The Lodge Meeting of 19th December saw Finlay Campbell, Immediate Past Master of Lodge Cadder Argyle No. 147, pictured here on the right, carrying out one last duty after having completed his term of office, presenting a cheque for £625.00 to George McCaughey, in aid of the Provincial Grand Master’s appeal for the Dunbartonshire Branch of the Autistic Society (Scotland). Also present in the photograph is the new Master, John Mackie.

This cheque represents the sum raised at a charity party night held recently in the Auchengeich Miners’ Club. The President and members of the Club are thanked for their support.

It is hoped that a sum in the region of twenty five thousand pounds will be raised for this appeal over the next year by the 21 Lodges in the province.

A cheque for £1750.00 was also presented to the Leukaemia Research Fund. This is the sum raised during the year for the ‘Master’s Charity’, a special cause which the Master nominates to receive additional funding, over and above the normal charitable donations. Well over £25,000 has been raised by the Lodge in recent years to benefit similar needy causes. Other recipients have included CHAS, Erskine Home and Yorkhill Hospital.

Pictured below are Finlay Campbell, Robert Macaloney, John Mackie and Gordon Black. Robert and Gordon took part in a sponsored hike of the West Highland Way over 5 days earlier this year in aid of this fund.

In addition to the Master’s Charity, some two to three hundred pounds are donated each year to local causes which have included; Chryston Senior Citizens; Chryston Boys’ Brigade Pipe Band, Chryston Bowling Club Cancer Whist; Chryston District Horticultural Society; Northern Corridor Befriending Project.

In addition to local organisations, annual donations are given to Poppyscotland and the Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen.

The Master this year, John Mackie, has nominated Ferrie House, Gartcosh to be his chosen charity. The Ferrie House Project is part of the Mungo Foundation (formerly the Community Social Services Department of the Archdiocese of Glasgow) offering a short stay service to adults with Learning Difficulties.

It is hoped that a donation similar to the one pictured here can be presented next year.