FVNews Weekend Edition.
No 4. Saturday-Sunday, April 18-19, 2020
From the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action Team

Weekend Wrap
• Fresh editions of FVNews Daily are published Monday-Friday. There is also a Weekend Edition, with an emphasis on feature reading. Opt-in to receive the free emails HERE

Farewell to Ricky Sills
• A good number of Freemasons viewed the streamed funeral service for Wor. Bro. Richard Gordon Sills on Friday (Apr. 17). Ricky was Foundation Master of Plenty Valley Lodge No. 703. Condolences have been expressed to Helena and family.

Sad News: Alan Carter
• Barry Minster’s Almoner’s Bulletin Board carries news of the passing of RWBro Alan Carter PJGW of Pakenham Lodge. Alan was aged 91. He joined Freemasonry on June 7, 1958. Our condolences.

Online get-togethers
• Thanks to Jay Rottem and Matt Cameron of Richmond Lodge for assembling a comprehensive list of Masonic online activities. Full details and links can be obtained HERE – some pre-registration and validation may be required.

• Saturday, Apr. 18. 8am. Brighton Freemasons. ‘YAMAMs’. Zoom Meeting.BYO breakfast and coffee. Short presentation on managing anxiety and stress.
• Saturday, Apr. 18. 3pm-4.30pm. Masonic Education Network (NSW). 101 Ways To Know A Freemason by Joel Solomon.
• Monday, Apr. 20. 9.30pm. Masonic Education Network (NSW). ‘North @ Night’. Facebook Livestream.

Blue Lounge podcast
• Bradley Outschoorn shares news of a latest Blue Lounge Social Club Brought To Light podcast. Episode 64 – A Struggle For The Heart of Freemasonry – featuring Jack Aquilina, David Illingworth and Robert Billing. The podcast can be accessed HERE

Melbourne’s first Lodge, 1839-40
• Melbourne’s first Masonic Lodge – Australia Felix – was formed in December 1839. In an illustrated 3000-word feature, we look at how the Masonic community was viewed in the Port Phillip newspapers of the day. Read it HERE

Latest ‘Engage’ out now
• The latest edition of Engage was issued yesterday (Fri.). Check your email in-box.Letter to the Editor
• Rhys Watson writes: “Congratulations to the FVNews team on what is a refreshing initiative in communication. Content is interesting, informative and engaging. This is Freemasonry in Action. Well done.”

Refreshing initiative
• Don Paterson of Lodge Devotion writes: “I have just received the first two editions of FVNews from our Secretary. I think that this is a refreshing initiative, one that is very professionally executed and being launched with a mature sensitivity to others, specially in our current circumstances. 
“To me they reflect a now fairly rare understanding of the need for a Masonic grass roots input in order to successfully engage with its target readership. In the editions that I have read there is, thankfully, an absence of pushing a particular management line or policy. The volunteer structure for the production of FVNews also seems to reflect an understanding of the economic reality of our present financial circumstances. 
“My only general concern is the term ‘marketing’ seems to be very loosely used in connection with internal communication strategies. It would seem to be the function that is necessary to position and promote the standing of our fraternity in the community, something that I believe is unfortunately very underdeveloped at this time. I wish you well in this endeavour. Congratulations.”

Masonic Wisdom
• “Masonic labour is purely a labour of love. He who seeks to draw Masonic wages in gold and silver will be disappointed. The wages of a Mason are in the dealings with one another; sympathy begets sympathy, kindness begets kindness, helpfulness begets helpfulness., and these are the wages of a Mason.”
– Bro. Benjamin Franklin,
Lodge of St John in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

INFORMATION TO KNOW
FVNews is published by Bro. Ash Long, Chair of the Communications and Marketing Volunteer Action Team of Freemasons Victoria. 
Phone: 0450 399 932.
Web: www.FVNews.com.au 
Email: editor@FVNews.com.au
FVNews is an opt-in email. If, for any reason, you would prefer not to receive our emails, simply reply to editor@FVNews.com.au  – type OPT OUT in the subject line, and please include your email address