The Area (Joint) Meeting of the following Lodges in the North Karnataka and Goa Area under W. Bro. Madhukar C. Thakkar,P. G. Org., ARGM, was held at Hotel Highland Resort, Candolim, Goa on Saturday, 8th June, 2013 .
LODGE OF GOODWILL NO. 5, BELLARY, LODGE VICTORIA NO. 9, BELGAUM, LODGE HUBLI NO. 44, HUBLI, LODGE DHARWAD NO. 54, DHARWAD, LODGE GOMANTAK NO. 248, GOA, LODGE LYONS CENTENARY NO.274, HUBLI, LODGE VIJAYNAGAR NO. 279, HOSPET, KARNATAKA MASTERS’ LODGE NO.325 and LODGE KRITAPURA NO. 357, GADAG.
The Meet was hosted by Lodge Gomantak No. 248, Goa.
About 140 brethren and families from the area and Southern Region, including 10 ARGM’s, R.W. the Deputy RGM and R.W. the Regional Grand Master of RGLSI graced the occasion by their presence.
W. Bro Mohit Saraf, W. Master of Lodge Gomantak No. 248 occupied the Eastern Chair as Pro-tem W. Master.
The Pro-tem W.M. accorded a warm welcome to R. W. Bro Retna Raj Sushil Raj, P. Dy. G. M., R. W. the Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India, the officers of his deputation, the distinguished recipients of the LTSJ, visiting brethren and the gracious ladies and families attending the meeting.
He expressed the hope that all present would enjoy the proceedings of the Meet, the sylvan surroundings of Goa and the fellowship and entertainment to follow, as also the overnight stay at the Resort. He placed on record his grateful thanks to each and every one of the brethren of Lodge Gomantak who have toiled hard to make the event a success. He thanked R.W. the Regional Grand Master and W. Bro. Thakkar, W. ARGM for their advice and encouragement which motivated lodge brethren to put in their best efforts. He thanked the Management of Highland Resorts for coming up with a truly especial package for the event and extending their full cooperation in making impeccable arrangements for the Meet.
W. Bro. Madhukar C. Thakkar, ARGM of North Karnatak and Goa Area welcomed R. W. Bro Retna Raj Sushil Raj, P. Dy. G. M., R. W. the Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India, the officers of his deputation, the distinguished recipients of the LTSJ, visiting brethren and the gracious ladies and families attending the meeting, and expressed his happiness at the overwhelming response of all brethren from the area and the region to our invitation for the area meet and the excellent arrangements the host Lodge had made for their comfortable stay and convenience. He complimented R. W. the Regional Grand Master on completing 450 LTSJ presentations in 27 months of his tenure and expressed the fond hope that 500 LTSJ presentations would be completed by the time R. W. the Regional Grand Master laid down office. He also exhorted the brethren to take up the 7-star programme of the GLI and the 9-point programme of the RGL
The Pro-tem W.M. then conducted the ceremony for the presentation of Long Term Service Jewels to the distinguished recipients W. Bro. Dr. Vinod Mohan Kallianpurkar - 25 years (L44) and W. Bro. Durganand Ramnath Savordekar – 25 years (L248).
The prayer was said by the Chaplain W. Bro. A. D. Manvi. The Pro-tem Secretary W. Bro. D. V. Borkar read the detailed Masonic Bio-data of the distinguished recipients.
R. W. Bro Retna Raj Sushil Raj, P. Dy. G. M., R. W. the Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India for and on behalf of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of India ceremoniously presented the Long Term Service Jewels to the distinguished recipients.
W. Bro. V. S Naik felicitated W. Bro. Dr. Vinod Mohan Kallianpurkar and W. Bro. M. C. Thakkar felicitated W. Bro. Durganand Ramnath Savordekar on receiving the award.
Dr. Vinod Mohan Kallianpurkar and W. Bro. Durganand Ramnath Savordekar responded warmly to the felicitations.
R. W. Bro Retna Raj Sushil Raj, P. Dy. G. M., R. W. the Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India then addressed the Meeting. In his address, he mentioned that LTSJ presentation ceremonies were the happiest occasions especially when these were conducted in the presence of the recipients’ families, and his satisfaction at the completion of 450 LTSJ presentations and shaking hands with all but two of the distinguished recipients . He expressed his happiness at the fact that over 110 brethren and their families, including 10 ARGM’s and R.W. the Dy. R.G.M. had graced the occasion by their presence.
He further stated that the Region had now woken up, and Lodges were applying for LTS Jewels the moment a brother completed the required years of service. He complimented the host Lodge and its W.M. for the excellent arrangements and successful conduct of the meet. He also briefly commented on the tradition, from time immemorial, of committing the rituals to memory and the exclusion of women from Freemasonry.
The Pro-tem W.M. then presented R. W. Bro Retna Raj Sushil Raj, P. Dy. G. M., R. W. the Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India with a memento on behalf of the Area Meet and another on behalf of the host Lodge, Lodge Gomantak No. 248.
Secretaries/W.M.s/Brethren of the Lodges in the Area presented Reports of their respective Lodges.
In his address to the Brethren, R. W. the Regional Grand Master complimented the Lodge Secretaries on their excellent reports and the performance and projected activities of each Lodge. He advised the brethren to emulate and adopt the best practices of other Lodges .He exhorted all Lodges to celebrate Universal Brotherhood Day in a significant manner, and also to attend the Half-yearly Meet in large numbers. He thanked the organizers for the Plaque and gift presented to him.
The Area Directory of the North Karnataka and Goa Area under W. Bro. Madhukar C. Thakkar,P. G. Org., ARGM, was released at the auspicious hands of R.W. the Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India.
R.W. the Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India unveiled the portraits of M.W. Bro. Vasudeo Jamnavihar Masurekar, O.S.M., M.W. the Grand Master , Grand Lodge of AF&AM of India, R. W. Bro Retna Raj Sushil Raj, P. Dy. G. M., R. W. the Regional Grand Master of the Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India and W. Bro. Madhukar C. Thakkar, P.G. Org., ARGM of N. Karnataka & Goa Area.
In the evening, the brethren and their families participated in a variety entertainment programme of dance & music, excellent fellowship and a sumptuous dinner.
An arrangement for the overnight stay of all delegates and families was made at the Resort, which was appreciated by all.
The next morning, after a sumptuous breakfast, delegates attended a Group Discussion on “The Role of ARGM’s in promoting membership of the Holy Royal Arch Chapter” led by R. W. Bro R. Sushil Raj, R. W. The Regional Grand Master and R. W. Bro. Dr. Arvind P. Chitra, Dy. RGM. Children enjoyed a swim in the swimming pools of the resort.
After a hearty fellowship and a delicious lunch, delegates departed in a happy and relaxed mood, carrying with them happy memories of the meet.
(Photos Here -
Link to Area Meet Photos )
Lodge Gomantak No.248 celebrated Universal Brotherhood Day on 24th June, 2013 at the Goa Branch of Shanti Avedana, a Hospice for terminally ill cancer patients. Brethren of the Lodge, along with their families, interacted with the sisters and voluntary workers running the hospice and the patients at the facility.
Hospital supplies and linen was presented to the Sister in charge of the hospice. A wheel chair and a CD player – cum FM radio were also presented to the Sister in charge of the hospice for the use of the inmates. The total value of the charity is around Rs. 8000/=.
After the visit to Shanti Avedana, members of Lodge and their families had a get-together as a part of the celebration of Universal Brotherhood Day. A prospective member of the Lodge was also invited to the visit to Shanti Avedana and the subsequent get-together to acquaint him with the brethren in the lodge and to give him a feel of the unity and brotherly atmosphere in the Lodge and the activities of the Lodge. Queries and doubts of the prospective member as well as new initiates were set to rest as a result of this interaction. A fellowship and Dinner concluded the day’s proceedings.
