The Area (Joint) Meeting of the following Lodges in the North Karnataka and Goa Area under W. Bro. Yazdi E. Shroff, P. G. Br. Of VSL, ARGM, was held at Acacia Palms Beach Resort, Colva, Goa on Saturday, 7th June, 2014.
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 110 brethren and families from the area and Southern Region, including 8 ARGM’s, and R.W. the Regional Grand Master of RGLSI graced the occasion by their presence.
W. Bro. G. Richard Gould, 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 Arvind P. Chitra, 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 recipient 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. Shroff, W. ARGM for their advice and encouragement which motivated lodge brethren to put in their best efforts. He thanked the Management of Acacia Palms Beach Resort 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. Yaxdi E. Shroff, ARGM of North Karnatak and Goa Area welcomed R. W. Bro A. P. Chitra, 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 recipient 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.
The Pro-tem W.M. then conducted the ceremony for the presentation of Long Term Service Jewels to the distinguished recipient W. Bro. Mahesh Gajanan Nagarsekar - 25 years (L248) .
The prayer was said by the Chaplain W. Bro. Pankaj Saraf. The Pro-tem Secretary W. Bro. D. V. Borkar read the detailed Masonic Bio-data of the distinguished recipient.
R. W. Bro Arvind P. Chitra, 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 Jewel to the distinguished recipient.
W. Bro. Anastasio Colaco felicitated W. Bro. Mahesh Gajanan Nagarsekar on receiving the award.
W. Bro. Mahesh Nagarsekar responded warmly to the felicitations.
R. W. Bro Arvind P. Chitra, 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 congratulated the distinguished recipient for the well deserved honour conferred on him. He expressed his happiness at the fact that over 110 brethren and their families, including 8 ARGM’s had graced the occasion by their presence. He complimented W. Bro. Shroff and the brethren of Lodge Gomantak for the impeccable arrangements for the Meet.
The Pro-tem W.M. then presented R. W. Bro Arvind P. Chitra, 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 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 also made specific suggestions to each Lodge and advised the brethren to emulate and adopt the best practices of other Lodges. He exhorted all Lodges to seriously undertake the task of increasing their membership.
In the evening, the brethren and their families participated in a variety entertainment programme of dance & music, excellent fellowship and a sumptuous dinner. They also participated in a raffle organized by the Lodge in the cause of charity.
An arrangement for the overnight stay of all delegates and families was made at the Resort, which was appreciated by all.
Early the next morning, delegates and their families participated enthusiastically in a “Zumba Dance” session under the guidance of Zumba Instructor Miss Zaver Shroff, daughter of W. Bro. Yazdi E. Shroff, ARGM.
Later, after a sumptuous breakfast, delegates attended a Workshop for Lodge Directors of Ceremonies” led by R. W. Bro A. P. Chitra. W. Bro. M. Padmakumar, P. Dy. RGM was the Principal faculty for the workshop. The workshop helped clear many doubts and misunderstandings about conduct of Lodge meetings and ceremonies and the role of Directors of Ceremonies therein.
After a hearty fellowship and a delicious lunch, delegates departed in a happy and relaxed mood, carrying with them happy memories of the meet.
(Photographs of the Event are available
HERE)
Lodge Gomantak No.248 celebrated Universal Brotherhood Day on 24th June, 2014 at the Goa Branch of Shanti Avedna, 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. The august presence of W. Bro. Yazdi E. Shroff, ARGM of the area and member of Lodge Gomantak No. 248 added colour to the visit.
Hospital supplies and medicines were presented to the Sister in charge of the hospice. Three air beds were also presented to the Sister in charge of the hospice for the use of the inmates. W. Bro. Durganand Sawardekar, a senior brother of the Lodge also donated medicines and cash to the hospice. He also personally interacted with the patients. The total value of the charity is around Rs. 25000/-.
In his remarks, W. Bro. G. Richard Gould, the W. Master lauded the good work being done by the sisters who managed the hospice and expressed the pleasure of the brethren of Lodge Gomantak for the opportunity to do their bit to assist them in alleviating the sufferings and making bearable and happy the last moments of the patients. It was also suggested that Lodge Gomantak in particular and Freemasons of India in general would be pleased to assist in any permanent project of the hospice.
The Sister in charge of the hospice thanked the brethren of Lodge Gomantak for their generosity and concern. She expressed regret that many patients in need of the services provided by the hospice did not seek admission either due to ignorance or to the social stigma attached to the disease, and suggested that brethren of Lodge Gomantak could try to educate the public in this regard. The W. Master suggested to the brethren to use social networking and similar media to pass the message.
