The “Which Way Now” event, held at the Manor CE Academy Nether Poppleton on Saturday 1st June, has been hailed as an outstanding success.
The event was the first event of this sort to be held in the province as a training and presentation event. It was recognised that to attract a good number would require an interesting presentation from an experienced speaker, Tony Harvey, a very well-known Masonic Prestonian Lecturer was engaged, to present his lecture on the 7 x Habits of a successful lodge and also the CEO of St Catherines Hospice to talk on his connection with freemasonry and his work as the CEO of his Hospice in Scarborough. The event was also promoted as an opportunity to meet the PGM and had him open and close the event with some words of wisdom. The delegates who attended were rewarded by being the first to discover that W.Bro Bill Glanville was to be appointed as the new DPGM which was received with to rapturous applause!
Between the Lectures, a number of 45-minute workshops/ presentations were organized as listed below.
- Representative of the PGM/MEGS Briefing
- WM & MEZ Training
- DC Training
- Leading Change lecture
- RA Rep’s Training
- Secretary’s Training
- Community Engagement/Festival Presentation
- Mentorship & Membership Training on the Pathway/Archway
It was recognised that a 45-minute presentation or workshop would not and was not intended to replace full training sessions but should act as a vehicle to update & inform the brethren on various specialist areas/developments considered important to the province and limiting these to only 45 minutes would allow the delegates more time to socialise, mingle and catch up with old & new friends.
One of the main aims of this type of event was to help reduce the demands on brethren to attend an ever-increasing number of events/workshops across the province and to condense as many as possible into a one-day event, albeit with a very short timeframe to impart information.
The Event was advertised through flyers sent to all members of the Province through our Comms team. W.Bro Tony Randle (Membership PSG Lead) oversaw the event with W.Bro Sean Carroll (Membership Special Projects Manager) overseeing the planning and logistics and W.Bro Alex Sheldon ( Provincial L & D officer) was asked to oversee the content of the presentations and aid with the production of power point slides for all presenters who delivered the event.
Tony Commented that ”Overall, the initial assessment was very encouraging, and the event was very well received, it ran smoothly with the help of Stewards from both Craft & Chapter and with the Maisonettes providing a constant supply of teas & coffees throughout the day.” A buffet was also provided free to 120 plus delegates who attended this very first event
At the close of the Event all delegates were asked to scan the QR code displayed on the screen for feedback and an email was sent to all who attended.
Summary of QR code feedback.
- 100% would recommend this event to others.
- 100% All delegates expressed the wish for further events such as this one to be held.
- In all other areas of evaluation delegates were either very satisfied or satisfied
Plus, donations of £250.00 were made to each of the 2 x speakers chosen charities from the PGM, s discretionary fund. The scouting fund & St Cathrines Hospice.
A voluntary collection was also taken on the day from the delegates to go to the Festival which raised a fantastic £415.00.
Some of the positive feedback received from the delegates included:
• Great day hope it will be a yearly event.
• All very informative
• Looking forward to the next event
• Great event needs to become a regular event.
• A good venue easy to navigate & access.
• Good day thank you very informative.
• Great day really valuable and well done to all who made it happen.
• A thoroughly worthwhile exercise well done to all of the contributors.
• An entertaining and most convivial day
• Great experience
• This event was a first for the province and a first for me a great social side for me personally and just what I needed.
• Tony Harvey’s talk was the most interesting I have heard in ages.
• Whoever booked Tony Harvey well done!
• I hope another one will be arranges overall Tony 10/10.
• Excellent day well organized
A great deal was also learnt from this first “Which Way Now Event” that will hopefully assist us in organising the next event for the benefit of all.