At the annual Universities Scheme Conference over 200 were present to participate in a successful day of presentations and discussions.
You can hear a report on the UGLE Crafcast
Delegates arrived from near and far, with representatives of the many University Scheme teams from the provinces in the UK with even a delegate from Ghana! All receiving a warm welcome from the Berkshire Stewards.
After picking up their badges, visitors were welcomed with tea, coffee, plenty of pastries, and the opportunity to chat to fellow participents.
To start off the Conference the Co-President and Chairman of the Universities Scheme PPGM for Oxford, James Hilditch (shown here with DPGM of Berkshire, Mark Heppelthwaite) welcomed the delegates to what promised to be an engaging conference.
The delegates then split into two groups and moved to the Thames and Abbey rooms for twin streams of presentations and discussion covering “Members’ Pathway – Plan and Attract” and “Engaging membership+Learning and Development – Solomon”
During a break for lunch the delegates could browse a number of stalls showing examples of other orders such as Mark Masons, Rose Croix, and Knights Templar.
The delegates could then see presentations on the theme of ‘Thriving Membership’ covering Royal Arch and Freshers Fairs, with Creative ideas in the recruitment and engagement process.
The group then joined together to hear about, and discuss the particular challenges of Freemasonry in the student community. This prompted a lively discussion, particularly on the need for a robust migration process to move graduating students to new Provinces in their places of work.
Many in the conference then moved to the Berkshire Temple to watch a demonstration of parts of the multi-candidate initiation ceremony.
The conference concluded with a keynote speech from the other Co-President of the Universities Scheme AGM Arthur Steven Varley.
All photographs courtesy of UGLE Communications Team.
