Personal 50th Celebrations
[Golden Jubilee]
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Personal 50ths
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Rule 158
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Summons distribution
Toast Lists
5 ARRANGING THE CELEBRATION
5.1 THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARIAT
5.1.1 A Schedule of Personal Celebrations will be compiled, indicating the subscribing and non-subscribing members of the Province on the current database who will be approaching the following attainments during the ensuing two-year period:
- 50, 60, and 70 years of service to Freemasonry;
- 65 years of service to Freemasonry;
- 50 years of service to a Lodge.
5.1.2 A copy of the schedule will be distributed in August of each year to each of the following:
- RWPGM;
- DPGM;
- APGM;
- ProvGDC;
- District Secretary;
- District Chairman.
5.1.3 The distributed schedule will include the:
- Principal Officer;
- details required for the Illuminated Certificate;
- location of the celebration;
- Celebration dates, which have been notified.
These items will be updated, subject to any changes or information subsequently provided.
5.2 THE LODGE SECRETARY
5.2.1 The Lodge Secretary may be advised by the District Secretary, or may already be aware, of a brother approaching 50 years service to Freemasonry.
At least 12 months prior to the achievement date, the Lodge should establish:
(a) The Brother concerned is qualified by virtue of;
- years of service;
- being a subscribing member of the Province.
(b) A potential celebration date.
- Only in very exceptional circumstances would the celebration date precede the achievement date.
- Under normal circumstances, no other business is normally conducted at this meeting so as not to detract from the celebration of the Brother.
(c) The most appropriate type of celebration for the recipient’s personal circumstances. The options may be:
- Formal; [Team K in attendance]
- low key;
- Private presentation by the APGM and/or a small number of Lodge Members.
- The Illuminated Certificate posted directly to the recipient.
5.2.2 The Lodge Secretary should then make a formal request to the District Secretary for the celebration to take place, using the Details of the Celebration Form shown in Appendix 1 to supply all the necessary information.
5.3 THE DISTRICT SECRETARY
5.3.1 The District Secretary will liaise with the appropriate Lodge Secretary regarding any unconfirmed celebration dates on the Schedule of Personal Celebrations. The Lodge Secretary should be advised of the respective brother’s approaching qualification date at least 12 months in advance.
5.3.2 On receipt of the Details of the Celebration Form from the Lodge Secretary, the availability of the APGM and his District Delegation needs to be ascertained.
Should the suggested date be unsuitable, the APGM will determine the date of the celebration after due consultation with the Lodge has taken place.
5.3.3 The District Secretary is asked to confirm all details and supply any outstanding information, after liaising with the Lodge concerned, prior to emailing the Details of Celebration Form, to the Provincial Secretariat.
5.3.4 When the Brother is a Joining Member, or has been a member of another Province or Constitution and subsequently the Initiation Date or the number of years of service cannot be validated locally, the Provincial Grand Secretary will make due enquiries if requested by the District Secretary.
6 PREPARING FOR THE CELEBRATION
6.1 THE PROVINCIAL SECRETARIAT
6.1.1 On receipt of the confirmed details via Details of Celebration Form, the Provincial Secretariat will: -
- reconcile the details with the computer database and update the Schedule of Personal Celebrations,
- advise the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies of the agreed details for the celebration,
- place the appropriate information on the Provincial Website Calendar and email confirmation to the District Secretary on completion.
6.2 THE LODGE SECRETARY
6.2.1 Apply for a dispensation, if necessary.
6.2.2 There are many variable considerations to be made to mark the formal occasion; amongst these the Lodge will need to decide whether:
- a tribute is to be made to the Recipient;
- to read the minutes appertaining to the Recipient’s;
(a) initial interview with the Past Masters,
(b) Initiation and
(c) Installation; - a donation is to be made to:
(a) A Masonic Charity,
(b) Local Charities.
(Donations to Masonic Charities should be presented to the APGM during the Lodge Meeting); - A gift is to be made to the Brother celebrating 50 years.
6.2.3 In order to facilitate adequate planning and preparation, which is essential for a successful celebration and the maximum enjoyment of all present at the occasion, the following should be forwarded to the District Secretary:
- a draft copy of the Summons;
A Draft layout for the Business Agenda is shown in Appendix 2. No further items should be introduced or amended without the prior approval of the APGM. - a copy of the tribute, if requested,
- the names of the brethren proposing or responding to a Toast at the Festive Board, using the Draft Toast List shown at Appendix 3,
- a copy of the Toast and Response to item 7 on the Draft Toast List, if requested,
- the CVs of the brethren pertinent to the occasion, if requested, (Appendix 4 comprises a Pro Forma Curriculum Vitae Form),
- a draft of the Festive Board seating arrangements, if requested, (Appendix 5 - Seating at the Festive Board, Personal 50th Celebration, provides the associated protocol),
- the name(s) and rank(s) of any Grand Officer(s) and Distinguished Guest(s) expected to attend the occasion,
- the time, date and place of the normal Lodge rehearsal.
6.2.4 The Lodge Secretary must also send a Summons and a specific invitation to the celebration to each member of the Delegation.
September 2006 – Copyright © 2006, Provincial Lodge of East Lancashire