To review recent membership trends in the Royal Arch, a strategic review was undertaken in 2007 under the Chairmanship of the 2nd Grand Principal, E Comp George Francis, to see how best we should address all manner of issues relating to recruitment, retention and general Royal Arch profile.
Most of the recommendations made are already being addressed in this Province but there was one in particular which the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent believes to be worthy of our further consideration – the issue of membership retention and retrieval. In particular, he believes there is an important role for a Chapter Almoner.
Up to now this Province has been one of just a few which does not regularly appoint a Chapter Almoner – we currently have five in total.
The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent foresees a role in Chapter which may well be slightly different to the one usually recognised in the Craft. Working in conjunction with the Provincial Grand Almoner, the focus would be on membership trends generally as well as the customary pastoral and welfare duties as we currently know them.
It would be the Chapter Almoner who would be one of the first to recognise a Companion about to fall by the wayside, perhaps one who has not recently attended Chapter and without an apology or perhaps one who might be dangerously close to exclusion for non-payment of subscriptions and so on.
Membership and retention issues are so critical to the well-being of the Holy Royal Arch, even more so at the present time. The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent is convinced that we can still do much more to demonstrate that each and every Royal Arch Mason is important to us and that we are concerned for his welfare. With some central guidance and co-ordination from E Comp Robin Hitchcock – our Provincial Grand Almoner – he envisages a network of Chapter Almoners sharing best practice, exchanging ideas and experiences and helping to retrieve potential membership losses.
Chapter Committees have been asked to give this issue urgent consideration.
