PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTERS ADDRESS

AT THE PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY ON 23rd FEBRUARY, 2013

Right Worshipful Assistant Grand Master
Right Worshipful Brethren of the Grand Lodge of Spain,
Provincial Officers of Valencia,
Distinguished Representatives of other Orders,
Illustrious Visitors,
Dear Brethren and Friends all,

I would like to welcome you all to the Provincial Grand Lodge of Valencia 2013 Annual Assembly and to thank you for taking the time to attend this meeting.
My special thanks go to those of you who have travelled great distances from other parts of Spain, including the Islands, and from the UK for the extra effort and time you have given to attend this event. I really hope all of you have enjoyed the ceremony and that it has made your journey worthwhile.
This year sees a number of changes to the senior ranks of Provincial Grand Officers and I am excited and pleased to welcome my new Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V.W. Bro. Stuart MacDonald and my two new Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, W. Bro. Rodney Bignell and W. Bro. Wyndam Neish. I am looking forward to working with them over the coming year to improve the Province still further and I sincerely hope that you will all offer them your support and assistance as they travel the Province undertaking their various responsibilities.
I would like however, to also congratulate all of the Brethren who have today been rewarded with promotion. The honour you have received acknowledges an exceptional past commitment to the Province but now places you in a position where it will be expected that you will seek to undertake even greater responsibilities for the good of the Province. I wish you all every success in your new roles.

We have had a number of successes in the last year, but I believe the biggest success was the way in which Brethren throughout the Province threw their hearts and souls into raising funds for the 2014 Festival. When I announced the intention to hold a Festival I was aware that there were many doubters amongst you who thought our task was impossible. However with the purchase of our first ambulance all doubts have been put aside and everyone is continuing to get behind the cause and raise funds in many ways, some novel and some painful! It is also a complement to our Fraternity that Lodges have been prepared to join together in support of this wonderful cause and share both the work and the fun in raising money. Now support is starting to come from other Provinces and Orders and that must demonstrate the esteem with which this Province is held in the wider Masonic community.
We are now at the stage where a number of the lodges are close to achieving their basic target and I, together with the Festival Committee, would encourage them and also all other
Lodges to continue to forge ahead with achieving their original target and to then go beyond it, through to the completion of the Festival in 2014.
So my challenge to you all this year is to urge you and your Lodge to look beyond the original Lodge target and demonstrate your long term commitment to the 2014 Festival by striving to achieve a further 30, 50 or 80% increase in target and win one of those very special awards.
Among all of our successes this year are two that deserve a special mention; the Provincial Lodge of Instruction and the Provincial Ladies Festival.
The Provincial Grand Lodge of Instruction hosted by the Provincial Stewards Lodge which was a first for that Lodge and was a great success, being well supported by Brethren across the Province. Our new venue in El Campello proved popular with most Brethren so once again it will be held there and this year it will be hosted jointly by two Lodges, Oliva LaSafor and White River on Saturday 30th November.

The Provincial Ladies’ Festival, held in Benidorm last May, was once again a special occasion and I think that all who attended will agree that it was a splendid evening. This year we will return again to the Hotel Gran Bali, Benidorm on Saturday 1st June 2013 when it is hoped that as many of you as possible will attend. Please note this is a week later than normal and is entirely due to the UEFA Champions League Final being held on our normal date of the last Saturday in May!
More details of this years´ Provincial Ladies´ Festival and Provincial Grand Lodge of Instruction can be found on the Provincial website.
Once again thank you all for your friendship, support and hard work during 2012 and I look forward to working with you in 2013.
Finally Brethren, I must on your behalf and mine, thank the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, his Deputy, Assistants and the Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge for conducting today´s proceedings so successfully. Thanks from us all must also go to the Provincial Grand Secretary and his Team who have undertaken all the organisation and arrangements to ensure that today ran smoothly.
Brethren of the Province of Valencia, I thank you all for your commitment and dedication to this wonderful Province. My thanks also to the Most Worshipful Grand Master and our Distinguished Guests; I trust you have all enjoyed your day so far and that you will enjoy the festive board to come. For those of you who are not dining, I wish you a safe journey home.
Thank you very much for coming here today and may the Great Architect of the Universe ensure good health and happiness to you and your families.