Adventor Club
Welcome to the webpage for the newly launched Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Degrees Adventor Club.
The purpose of the Adventor Club
The word Adventor is Latin for ‘guest’ or ‘visitor’, and it was the late W Bro Rich Conneely’s idea to introduce this club and the Provincial Grand Master is keen to promote and support visiting across the province.
Recently, the scheme has become very popular among Mark members, and it has now been extended to incorporate the Royal Ark Mariner lodges.
So, how does it work?
The Adventor club is managed by Chairman W Bro Graham Jeffery assisted by Secretary W Bro Paul Brice-Bullows. You can contact them via email 📧 adventor@somersetmarkmason.co.uk
The Club will have two distinct sections, namely, group members dining section and individual members. Any member of the province can join the former using a registration form, which will facilitate invitations to visit “as a group or team” to pre-determined lodges, or members can simply visit any Mark or RAM Lodge as individuals without being part of the group section.
All brethren in the province are invited to join the Adventor club, by completing a short registration form (available via email 📧 adventor@somersetmarkmason.co.uk), you will be asked if you want to join the dining section. This form when completed by you will be sent to the Secretary of the club and you will receive an Adventor Club Visit Record Card on which to log visits.
It is the intention to organise in advance 5 Mark and 3 Royal Ark Mariner visits a year for the dining section, the Secretary will arrange these, and you as a dining member will receive details of each planned visit giving you all the information you require for the meeting. You will book your place with the Secretary of the club and pay according to the details on the lodge’s dining form, letting the club Secretary know you have completed this, that is your job done.
Your Adventor Club Visit Record Card will be signed up by the Lodge Secretary in the usual manner during your visit, and when all lodges have been visited and signed off, a small gift will be presented to you!
You will receive details from the Club Secretary of the visits organised, including the Summons, Menu and costs involved. There is no need for you to contact the lodge.
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Also available will be club lapel badges, available from the Club Chairman or Secretary at £5 each with all monies going to the 2028 MBF Festival.
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By taking this approach we are confident that more members will be interested in visiting in a group and thus become regular visitors around the province as dining section members.
Adventor Club Update – 3rd November 2024
Since the launch of the Adventor Club by the R W Provincial Grand Master in May things have moved along quite quickly and the finer details added to ensure that all members of our Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges can easily access the registration form and sign up to become members and wear the Adventor Club Lapel Badge.
The Intention was to Arrange 8 Club visits during this Masonic year, 5 to Mark Lodges and 3 to Royal Ark Mariner Lodges.
I can now confirm those visits.
16th December 2024 -119 Carnarvon Mark Lodge
10th January 2025 – Lodge of Fidelity and Unanimity RAM No 348
21st January 2025 – 781 Mendip Mark Lodge
19th February 2025–155 Portal Royal Ark Mariner Lodge
27th March 2025 – 162 William de Irwin Mark Lodge
7th April 2025 – 730 Thackeray Royal Ark Mariner Lodge (This replaces the Bath TI Visit which is cancelled)
12th May 2025 – 1548 Nailsea Mark Lodge
5th June 2025 – 807 Eldon Mark Lodge
The first visit will be to Carnarvon Mark Lodge in Keynsham on Monday, December 16th, when the Lodge officers will advance a candidate. A Christmas fare will be served at the Festive Board.
Rather than repeat the introduction to membership of the Adventor Club I thought it might be better explained by using a Q&A
Q. What is the purpose of the Club?
A. In the Mark and Royal Ark Mariner degrees many members regularly visit other lodges either individually or with friends, we believe that by being in a group of visitors the experience of visiting will be greatly improved. It will also encourage those who are a bit reluctant to go through the process of individually finding a lodge to visit a new and simpler avenue to use.
Q. If I register to become a member am I committed to the visits arranged?
A. No, If you register, your details will be included in the secretary’s log, and you will receive all information relating to the Club including the Lodge summons for the prearranged visits. If you then wish to be included in any of the visits you will be booked in by the club secretary all you need to do is pay for your dining as per the summons.
Q. How do I register?
Ans. The application form is available below and when completed, should be returned to adventor@somersetmarkmason.co.uk
Q. If I decide I want to arrange my own visits can I still be a member of the Club?
A. Yes, the only requirement for membership is registering to receive club information. Then, the choice is yours if you wish to join the visits.
Q. Can I wear the Adventor Club Lapel badge if I decide not to be involved with the prearranged visits?
A. Yes, you can purchase and wear the lapel badge provided you have completed and returned the registration form. The badges cost £5 each, and the money will be donated to the 2028 Festival fund.
Q. How do I obtain my visitor cards?
A. Visiting Cards are held by your Secretaries and Scribes.
Q. Do I need to get my cards signed?
A. Yes, when visiting either with the club or as an individual you should get your card signed by the secretary or DC.
I hope that the above explains everything you need to know about this exciting Idea to encourage us to visit and enjoy the company and friendship of other Mark Men.
W Bro Graham Jeffery
Chairman
The Adventor Club
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