President of Grand Committee
Report of the President of Grand Committee - November 2011
Companions, I am pleased to present this report of Grand Committee for the period May – November 2011
Since the Half Yearly Convocation held in May, Grand Committee has met on five occasions with no meeting in May. Each Meeting has been well attended and it is a testimony to the dedication of these officers. I thank all Grand committee members for making my job a little easier.
There is still some concern at the falling membership list. Most of the year the numbers held steady around 1515 but with the closing of another Chapter and the eventual sorting out of those members and ten deaths being recorded in September the current total stands at 1490.
It behoves all members to be vigilant in seeking out new members, ever remembering that members of our organization can only be obtained by first being a Craft mason. Therefore I urge all our members to support your Craft lodge and assist in building up numbers.
While the red pages in the Freemason Magazine continue to present useful information to prospective Royal Arch Members and continued effort by our energetic Editor, Paul Holland, and other contributors, greater input to this useful media is required.
The other method of modern communication is through our website at www.royalarch.org.au maintained by our treasurer Kirby Leeke. This site has been remodelled and now requires password access to the restricted information but provides joining information without restriction.
We also have a Facebook Page maintained by Paul Holland and as it continues to build will prove very valuable to younger Craft masons.
Quite a deal of equipment has peen purchased by Grand Chapter to compliment the gift of a laptop computer from Kirby Leeke for the production of PowerPoint presentations at Craft Education Sessions.
This equipment has also been used at meetings of the Committee Of Research and Royal Arch Studies (CORRAS).
CORRAS is a sub-committee of Grand Committee and is open to all Royal Arch Members. It is held in the Board Room of Grand Lodge on the fourth (4th) Tuesday of February, April, June, August and October at 7.30 p.m. Dress is smart casual with Royal Arch Tie.
One should not be deterred by the name. While some formality is observed this gathering is really a forum where some useful and enlightening discussion takes place, followed by refreshments provided by attendees, and a supply from the ‘fridge.
Too few members are present to benefit from the wonderful presentations that occur at these meetings. That said, fears were held at our last meeting in August that we would overflow our venue. However there are plenty of other unoccupied rooms in the Ann Street Memorial Centre into which we could move if need be. Come once for the experience, I’m sure you will enjoy.
My thanks must once again go to our hard working and dedicated office staff, John France (GSE) and Tetty Mackinnon (Office Manager) for their effort in planning and perfecting this Grand Convocation and Proclamation, along with their regular duties.
Our thanks also go to the Treasurer, who keeps his finger on the pulse in these troubled times, and to the Grand Registrar for his attention to detail.
Doug Phipps, President of Grand Committee