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Chemainus Lodge is active in the community by volunteering, supporting and contributing to various community projects. We are, once again, assisting the Salvation Army by spearheading the annual Red Kettle campaign in Chemainus.
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This year Chemainus Lodge begins a new tradition of making a financial contribution to the Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association. Read about this invaluable community resource at www.cnha.ca.
V. Wor. Bro. van Seters and Rt. Wor. Bro. Fyffe
present a cheque to Karen Grant at Cowichan Neighbourhood House
The Lodge also contributes annually to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 191 Poppy Campaign. Each year, at our Regular Communication in November, we honour our local veterans with a dinner and Remembrance Ceremony. The Worshipful Master lays a wreath at the Chemainus Cenotaph, in memory of the many brethren who fought for freedom, and have since passed to the Grand Lodge Above.
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Chemainus Lodge continues to make annual contributions to the Chemainus High School bursary program, and contributes an additional bursary to a worthy recipient from the former Job's Daughters Bethel 11. This past summer, Chemainus Lodge contributed to the fund-raising efforts of the Cowichan Shrine Club, by sponsoring a hole at their annual golf tournament...and we all know the great work the Shriners do in the community.
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Congratulations to Ms. Shelly Skolos, this year's recipient of the Highmoor/Robinson Bursary.
Lots of fun at the Duncan Days Parade 2024
with the Cowichan Valley Shrine Club
Report to the Most Worshipful Grand Master
on the Charitable Endeavours of Chemainus Lodge No.114
Most Worshipful Grand Master
Chemainus Lodge has a long history of contributing to charitable causes, both through monetary commitments in the community and by providing the necessary man-hours to fulfil those commitments.
The Lodge has recently redirected donations, previously sent to a Victoria area program, to local efforts in Chemainus. The Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association provides food, counselling, and other resources to needy area residents in Chemainus. The amount of our donation to CNHA begins with the $200 allotted from the Lodge, and will be enhanced annually by the excess money received through the efforts of the Junior Warden’s Fund. All profits from our repasts, in excess of those required to support Lodge activities, will be directed to the CNHA donation. With a very recent inclusion of $270 from contributions during our Installation Luncheon, the Lodge is expected to donate approximately $750 this year to CNHA.
Our Lodge contributes an annual bursary of $500 to a worthy graduate from Chemainus Secondary School. This year, however, that bursary will increase substantially, as we redirect funds from our annual Slim Pritchard BBQ to support the high school bursary. This fund-raising event last year raised $900. The high school bursary going forward, therefore, will be expanded to include all proceeds from this event, and may be divided equally among multiple recipients.
The Slim Pritchard BBQ event, now approaching its 20th year, has traditionally been the primary fund-raising event to provide a bursary to the young ladies of Bethel 11, Job’s Daughters, as they move on to secondary education. The account for this endeavour is now in excess of $7000, due to the infrequency of graduating “Jobie’s”. As Bethel 11 has closed its doors, the lodge has obtained a list of former and recent members of that body, who are still in school, and those who have recently graduated. The Lodge will continue to provide bursaries of $500 from this fund to all qualifying young ladies from the former Bethel 11, including into their second and third years of post-secondary education, and until the fund is depleted. There are presently two former “Jobies” undertaking post-secondary education, who will qualify for a bursary.
Chemainus Lodge has traditionally coordinated the annual Red Kettle Campaign in the Chemainus area on behalf of the Salvation Army, and continues to do so. This task is undertaken over two successive weekends in December, where Lodge members, with assistance from like-minded area residents, raise in excess of $4500. The funds from this endeavour are distributed in the Cowichan Valley by the Salvation Army to needy families in the form of food hampers. Chemainus Lodge brethren contribute an average 30 volunteer hours annually to this effort.
Our Lodge continues to support the Royal Canadian Legion Chemainus Branch 191, with an annual contribution of $100 to the Poppy Fund, and the collection of donations with a Poppy Tray in the Lodge. The Lodge hosts a Veterans Appreciation Dinner and Remembrance Ceremony, with local Legion Members and veterans invited to our annual event in November.
And finally, the Lodge supports the Cowichan Valley Shrine Club during its annual fund-raising golf tournament, each year sponsoring a hole with a contribution of $150. Two of our Lodge members, this year, took it a step further, providing funding of an additional $150 to cover a “hole-in-one” competition at our sponsored hole. Three lodge members contributed 15 volunteer hours towards this endeavour.
In summation, Chemainus Lodge will contribute in excess of $2500, and upwards of 50 man-hours towards community charities and charitable events this year.
Sincerely & Fraternally
V.W. Bro. Terry van Seters
Worshipful Master – Chemainus Lodge