President's Statement 2024

Like presidents before me, I would like to start by thanking Cridosi for his leadership and guidance while I had served as Vice President.  After three years of being the figurehead of the CWSMBA, you can take a well-earned rest and put your feet up.  Under your leadership the group has returned to normality after the COVID period and has gone from strength to strength.

A bit of background

Having joined in 2019 and becoming a full patched member in early 2020, I have been a mentor for three years and vice president for the past twelve months, I have attended our national AGMs, built relationships with the Province of Cheshire, helped raise over £1000 for our charity funds, organised local events for us to attend and improved communications between neighbouring Widows Sons chapters.

So how do I see this chapter going forward?

Firstly and a bit of an obvious one. At the core of the chapter, it’s super important that we have a good team of proactive officers to ensure a successful year. 

Secondly, for us to give even more money away to charity then we must have plans in place to raise money (we can’t spend it if we haven’t got it!) we can achieve this by having well attended breakfasts, ride outs and events all underpinned by our charity committee. 

Thirdly, we all want this chapter to be a huge success but to do this we need to understand how we can move the chapter forward, understand what we do well and the things we don’t do so we can make sure we attract and retain the right people while making it enjoyable and engaging for our current members. So understanding how we can improve on engagement is key.

One final thing, when the Widows Sons was founded over in the US over twenty years ago one of its fundamental principles was to assist and look after widows of Freemasons, hence the name. I want to bring this principle to the forefront with plans to support Cheshire’s Broken Column Association and cares homes run by the RMBI.

Like I always say we are here to ride motorcycles, raise money for charity and enjoy doing it in the process. 

A final note

I would like to thank all the members who have taken an officer position, it takes a lot of time commitment when holding any masonic office.  The chapter could not function or achieve what it does without you.

The Bad Pennies also deserve a mention.  Our associate group plays a pivotal role in the success of the chapter, whether this be family and friends supporting our activities or as the first step for a Freemason to request to join the Widows Sons.  Either way the success of the group is propped up by them.  So a huge thanks.

So to conclude, I thank the chapter for the trust they have bestowed on me.  I hold this chapter and the Widows Sons in general in such high regard. I will endeviour to do my best and carry on the good work.

S&F Chip