User:Wardmw/sandbox

Title: Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association (WSMBA)

The Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association is a group of over a thousand Freemasons in England, Ireland, Wales and certain parts of Europe who all have an interest in motorcycles. They are the only masonic motorcycle group to be approved by the United Grand Lodge of England and its provinces, its provinces and districts overseas (needs proper wording)

History
The Widows Sons originated in the United States of America and the first chapter was based in Illinois. It was, and still is, called the Widows Sons Masonic Riders Association. Originally Chartered in 1998 it was formed by Motorcycling Masons to raise charitable funds for the widows and orphans of Freemasons.

In 2004 a Charter was given by the US Widows Sons to form the Widows Sons Masonic Bikers Association in the UK.

Once there were enough members in the UK four WS chapters were created; South East, East Anglia, 16084, and Northumberland. At this time the Presidents Governing Board was formed which now administers all UK activity. As per the accords in the Charter that had been brought over from the USA, the WSMBA were now an independent Association. A full listing of chapters and when they were created can be found here.

Organisation
The association is organised in to chapters. Each chapter covers one or more provinces, or counties, and usually includes members from that area. As more freemasons in a locale join up a new chapter is formed with the assistance and blessing of the existing one.

Chapters
As more freemasons in England became interested and joined more chapters were created, splitting away from the existing ones, eventually causing some original chapters to disappear.

Current Chapters
As of January 2021 there were 28 chapters covering most of the masonic provinces and districts under the UGLE. As of this date these are:

Planned chapters
As of April 2021 we have members actively planning to create chapters in the following areas. We expect to have these chartered in the coming months.

Districts & Groups
The UGLE includes masonic provinces that are not in England, these are known as the Districts & Groups (Outside England, Wales, the Channel Islands & Isle of Man). There are WSMBA chapters in existence and planned in these other districts as well as the provinces in England and Wales. Districts in italics are being actively planned at the moment.

Foreign Grand Lodges
Other countries have asked if they can create WSMBA chapters in their own countries. The two stipulations we have are that:

a) Their grand lodge is recognised by the UGLE.

b) That they abide by the rules of our constitution.

Early events
2004 Original Charter from Florida granted to Widows Sons - England. (1st)

2004 Original Constitution set out the formation of the PGB when FOUR or more chapters were formed by Widows Sons - England.

2008 20th April South East Chartered Widows Sons - England (2nd)

2008 1st December East Anglia Chartered Widows Sons - England (3rd)

2009 27th July 16084 Chartered Widows Sons - England (4th)

2009 8th August Northumberland Chartered Widows Sons - England (5th)

2009 8th August South West Chartered Widows Sons - England (6th)

2010 onwards All Chapters are now chartered by the PGB and regulated by the Constitutions of the WSMBA.

Membership
Members must be freemasons within a lodge that is acknowledged by the UGLE, or in a lodge that is a part of a grand loge that the UGLE recognises. They must also be able to ride a motorcycle.

We also have associate members, people who cannot fulfil the criteria of full membership or who simply don't want to join, they just want to attend our events and help us to support the charities and individuals who are in need.

Aims of the association
We aim to highlight the benefits of freemasonry to non-members, the benefits of motorcycling to non-riding freemasons. We do this through promotion of the association to these groups.

Another primary goal is to raise money for charitable causes and to aid those less-fortunate than ourselves. We do this through Toy runs, Easter Egg runs, sponsored events and collections from among the brethren.

Toy runs
Members and friends are invited to buy a toy for children. We then meet up and ride together to an agreed-on location to deliver the toys. These locations are charities who will disburse the gifted toys to those that deserve them.

Easter Egg runs
In a similar way to the toy runs, Easter egg runs are held to donate Easter eggs to those who are in need, both young and old.

Sponsored events
Many runs and other sponsored events have been done to raise money for charity, including riding to the major masonic halls in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in 24 hours and riding to the four cardinal points of the island in a weekend. there have also been sponsored shaves and other things (need more info here).

Collections
Whenever chapters gather together they donate whatever they can afford in the cause of charity. This is done by the chapter treasurer and is added towards the funds that each chapter uses for charitable purposes. This is the heart and soul of the association and of Freemasonry.

Helping older lodges who are struggling
Although not an explicit goal of the association we have helped to save a number of older lodges that were going to fold by arranging to have members join these lodges. these have, with the agreement of the existing members, been turned in to motorcycle-oriented lodges.

Management
The presidents of each chapter form the governing body that steers the organisation according to masonic principles and who grant each new chapter its charter. Management is organised according to masonic principle, members of the board are expected to act as such at all times.

See also (Wikipedia links)

 * The United Grand Lodge of England