suffered distress, the RMTGB also aims to
help young people achieve their ambitions and embrace opportunities. TalentAid, a
scheme which supports talented young people, was established in response to a
growing awareness that some families were unable to support their child’s ambition
to develop a career in sport, music or the performing arts.
TalentAid grants are not used to fund a hobby, but are awarded to young people
whose talent is so exceptional that they regularly compete at recognised competitions
and intend to pursue their talents as a career. Recipients of TalentAid grants must
have a Masonic connection and all grants are subject to a financial assessment to
establish the needs of the family. TalentAid applications are considered once a year.
In addition to TalentAid the RMTGB has a number of subsidy funds and charities, which
can be used to provide grants covering a wide range of other opportunities, for
example the cost of medical training, overseas educational travel, or to help young
people who wish to undertake charitable work abroad.
Safe, affordable accommodation at Ruspini House in Central London is available for up
to 27 students, or for those wishing to undertake work experience in the capital.
The Festival
1.0
Organisation
1.1
The President of the 2019 Festival is our Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro
Paul Gower.
1.2
W Bro Richard Knifton, Assistant Provincial Grand Master, is the Festival
Chairman.
1.3
W Bro Chris Noble, Provincial Grand Charity Steward, is the Festival Coordinator.
1.4
Assistant Festival Co-ordinators have been appointed for each Masonic
Centre and they will be responsible for liaising with the Lodges meeting
there. They will assist Lodges with their Festival needs and questions. They
will also help Lodges in publicising their Festival activities.
1.5
A Provincial Grand Steward has been appointed for each Masonic Centre in
the Province and they will liaise between the Centres and the Festival
Coordinators organising and managing Centre events.
1.6
Our Provincial Grand master has set us the challenging target of £3million
to be achieved by the end of the 2019 Festival period.
1.7
Queries regarding the Festival should go to one of the following:
W Bro Richard Knifton
W Bro Chris Noble
W Bro Hugh Oram
1.8
Festival Chairman
Festival Co-ordinator
Provincial Secretary
It is envisaged that Lodge Charity Stewards will either continue to operate
a Relief Chest Scheme (Grand Charity) as a majority do so already, or use
the preferred option to save/donate direct to the RMTGB.
2.0
Royal Masonic Trust for Girls & Boys
2.1
The RMTGB will be operating a full collation and Tax Relief Management
Service throughout the 2019 Festival for Individuals and Lodges.
2.2
Any donation made direct to the RMTGB with a completed Gift Aid
envelope (sample attached) or Donation Form & Gift Aid Declaration
(sample attached) will be Gift Aid managed (where applicable) and
allocated to the donating Lodge and individual.
2.3
RMTGB Gift Aid envelopes are available for individual donations (such as
Lodge Charity collections).
2.4
Donation & Gift Aid Declaration Forms are also available for regular
donations via standing orders and/or single donations. The RMTGB will
manage the Gift Aid & individual/Lodge donation allocation upon receipt.
2.5
Statements will be available to Lodge Charity Stewards on application to
the RMTGB.
2.6
Money paid into the RMTGB 2019 Festival Fund is accumulated into that
fund and invested by the RMTGB at attractive rates of interest, currently
1.75% above bank base rate. The benefits are distributed to all of the
Lodge & members donations pro rata.
2.7
Donation cheques should be made payable to "Royal Masonic Trust for
Girls and Boys" or "RMTGB", and be accompanied by clear identification
of the donating Lodge name and number and appropriate individual
breakdown of all brethren who have contributed.
(see attached donation form)
2.8
This is vital information to ensure the RMTGB report accurately to the
Province with respect to Lodge and Member’s honorifics.
3.0
The Relief Chest Scheme
3.1
Many Lodges currently successfully operate a Grand Charity Relief Chest
Scheme.
3.2
The Relief Chest Scheme operated by the Grand Charity is the ideal way to
save and accumulate funds. Most Lodges in the Province have Relief
Chests, and the others are encouraged to open their own Relief Chest. Gift
Aid added to taxpayers’ donations is currently worth 25p in the £1
3.3
Every Lodge is entitled to open its own Relief Chest. This provides an easy
and cost effective way to manage funds earmarked for charitable
purposes.
3.4
Existing funds are transferred from a Lodge Relief Chest to the RMTGB by
completing and signing a BLUE Masonic Voucher which is available from
the Grand Charity Office. These forms are numbered and specific to your
Lodge Relief Chest.
3.5
For the period of the 2019 Festival it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to
complete a 2019 Festival Donation Form and Gift Aid Declaration (see
attachment). This enables the RMTGB to claim Gift Aid on both single and
regular donations. This has ALL the advantages of the Relief Chest system
but ensures the money is sent to the RMTGB on a regular and continuous
basis. Using this system also allows the RMTGB to manage all the
donations on behalf of the Province and each Individual Lodge, as well as
each individual Brother. This information will be fed back to each Lodge
via the Provincial Charity Steward providing an up to date situation during
the Festival. The RMTGB will also advise when a Brother achieves an
honorific and when each Lodge achieves its own honorific.
3.6
It is hoped that ALL Lodge Charity Stewards will encourage the members
of their Lodge to use this PREFFERED route when committing to or
renewing a regular donation mandate.
4.0
How can a Lodge pledge funds towards the 2019 Festival?
4.1
We encourage Lodges to transfer funds to the 2019 Festival account on a
regular basis, once the amount has been agreed by the Lodge Committee.
A number of Lodges will use the Festive Board at their Installation Meeting
to hand over a donation to the Provincial Grand Master or his
Representative
4.2
Even though funds have been transferred from the Lodge Relief Chest to
the 2019 RMTGB Festival Fund, Lodges will still be credited with interest
on those funds up to the date of the Festival in 2019.
4.3
Whilst each Lodge will donate as and when they chose, you are
encouraged to donate “sooner rather than later” to enable the RMTGB to
efficiently work your money for the tax and interest benefits. It also allows
accurate up to date figures of achievement.
“Donate to Charity rather than save for charity”
5.0
Individual Honorifics
5.1
What is Honorific Rank?
(Not to be confused with Provincial Honours)
Contributions to the Festival Appeal from individuals and Lodges, whether
by Regular Payment Promises, Gift Aid or otherwise, are recorded and,
when qualifying amounts are reached, entitle the donor to Honorific
Office for the Festival.
The qualifying amounts for Honorific Offices are:
Individual
Brother
Steward
£400
Vice Patron
£750
Patron
£1000
Grand Patron
£2000
5.2
The RMTGB will inform the Provincial Charity Steward of Brethren
achieving honorifics. (Via the regular reporting system). The Stewards
honorific can be achieved by Brethren PLEDGING £400 via regular
payments.
5.3
A Certificate of Entitlement [example attached] Will be issued by the
Provincial Charity Steward for Lodge Charity Stewards to complete, and,
when this is returned with the appropriate Jewel donation (£15), the
Provincial Office will forward a Certificate of Stewardship and a Festival
Jewel to the individual Brother.
5.4
The RMTGB will inform the Provincial Charity Steward when Brethren
qualify for the Honorifics of Vice-Patron, Patron & Grand Patron. (The
above schedule shows the qualifying figures). These Honorifics are only
achieved once the qualifying donation has been RECEIVED by the RMTGB
(individual and Lodge).
5.5
Brethren qualifying for these Festival Honorifics will also receive an
appropriate certificate [example attached] signed by the Provincial Grand
Master stating the qualification achieved. Jewel Bars appropriate to the
Honorific are available on request from the Provincial Grand Charity
Steward.
5.6
Brethren are encouraged to wear the Festival Jewel in the Province on all
Craft and Royal Arch occasions up to and including the Festival Dinner.
This, it is hoped, will encourage those Brethren who have not yet qualified
as Festival Stewards.
5.7
A Brother who has qualified as a Festival Steward by making the specified
pledge or donation may apply for a ticket for the Festival Closing Event on
payment of a separate fee.
5.8
All net payments and tax to be recovered under an RRP signed before the
Festival date may be credited to the Festival and will continue until the
expiry of the RRP or until the Brother concerned cancels his payments.
6.0
Lodge Honorifics
6.1
Contributions to the Festival Appeal by Lodges from charity collections,
raffles, social functions etc. (including Individual member’s donations) will
enable the Lodge to qualify as a Vice Patron / Patron / Grand Patron of the
2019 Festival for the RMTGB.
6.2
The qualifying amounts for Lodges:
To ensure fair and just targets the qualification for Lodge honorifics is
based on a Lodge membership on a pro rata scheme as follows:
Total Lodge
Donation
6.3
Vice Patron
Membership
x £500 x 80%
Patron
Membership
x £500 x 100%
Grand Patron
Membership
x £500 x 120%
Personal Donations
Individual members donations (whether under Gift Aid or not) are
credited to the individual person and count towards qualifying them for
2019 Festival Honorifics. Such donations are also recorded on the Lodge
total for the purpose of the Festival List announced at the dinner and
added to the ‘collective’ Lodge total for calculating when a Lodge has
qualified as a Vice Patron, Patron or Grand Patron of the 2019 Festival.
6.4
Lodges, when qualified, are encouraged to print their honorific status on
their summons under the Lodge Crest. This should read ‘Grand Patron/
Patron/Vice Patron of the 2019 Appeal for the Royal Masonic Trust for
Girls & Boys” whichever is appropriate. It will serve as a constant reminder
to the Brethren and your guests of the Appeal.
6.5
Lodges may wish to consider having an addition item on the agenda at
every meeting: ‘Charity Steward’s Festival Report’, to emphasise the
Appeal as distinct from his routine work. It would also be helpful if Lodge
Charity Stewards read out any 2019 Festival communication.
7.0
Programme for Making Donations and Contributions
7.1
Regular Payment Promises (RPP)
Lodge Charity Stewards should make the maximum effort to encourage
the Brethren to enter into a Regular Payment Promise or to make Gift
Aided donations. Throughout the Appeal, as new Brethren are initiated or
join, seek RPP’s from them. Seek renewal of all RPP’s as they expire.
Remember RPP’s taken out before the date of the Festival have their total
amount credited to the Festival.
RPPs enable Brethren to spread the cost of honorifics. “Sign and forget”.
Also if a taxpayer offers a donation, this can be turned into a tax effective
gift by getting him to complete a single Gift Aid Declaration, or gift aid
envelope. This involves no extra commitment in additional to that he
makes by writing a cheque or handing over cash yet should yield a further
25p in the £1 gift aid counting toward both individual and Lodge
donations.
The RMTGB will be setting up a database to include every Brother who
indicates that he wishes his donations to be Gift Aided and this continues
until he requests that it stops. No further need to complete a donation
form or gift aid envelope. The RMTGB will do all the work.
7.2
Collective Lodge Donations
Lodges should be looking to hold fund raising events – coffee mornings,
cheese and wine parties, sponsored swims, raffles, garden parties etc.
Indeed any activity which is fun or challenging and promotes social and
charitable support.
It is essential to maintain the interest of your Lodge members and their
families.
Small donations up to £20 (cash collections) can be treated as Small Gift
Aid Donations and attract the extra Gift Aid.
7.3
Appeal Records
The RMTGB and Province have set up a computer database so that
comprehensive records can be kept. This will enable the RMTGB to
claim Gift Aid on direct contributions through RPP’s and individual
donations. This will also state at any time how much an individual donor
has given and to assist the Provincial Charity Steward in monitoring
individual Lodge donations for honorific qualifications. This will, of course,
depend entirely on the quality of the information received from Lodges.
(See attached donation form)
7.4
Throughout the Festival Appeal, a continuous visual display showing the
total achieved to date will be found on the Provincial Web site to ensure
the availability of up to date information.